Archbishop J. Peter Sartain,
President Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.,
and Dean Annette E. Clark '89
cordially invite you to our
RED MASS & RECEPTION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2017
RED MASS
6:00 p.m. Mass | The Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University
Please join us for this traditional gathering to ask God's blessing and the guidance of the Holy Spirit on all judicial proceedings and our academic efforts.
The Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle, will preside at the Mass.
RECEPTION
7:00 p.m. Reception | Sullivan Hall, Second Floor Gallery
featuring an address by
The Honorable Bobbe J. Bridge
Retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice;
Founding President/CEO, Center for Children and Youth Justice
All are welcome to attend the Mass, the reception, or both.
Please RSVP by September 29th.
THE STORY OF RED MASS
Red Mass is a tradition dating back to 14th century England, when both priests and judges wore robes in the color of the ecclesiastical seasons and events. The color red is worn for this Mass as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of our call and commitment to social justice in our work and academic endeavors.
Historically, the Red Mass was held in Westminster to celebrate the beginning of Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael on September 29 or fall term of the King’s Bench. The gathering was an occasion for pageantry and solemnity as judges, barristers, and members of Parliament invoked God’s blessing and guidance for themselves and their profession. Today, Seattle University and its School of Law join many throughout the United States and the world who celebrate this tradition annually at the opening of the judicial year, to emphasize the legal profession’s vital role in promoting justice and peace.
To view additional information or images of past celebrations, visit the Red Mass webpage
