Wheeling Jesuit University anointed the hands of its 2010 Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates as it celebrated the newest group of professional physical therapists on Friday, Aug. 27.
. . . .The Rev. Donald Serva, S.J. opened the formal pinning and anointing ceremony with a prayer at the ceremony, held in Troy Theater. Interim WJU President Sister Frances Marie Thrailkill, OSU, was an honored guest at the ceremony, along with faculty, friends, family and WJU’s Interim Director of Physical Therapy Mark Drnach. Serva performed the anointing.
Anointing? Once very special in Catholic circles, for priests and bishops, not to mention as a sacrament, now for physical therapists at graduation? Not bizarre?
For PT’s it’s a, shall we say, consecrated phrase. But wouldn’t a Catholic institution be somewhat reluctant to make a graduation ceremony out of it?
Later, Reader D:
I agree, it is somehow trivializing or minimizing the sacred ceremony of anointing . . . . This is the Improv Church. Goes along with the concept of priesthood of the laity. At a certain point, the symbolism becomes confusion and laity will think there is no such thing as the Order of Melchisadech, and Father Ted or Joe or Tim may agree with them.
Rather, a misunderstood priesthood of laity?
Blithe Spirit 