Fr. Fredericks gave a sermon at the seniors' class ring mass reflecting on how their connections to each other have made them better people. He reminded them that God has given them each other. While the school focuses on helping the students, the students also help the staff become more patient, compassionate, forgiving, and courageous. God puts challenges in front of the staff through their students to draw out strengths and help them grow. On graduation day, the students may feel lucky to have found the school, but really the staff is lucky to have the students in their lives.

1. Turning Hurt into Hope: Graduation Reflections
On May 21st
, our Seniors received their class rings at Sunday Mass. Those of us in attendance were
treated to an amazing sermon by Fr. Fredericks. As we hit the last turn to graduation I wanted to share
my reflections on his words.
Fr. Fredericks opened with a quote from Mother Theresa. “If we have no peace, it is because we have
forgotten that we belong to each other.” He reminded us that God has given us each other, and
discussed how our connections to each other makes us all better.
We talk a lot around here about what we do for the boys in our care, but I am not sure we reflect
enough on what they do for us.
I know I want to be a better person. I could be more patient, I could be more compassionate, more
forgiving, more loving, more courageous. While listening to Fr. Fredericks it occurred to me that God has
put these boys in our lives to make us better people. They test our patience, draw out our compassion,
beg our forgiveness, challenge our capacity to love and make us much braver than we thought we could
be.
I don’t think God grants us patience, compassion or courage, rather, it is the opportunities and
challenges put in front of us each day that help us develop these qualities, draw them out of us and
challenge us to grow and change. It is the hardest and best thing about our work.
On graduation day, many of our boys will talk about how lucky they are to have found Hanna and how
lucky they are to have all of you in their lives. That is all true, but when all is said and done… I think we
are the lucky ones.
Thanks for a great year.