Gratitude for graduates, and a prayer they know God Continued from • G2
He told them that they would only make a difference in the world if they lived up to a personal code of honor and the integrity that followed in its wake. How true this is! His words were met with great applause, the affirmation of young men and women ready to make a difference and seeking, truly seeking, a way to do just that. But as I sat and listened to his words and the exhilaration they caused in the crowd, I could not help but think, “What will sustain these highly intelligent and well-prepared young men and women for that
challenging reality of entering the world?” Truly they are well-educated and have been challenged to think critically. They have been reared on science and the humanities. They have received a classical education that has taught them ethics and the ability to be self-reflective and engaged civically. But as I sat there, I prayed, “Lord let them know you; let them seek you and find in you the strength they will need to truly be honorable and to find the integrity of your life working in and through them. Only by this will they truly make a difference.” I believe that my prayer was heartfelt,
and as I have prayed for all the graduates of our Catholic schools, I add one more dimension to this prayer: I pray in thanksgiving for their existence, for they truly are the places that teach our students how to know Jesus, how to meet him in their halls and classrooms, how to be Church – the Body and Blood of Christ that in and through them will make a lasting difference in our world. Class of 2018, know Christ and live Christ always! Editor’s Note: This article was Father Zeis’ homily for the 2018 Baccalaureate Masses.
Graduates will enrich the world Continued from • G3
with wisdom that transcends knowledge – the wisdom to know that you matter as a traveler on this planet. The journey will be filled with experiences of joy and disappointments; experiences of failure and regret; experiences of exhilaration and confusion. Realize that you matter. You are a miracle created by God. In His infinite wisdom, you were given gifts to be shared with others. No one possesses all the genius, skills and talents. We are called to use our special gifts as we connect with each oth-
er, as we support each other, as we forgive each other, as we listen and understand and love each other. In doing so, we blend our talents for the good of all and emulate the teachings of Jesus. Embrace the freedom to know that with imperfections and flaws, during this time of becoming and making mistakes and having self-doubts, that there is perfection in the process, and that you are loved unconditionally. Embrace the courage to aim high; the courage to live your ideals; the courage to
follow your heart’s desire; the courage to do the work that gnaws at you inner core for expression. Embrace the courage to explore, to create, to take risks, to fail and to grow. The human experience requires grace and the ability to learn throughout life. It requires humility and courage to take risks. It requires faith in God and belief in the human spirit. It requires vulnerability. Radiate joy and compassion as you are immersed in a world of opportunity, a world that will be enriched by your presence.
G34 •
the
ea
r
t
of
ON ACA ET
MY DE
PRIN C
Congratulations to the Class of 2018 on earning admission to the following secondary schools:
S a c re d H
Creative. Compassionate. Courageous. Our mission is to develop young men with active and creative minds, a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and the courage to act on their beliefs. We educate and develop the whole boy in mind, body and spirit.
We bring out the best in boys. | www.princetonacademy.org
Class of 2018 • THE MONITOR • JUNE 2018
Berkshire School Bishop England High School Fettes College (Edinburgh, Scotland) George School The Gunnery School The Hill School Holy Ghost Preparatory School The Hotchkiss School The Hun School The Lawrenceville School Morristown-Beard School Notre Dame High School Peddie School The Pennington School Phillips Academy Andover Phillips Exeter Academy Porter-Gaud Portsmouth Abbey School Princeton Day School Ridley College (Ontario, Canada) Saint Joseph High School Solebury School St. Joseph’s Preparatory School St. Stephen’s School (Rome, Italy) Tabor Academy Wilberforce School