Passing of Leadership

In September of every year, St. Lawrence Seminary High School students elected to leadership positions are commissioned during a prayer service. During the service, the Rector asks the newly elected leaders to respond to three questions:

• As a class officer or student council officer, are you willing to serve your classmates by humbly accepting the leadership entrusted to you?
• Are you able to recognize that the good that comes through your efforts is really the power of God within you?
• Are you resolved to cooperate with the leadership of St. Lawrence Seminary in order to build a community based on faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respect for each individual?

The newly elected leaders are presented with a Tau Cross made by Br. John Willger and his students in woodshop. The Tau was a favored symbol of St. Francis, and signifies for the community a desire to be servant-leaders like St. Francis.

In late November, the freshman class elects its leaders, after having a chance to get to know one another. The Student Council President presides at an evening prayer in which the freshmen leaders are commissioned. Again, these student leaders are asked to commit themselves to serve the community and are presented with Tau Crosses.

At the final all-school Mass on the Thursday before graduation, the school celebrates the Passing on of Leadership from the senior to the junior class. At the beginning of this service five seniors bring in lighted candles that they place in a candelabra in the sanctuary. These candles signify the five areas of the school community in which seniors are asked to demonstrate leadership throughout the year: Spiritual Life, Academics, Co-curricular Activities, Ministry and Building Community. After the homily, the Rector asks the members of the Graduating Class to stand. On behalf of the school he thanks them for their leadership and service to the school.

The five seniors who are processed in then come before the community and testify as to what they have learned throughout the year and what it means to be a senior at St. Lawrence in one of the five areas. They then state that on behalf of the Graduating Class they now pass on to the new senior class the leadership of the school. The senior then walks over to the candelabra and takes the candle he placed there.

A junior approaches the senior and lights a candle that he has taken from an unlit candelabra from the senior's candle. The senior then puts his candle out. The Rector asks the members of the rising senior class to stand and asks them: “You have heard from these representative members of the graduating class what will be asked of you as a senior. Are you willing to take on this responsibility?"

The Rector then asks the school community to stand and asks if they are willing to accept the leadership of the new seniors. At the conclusion of the Mass, all of the seniors are called forward, beginning with those who have decided to continue discerning priesthood or religious life. Each is presented with a Tau Cross, to signify our hope that as they leave St. Lawrence Seminary High School they will continue to be servant-leaders for the good of the Church and their local communities.