Bishop Allen H. Vigneron of Oakland presidd over convocation ceremonies Aug. 23 at Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, heralding the beginning of the college's 34th academic year.

In his homily at the day's opening Mass, Bishop Vigneron exhorted the students to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit if they are to advance in wisdom, the highest of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

"The gift of wisdom," he said, "is a way of seeing all things; a way of seeing that comes from our sharing in God's love….This gift of wisdom is having the very heart and mind of Christ. That is the work of the Holy Spirit throughout salvation history."

Bishop Vigneron told the packed hall that he was "encouraged to see so many of you young people here, pledging to dedicate the next four years of your life to the rigorous study of these great books, to this curriculum, to the pursuit of truth."

Bishop Vigneron was first introduced to Thomas Aquinas College when one of its graduates John Goyette, taught philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, while the bishop was rector. At the bishop's request, Goyette implemented a comprehensive revision of the philosophy department using the curriculum at Thomas Aquinas College as a model.

The college's 102 freshmen hail from 25 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Ten percent of these new students have had previous college experience. The student body at the college now totals 329.