An Interfaith Vigil of Blessing held last night at St. Thomas Hall opened a series of inauguration events marking the installation of the University's eighth president, Teresa A. Sullivan. Students and religious leaders alike shared blessings, praises and hopes for the University community in the upcoming years of Sullivan's presidency.
From the planning stages back in September, Sullivan said she hoped the inauguration would encourage community members to look toward the University's core mission and values, celebrate those through the week's planned activities and consider the future.
"I think that thinking about what our most important values are is part of what we do when we do something like an inauguration," Sullivan said. "For many people those values are religious. It is, I think, appropriate to allow for that expression as part of our heritage of religious freedom."
She also noted the vigil was run by volunteers alone without state funding and was held off-Grounds to keep religion removed from the state institution.
"But [faith] answers something very deep with parts of many people in this community ... regardless of what religious tradition they come from," she added.
When the Mount Zion First African Baptist Choir welcomed guests with "Oh Happy Day," many audience members not only joined in song but also clapped and rocked in their chairs.
"I think that there are things that may divide us as a community, but what this emphasized was what meshes us together," Sullivan said. "There were lots of religious traditions here. It was really remarkable."
Nearly 10 religions were represented in the various student-led blessings, some delivered in native languages. Additionally, fourth-year College student Keenan Davis of the Chabad House led a collective student blessing for the new president.
Graduate Arts & Sciences student Karenne Wood presented Sullivan with a Tutelo blessing as well as a handmade beaded necklace with designs of the Rotunda and mountains representative of Charlottesville, the home of the tribe.
In between the choral performances and blessings, three reflections were delivered, focusing on community and two of Thomas Jefferson's highest ideals: faith and reason.
J. Augustine Di Noia, archbishop secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, described an imaginary encounter between St. Thomas Aquinas, after whom the hosting church was named, and Thomas Jefferson, whose birthday was celebrated that day.
"Thomas Aquinas, like Jefferson, was not content merely to gain knowledge," Di Noia said. "He wished to share it." In addition to connecting the men through a common passion for learning and teaching, Di Noia compared their discourse, reason and value of tradition.
Pastor Alvin Edwards of Mount Zion First African Baptist Church spoke about the challenges for the future of the Charlottesville community.
"All entities must demonstrate care and concern by talking together and paying attention to each other," he said, describing the challenge as simple but lofty.
Edwards encouraged members to converse and find commonality despite conflicts, which, he said, are sure to arise.
"A healthy community is more productive than a happy community," he said.
Building on this sense of community, Modern Judaic Studies Prof. Peter Ochs recalled some notable traits of Jefferson while discussing the reason of prayer and faith in science.
"Jefferson exemplified what it means to behold and examine all of the peoples of this University in a spirit of wonder and humility," he said. If Jefferson were to observe his University today, "he would declare how open-minded and disciplined is this community of scientists and scholars. And if Thomas were to see us, he would declare, 'God bless these students and scholars.' Whether they peer into a microscope or text of Shakespeare's, it is as if they give praise to the creator."
Today's inauguration events include an academic symposium from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall with a keynote address delivered by Lee Shulman, president emeritus of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
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