Holy Angels Catholic School Graduation Homily (June 9, 2020)

A Few Words at Graduation

Dear Parishioners,

Last Monday night (6/6/16), I preached the Baccalaureate Mass for St. Joseph Regional School's 8th grade graduation.  I share with you a synopsis of my homily:

During your recent reception of the sacrament of confirmation by Bishop Sullivan, you were asked to choose a confirmation name--usually stemming from a saint who impressed you.  When I was ordained, I too chose a patron saint, with whom I want you now to become more familiar.  I was inspired by the life and example of a Franciscan Friar--a priest--who lived during World War II.  Fr. Maximilian Kolbe gave me a vivid example of how to imitate Christ by his selfless love of others.

Towards the end of his life, Fr. Kolbe was imprisoned in a death camp in Poland--the infamous Auschwitz. Whenever a prisoner tried to escape from this prison, ten people were chosen to die as punishment and as a deterrent to others from trying to escape.  When one of the ten chosen prisoners started to cry out that he had a wife and family, Fr. Kolbe stepped forward and offered his life in place of the married man.  Fr. Kolbe was placed in a starvation cell and left to die.  For weeks before his death he led the other prisoners in prayer and song until he was eventually injected with carbolic acid which killed him immediately.  His act of selfless love was a motivation for me to be a priest dedicated to the service of and love for others.

As you leave this school and move on to various high schools, please remember to imitate the selfless love of Christ.  Take the Catholic faith that you were given and nurtured with here at this school, and witness it to others.  There will be many changes in your life--both good and bad.  As your time here ends, your future begins somewhere else.  Wherever you may go, remember that Jesus is always with you.  Pray to Him.  Be faithful to Him.  Trust Him.  Listen to Him.

You have reached a point of accomplishment in your lives.  However, I hope that you all realize that the purpose of our lives is much more than obtaining a piece of paper that we call a diploma or a degree.  Handing God a diploma or degree is not what is required for one of us  to wind up in heaven--to have union with God--someday.  Living a life of loving God and others, caring for the poor, sick and neglected, forgiving and showing others mercy is what God looks for in our lives.  By carrying out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy--which I know you had to study in preparation for your Confirmation--is a good start.

Chances are you will probably forget most of what I say to you here tonight.  However, I left you a little remembrance in your pews to remind you of my words.  At each of your places I placed a holy card with the picture of St. Maximilian Kolbe on it as a reminder.  Think of him and the example of his selfless love and let it be a continual reminder for you as it is for me.

May God bless you and all of your families and friends who join us here tonight--especially your parents who provided you with this opportunity to receive a Catholic education.  

Always be grateful for what you have been given.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor 

St. Maximilian Kolbe

           

Moving On

Dear Parishioners,

Monday night we held the Baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremonies for the eighth grade from our regional school.  While some of you might have been there, I realize that many of you were not.  I share with you some (abridged) thoughts from my homily that evening:

It struck me today that I have delivered over thirty graduation speeches/homilies as a priest to date.  It’s always quite an awesome opportunity for me.  Realizing that you will probably forget what I say to you fifteen minutes after this evening’s ceremonies are over, I hope and pray that you will actually remember something that I say to you tonight.

1.  You still have a lot of education ahead of you.  Eighth grade graduation is an accomplishment but, unfortunately, you might not even be half way through your formal education.  When I was where you are today, I still had twelve more years of school to go before I was ordained a priest.  Sorry for giving you the bad news but you most likely have many more years of education ahead of you.  Never stop learning, in and out of the classroom.

2.  Set realistic goals and expectations for yourselves.  When I was young we were encouraged to be anything that we wanted to be.  I was told that I could even be the President of the United States someday.  While this was encouraging, it was not realistic.  There have been not quite fifty presidents since the United States was founded, out of its many millions of citizens.  Aspire, rather, to be the mayor of your town, or a Member of Congress, or something that is more realistic.  Some of the students that I taught in high school played against and knew Mike Trout.  Unfortunately, not everyone had or will have his level of talent and the opportunities to be a professional baseball player like him.  Set a goal that you will be able to achieve.

3.  Don’t forget where you come from.  You are now a graduate of St. Joseph Regional School.  Don’t ever forget that.  Take that with you through life.  There may be a time in your life when you are able to give back to your school or community.  Sadly, I think of someone like Lewis Katz who recently died in a plane crash.  Mr. Katz, who was from Camden, was known to have given back to that city from his financial resources and tried to help others from what he had.  He didn’t forget where he came from.

4.  The world doesn’t owe you a living.  Neither does your country or your school or your church or even your own family owe you a living.  Rather you owe the world something.  Make something of yourselves.  God has given you life and breath.  Do something with your life—make a contribution to this world—that will give honor and glory to Almighty God.

5.  Finally and most importantly, try to love Jesus more each day.  Incorporated into attending a Catholic School is the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ as part of your formal education.  There is nothing more important or more valuable than developing a relationship with Jesus through prayer.  All of the degrees or awards that you may receive in life mean absolutely nothing if we do not one day share eternity with God in heaven.  Try to love Jesus more and more each and every day of your life.  He will help you and guide you with the many decisions that you will have to make in the future.  More than that, He loves you with a tremendous, unconditional love.  There is no more valuable lesson to learn in life than that.

                                                                    

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor