Nemeth Calls On Valle’s 24 Graduates To Humbly Serve The World
Twenty-four Valle Catholic High School seniors received their diplomas last Thursday during commencement exercises at the Church of Ste. Genevieve
Noting the small size of the class during her speech, co-salutatorian Hannah Wood said, “The saying ‘quality over quantity’ represents our class best.”
Wood and Bryce Palmer gave salutatory addresses, while Grace Eftink gave the valedictory address.
Valle Catholic Schools president Rev. Edward Nemeth, taking part in his second graduation ceremony at the school, said the students were prepared to move into the next phase of their lives as humble servants of God.
The Gospel for the Mass was John 13:16-20, during which Jesus tells his disciples “no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
“I think,” Nemeth said, “perhaps the lesson the Lord is trying to teach us is: No messenger is greater than the One who sent him; no one is greater than the One who created us.’
“There is an entire disease in our human nature, especially today, where we want to think that we are the sea of wisdom, that we are the center of the universe,” Nemeth said. “No one is greater than God.”
He reiterated that the world does not center around us.
“If there is something unique about the Valle Catholic graduate, I think it is that spirit, that spirit of selflessness,” Nemeth said. “That is something that makes our students so phenomenal. It is something that makes us — as their teachers, their mentors and coaches along the way — so proud. Because if they’ve done this right, we should now be obsolete to them.
“You should be ready to leave,” he told the students.
He said the students’ experiences that they have gone through together during their school years will gain richness and meaning as they get older.
“We can only do that if we remember our place in the world. And it is not about us,” he said. “That whole world out there isn’t about you, it’s about how you can serve that world.”
On behalf of the school’s staff, he honored the students’ accomplishments and pledged support for their future endeavors.
“We know that when you walk out of these doors, that you will know exactly who you are,” Nemeth said, “and most importantly, whose you are.”
See the May 22 edition for the complete story and more photos.
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