Xavier University, the historically Black university in New Orleans affiliated with the Catholic Church, has produced a new ceremonial mace that will become an integral part of graduation and other events at the institution.
The mace is 42 inches tall and weighs 27 pounds. It includes a finely carved staff made of mahogany. The head of the mace is polished bronze and includes the university’s seal and motto. Ensconced in the mace’s crown is a relic of clothing from Katharine Drexel, the founder of the university who was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 2000.
The mace was designed by Ron Bechet, the Victor H. Labat Endowed Professor in Fine Arts at Xavier University. Several arts students and faculty participated in the construction of the mace.
