America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
Good morning, your Eminence, and to all who have attended this special Mass today. I am a senior at Maria Regina High School, located in Hartsdale. Today, I stand here reading this speech; however, as I do so, I am speaking on behalf of my senior class, as well as students everywhere, who have come to truly understand the value of a Catholic school education.
If there is one thing that I will never forget, it is that God is our refuge. This is something we trust to be true, and we are able to do so because of our faith, which has flourished because of our Catholic school educations. When surrounded by tragedy, we place our trust in God. We have developed an unshakable trust and assurance that God is omnipresent. God shines his light down upon us, illuminating our lives. God is helping us discover who we are and what road we are meant to continue on while on this journey that we call life.
Life is a beautiful gift, full of jubilation and buoyant moments; however, tragedy also plays a role in our time here on Earth. Tragedy is an aspect of life that is unfortunately something that we all must face some point in our lives. A family member may fall ill, a relative may pass away, or a loved one may perish in the maelstrom of war. In times of sadness and grief, we turn to God. We are fortunate enough to have a faith that has been rooted so deep within each of us, that when tragedy strikes, we have prayer to save us from sinking into the abyss of sorrow. It is through our Catholic education that we have acquired an understanding that God has a reason for everything. We know that when our loved ones pass away, they are making the voyage back home to God. God awaits them with open arms, ready to embrace them at the gates of Heaven.
Our awareness of the insurmountable power of God, the understanding that death is a final pilgrimage necessary to enter his kingdom, and the idea that heaven is a place synonymous with home, are beliefs that are not only taught but understood through a Catholic school education.
I am truly thankful. I am thankful because I know that God is guiding me through life, and that I do not have to conquer obstacles alone. I am thankful because I have the valuable gift of faith and awareness of God’s unconditional love. My education has given me the chance to not only forge a relationship with the Lord, but has also presented me with challenges and opportunities to strengthen that connection. As we grow older, some tend to drift away from God. It is through attending a Catholic school that our belief in God is revived and strengthened to such a degree that we develop an unbreakable faith. I am ever so grateful for having been given the chance to truly understand the magnitude of the sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross.
In a Catholic school, we not only read Scripture, but we immerse ourselves into the words of Christ, and analyze the hidden messages that lie within the pages of the Bible. We are given the wonderful opportunity to understand and grasp the ideas written down in the most important work ever written. Furthermore, in a Catholic school, our teachers teach us not to fear death, they teach us not to give into society’s perverse ways, they teach us to embrace our individual uniqueness granted to us by God. But most importantly, they teach us a forgotten quality, they teach us to love one another. So, thank you for giving us a Catholic school education, which has granted us the greatest gift of all, the gift of faith.
Angelina Vuktilaj, a member of the Class of 2016 at Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale, delivered these remarks at the Mass for graduating seniors at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on April 20.
