By Father William Sweeney
When the graduating class of St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, files into St. John’s University on Saturday, June 6, another academic year will be concluding. But here at the Prep, education and faith always continues! We have an expression that we use frequently – “High school is four years, But St. Francis Prep is forever!”
When graduation is complete, our more than 600 graduates will join the 18,000-plus alumni of St. Francis going into the world as members of our Franciscan family – those who try to live by the Gospel and by the values of St. Francis:
– to live lovingly
– to be instruments of peace
– to care for creation
– to be bearers of joy and hope
I remember when I graduated from Cathedral Prep, Elmhurst, in 1973, I was ready to take on the world. The world as we know it has changed immensely since then, but our graduates and I’m sure the countless young leaders we are sending out, have the same ambition.
The Class of 2015 has excelled in many different ways. As of May 20, they have received over $134 million in scholarships for their college careers. They have served the needs of countless people as part of campus ministry volunteering at soup kitchens, nursing homes, after-school programs, as P.S. 4 volunteers and by participating in many other programs.
They have won titles on the field as athletes and have shared their talents on stage, on our SFP television and in making poetry and other subjects come alive.
I am blessed each day to work with a dedicated and hard-working faculty whose members have committed their lives and their careers to Catholic education and making the world a better place. I wish everyone could see the amazing good that happens at SFP and in every Catholic school in our diocese and our world.
Life is and continues to be difficult, but everyday Christ is preached, not just by words, but also by actions.
St. Francis always told his followers that “your life may be the only homily someone hears today.”
I want to assure the people of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, that faith and love and service and compassion are lived each day in the halls and classrooms of our Catholic schools.
Happy Graduation!
Happy Summer!
God bless our teachers and students and let us all continue our journey to Heaven!
Father William Sweeney is the chaplain at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows.