In one of his final public acts before retiring to Texas, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, presided over an historic convocation at St. Mark’s and Corpus Christi Colleges on May 10, marking nearly a century of Catholic higher education at UBC.
The 2025 graduation ceremony not only marked milestone anniversaries for both institutions—70 years for St. Mark’s and 25 for Corpus Christi—it was the largest convocation in the colleges’ shared history.
It also served as a tribute to Archbishop Miller’s 15 years of service as Chancellor of the colleges.
Held at St. Mark’s Church on the UBC campus, the ceremony opened with a land acknowledgment from Musqueam artist Deborah Sparrow, whose longstanding relationship with the colleges includes the creation of a ceremonial drum adorned with a Musqueam interpretation of the St. Mark’s lion and which is featured in every convocation.
Father Rob Allore, SJ, pastor of the campus parish of St. Mark’s , offered a prayer and invocation, which was followed by college president Dr. Gerry Turcotte urged graduates to see beyond their degrees as personal achievements but as alone, but as commitments to service. “Our goal was to help you engage your faith life so that you can live honourably with confidence and goodness,” he said. “No blessing we have in this world is ours”, except through the grace of Jesus.
Degrees and awards were presented to more than 50 students across disciplines ranging from theology and pastoral ministry to Catholic educational leadership. The colleges’ highest honour, the Doctor of Sacred Letters honoris causa, was awarded to philanthropist and Catholic education advocate Peter Bull.
The student address was delivered by actor and newly ordained deacon Zak Santiago. “Catholic education isn’t about credential-amassing for career opportunities,” he said, his voice impassioned. “It’s about equipping yourself for professional ministry … to approach any vocation through a life-lens of service, grounded in the Gospel.”
The most emotional moment came near the end, when Turcotte surprised the outgoing Archbishop by naming him the colleges’ first-ever Chancellor Emeritus. “Your Grace,” he began. “Grace is the word we will always associate with you. Grace towards others; grace for your flock; grace as you championed interfaith dialogue and reconciliation; and grace in your support of our colleges.”
In his final remarks, Archbishop Miller addressed the colleges’ graduates for the final time: “You are receiving diplomas at the beginning of a Pope’s term who has taken the name of the symbol of St. Mark’s College, the lion, which in Latin is ‘Leo’. I want to suggest that this might have particular significance for you, graduating at this historic moment in the church’s life.”
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