June 16, 2024

Dear Friends in Christ,
The month of June is a time to celebrate graduation from one stage of education and at the same time the commencement of another. Congratulations to the recent graduates of our ASB parish school, and those from our neighborhood Villa Academy. Several of our young people also graduated from local Catholic high schools Bishop Blanchet, Seattle Prep, Holy Names, and O’Dea. Last weekend I drove past Husky Stadium where some 7000 students were also celebrating their graduation from the University of Washington. (Go Dawgs!)
As we celebrate these annual rites of passage for students, it’s tempting for some of us to think our formal education is a part of the past. The Christian life, however, is an ongoing and lifelong process of learning, discovering, and applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his life, death, and resurrection. All of us, young and old and in between belong to the class of 2024 in one way or another.
Most commencement exercises feature a guest speaker chosen to offer his/her wisdom and encouragement to the graduates. A recent speech by the historian Jon Meacham struck me as applicable to all students of the Christian life who journey together as members of the church. I’ve slightly adapted his thoughts to speak to all who are students in the school known as the Catholic Church:
So, you understand history. You’ve already lived a bit of the Catholic story, so what is the lesson of that story? The church for all its shortcomings is worth defending. We are our best selves when we lend a hand, not when we point fingers. The people of the past were just like you. Flawed but devoted; imperfect but determined; few in number, but strong in spirit. The church has taught you that the test of the ages is not whether you lead the good life, but a good life, all the length of your days.
Godspeed to you all!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor
p.s. I will be attending the annual “Priest Days Convocation” at Ocean Shores next week. Please pray for the priests of our archdiocese!