Cardinal Donald Wuerl to Speak at May 3 Commencement

His eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington will concelebrate the annual Baccalaureate Mass with members of the Spiritan Congregation and will deliver the commencement address at the Spring 2013 Graduation ceremony on Friday, May 3, in the A.J. Palumbo Center.

Nearly 1,590 students will be recognized at Commencement, which begins at 5 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the Baccalaureate Mass, which will begin at 3 p.m.

At the ceremony, the University will confer an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters upon Dr. Margaret V. McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women. In addition, she will deliver remarks at the School of Education’s Diploma Ceremony on Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. in the A.J. Palumbo Center.

Wuerl, who was named to the College of Cardinals in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, previously served as bishop of his native Pittsburgh for 18 years. During his time as bishop, he taught theology classes at Duquesne as a Distinguished Service Professor.

Known for his teaching ministry, Wuerl is involved nationally and internationally in education, health care and social service organizations. He established the Pittsburgh-based Extra Mile Education Foundation to work with civic and business leaders to provide educational opportunities for children in the inner city. In addition, Wuerl served on numerous community boards, including the Urban League, United Way and the Youth Crime Prevention Council. He was a founding member of the Pittsburgh ecumenical organization, the Christian Leaders Fellowship.

Wuerl is author of numerous articles and books, including The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Relator General for the October 2012 Vatican Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.

McIntosh is founder and co-director of the National S.E.E.D. (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project of Inclusive Curriculum, which helps teachers, counselors and administrators create their own year-long, site-based seminars on making school climates, curricula and teaching methods more gender fair and multi-culturally equitable.

The international significance of McIntosh’s work has helped her earn numerous major grants from organizations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, among others. She earned her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from Radcliffe College/Harvard University.