Catholic high school seniors look forward to graduation

When the coronavirus pandemic led to distance education, it was not the conclusion to the school year envisioned by seniors at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School or Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School.
 
Both schools recently held "drive through” robing ceremonies and will celebrate graduations in June and July. At Mount Saint Mary, graduation will be July 9 at the school's football stadium. Bishop McGuinness will have its graduation June 16.
 
With the 2019-2020 school year becoming a unique senior year, graduating students shared their thoughts.
 
Joshua Cleary, The Mount
"During the pandemic, I found myself spending more time in the adoration chapel. Not receiving Christ in the Eucharist has made me find Christ more in a more spiritual way. I’ve learned to trust God and know he has it all under control, and he only gives the strongest people the hardest challenges. I am very grateful for a school administration that wants to give the seniors a special moment. Having one last Mount event at the school will be very special and I’ll remember it forever."
 
Jacob Marino, Bishop McGuinness
“We weren’t expecting to finish our senior year like we did. We were robbed of our typical graduation ceremonies, regional and state competitions, and the social platform that going to school and seeing our friends provides for us. What kept me strong was recognizing that we were all in the same boat together, and that, as frustrating as it was, we were staying home for a cause that was bigger than ourselves.”
 
Sadie Harris - The Mount
“One of the major things I continue to remember about my faith is that it is so much more than the church building. Once the churches closed down, there seemed to be chaos, but to me it was an event that allowed people to grow spiritually. This past semester was something that no one expected and often times I found it hard to continue pushing myself. The staff at Mount Saint Mary did everything they could to make the rest of the year special for the senior class of 2020 and I think they did just that.”
 
Ellie Franks – Bishop McGuinness
“This semester was unexpected and unusual for sure. As seniors we didn’t know that our last day of school before spring break would be our last day of school ever. Before school ended, a couple of my friends started a Bible study and we would meet Wednesday before school. We continued to meet through Zoom during the beginning of the pandemic and they helped me to stay optimistic and positive. This break from reality has really allowed me to notice God’s presence in the little things all around me. I’m thankful for the friends and family God has placed in my life who help me get through challenging times like these.”
 
Katherine Gallagher – The Mount
“This semester has definitely shaken up my life. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through it if I didn’t lean on Christ. God was the only constant. I am so grateful to attend Mount Saint Mary, especially at a time like this. MSM has made us seniors feel special through multiple different senior events and made sure we knew we were a priority. I don’t think there’s a member of the MSM class of 2020 who doesn’t know the love this school has for us.”
 
Clare Jordan - Bishop McGuinness
“My faith during this time has greatly assisted me in staying motivated. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that God will have a plan for us that will later be revealed. With this belief in mind, I try to focus on what I can do to continue living. For example, each year at Bishop McGuinness we have a tradition where we host ‘Olympics Week.’ This is an event that the whole school looks forward to each year and sadly we couldn’t have it in person. But, fortunately we were blessed enough to host the event online. Myself and a small group of students found a way to host talent shows, trivia, gaming events and more virtually. It was a lot of fun and the majority of the school was really invested in participating. I also have been making masks, writing letters to all my friends and even preparing for an online national speech and debate competition. God has blessed me in many ways and the pandemic does not take that away from me. It’s still my responsibility and pleasure to find ways to give back even if things look a bit different this year.”
 
Steve Gust is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Look at pages 7-14 in the June 7 issue of the Sooner Catholic for the graduation section!