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The regional bishop for 91Ώμ»ξΑΦ Aquinas College™s California campus ” the Most Rev. Robert E. Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles ” visited students last week to offer words of inspiration and encouragement.

His Excellency arrived on campus Wednesday evening in time to offer the 5:00 p.m. Mass in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. In his homily, he reflected on Christ™s curing of the blind man (John 9:1-41), speaking of spiritual blindness, or œthe world™s dissociation from God. To grow closer to God, the Bishop said, it is important to get away from worldly distractions. œWe are part of Christ ” a living organism. He isn™t some distant philosophical figure, we are a part of Him.

After Mass, Bishop Barron ate dinner with students in St. Joseph Commons, then answered their questions from a podium at the front of the room. Covering a wide variety of subjects ” most notably theology, politics, spirituality, and art ” his answers offered wisdom, insight into Church affairs, and various personal anecdotes. Throughout his remarks, he encouraged students to enter the secular world with faith and love: œDon™t be known by the world™s corruption ” evangelize to it, he said. œGo into politics, academia, art, everything. Calling to mind Plato™s Republic, he continued, œBring it out of the cave.

As his Q&A came to an end, Bishop Barron praised the College's students. œYou guys are great, he said. œI always love coming out here. His Excellency then offered students his apostolic blessing.

œTypical of his visits to the College, Bishop Barron presided at a very well attended Mass, joined students for dinner, and then led a lively question-and-answer session, where he responded to a wide range of student questions and comments, said President Michael F. McLean. œThe evening ended with a rousing round of applause for His Excellency and a group of students surrounding the Bishop, reluctant to let him go.