Baccalaureate Mass & Commencement

Dear Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2023,

Below is a comprehensive outline of the details available at this point and the responsibilities for you and your son with respect to the completion of his academic career at the Prep. All of this information, as well as any updates, will be posted on this page.

On behalf of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, the Board of Directors, Faculty, Staff, and Leadership Team, I sincerely thank you for entrusting your son’s education to St. Augustine Preparatory School. Please be assured of my prayers for your son, you and your family as we acknowledge and affirm the many gifts and accomplishments of the Class of 2023.

In Augustine,

Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Head of School

Important Dates & Times

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Class of 2023 Breakfast, Award Ceremony, and Graduation Rehearsal

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May, 17, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. on campus. This tradition welcomes the senior class back to campus for breakfast in the Consalo Dining Hall followed by the Senior Award Ceremony. The day will culminate with a brief rehearsal for the following day’s ceremony. (Students only)

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Seniors’ Parent/Guardian & Faculty/Staff Reception

Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Consalo Dining Hall

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in Consalo Dining Hall on campus at 6 p.m. Formal invitations will be sent to you from the Office for Advancement via email. (Please ensure the school has your correct email address.) There is no cost for this event. It is a wonderful opportunity for the parents/guardians of the Class of 2023 to gather and celebrate their son’s past four years. Dress is smart casual. (Parents and guardians only.)

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 4 P.M. on campus on the Forum field. Commencement Exercises should be finished by approximately 6 p.m. The decision to celebrate on a Thursday rather than a weekend is to minimize conflicts with end-of-year athletic events and college graduations on the weekends. Each senior is given EIGHT tickets/per family.

In order for your son to receive his diploma, he MUST:

• Successfully complete all academic and service requirements. Please contact Mrs. Nancy McHugh, Dean of Academics (Mrs.McHugh@hermits.com) if you have questions.

• Satisfy missed school days in excess of 15 absences. Please contact Mr. John Huscher ’85 P’18, Dean of Student Leadership and Development (Mr.Huscher@hermits.com) if you have questions.

• Satisfy all financial responsibilities as determined by the Business Office by April 30, 2023. Please direct questions to Mr. Anthony Lombardo, Chief Financial Officer, (mr.lombardo@hermits.com).

• Attend the Senior Breakfast, Award Ceremony, and Graduation Rehearsal on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, beginning at 8:30 a.m. (Students only.)

Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises:

Ticketing:

All guests must present a ticket to enter.
Each student will receive eight (8) tickets in total – five (5) blue tickets and three (3) white tickets.
Both blue and white tickets provide admission to the outdoor Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises held on the field behind the Buondonno Forum Building adjacent to Railroad Boulevard.
In the event of inclement weather, each blue ticket grants admission to the Rodio Gymnasium to view the indoor ceremonies and each white ticket grants admission to the Consalo Dining Hall to view the indoor ceremonies on the projection screens. (Blue tickets must be limited due to the fire code regulations for Rodio Gymnasium.)
If the ceremonies are moved inside due to weather, an announcement will be made via the Hermits Instant Alert System on Wednesday morning, May 17, and the information will be posted on this webpage.

Parking and Seating:

Due to limited on-campus parking, families are encouraged to carpool.
Seating for families opens at 3:00 pm and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The day of graduation, seniors MUST:

Report to Spina Gymnasium no later than 2:45 p.m.
Remember their cap, gown and hood. (These will be handed out in the weeks prior to graduation.)
Wear a white dress shirt, tie, dress socks, dress shoes and dress pants under their graduation gown.
Have a proper haircut and be cleanly shaven.

Members of the Class of 2023 are welcome to invite family members who are Roman Catholic priests and deacons in good standing to participate in the Baccalaureate Mass. Please contact Fr. Tony Burrascano, O.S.A. (fr.tony@hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 145 by May 5, 2023.

St. Augustine Preparatory School legacy members are invited to present a diploma to their graduating senior. This opportunity is extended to:

St. Augustine Preparatory School Faculty and Staff
Alumni Grandfathers
Alumni Fathers
Alumni Brothers

Please contact Ms. Maria Enos P’13 ’16 (enos.maria @hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 190 by May 5, 2023.

St. Augustine Preparatory School makes every effort to accommodate persons with special needs attending the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises.

Please contact Mrs. Donna Field P’18, ’20, ’23 (Mrs.Field@hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 128 regarding accommodations for persons with special needs or if you have questions or need clarification about items in this communication.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any additional questions regarding this information, please contact:

Mrs. Donna Field, Administrative Assistant, Buondonno Forum

Phone: (856) 697-2600 x128 e-mail: Mrs.Field@hermits.com

2023 Baccalaureate and Commencement Program Booklet

NOTE: Please enjoy the Official 2023 Baccalaureate and Commencement Program below.

To view the program in full-screen mode, click the square in the middle of the document to expand the document. After entering full-screen mode, you may download the booklet by clicking the arrow icon on the top-left of your screen.

Live Stream of the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2023

The Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercise for the Class of 2023 will be live streamed courtesy of Hermits Broadcasting Channel. The livestream will only be available starting at 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 18, 2023. The HBC – YouTube channel may be found by clicking HERE.