ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Bishop McFadden,
Dear Priests and Deacons, Religious, Administrators and Educators,
Student Honorees,
Families and Friends,

What a joy it is to gather in thanksgiving to God and in recognition of distinguished scholars from our archdiocesan high schools. Your achievements are, undoubtedly, the result of sacrifice and personal effort. We admire the way in which you have applied yourselves to your studies. I speak for all in the Archdiocese in offering congratulations.

The foundation and purpose of all education is a search for truth. Saint Augustine maintained that we desire truth more passionately than anything else. Each of us has an innate and irrepressible desire for the ultimate and definitive truth. As Christians, we recognize that this truth is a person: Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh. Jesus, then, is the truth for which we all long. In coming to know and love Jesus, we come to know and love the truth.

Students in our Catholic schools are fortunate that their quest for truth takes place within a religious atmosphere. Catholic schools are institutions which offer high quality academic instruction. Even more, they are an effective vehicle of total Christian formation. By offering courses in science, history, mathematics, languages, the arts and so forth, the school nurtures and responds to the student’s intellectual curiosity.

By relating these subjects to salvation, students come to see how Jesus Christ illumines all of life. Catholic education provides an environment where a student can come to know and love Jesus. Daily, students are afforded the opportunity to hear and live the Gospel; to learn and appreciate the teachings of the Church; to acquire a deep understanding, reverence and love for the Liturgy; to build community; to pray and properly form their consciences; to develop virtue and participate in Christian service.

Catholic schools provide students with an academically rigorous education and a doctrinally sound program of faith formation designed to strengthen their union with Christ and his Church. Through a broad-based curriculum, where faith and culture are intertwined, Catholic schools form students to meet the challenging cultural and moral contexts in which young people find themselves. They are provided "an education by virtue of which their whole lives may be inspired by the spirit of Christ" (Gravissimum Educationis, 8).

What the world needs most is God’s love. It needs to encounter Jesus Christ and to believe in Him. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Christ and to make Him known to others as the one true Savior. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul testifies how he bore witness to Jesus. He did so with humility and endured many trials and hardships. However, he never shrank from proclaiming the Gospel of God’s grace. He felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to teach the people. The value that Paul found in life was directly connected with proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Distinguished scholars, your formation to be witnesses for Christ began at home. Your parents have been influential in your faith formation. Parents are the first educators. They teach primarily by the witness of their Christian lives and by their love for the faith. It is at home that the seeds of a personal relationship with Jesus are planted.

The Catholic schools that you have attended have assisted your parents in forming you to be witnesses. Catholic schools have collaborated with your parents and guardians in raising and forming you to proclaim Jesus to others. Your Catholic education, rooted in Jesus Christ, ensures that you have the foundation to be witnesses to Him in the world.

A Christian witness is one who knows and loves Jesus and wants others to know and love Him too. This witness, this testimony must come from inner conviction. Inner conviction develops out of intimacy with Christ. Intimacy with Christ is possible only by spending time with him. There can be no effective Christian witness without a personal relationship with Jesus, especially in the Eucharist. It is in the Eucharist that Jesus unites us to himself. In the Eucharist, the Lord truly becomes food to satisfy pilgrim hearts that hunger and thirst for truth.

Distinguished scholars, you already witness to Jesus by applying yourselves to your studies and participating in school activities. In so doing, you develop the gifts that you have received from God. You proclaim Jesus by your lifestyle. Your moral example and acts of charity enrich the lives of others and offer encouragement, especially to your peers. Your witness is particularly clear by your participation in the Eucharist.

We look forward to the future when you will provide faith-filled leadership for our Church and our nation. Always view others from the perspective of Jesus. Recognize that all men and women are created, just like yourselves, in God’s image and likeness. Do not remain passive in the face of human suffering and inequality. Scholars, place your enormous gifts and talents at the service of life and the promotion of justice, reconciliation and peace. Like Saint Paul, work tirelessly to promote a civilization of love. In so doing, you will be glorifying God.

Some of you will witness to Jesus as lay members of Christ’s faithful people. Others will be called to witness as priests, religious sisters and brothers. This past Saturday, in this very Cathedral, seven young men were ordained to the priesthood for service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I am convinced that God is calling some of you to the priesthood and religious life. The Church’s history is filled with numerous examples of priests and religious who were gifted with superior intellects. Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Augustine of Hippo and Teresa of Avila are just a few who applied their minds to probing and explaining the deepest mysteries of faith. What a joy and privilege for you to place your talents at the service of God as a priest, brother or sister! May you be open and responsive to the invitation to serve God’s people.

Parents, encourage your children to be open to doing God’s will. Trust in Jesus, and help your sons and daughters accept their vocation in life with wisdom and freedom. The radical decision to follow Christ as a priest or religious sister or brother can be deeply rewarding. We have a deep conviction that Christ continues to inspire young men and women to give themselves totally to Christ as priests, sisters and brothers.

There is so much for which to be grateful this evening. I express my deep gratitude, first of all, to the parents who have entrusted the education and formation of their children to our Catholic schools. In so doing, you have given us the privilege of sharing a role in which you have the primary and irreplaceable responsibility.

I am grateful for the priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay faithful who serve in the educational apostolate. We depend upon you to set high academic standards and instill a spirit of faith and values rooted in Christ. You give generously of yourselves to advance the teaching mission of the Church. You assist parents by providing their children with a solid moral foundation. Our Catholic school teachers understand that their work is not just a career opportunity; it is a vocation, a response to God’s call to teach and evangelize our youth.

I am grateful for the support of the entire Catholic community, who by their prayers and financial support enable our schools to accomplish their mission. With this support, many are able to receive a Catholic education who might otherwise be deprived.

Finally, I congratulate our archdiocesan scholars. The future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation. We are proud of you. Christ expects great things from young people. Put your talents at the service of the proclamation of the Good News. Be friends of Jesus and give authentic witness to Him so that others might get to know and love Him.

Tonight we entrust you, our archdiocesan scholars, to our Blessed Mother, Mary, whom we honor in a special way during this month of May. Through her maternal intercession, may Mary, the Seat of Wisdom, assist you in putting your gifts and talents at the service of the Kingdom of God. Amen.