Photos by Rebecca Zenefski Slater ’10
As night fell on St. Catherine University on November 24, the campus remained aglow with warm and cheerful light — outside from the purple holiday lights adorning trees, and inside from the candlelight illuminating Our Lady of Victory Chapel during the Feast of Saint Catherine prayer service.
A celebration of wisdom and light, the annual feast honors Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of students, philosophers, and scholars, and the University’s namesake. The event began with a reception in Coeur de Catherine, where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends came together for refreshments and conversation before moving to the Chapel for the prayer service.
Provost Denise Baird, PhD, welcomed all who gathered: “We are grateful for this opportunity to be in community, to celebrate the pursuit of wisdom, and to reflect the beauty of this season that lives in each of us.”
The opening reading from The Story of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in the Catholic Tradition by Jane Lamm Carroll ’80, PhD, and Sharon Doherty, PhD, reflected on the history of Saint Catherine and her continued relevance in today’s world: “Catherine’s story as a brilliant scholarly woman who bests male political and intellectual authorities of her day has held great appeal over the centuries and remains relevant today to scholars and educators, and most especially to those engaged in the education of women.”
The service wove together prayer and music sung by the University Choir. Each attendee received a candle, passing light from person to person until the whole Chapel was radiant with wisdom, strength, and peace inspired by St. Catherine.