Graduation Homily: June 1, 2007

Our eighth grade students are now our graduates. A wonderful class of bright young ladies and gentlemen. The following are the words spoken to them at their graduation.

Good morning, again. The themes in the gospel verses are serious business for graduates from any kind of school. But beneath the three scenes Mark puts before us, there is one underlying message. It is some wisdom I want each of you to take with you for the years ahead. "Have faith in God." This is the message for you who are graduating today, your parents, your teachers, your Principal and me. "Have faith in God."
As we grow older, as we start to climb the graduation ladder from grammar school to high school, to college and perhaps to graduation school, we come to many moments when our faith – whatever faith one might profess – will be challenged. What you have been taught at Our Lady of Victory School as values, as faith-directed values will be your basic values for the rest of your life.
It is a peculiar experience you will begin to face each day in the years ahead. There are going to be days when you are going to be challenged to try drugs. There will be parties where you are going to feel like a wimp or a nerd if you don’t drink a can of beer or two or three or more. There are going to be moments when a special friend may try to invite you to prove you are strong enough to have sex. These are the challenges that I know you will confront in the next four years – if you have not already found them knocking at your door.
I trust, as does Mrs. Martinez , that your teachers have tried their best to teach you more than reading, writing and arithmetic. They know that as your teachers your future has been their responsibility along with your parents. We believe they have done everything possible to teach you how to see right as different from wrong. These are the values you must nurture in the your lives in the years ahead.
Today, you graduates bring to an end a most important part of your lives. I personally believe it is more important than high school or college. You have learned what it means to do what is good, what is right. And now you are taking what you have learned to Gonzaga, Visitation, St. John’s, Holy Child, Good Counsel, Stone Ridge, John Carroll and other quality schools. Let me promise you this: if you continue to keep strong the values planted in your lives in this school by your teachers and what your parents have taught you in your homes, you will find the next four years to be at time for some of the greatest adventures in your life.
I want to share words of thanks to you. You, as a class, have brought a great sense of spirit to our school. I believe your teachers would say that your spirit has really made coming to "work" more than a job. That sprit has spread throughout the school. I see the way you have shown your care for the hungry in weekly making sandwiches for those in need. I have seen how much the little students look up to you because you talk to them and help them when you see them to be in need. I have seen you laughing – a sign of good health. I have spoken to some of you when tears were painfully coming from your eyes. I have seen you show a true respect for your teachers. I have seen how much you have made your classmates a part of your life in moments like last night’s grand dramatic production. Broadway watch out!
To your parents I wish to express our gratitude for all your efforts in the formation of this class. You should be proud today. To your teachers, kudos for instilling values and subject matter into minds and hearts seeking to be the best possible. Lastly, I extend thanks to Mrs. Martinez, Mrs. Sague and Miss Dottie for all their work in helping and leading the faculty to make our school so very special, so very unique in all of Washington, D.C.
We pray for you, our graduating class of 2007. Do well in your new schools ... but don’t forget to visit us occasionally because you are truly Our Lady of Victory family now.