Bishop Encourages Wheeling University Students ‘Let Their Light Shine’
Photo provided The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, center, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, and other priests pose for a selfie with Wheeling University students and staff in the background on Friday. From left are the Rev. Carlos Melocoton, the Rev. David Griffin, Menjivar, Deacon Douglas Breiding and the Rev. Rex Marfil.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Rev. Carlos Melocoton, pastor at St. Michael Parish, and The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, give Wheeling University student and staff communion on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Troy Theater.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, exits the stage at Wheeling University after praying wit students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, prays with Wheeling University students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit. At left is Deacon Douglas Breiding.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, talks to Wheeling University students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Photo provided The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, third from left, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, visits Wheeling University campus on Friday for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. From left are President Dianna Vargo, the Rev. Rex Marfil, Menjivar, the Rev. Carlos Melocoton, the Rev. David Griffin and Deacon Doug Breiding.
Photo provided The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, center, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, and other priests pose for a selfie with Wheeling University students and staff in the background on Friday. From left are the Rev. Carlos Melocoton, the Rev. David Griffin, Menjivar, Deacon Douglas Breiding and the Rev. Rex Marfil.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Rev. Carlos Melocoton, pastor at St. Michael Parish, and The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, give Wheeling University student and staff communion on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Troy Theater.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, exits the stage at Wheeling University after praying wit students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, prays with Wheeling University students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit. At left is Deacon Douglas Breiding.
Photo by Shelley Hanson The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, talks to Wheeling University students on Friday during the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Photo provided The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, third from left, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, visits Wheeling University campus on Friday for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. From left are President Dianna Vargo, the Rev. Rex Marfil, Menjivar, the Rev. Carlos Melocoton, the Rev. David Griffin and Deacon Doug Breiding.
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WHEELING -- The Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar, bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese, encouraged Wheeling University students to “let their light shine” during a Mass of the Holy Spirit Friday at Troy Theater.
It was Menjivar’s first Mass on campus since becoming bishop of the diocese. Since he is new to Wheeling and the university, Menjivar quipped that he, too, was a freshman on campus like some in the crowd.
He said the education the students were getting in the classroom was important, but they would also receive a broader education about life and interacting with people in between classes.
“You are here to receive the extraordinary gift of an education. Here you gain knowledge, develop skills, prepared for professions, careers and for whatever God and life has for your future,” he said. “Education is a tremendous gift, but every gift brings with it a responsibility.
What will you do with those gifts? How will you use the gift of education to make our world a better place?”
Menjivar told the students not to take their education for granted.
“There are millions of young people throughout the world who would give almost anything for the opportunity to receive the education that you are receiving. I was one of them,” he said.
He noted that some of the most important lessons they will receive won’t be on an exam.
“They are the lessons about becoming better human beings — people of character, integrity, faith and service,” he said. “And those things are not so easily measured by a grade; they do not appear in the report card. But they are the very essence of what we do here.
“So, as we begin this new academic year, let us ask the Holy Spirit not only to help us learn more and get good grades — I hope you do so, but also to help us become more. More compassionate, more generous, more courageous, more attentive to others and more like Christ.
“May the Lord send us forth, anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit; to become the presence of Christ to others and to use whatever gifts we receive here to make a difference in our communities and in the world. Let your light shine.”