Bishop Robert Barron to give 2023 commencement address

By Thomas McKenna Collegian Freelancer

Bishop Robert Barron will be the commencement speaker for the class of 2023, according to an email announcement from Provost Christopher VanOrman’s office Wednesday.

“Hillsdale is a Christian college, nonsectarian since its founding,” College President Larry Arnn said. “It holds firmly to the Christian teachings of time immemorial. Bishop Bar- ron is a great teacher and defender of those truths. It is an honor and blessing to have him.”

Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and the Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota. Word on Fire seeks to use new forms of media to share the gospel and draw people to the Catholic faith, according to its website.

Senior Class President Andrew Davidson said a survey of the senior class revealed they wanted a religious figure, and Barron was a popular choice. He said he and the other senior class officers recommended Barron to the college administration.

“Bishop Barron has an extraordinarily broad reach and effective ministry,” Davidson said. “You see that with the success of his podcasts. I expect that he will deliver a fantastic speech, one that focuses on what Christians have in common and not just on Catholicism specifically. I'm not Catholic, but I'm excited to hear what he has to say.”

Barron rose to prominence through his YouTube videos commenting on popular culture, books, and movies, as well as theological issues. Since then, his YouTube channel has gained more than half-a-million subscribers, and his Facebook page has amassed more than three million followers.

See Barron A2