Xavier University's presidential inauguration in September will be a family affair, embracing faculty, students, staff and alumni.

        The Rev. Michael James Graham, S.J., took over Jan. 1 for his mentor, the Rev. James E. Hoff, S.J., who retired after 10 years to pursue other Jesuit ministries.

        One of the first things Father Graham did was draft a fellow Jesuit, the Rev. Leo Klein, to plan the ceremonies.

        “It's kind of a different inauguration,” Father Klein said.

        When he looked at what had to be done, it came down to the chairman of the board hanging the medallion around the new president's neck and saying “Good luck.”

        Not for Mike Graham, a popular professor, proven administrator and celebrant at standing-room-only Sunday night student Masses.

        Father Klein said initial decisions were to:

        • Center the actual ceremony downtown at St. Xavier Church, 607 Sycamore St., where XU and other local Jesuit ministries began.

        • Invite every full-time XU employee, whether they are faculty, administration or other staff.

        • Ensure that the inauguration has lasting value for the school and is not a one-shot affair.

        After that, the pieces came together neatly, Father Klein said.

        As a result, Father Graham's inauguration will fill three days.

        On Sept. 8, he will celebrate Mass at St. Xavier Church and as the service ends, board chairman Michael Conaton will hang the XU medallion around Father Graham's neck as the formal inauguration. Later, after a dinner in XU's Cintas Center, Father Graham will receive his call to service as 34th president of the university from faculty, students, the Jesuits, the archdiocese and alumni, and will give his inaugural address.

        The next day, Father Graham will celebrate the student Mass on campus and welcome students at a party on the Academic Mall.

        No events are scheduled for Sept. 10, but on Sept. 11, classes will be canceled and everyone on campus will be invited to three one-hour faculty interdisciplinary dialogues that are being designed to suggest new directions for the school.

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