Building Blessings
Conway Library, 17 February 2012
In the name of God, peace be to this place
And to all who enter here.
Let us unite our hearts in prayer.
We give You thanks, Almighty God,
That, under the guidance of Your Creative Spirit,
The work of many human hands has created this Center
To Your great glory and praise.
Today we bless and dedicate this Conway Library. (+)
Encircle it with Your protection
To keep it a safe and peace-filled place.
Open the windows and doors of this space
So that the light and love of Your Holy Spirit
Will shine forth as a sign of warmth and welcome.
May all who visit here be refreshed and strengthened:
May they find encouragement and challenge;
May their faith be confirmed and deepened;
And may they leave here more confident
In their ongoing search for Truth.
We lift in grateful prayer to You, O God,
The members of the Conway Foundation
And the many friends of Xavier
Whose kindness in sharing their earthly blessings
Make it possible for the University to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Bless them with health of mind and body,
Surround them with Your love until the end of their earthly days,
Then welcome them into Your Sacred Presence
To live with you forever.
Amen!
Let us go forth from here in peace,
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Construction Site
Residence Hall/Dining Facility Complex, 7 May 2010
The Greeting
Let us glorify God Who makes all things new
Through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
The Introduction
My friends, we gather here in praise and thanksgiving.
Let us ask God, through Whom all things are accomplished,
to bless this site of the future residence hall and dining facility.
Let us unite our hearts in prayer.
The Blessing Prayer
Creator God,
Maker of all that is and of all that is yet to be,
send Your Spirit upon this work
we have begun in Your name.
May this be a place of rest and refreshment
a place that renews the spirit
and strengthens both mind and body.
Grant that all who meet here
may find the enrichment of companionship
and the support of friendship.
May they here share the joy of their achievements
and find comfort in their sorrows.
Surround this residence hall with the wall of Your protection:
keep it safe, secure, and peace-filled.
May the dining area be a place of hospitality
where Your Son, Jesus Christ, is present as a welcome guest.
Protect all those who labor on this site:
keep them safe from harm, injury, and frustration.
Give them satisfaction in knowing
that the work of their hands is a participation
in Your on-going work of creation.
We pray in gratitude for the friends of Xavier University
whose generosity in sharing their earthly blessings
make it possible to meet the demands of the future.
Bless them with health of mind and body,
surround them with Your love
until the end of their earthly days;
then welcome them into Your Sacred Presence
to live forever. AMEN!
The Concluding Prayer
Holy, Mighty God,
Builder of all things,
Grant that the work we have begun here
may serve to better the future of Xavier University
and, through Your goodness,
contribute to the spread of the Kingdom of Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever. AMEN!
The Blessing of the People
May the peace of Christ rule in Your hearts,
and may the word of Christ, in all its richness,
dwell within you,
so that whatever you do in word and in work
you will do in the name of the Lord. AMEN!
May Almighty God bless you,
+ The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
AMEN!
The Academic Quad, including:
Conaton Learning Commons and Williams College of Business Smith Hall
23 September 2010
Introduction
The wisdom of God is beyond our imagining
and God's goodness is a boundless treasure.
As we participate in the creative power of God,
our minds are enlightened in new ways
to share with others a variety of
information, ideas, and aspirations.
This evening we ask God's blessing on the James E. Hoff Academic Quad.
In this center, may seeking and learning,
teaching and creating
be the pathways that lead to a fuller revelation of
Divine Truth
Blessing
Lord God Almighty,
we praise You for You enlighten and inspire those who,
by searching the secrets implanted in creation,
develop the work of Your hands in wonderful ways.
Look with favor on all who use this center
of learning and teaching.
Enable them to discover and communicate truth,
to foster love,
to uphold justice,
and to do what is right and good.
Bless this facility (+)
make it a place where Your Divinity touches our humanity
and the plan of salvation is more clearly revealed.
A place where love governs all actions;
where integrity is the foundation stone;
and where learning is valued more than personal gain.
We ask this blessing in the name of the Perfect Teacher,
Christ, Our Lord.
AMEN!!
