Traditions

One of the most treasured traditions upheld through St. Vincent’s history is the “passing of the torch” ceremony of ring day, when each junior chooses a senior to personally present her new senior ring to her during the ceremony, which takes place in the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist each April.With the entire student body in attendance, a priest says a blessing over the new rings and the juniors who will wear them, and then each junior is individually presented with her ring. During the ceremony’s reception, juniors walk around asking people to “turn their ring”--the tradition is that students should get their rings turned, or twisted around on their finger, as many times as the number of their graduation year.