Former Milwaukee district attorney E. Michael McCann prepares to lead the graduating class for the conferral of Certificates in Lay Ministries on Tuesday evening at Cardinal Stritch University, May 12, 2009. Carrying candles behind him are Mary Foley (left)the administrative coordinator for the class and Yanelis Picado, the administrative assistant. McCann and 11 others were part of the first US graduating class in Lay Ministry authorized by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The cross carried by McCann is an image of the cross in the church at San Damiano in Assisi, Italy.