Catholic School Graduation Homily - (Jeremiah 29:11-14; Matthew 28:16-20)

Dear graduates, parents, faculty, and friends,

Today marks a profound moment of transition in your lives. As we gather to celebrate this milestone, we do so in the light of God's Word, which speaks to us across time and circumstance with remarkable clarity. The readings we've heard today—from the prophet Jeremiah and the Gospel of Matthew—frame your graduation not merely as an academic achievement, but as a moment within God's greater plan for each of you.

In our first reading, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah with words that have comforted countless generations: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). What a powerful promise to carry with you as you leave these familiar halls! But notice the context of this beloved passage. The Israelites were in exile, uprooted from all they knew. In this moment of uncertainty, God speaks not of immediate comfort but of enduring purpose.

Similarly, you stand at a threshold. Your years of Catholic education—with its disciplines, its community, its prayer life—have formed you in ways you may not yet fully appreciate. Now, like the Israelites, you are being called into a new chapter, one that might feel both exciting and uncertain.

The Lord continues in Jeremiah: "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Here lies a profound truth about your education in this Catholic institution. Beyond the academic excellence you've achieved, beyond the athletic victories or artistic accomplishments, your time here has been about learning to seek God with your whole heart.

This seeking is not a passive waiting, but an active engagement with the world through the lens of faith. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that "Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." Your Catholic education has been preparing you for this lifelong encounter with Christ.

In our Gospel reading, we hear the final words of the risen Jesus to his disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20).

These words—the Great Commission—were not spoken only to those first disciples on a mountain in Galilee. They echo across time to you, graduates of this Catholic high school. You have been formed not simply to succeed in the world's terms, but to transform the world through your witness to Christ.

Consider what Jesus is saying: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Before giving his disciples their mission, Christ establishes the source of their confidence. It is not their own abilities or resources, but his authority that will sustain them. So too with you. The challenges ahead—in college, in careers, in relationships—may at times seem overwhelming. But you go forward not in your own strength alone, but with the authority of Christ behind you.

"Go therefore," Jesus continues. The Christian life is not static; it is a going forth. Saint John Paul II, speaking to young people, said: "It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives." Your Catholic education has not been preparing you merely to fit into society as it is, but to go forth and help transform it according to the values of the Gospel.

"Make disciples of all nations." This is not limited to those called to religious life or missionary work. In your future studies, in your careers, in your families, you are called to make disciples by living authentically as followers of Christ. The Catechism teaches us that the lay faithful "have the vocation of bringing the Gospel into all areas of human activity." Your particular talents—whether in science, business, arts, medicine, law, or any other field—are means through which you can witness to Christ and invite others to know him.

And finally, Jesus promises: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is not a temporary arrangement, but a permanent presence. As you leave the structured religious environment of this school, remember that Christ goes with you. In moments of doubt, in times of struggle, in experiences of joy and success—he remains.

Dear graduates, the knowledge and skills you have gained here are valuable. But even more precious is the formation you have received in faith, hope, and love. Your education has been sacramental—a visible sign that points to invisible grace. The disciplines you've mastered, the relationships you've formed, the service you've offered—all of these have been forming you for mission.

To the parents and families present today: yours has been the primary role in the formation of these young people. The Second Vatican Council affirmed that parents are "the first and foremost educators of their children." Your sacrifice and support have made this day possible. The seed of faith you planted has been nurtured in this school, and now continues to grow as these graduates move forward.

To the faculty and staff: you have been co-workers in the vineyard, participating in the sacred work of forming these young minds and hearts. Pope Francis reminds educators that teaching is "an act of love; it is like giving life." Your dedication extends far beyond what can be measured in grades or test scores.

And to you, graduates: remember that your Catholic education does not end today. It has equipped you with the tools for lifelong learning and discernment. As Saint Thomas Aquinas taught, the goal of all education is wisdom—not merely knowledge of facts, but understanding their meaning and purpose in light of ultimate truth.

The world you enter needs your witness now more than ever. It needs young people who understand that success is measured not merely by achievement or acquisition, but by fidelity to one's vocation and service to others. It needs graduates who recognize, as Pope Francis says, that "education is an act of hope."

So go forth from this place with confidence, knowing that God has plans for you, "plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Seek the Lord with your whole heart in whatever path you take. Remember that Christ's authority goes with you, and that his presence remains with you always.

May God who has begun this good work in you bring it to completion. May Mary, Seat of Wisdom, guide your steps. And may you always remain faithful to the formation you have received, as you go forth to transform the world through your witness to Christ.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.