High school seniors learn to be ambassadors of Christ at Mass

High school seniors from local Catholic high schools gathered at St. Joseph Cathedral for a special Mass. Bishop Michael W. Fisher, joined by educators and youth ministers on the altar, welcomed the students on Oct. 23.

Bishop Fisher walked up and down the center aisle of the cathedral as he addressed the students.

“At the end of our Gospel (Luke 9:57-62) today, we heard about an ambassador. Jesus calls us to be an ambassador. St. John (of Capistrano) was a wonderful ambassador in the way people called upon him to bring peace among different groups.”

Wealthy and intelligent, St. John of Capistrano tried to reform and bring peace to warring families in the 14th century. His efforts led him to being imprisoned. 

While in prison, he was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi to reform himself, give away all his possessions, and become a Franciscan priest.

“The Church is always in need of reforming. We as a people of God are always called to be reforming ourselves; to constantly be in the state of conversion to the Lord; to be those ambassadors that Jesus sent out to spread the Good News about the kingdom of God.”

In closing, Bishop Fisher told the students, “We’ll be praying for you. I know this is a very special year for you as you get ready for graduation this spring. Many will be going off to college and technical schools, and getting yourselves ready for the future. You can do no better than to prepare your heart and spiritual lives and know that the Lord is always with you.”

This was the third year that the Department of Catholic Schools sponsored the 12th grade Mass. An eighth grade Mass was held the day before.

“Our goal is to help form them, not only academically, but form them as disciples of Christ,” said Julie Gajewski, assistant superintendent of academics for Catholic Schools. “Bringing them all together as one in the diocese with the bishop is a wonderful opportunity for them to share their faith and get ready for that next transition as they go off to high school. We invite our 12th graders because they had four years in our Catholic high schools continuing their formation, finding their gifts and talents, and again it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring them together as a community before they get ready for their next transition.”

Concelebrating the Mass were Father Peter Karalus, vicar general; Father Matt Foley, OFM Conv., president of St. Francis High School; Father Edward Durkin, SJ, director of the St. Augustine and St. Monica Scholars Programs of the Nativity/Miguel Middle School in Buffalo: and Msgr. Francis Weldgen, former director of the Diocesan Youth Department.

“I thought it was really nice for all the Catholic schools in the area to come together, just the seniors,” said Lily Cook, from Mount St. Mary Academy. “We’re used to small Masses. So, it’s nice to have everybody there.”

“I think it was handled nicely by all the priests and the bishop. It was really nice to see people from the different schools come together, and share a Mass together,” added Hailey McMahon, also from Mount St. Mary Academy.

Outside of sports or academic competitions the Mount only interacts with St. Joseph Collegiate Institute, their brother school.

“It was nice to do something as one that’s not competitive,” said Cook. “Whenever we play against another school it’s for sports. It’s always going after each other, but now we were able to be together non competitively.”