Graduation Masses are celebrated alongside our ceremonies in Ballarat and Canberra. The Graduation Mass is a beautiful liturgy celebrated in thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed upon our graduands and their family and friends.
Mass times
All graduands and their family or guests, are very warmly invited to attend Graduation Mass with the local Bishop, staff, alumni and stakeholders of the University community in celebration of the achievements of our students and staff.
We plan to resume all public graduation celebrations in 2021, including Graduation Mass in Ballarat and Canberra. Graduation Mass dates will be published in February 2021.
The nature of the pandemic has meant that government regulations and public health orders can change rapidly. ACU continues to monitor and abide by all public health orders that impact public gatherings. The safety and wellbeing of our graduates, their families, our staff, and our community is our highest priority.
Parking
Some Cathedrals have very limited onsite and street parking. Some Cathedrals may have parking stations nearby.
Mass duration
Graduation Mass is expected to be approximately one hour, and may sometimes run a little longer.
Dress code
Professional dress is recommended. You will not wear academic regalia to mass.
Guests
Graduands may bring as many guests as they wish. For Canberra and Ballarat graduands, an invitation will be sent to your ACU email account by Campus Ministry in the weeks leading up to the mass dates. It would be helpful to organisers if you could indicate how many guests you will be bringing when you RSVP to the invitation.
Accessibility
Each Cathedral has access for people with mobility difficulties.
Arrival time
You should arrive around 20 minutes before the mass is due to commence and be seated as soon as possible.
Seating
Seating will only be allocated to staff and some other guests of the University. Graduands will sit with their guests throughout the Cathedral.
Photography
As this is a religious ceremony, we would ask people not to take photographs during the mass, but we would definitely encourage graduands to take photographs afterwards.