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The regional bishop for 91����’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 “the world’s dissociation from God.” To grow closer to God, the Bishop said, it is important to get away from worldly distractions. “We 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: “Don’t be known by the world’s corruption — evangelize to it,” he said. “Go into politics, academia, art, everything.” Calling to mind Plato’s Republic, he continued, “Bring it out of the cave.”

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

“Typical 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. “The evening ended with a rousing round of applause for His Excellency and a group of students surrounding the Bishop, reluctant to let him go.”