UNDA Graduates called to reflect on what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God

01 Jun 2024

By The Record

UNDA Graduation 2024
A graduating student, with his wife and daughter, holds his cross at the conclusion of the UNDA 2024 Graduation Mass, Monday 28 April at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan.

This year’s students graduating from the University of Notre Dame Fremantle Campus were invited to reflect on what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.

The UNDA graduating class of 2024 came together, Monday 28 April for the Graduation Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.

Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the occasion by concelebrants, Fremantle Parish Assistant Priest Fr Giancarlo Lollo OMI and Fr Nicholas Diedler as MC.

Archbishop Costelloe blesses the crosses. Photo: Ron Tan.

Speaking about the Book of Genesis and the creation story, Archbishop Costelloe continued his homily by saying if we are to be true to this deepest God-given identity, then we too must be creators of life.

“As graduates from a Catholic university, you are graduating from an institution which draws its inspiration and the very meaning of its existence from the life and teachings of the one who said, “I have come to bring life to all and bring life in all its fulness” (Jn 10:10),” Archbishop Costelloe emphasised.

“It would be my deepest hope that your time at Notre Dame might have given you, along with everything else which you have received from the university, a sense of the urgent need to be a supporter of the dignity of every human person, young or old, rich or poor, strong or weak, wise or foolish,” he continued.

This year’s students graduating from the University of Notre Dame Fremantle Campus were invited to reflect on what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. Photo: Ron Tan.

The book of Genesis, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted, does not speak of categories of human beings who are made in the image and likeness of God and categories of those who are not.

“We are all equal in the sight of God, all deeply loved by God, all intended by God to live in ways that affirm our dignity as human beings,” he said.

This year’s graduating cohort numbered some 1500 students, who were each gifted a Western Australian jarrah wood cross, to remember their time at UNDA.

UNDA Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof Selma Alliex speaks to the graduating students before the distribution of the crosses, Monday 28 April, at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan.

UNDA Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Professor Selma Alliex, highlighted that the crosses represent the Catholic faith of the University.

“My hope is that each one of you will continue to look at the cross and remember your time at the University with the same hope and love that Christ has for each one of you,” Prof Alliex said.

“I pray that this cross, as a representation of the cross of Christ, will guide you in everything you say and do, and in whatever career path you choose, you stand up for the dignity of every human person and be on the side of those who cannot stand up for themselves,” she said.

Students receive their crosses. Photo: Ron Tan.
Doctorate graduate Dr Tom Gourlay proclaims the first reading at the UNDA Graduation Mass, Monday 28 April at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan.
This year’s graduating cohort numbered some 1500 students, who were each gifted a Western Australian jarrah wood cross, to remember their time at UNDA. Photo: Ron Tan.