LMU senior Cole Cartledge was singing in the hallway of his elementary school in the fourth grade when the choir director heard him and recruited him. He has been singing ever since.
This past weekend, Cartledge sang in many of LMU’s liturgies including Holy Thursday, the Easter Vigil, and both the 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday, which had more than 300 people in attendance. “I really believe in the human soul and its relationship with the divine,” said Cartledge. “I think music takes people to a connection space that words really can’t reach.” Cartledge has been in music ministry at LMU since he learned about it during First Year Retreat.
Chris de Silva is the campus minister for music and liturgy, and Cartledge said having him as a mentor has really transformed his college experience. “I think Chris is phenomenal, I look up to him so much.” said Cartledge. “He really, cultivates a good community and he focuses on this ministry of welcome that just radiates out to the choir and I think, by extension, radiates out into Sacred Heart Chapel.” The time that Cartledge spent in the chapel has also made him realize his vocation to be an attorney for undocumented citizens. “The Gospel serves as a nice model and shows us what human beings are supposed to do for each other,” said Cartledge.
Cartledge is double majoring in international relations and Spanish. He decided to be an attorney through a discernment process and wanted to give back to the community. “I have now had eight years of Jesuit education and I wanted a career where my greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need,” said Cartledge. He is also a member of the Magis service organization, has participated in De Colores trips, and is a First Year Retreat Leader. Cartledge also volunteers as a translator at the Loyola Immigrant and Justice Clinic at LMU Loyola Law School.