8th Grade Graduation - remembering

     Last evening at our church the Queen of Angels Catholic School family celebrated the 19th Graduation Liturgy in the history of the Regional School.  Father Joseph Armamento of Saint Agnes parish was the celebrant and Father John Moineau of Immaculate Conception preached.  With family and friend joining them, our graduates celebrated this milestone in their lives with prayer, food, memories and fellowship.

     The class of 2011 was small but mighty, one of the smallest in the history of the school.  They numbered ten - three boys and seven girls.  As Father John pointed out, they are the top ten of their class, but more importantly, the top ten of the school family.  Our congratulations go out to Therese Mary Baker, Meghann Leigh Bornak, Brandon Fiume, Hannah Moran-Funwela, Brittany Marie Gray, Rebecca Horchar, Sierra Mathos, Lea Rose Moffatt, Lee Michael Samulski and Erika Marie Totaro.  They looked so grown up, and yet so young.

     It brought back memories of my eighth grade graduation - fifty years ago!  I had attended Saint Joseph Catholic School in Uniontown since kindergarten  Taught by the Holy Ghost Sisters of West View in Pittsburgh and a few lay teachers, and guided by our pastor Father Charles Kobylarz and a number of Associate priests, our graduation was on June 18, 1961.  I have included a class picture of the event, with Father Charles and Father Anthony Wozniak (on the right & now retired), the Assistant Pastor.  Yours truly is in the back row, third on the right.  I can't remember much of that day, except the mixed feelings of leaving a place of comfort and security yet with the happiness of moving on.

     For me it set the stage for a great adventure.  That Fall I left home for the high school seminary at Saint Vincent Prep in Latrobe with residence the following year at Saint Joseph Hall in Greensburg.  I had never been away from home.  The practice of high school (and even college seminary) has gone by the wayside [thank goodness], yet I never regretted the move or the experiences.  Who I am today was impacted greatly by the priests, the Sisters, and my teachers at Saint Joseph School.  I hope that last night's graduates can have the wisdom to say the same fifty years from now.