{"id":12552,"date":"2025-09-12T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T13:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=12552"},"modified":"2025-09-12T09:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T13:34:25","slug":"saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s Welcomes Largest First-Year Class in Eight Years and Begins Semester with Mass of the Holy Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"group<\/a>This fall, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University begins the academic year blessed with both historic growth and cherished tradition. The University welcomed its largest incoming first-year class in eight years, representing 26 states and 24 countries. In addition, 254 transfer students joined the community through both the full-time undergraduate and School of Professional Studies programs. Nearly 900 graduate students are also enrolled this semester.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur enrollment growth is a testament to the transformative power of a Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s education,\u201d said University President Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D. \u201cWe are proud to welcome new and returning students who bring diverse experiences, perspectives and aspirations to our community. As we begin this new chapter in the life of our University, we embrace it with grateful hearts, trusting in God’s wisdom, guidance, and strength to lead us forward\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>The spirit of new beginnings was also evident at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, held on September 10 in The Duncan Family Sky Room of the Mac Mahon Student Center. Concelebrated by Rev. James Miracky, S.J., vice president for mission integration and ministry; Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., university chaplain; and Rev. Luis Tampe, S.J., the Mass of the Holy Spirit marked a meaningful start to the school year, uniting the campus in prayer and reflection. It offered a spirit of hope and renewal, reminding everyone of their shared purpose and values as a community. By gathering students, faculty, and staff in worship, the Mass fostered a deep sense of connection and collective inspiration for the journey ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s celebration included a special commissioning and blessing of student athletes and student leaders involved in the University\u2019s many activities and clubs. Following the Mass, the campus community came together for a festive BBQ on Panepinto Plaza.\"photo<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mass of the Holy Spirit was a beautiful way to begin both the new school year and my own time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s,\u201d said Angelo Jesus Canta, S.J., the recently appointed director of Campus Ministry. \u201cI remember being a freshman at my first Mass of the Holy Spirit at my Jesuit university. It was there that I first felt the call to serve God and my neighbor in the Jesuit tradition. I am grateful that Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s carries on this tradition with song, prayer and the reminder to become people for others.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

As Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s looks ahead, the energy and optimism of this year\u2019s new class, combined with record enrollment growth and the strength of the University\u2019s traditions, embody the hope and promise shaping the path forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This fall, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University begins the academic year blessed with both historic growth and cherished tradition. The University welcomed its largest incoming first-year class in eight years, representing 26 states and 24 countries. In addition, 254 transfer students joined the community through both the full-time undergraduate and School of Professional Studies programs. Nearly 900 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":12560,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-12552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nÂ鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s Welcomes Largest First-Year Class in Eight Years and Begins Semester with Mass of the Holy Spirit - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Â鶹ÊÓƵ's University welcomed its largest freshmen class in either years as the 25-26 year kicks off with Mass of the Holy Spirit.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"aboyer1\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"aboyer1\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/0e6cac7c1e5bde0788515bdfe0adea4b\"},\"headline\":\"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s Welcomes Largest First-Year Class in Eight Years and Begins Semester with Mass of the Holy Spirit\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-12T13:00:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-12T13:34:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/\"},\"wordCount\":449,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/230\/files\/2025\/09\/SPU-NewStuentDay8-25-2025-100-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Featured\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\",\"Current Students\",\"Faculty Staff\",\"Future Students\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/12\/saint-peters-welcomes-largest-first-year-class-in-eight-years\/\",\"name\":\"Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s Welcomes Largest First-Year Class in Eight Years and Begins Semester with Mass of the Holy Spirit - 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