As the school year comes to an end, Seattle Prep honors its graduating seniors with the tradition of the Baccalaureate Mass. Held at the beautiful St. James Cathedral on Friday, May 23rd, this event is far more than a traditional all-school mass – it is a moment of reflection, gratitude, and hope that marks a sacred transition for the senior class.
Father Simon Zachary said, “Baccalaureate mass has the specific intention of celebrating the senior class as they are on the brink of graduation, celebrating the accomplishments of the past four years and praying about the future and everyone’s next adventures.”
What makes Baccalaureate Mass unique is its deeply personal nature. Both a senior student and a faculty member have the opportunity to offer reflections capturing the spirit and growth of the graduating class.
The mass retains the same essential structure of a Catholic mass but also incorporates special elements unique to this milestone. One of which is the seniors’ procession and recession in and out of the church. Students actively participate as candle bearers, Eucharistic ministers, readers, and so much more as well.
There is also a specific blessing the seniors receive, recognizing their transition and acknowledging this as a pivotal moment in their lives. It’s a communal act of support, sending them forth not only as graduates, but as young adults stepping into the next chapter of their journey guided by reflection and hope.
“Vatican II talks about the mass being the source and summit of our Catholic faith,” Zachary mentioned, “Seattle Prep being a Catholic Jesuit school, just recognizing the importance of mass particularly around such a milestone moment like graduation is essential. I think the thought is for everyone to come together to pause and pray in anticipation of the graduation itself.”
Baccalaureate mass represents not just a pause in the busyness of senior years, but it also provides a sacred space to acknowledge where students have been, where they are now, and where they are going. It reminds the community that graduation is not only an academic achievement but also a spiritual threshold, one worthy of reflection and communal celebration.
The Baccalaureate Mass invites the entire Seattle Prep community to celebrate, reflect, and offer prayers for the future. It is one final moment of unity, gratitude, and blessing before the seniors walk across the graduation stage and into the next chapter of their lives.
