Central Catholic seniors express their faith in the future

These are good times to be at Central Catholic High School.

The school won a Class 1A baseball championship with walk-off victories Friday and Saturday. There was more walking Monday night, when the school’s seniors walked up to get diplomas at a Holy Cross Catholic Church commencement. Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese officiated.

All those events were scheduled by others. Now the seniors will able, even required, to make decisions of their own. Central Catholic and its faith leaders hope religious education will guide those decisions.

“This formation of a whole person, especially in the areas of academics and faith, is the great gift and worth of a Catholic school education,” Fabre told the seniors. “This gift, graduates, has now been given to you by many, along with the untiring efforts of your wonderful parents, of family members, who have the primary responsibility assisting you and providing you with a Catholic education …

“I hope you will always appreciate the many people who have made an effort in your years of elementary, middle and high school education to instill in you the knowledge, the understanding and the skills that have been provided to you, to go forth into society and indeed into the world and to both contribute and participate in community life as a good citizen and a productive member of society, as a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

To judge by the addresses from top graduates, the message was received.

“The faculty, staff and administration here at Central have always emphasized not only growing in knowledge but also becoming strong in our faith,” said salutatorian Patrick Barron. “They have prepared us to go into the world as disciples of Jesus.”

Like Barron, the four valedictorians reflected on the school’s prayer.

From Jordan Morvant: “All of us here tonight are exposed to a world where temptation and malice exist. Every day we are subjected to negativity. ... Do we attempt to right the wrongs we see in society? Do we actively try to be peacemakers?

“Being a peacemaker is difficult task, as it requires people to take a stand against inequalities that exist in their homes, schools, workplaces and beyond.” The answer, she said, is to follow Christ.

From Emma Thomas: “We come to realize our failures have shaped us into the people we were meant to be. God can turn a mess into a message, and a trial into a triumph. As a Central Catholic Eagle, we’ve gained the tools that we’ll need to be successful in the future.”

From Lindsee Case: “Consolation, understanding and love were central components of Christ’s mission while on earth. … During our high school years, we’ve had tremendous support systems, friends, faculty and our own personal families. ... It is our turn to model these powerful characteristics to those around us in our next phase of life.”

From Tanner Wiggins: “This selfless act of caring for others has the power to change lives. It is said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. While we cannot have much control over the receiving aspect, we do have significant authority in the ways in which we give our time, talent and treasures.”