Dear Class of 2019,
Congratulations on your graduation! I join you and your family, friends, classmates, school faculty, staff and community in celebrating the achievement of a milestone in your life. Your graduation marks a capstone in your academic pursuit worthy of being celebrated and for which to be thankful.
Giving thanks is remembering with gratitude what you have accomplished. However, our accomplishments oftentimes give way to pride, and we become cocky and less dependent on God. Please do not forget that everything you achieve is not just of your own making, but comes from our Lord. Catholic education, by intersecting faith and knowledge as the foundation of learning, has provided you not only the opportunity to achieve academic excellence but also to acquire essential spiritual and moral values that will guide you as you pursue your aspirations and life’s goals. It is essential that your faith in God continues to be an essential component of your life so that you don’t lose the connection between all of your successes and God, who is the source and fountain of all goodness and blessings.
As you head out to continue your studies or pursue your career, I assure you of my prayers to help you in your endeavor to confront the many different situations that will challenge your faith and the core values that have been instilled in you by your Catholic education. You will face the strong tide of extreme individualism and materialism that deny the existence of God and urge us to think only of ourselves. Unfortunately, with the prevalent religious persecution and the influence of these cultural trends that promote a godless society, many people are being swayed and are abandoning their faith in God. Without God, society not only loses its moral compass and spiritual GPS, but people lose their direction and identity as children of God. The result is a world of confused moral values, where people rely more on themselves than on God, and put their own wants above the needs of others. This is detrimental to the common good, which is the basis of human society.
Our society, therefore, desperately needs people of faith. Do not be deceived by the thinking of this world, which seeks to eliminate the presence of God in our midst and boasts we can accomplish everything without Him. You cannot achieve your dreams on your own and neither can you save yourself. Pope Benedict once said that, “Christian life is a mystery of communion with Jesus” (Angelus, Saint Peter’s Square, 14 May 2006). In God’s design, we are made to be connected to Him who is the core of our being. As Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit; without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). In other words, the deeper reality of our existence is our intimate union or relationship with Christ who is the “Way, the Truth and the Life”(John 14:6).
This connectedness with God extends to others who are the branches of the vine: your family, your friends, your classmates, those with whom you work, those with whom you play, those with whom you pray. Therefore, stay connected with them but most especially with God. Do not forget to go to Church, to attend Mass on Sundays and, if you can, during the week. Stay with Christ and remain in him, and you will bear much fruit, realize your aspirations, and achieve your dreams.
My dear graduates, your steadfastness in faith as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ can bring the much-needed presence of God into our society and the world. It is only through Him and with Him and in Him that we can exist fully and accomplish our dreams. We need caring people who love as Christ commanded we do – to love others as he has loved us. Keep your faith and bring with you your love of God and of one another. Remember that we are all created by God for a unique purpose. We have different gifts and talents but share the one Spirit and one Lord (cf 1Cor 12:4-11). Find your God-given purpose. Help others discover their God-given talents, so that together we can build a better world for all.
May God, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, bless you and protect you from all evil and harm. I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire you and guide you along a path of righteousness and love.
Congratulations again and may you all realize your potential and achieve your dreams!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Most Rev. Oscar A. Solis
Bishop of Salt Lake City
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