Created in the image of God

After three challenging years, the 2022 graduates gathered last month at Holy Family Parish to celebrate their graduation Mass.  These students were in grade 10 when the pandemic hit, having the entirety of their high school education impacted. But they focused on opportunities rather than challenges, and persevered to reach this wonderful milestone.

Our division's theme this year was “Created in the Image of God”.  Throughout the year, staff and students focused on the dignity, beauty, and uniqueness of each person.  This theme was embedded in the graduation Mass in many facets.  On the steps near the altar, each student’s graduation picture was displayed. In the homily, Fr. Rodel Abanto spoke of graduation being a commencement, i.e., a beginning.  He reminded the students that they have all been made in the image of God and have been given unique gifts to impact the world in countless ways. At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Rodel prayed a special blessing over the cross necklaces, which were given by the Administration for each graduate as a stirring reminder of Jesus’ abounding love for them.

This graduation was a celebration of a community of members with unique backgrounds, experiences, and stories, all coming together in a beautiful tapestry. Many students have been part of Catholic education since kindergarten. Other students joined our Catholic division at various points in their educational journeys. In a recent religion review performed in our division, Dr. Dean Sarnecki asked students who had attended school in both the public and Catholic schools if they found a difference between the school systems. The students could not specifically identify the difference but noted that there was a special feeling in the Catholic system - that it was “just different” and offered “something more.” Hard to put their finger on, perhaps, but that “difference” was pervasive. 
 
Another tremendous aspect of celebrating our graduating class was the 16 international students who graduated alongside their Canadian classmates.  These students came from  Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Denmark, Columbia, Ukraine, Japan, and Poland.  They forged friendships that will last a lifetime and span many miles across the globe. Each one of these students was an important piece of the patchwork, the tapestry, of the Graduating Class of 2022.

We do not know what the future holds for our graduates, but we do know we are sending them out with numerous lessons learned. They have learned to be flexible; they have learned the value of working together; they have learned perseverance pays off; they have learned to be welcoming to others in their midst, and they have learned that they are created in the image and likeness of God.  With these experiences woven together, forever a part of the tapestry of the Class of 2022, undoubtedly, they will thrive. 

Photos from the Monsignor McCoy High School Graduation for Class 2022

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Written by Heather Irvine for Faithfully. Heather is the Religious Education Coordinator for Medicine Hat Catholic School Division.  She and her husband, Brad, along with their three sons, are parishioners at Holy Family Parish, Medicine Hat.
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​Photos courtesy of Medicine Hat Catholic School Division.