Prayer for Benefactors
Loving God,
by the power of Your Holy Spirit
You have filled the hearts of those faithful to You
with the desire to share their earthly blessings
with others.
Hear the prayers we offer for the generous friends
You have given to Xavier University
who encourage our work and support our mission.
Grant them health of mind and body
that they may do Your will in freedom and joy.
Give them Your constant encouragement
and guide them throughout their lives,
until that day when they,
with all who have served You,
will rejoice in Your presence forever.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord, our Brother, our God forever.
AMEN!!
Blessing of the Community
May God, the Creator of all things,
Who never ceases to work wonders among us
enlighten your minds,
so that you may grow in knowledge
and strive always to live in truth and peace.
AMEN!
And may Almighty God bless you,
(+) The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
AMEN!
I declare the James E. Hoff Academic Quad officially open!
Ground Breaking Ceremony, 26 September 2008
The Greeting
Let us give praise to God who makes all things new
through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
The Introduction
My friends, we gather here with grateful hearts
to break ground for the James E. Hoff, SJ Academic Quad
and to expand the horizons of Xavier University.
As responsible stewards we have an obligation
to impart to the generations that follow us
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
we have received from the past and developed in our own day.
To fulfill this task we need, above all else,
the blessings of Almighty God,
the Maker of all that is and of all that is to come.
Let us unite our thoughts and hearts in prayer.
The Blessing Prayer
Creator God, before whom generations rise and pass away,
look with favor on the work we begin today.
Grand that this undertaking,
dedicated to your glory
and founded on our commitment of service to the community,
may progress day by day to its successful completion.
Protect all those who labor in this place,
keep them safe from harm and injury
and give them satisfaction in the knowledge that they
participate in your creative power.
We pray also in gratitude for the many friends of Xavier
whose desire to share their earthly blessings
make it possible for us to meet the challenge of the future.
Bless them health of mind and body,
guard them from all evil,
surround them with your love
until the end of their earthly days;
then welcome them, with all who serve you,
into your Sacred Presence
to live forever. AMEN!
The Blessing of the People
May the God of all consolation
bless you in every way
and grant you peace
all the days of your life. AMEN
The Monument Honoring the Original Site of
Xavier University and St. Xavier High School
March 2007
Fr. Deye:
We begin
In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We gather here to bless this monument, which marks the birthplace of Jesuit education in Cincinnati.
Over the past one hundred seventy-five years, members of the Society of Jesus, with the support of the Archdiocese, united with generous lay men and women, have labored together, guided by the vision of St. Ignatius Loyola, to challenge minds and hearts.
Fr. Graham:
This monument is here erected to the greater honor and glory of God to mark the place where, under divine inspiration, Xavier University and St. Xavier High School took root and began to flourish.
It is through these institutions today that the dreams of yesterday live on as a vision of hope for tomorrow.
Fr Deye:
All praise and glory are yours, Almighty and Eternal God.
You created this earth and all it contains and placed creation within our care so that by the work of our hands, the development of our minds, the conversion of our hearts, we might share in your creative power and build your kingdom in this world.
Fr Graham:
Look with kindness upon this monument and upon the accomplishments it symbolizes.
Continue to bless these centers of learning, we pray. May their single purpose always be to serve you, the Eternal King, by imparting a desire for love that is shown in deeds rather than in words.
Fr. Deye:
We bless this monument in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
May this monument be a sign of gratitude for blessings for the past and a sign of hope and challenge for the future.
Fr. Graham:
The inscription on the plaque reads:
On this property in 1831 Bishop Edward Fenwick established a college known as the Athenaeum and placed it under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier. In 1840 his successor, Bishop John Baptist Purcell, gave the college to members of the Society of Jesus who renamed it St. Xavier College. This institution evolved into today's Xavier University, which moved to its Evanston-Avondale campus in 1919, and into St. Xavier High School that transferred to Finneytown in 1960. AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM
Fr. Deye:
May God who is the source and summit of truth and knowledge enlighten your minds so you may learn what is right and good and in your actions carry out what you have learned.
Fr. Graham:
And may the blessing of Almighty God, The Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit come upon you and remain with you forever.
Amen