Frequently Asked Questions: Convocation Mass 2026

Academic Convocation and the Mass of the Holy Spirit have long served as complementary ways of beginning the academic year. Convocation welcomes students into a community of scholarship, discovery and learning, while the Mass of the Holy Spirit invites the community to seek wisdom, purpose and guidance for the year ahead. Bringing these traditions together reflects Stonehill's mission to educate both hearts and minds and creates a shared beginning to the academic year for the entire community.

The Convocation Mass is a new tradition that combines the College's Academic Convocation and Mass of the Holy Spirit into a single celebration. The event includes elements of both traditions, including the formal opening of the academic year, recognition of students and faculty and the celebration of Mass. 

The sophomore and junior class pins create a more intentional four-year tradition of belonging and formation. Together with the first-year class pin and senior seal pin, they mark important milestones in a student's journey through Stonehill. 

The shovel is one of Stonehill's most distinctive symbols and reflects the College's deep connection to the Ames family and the Ames Shovel Company. 

The shovel pin introduces students to this important Stonehill tradition during their second year, often a time when students begin to establish a stronger sense of direction, commitment and belonging within the College community. The shovel serves as a symbol of the work ahead, the foundations students are building, and the enduring connection between Stonehill's history and its future. 

Lux et Spes, meaning "Light and Hope," is the motto of Stonehill College and a defining expression of our Holy Cross mission. Rooted in the belief that Christ is our light and our hope, the motto calls the entire Stonehill community to reflect that light in lives of courage, service and purpose. 

The pin is presented to students as they enter their junior year, a time when many begin to step more fully into leadership and belonging within the Stonehill community. It is a reminder that a Stonehill education is about more than acquiring knowledge; it is a call to think, act and lead with courage, carrying that light and hope into the world.  

Yes. The new sophomore and junior pins are intended to complement, not replace, Stonehill's existing traditions. 

First-year students will continue to receive their class pin, welcoming them into the Stonehill community and connecting them to their graduating class. This year, members of the Class of 2030 will receive their class pins. 

Seniors will continue to receive the Stonehill seal pin, recognizing their approaching graduation and their imminent place among the generations of Stonehill alumni who have come before them. 

Graduate students will also continue to receive a graduate student pin recognizing their membership in Stonehill's graduate community and celebrating their commitment to advanced study and professional growth. 

Together, these traditions create a more complete series of milestones that mark students' journeys through Stonehill, from their arrival on campus through graduation.

Stonehill's mission is advanced every day by faculty, staff, administrators and students working together. The staff procession recognizes the important contributions of staff members to the educational experience and the life of the College. The College’s offices will be closed during Convocation so all staff, faculty and students can attend the event. 

Absolutely. Stonehill is a Catholic college in the Holy Cross tradition, and the Convocation Mass reflects that identity. At the same time, the College is home to individuals from many faith traditions, as well as those who do not identify with a particular faith tradition. All members of the community are welcome to attend and participate in Convocation Mass as we celebrate the beginning of the academic year and our shared commitment to learning, service, leadership and purpose. 

Participation in the Convocation Mass does not require one to be Catholic. Rather, it is an opportunity for the community to gather around the values and mission that have shaped Stonehill since its founding. 

All members of the community are welcome to participate in the Convocation Mass. During the Communion rite, Catholics who are prepared to receive the Eucharist are invited to do so in accordance with Catholic practice. 

Those who are not Catholic, or Catholics who choose not to receive Communion, are welcome to remain seated or to join the Communion procession and receive a blessing by crossing their arms over their chest when approaching the minister. 

Stonehill values the presence and participation of people from many faith traditions and backgrounds. We invite all members of the community to engage in the Convocation Mass in ways that are meaningful and appropriate to their own beliefs and traditions. 

Yes. These important Stonehill traditions will remain central features of the Convocation Mass. 

The senior class will continue its longstanding tradition of selecting and presenting a class shovel from the College's historic Ames Shovel Collection. The shovel serves as a symbol of the graduating class and its connection to Stonehill's history and heritage. 

The recipient of the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching from the previous academic year will continue to deliver an address to the community, offering reflections as we begin the new academic year. 

In addition, the College will continue the tradition of announcing the recipient of the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching for the current year, recognizing outstanding teaching and mentorship among Stonehill faculty. 

These traditions remain an important part of the College's celebration of academic excellence and community and will continue as part of the unified Convocation Mass.