Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
20 Dec 2011
It was standing room only at St Mary's Cathedral last night when the student body from Sydney's University of Notre Dame (UNDA) joined friends, family, professors and university teaching staff for this year's Graduation Mass.
At least 3,000 attended the Mass which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. Among those who concelebrated the Mass with His Eminence were the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher, Bishop of Parramatta, Father John Neill OP, Fr Lam Vu OFM Cap together with other priests from the Archdiocese.
Many leading dignitaries also attended, including UNDA's Sydney-based Chancellor, Terry Tobin QC; Brother Kelvin Canavan, former Director of Schools for the Archdiocese and now visiting professor at UNDA; NSW Attorney General, Greg Smith and NSW Government Relations Consultant, Margaret Fisher who is also a trustee of the university.
Well-known Sydney barrister and former justice, the Hon Barry O'Keefe was also there as were Bishop Anthony's parents, Colin and Gloria Fisher.
However it was very much the students' night, particularly for the 508 young men and women who have now completed their final year of studies.
Following Monday's Graduation Mass, these final year students will attend one of two graduation ceremonies to be held at the UNDA Broadway campus, the first of which was held this morning when Chancellor Terry Tobin presented 103 young people from UNDA's Sydney Medical School with their Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery degrees. Also graduating at today's ceremony were 19 who received degrees in Philosophy and Theology, with a further 28 receiving law degrees.
Tomorrow, the graduation ceremonies continue when a further 179 young men and women will graduate from UNDA's School of Education. The university's Nursing School also has 94 of its students graduating. In addition 89 young people will graduate from university's School of Arts and Sciences with a further 66 graduating from the Business School.
"Every graduation is extremely special and significant but awarding degrees to Sydney's first cohort of medical students is particularly thrilling and exciting," says UNDA Vice Chancellor, Celia Hammond. "The 103 students who graduated this morning chose to come to a new and unproven medical school. In many ways they are like pioneers, choosing to go down a path no one had travelled before. We are immensely proud of them, admire them for their courage in choosing this path and wish them every success in their professional lives."
Opening its doors in 2008, UNDA's Sydney Medical School is the youngest in Australia and also one of the most innovative offering wide ranging clinical experience not only at city health centres and hospitals, but at hospitals and health centres in regional and rural Australia as well.
"The doctor's role in healthcare is changing and our students are given a perspective on health that is holistic," says Professor Christine Bennett, Dean of the Sydney Medical School, explaining that healthcare in the future will require medical practitioners to understand health and wellbeing, as well as disease, to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Professor Bennett says this first-ever graduating class from the UNDA Medical School have each shown a passion for serving the community, have a strong sense of social justice and a real sense of vocation.
She is also proud that of this year's graduating class, almost 10 percent are going on to practice medicine in rural areas where there is an ongoing and urgent need for doctors.
Unlike other universities, all students at UNDA no matter what course they are undertaking, must study the compulsory core curriculum of Stage One ethics, philosophy and theology.
Paying tribute to UNDA's previous Vice Chancellor, Peter Tannock and to the support given by Cardinal Pell whom she says were instrumental in establishing the university's Sydney campus including its Medical School, Professor Hammond described today and tomorrow's graduation ceremonies as a mixture of pride tinged with sadness.
"As staff we are filled with joy for the graduates and extremely proud of what they have achieved. But this is also tempered by sadness as a graduation means it is time to say farewell," she says and wishes each of UNDA's 406 graduating students every success for their future in their chosen careers.
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2011/20111220_674.shtml
20 Dec 2011
Tossing Mortar Boards
At least 3,000 attended the Mass which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. Among those who concelebrated the Mass with His Eminence were the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher, Bishop of Parramatta, Father John Neill OP, Fr Lam Vu OFM Cap together with other priests from the Archdiocese.
Many leading dignitaries also attended, including UNDA's Sydney-based Chancellor, Terry Tobin QC; Brother Kelvin Canavan, former Director of Schools for the Archdiocese and now visiting professor at UNDA; NSW Attorney General, Greg Smith and NSW Government Relations Consultant, Margaret Fisher who is also a trustee of the university.
Well-known Sydney barrister and former justice, the Hon Barry O'Keefe was also there as were Bishop Anthony's parents, Colin and Gloria Fisher.
Cardinal George Pell celebrated
the Graduation Mass
the Graduation Mass
Following Monday's Graduation Mass, these final year students will attend one of two graduation ceremonies to be held at the UNDA Broadway campus, the first of which was held this morning when Chancellor Terry Tobin presented 103 young people from UNDA's Sydney Medical School with their Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery degrees. Also graduating at today's ceremony were 19 who received degrees in Philosophy and Theology, with a further 28 receiving law degrees.
Tomorrow, the graduation ceremonies continue when a further 179 young men and women will graduate from UNDA's School of Education. The university's Nursing School also has 94 of its students graduating. In addition 89 young people will graduate from university's School of Arts and Sciences with a further 66 graduating from the Business School.
Jarek Latanik receives his Bachelor of Medicine and
Surgery at yesterday's ceremony
at Notre Dame University
Surgery at yesterday's ceremony
at Notre Dame University
Opening its doors in 2008, UNDA's Sydney Medical School is the youngest in Australia and also one of the most innovative offering wide ranging clinical experience not only at city health centres and hospitals, but at hospitals and health centres in regional and rural Australia as well.
"The doctor's role in healthcare is changing and our students are given a perspective on health that is holistic," says Professor Christine Bennett, Dean of the Sydney Medical School, explaining that healthcare in the future will require medical practitioners to understand health and wellbeing, as well as disease, to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Medicine, law, theology and philosophy students receive
degrees at UNDA's graduation Ceremony
degrees at UNDA's graduation Ceremony
She is also proud that of this year's graduating class, almost 10 percent are going on to practice medicine in rural areas where there is an ongoing and urgent need for doctors.
Unlike other universities, all students at UNDA no matter what course they are undertaking, must study the compulsory core curriculum of Stage One ethics, philosophy and theology.
Paying tribute to UNDA's previous Vice Chancellor, Peter Tannock and to the support given by Cardinal Pell whom she says were instrumental in establishing the university's Sydney campus including its Medical School, Professor Hammond described today and tomorrow's graduation ceremonies as a mixture of pride tinged with sadness.
"As staff we are filled with joy for the graduates and extremely proud of what they have achieved. But this is also tempered by sadness as a graduation means it is time to say farewell," she says and wishes each of UNDA's 406 graduating students every success for their future in their chosen careers.
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2011/20111220_674.shtml
Comments