Austin High School seniors let the light guide them to their seats Tuesday night at the Paramount Theatre for the 2003 Baccalaureate service.

Students, pastors and parents in attendance also hope the light guides them in their lives after high school.

The theme for the evening was "Light unto my path." About 60 seniors, dressed in their red graduation robes, were given electric candles to use while they walked down from the balcony of the theatre to the front.

The eighth annual Baccalaureate service invites seniors of all Christian faiths to celebrate their upcoming graduation. Students from churches throughout Austin arrange the program for their classmates.

Nine students formed a Praise Band for the event, a mix of instruments and vocals. The Baccalaureate organizers have been meeting since April.

"It's a really good service," said AHS senior Margaret Wagner, an organizer and singer in the Praise Band. "It really brings all the faiths together for one big celebration."

The service also brought back the Rev. Tim Biren, a former chaplain at Pacelli High School and former assistant pastor at the St. Edward's. Biren, who is now chaplain at St. Thomas More Newman Center at Minnesota State University Mankato, spoke to the students about letting God lead them in their adult lives.

He told the story about a church in the mountains. Beautiful as it was, it had no electricity. When church services were held, the people brought light with them.

"We all need light on our journey of faith," Biren said.

He compared their journey to a car ride with a Global Positioning System. The computer tells the driver where to go and at the end tells the driver and passengers they have arrived at their destination.

"Turn left, turn right, go straight ahead and hopefully one day he'll tell us, 'You have arrived,'" Biren said.

The organizers also put together a video that featured nine students and their thoughts how their faith has helped them so far and how they think it will guide them in the future.

"Any problems that you have in college, you should just look to the light for answers," senior Nate Moser said.

Austin High School seniors graduate at 7 p.m. Friday at Riverside Arena.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com