Parents send off college-bound children with blessings

  Health+Behavior  

In an emotional service that capped a three-day orientation to college life at La Sierra University, parents of several hundred freshmen prayed prayers of blessing over their children as they sent them off into young adulthood.

Parents and family members of La Sierra freshmen attend the IGNITE Parent Blessing on Sept. 18 at the La Sierra University Church. (Photos by Natan Vigna)
Parents and family members of La Sierra freshmen attend the IGNITE Parent Blessing on Sept. 18 at the La Sierra University Church. (Photos by Natan Vigna)
La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey gives a welcome for the Parent Blessing service.
La Sierra University President Randal Wisbey gives a welcome for the Parent Blessing service.
Freshman Ivana Carbajal talks about her favorite memories of her mother during the Parent Blessing.
Freshman Ivana Carbajal talks about her favorite memories of her mother during the Parent Blessing.
La Sierra music alum Gianlucca Gibbons performs saxophone during the Parent Blessing.
La Sierra music alum Gianlucca Gibbons performs saxophone during the Parent Blessing.
Sandy Carbajal, Ivana's mother, and IGNITE leader Amanda Schultz during the Parent Blessing service.
Sandy Carbajal, Ivana's mother, and IGNITE leader Amanda Schultz during the Parent Blessing service.
Parents blessed their children reciting words of blessing printed on cards and oil from small flasks in the tradition of biblical blessings.
Parents blessed their children reciting words of blessing printed on cards and oil from small flasks in the tradition of biblical blessings.

The Parent Blessing service, held Fri., Sept. 18 at the La Sierra University Church lasted a little over an hour and involved messages of welcome, encouragement, and inclusion. It concluded the three-day IGNITE program for freshmen involving games, workshops, and traditional start-of-school activities designed to help the new students transition into college life.

The Blessing service included a brief interview between La Sierra freshman Ivana Carbajal and her mother, Sandy Carbajal moderated by IGNITE student leader Amanda Schultz. She asked Ivana her favorite memories of her mother and what sort of message she would like to give her. “Number one, definitely trust in God and the plans He has for you,” said Ivana to her mom. “And a big thank you for putting me into Christian education and telling me to follow my passion.”

A few moments later Sandy Carbajal answered with a favorite memory and message for her daughter. “Ivana, I love you unconditionally. Just put God in the center of everything and you will succeed,” she said.

La Sierra University Church Senior Pastor Chris Oberg gave on homily of welcome to the freshmen citing the care, prayers and concern the students and their parents can expect from the university community, including the church’s 2,008 members.

“Each one of you freshmen, you matter to us,” Oberg said. “Here, we’re all family. Did you notice they put you into something called family groups [for IGNITE]? From wherever you came, however you’ve been labeled, however you’ve been segregated, … the reality on this campus is that you now matter because you belong here.”

Oberg recounted the story of the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and Quasimodo’s rescue of Esmeralda by taking her into the sanctuary of the cathedral to escape her accusers.

“We started in this church tonight on our campus community because we believe that inside sanctuary we are all safe. … The Bible says that inside sanctuary God gives us power and strength, … that inside sanctuary God’s goodness can be felt,” said Oberg. “The La Sierra ingredient is love. We commit ourselves in the name of our Jesus to love you well.”

Yami Bazan, vice president for student life, led the parents in a special ceremony of blessing their children. Upon entering the sanctuary, parents were given small round flasks of oil and cards printed with a blessing message upon entering the sanctuary. In the tradition of biblical blessings, Bazan invited the parents to use the oil to place on their college-bound children and to recite to them the blessing message: “May Jesus bless you with gentleness and a heart that is tender. May Jesus bless you with strength against all principalities. May Jesus bless you with compassion and care. May Jesus bless you with courage, daring to be who you are. May Jesus bless you with openness, understanding and respect. May Jesus bless you with power to make Jesus all.”

Following the service, parents commented on its impact, and on the experience of sending their children to college.

“I liked the blessing, it was special for us,” said Laura Garcia whose daughter, Melody Garcia will study screen writing in La Sierra’s film and television department.

“The words in the blessing were something I want to tell my daughter,” said Juan Garcia, Melody’s father. “She really loves what she’s going to study. It is something that for her is a passion.” His advice to his daughter is to know her heart, her passion, “and make the best of this time in college.”

Freshman Enid Robles, a graduate of Newport Harbor High School, sat closely with her mother, Mary Carmen Robles, near the back of the packed church. Enid’s sister, Yohani Ramos attended La Sierra a few years ago, an influence on Enid’s decision to enroll at La Sierra University.

Mary Carmen described the Blessing service as “beautiful.” When asked her thoughts as her daughter heads to college, Mary Carmen responded, “It has always been what a parent has wanted for a child, only the best. Although we’re only 45 minutes away, I already miss her. The fact that La Sierra is an Adventist school is such a blessing. It is a gift God has been able to give to us.”

 

 

 

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