The baccalaureate ceremony is a ritual that dates back to the 15th century and is considered an important rite of passage in academia. The baccalaureate celebrates the accomplishment of an academic degree and provides an occasion for memorializing the graduates' hard work and reminding the graduates of their responsibilities as educated citizens.

The Marylhurst University baccalaureate is a Catholic Mass held at St. Anne's Chapel and coordinated by the Office of University Ministry.

All graduating students and their families and guests are invited to join in this meaningful observance held at 7 p.m. in St. Anne's Chapel on the evening preceding the commencement ceremony. Graduating students are asked to wear their caps and gowns.

If graduating students intend to participate in the Baccalaureate procession to St. Anne's Chapel, they should meet the faculty and other graduating students outside Clark Commons by 6:40 p.m.

The Baccalaureate Mass lasts approximately one hour and is followed by a reception for graduates. Light refreshments will be served.

History of Baccalaureate

The baccalaureate service derives from the medieval European custom of presenting the candidates for the degree of bachelor (bacca) with laurels (lauri) of sermonic oration. It originated with an English statute of 1432 that required every degree candidate at the University of Oxford (England) to deliver a sermon in Latin. The British practice was continued in colonial America, and baccalaureate services have since become an integral part of commencement exercises, marking the completion of an educational program.