FRIDAY, THE FIRST OF MAY, TWO-THOUSAND AND TWENTY-SIX HALF PAST THREE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON
SACRED
HEART
CATHEDRAL
296 FLOWER CITY PARK, ROCHESTER, NY
CLASS OF 2026
PRELUDE
PROCESSION of STUDENTS, FACULTY, & BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
READING
CHORAL MEDITATION
CLASS of 2026 REPRESENTATIVE ADDRESS
PRESENTATION of the Thérèse of Lisieux AWARD for EXCELLENCE in THEOLOGY
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
PRESENTATION of GRADUATE DEGREES
CONFERRAL of DEGREES
HOODING CEREMONY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FINAL BLESSING & DISMISSAL
(Please stand)
Dr. Rajiv Dewan Chair, Board of Trustees
The Most Reverend John S. Bonnici Chancellor
Susan Ivie Mahar
Shannon Toot
Grace Colleran
Prof. Lisa Lickona
Mr. Andrew Kay
Dr. Matthew Kuhner Vice President and Academic Dean
The Most Reverend John S. Bonnici
Dr. Rajiv Dewan
Dr. Stephen Loughlin
President
(Please stand)
READING
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 1: 3-11
Ithank my God whenever I think of you; and every time I pray for all
anks be to God. of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you rst heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is nished when the day of Christ Jesus comes. It is only natural that I should feel like this towards you all, since you have shared the privileges which have been mine: both my chains and my work defending and establishing the gospel. You have a permanent place in my heart, and God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and you never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognize what is best. is will help you to become pure and blameless and prepare you for the day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.
e word of the Lord.
GRADUATE DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE CANDIDATES
CERTIFICATE IN EVANGELIZATION
Lorena Gonzalez Avalos*
Leslye Chavez*
Margaret M. Ecklund*
Robert Luke Gilmer*
Sergio Gonzalez*
Michael Ivezic*
Allison Joan Junker* eresa Owen*
Kimberly Sue Palmero*
Brian Patrick Quigley*
Kathryn Lynn Nehila Selinger*
Alyssa Nicole Vega*
Francisco Velazquez*
Molly Melinda Woolf*
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CATHOLIC BIOETHICS
Marianne Carmela Sailus*
Je rey Wayne Yeager
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY
Eugene Enright Muhammad*
*In Absentia
MASTER OF ARTS IN CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY
David A. Escobar Arcay
Je rey Wayne Yeager
MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL STUDIES
Matthew Joseph Hall
Susan A. Ivie Mahar
Eric Ramirez
Michael James Schoene
MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Lois Binet Azessie
Mary Linda Burntitus
Grace Colleran
Joan Hilstolsky
MASTER OF DIVINITY
John Francis Doughty
Dickens Remy
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AND FULL TIME FACULTY
OFFICERS
e Most Reverend John S. Bonnici, Chancellor
Dr. Rajiv Dewan, Chair
Dr. Stephen J. Loughlin, President
MEMBERS
Dr. omas Carroll
Reverend Daniel J. Condon
Dr. Richard DeMartino
Mrs. Elizabeth Gilges
Reverend Monsignor James P. Lang
Very Reverend Paul J. Tomasso
Mrs. Teanna Tomko
Reverend Daniel White
FACULTY
Dr. Matthew Kuhner
Prof. Lisa Lickona
Dr. Stephen J. Loughlin
Dr. Marco Stango
CHANCELLOR OF ST. BERNARD’S AND BISHOP OF ROCHESTER
SECRETARY TO BISHOP BONNICI
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF ALBANY
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN, PA
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE
READER
MUSIC
The Most Reverend John S. Bonnici
Reverend Aaron Kelly
The Most Reverend Mark O’Connell
The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert
The Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia
Susan Ivie Mahar
David Kraft
Shannon Toot
Our gratitude goes out to each and all who made this Commencement possible!
PRAYER FOR OUR ALUMNI
e motto in our crest, ipsa propitia pervenis , is taken from St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Second Homily on the "Missus Est":
O you who nd yourself tossed about by the storms of life, turn not your eyes from the brightness of this Star, if you would not be overwhelmed by its boisterous waves. If the winds of temptations rise, if you fall among the rocks of tribulations, look up at the Star, call on Mary. If anger, covetousness, or other passions beat on the vessel of your soul, look up to Mary. If you begin to sink in the gulf of melancholy and despair, think on Mary. In dangers, in distress, in perplexities, think on Mary, call on Mary. Let her not depart from your lips, let her not depart from your heart, and, that you may win the su rage of her prayers, never depart from the example of her life. Following her, you will never go astray; when you implore her aid, you will never yield to despair; thinking on her, you will not err; under her patronage you will never wander; beneath her protection you will not fear; she being your guide, you will not weary; if she be your propitious Star, you will arrive safely in the port [ipsa propitia pervenis], and experience for yourself the truth of the words, 'And the virgin's name was Mary.’
St. Bernard’s is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sure hope and our brightest star. It is our prayer that she may lead the new members of the St. Bernard’s alumni community into deeper communion with her Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world.
May the Class of 2026 use their gifts to be a light for others and, in following the Star, arrive safely at the heavenly port.
Edward W. Kay, Jr.
1956 - 2025
Mr. Ed Kay, Jr., served as St. Bernard’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ten years, during which he hooded each of our graduates at Commencement. He inspired and led our School as he lived his life: calmly, faithfully, steadfastly, and kindly. In this, the rst Commencement since his passing, we remember Ed fondly, remembering with gratitude his loving care of our graduates and the enthusiasm he showed each of our students in their desire to love and serve God and His Church.
May he and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
“[St. Bernard’s] aspires to be bigger, better, and more dynamic every day. And all of St. Bernard’s constituencies play a role in that aspiration. We look to... our faculty to serve with dedication, our sta to execute with excellence, our students to think critically, [and] our graduates to become exemplars of our School’s mission.
ank you to every member of the St. Bernard’s community who continue to make us better.”
