For many of us, the upcoming summer is a welcomed pause (to one degree or another) from work and school. Alas this is just a pause, and after what will inevitably feel like a short summer, we get right back into the swing of things in September. Although this is the pattern for most of us, there are those who will not be picking up where they left off when the fall rolls around; in fact they will be starting off a whole new chapter in their lives. These are those men and women who are graduating from high school and college, and furthering their studies, or starting new jobs and careers.
Much of what they have learned at school over these years has been equally learned at home, in Church and from serving the greater community. Indeed it is this all this education which prepares them for this new stage of their lives, and the further development of a “good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:19).
Regardless of where their studies take them, or how they apply their skills and talents – our prayer is that they be confirmed and strengthened in their faith – the context for learning how to love God and neighbour alike in a greater way; and the context of serving the Lord, by serving the least of His brethren (Mt. 25:40). And by it all become examples “to the believers (and the world) in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12);
At the end of the Liturgy we will offer a prayer for our high school grads, Emilie, Schalin and Bethany and our college grads Arielle, and Anya (who both graduated from the graphic design program at Red River College) and Anna-Christina (Emilie’s older sister) who graduated from flight school in Thunder Bay.
” O Lord, grateful of the great benefits which You have so richly bestowed upon us in your loving-kindness, we give thanks to You and we beseech You, look graciously upon us, and upon Your graduates who have studied hour upon hour and successfully completed their studies in every good work for the glorification of Your holy name. Give them health and long life that with unbounding joy, that they may labour in the building up and glory of Your Holy Church, this nation, community, and of all Your people.
For You are a God, Who is mighty in mercy and gracious in strength, and to You do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and into ages of ages.”
As tokens of our thanksgiving for their achievements, we presented our high school grads with icons of St. Xenia (the patron of our parish’s youth group) and our college grads with icons of the newly glorified St. Olga Arrsamquq of Alaska. Both these saints truly expressed the selfless service to “God and neighbour” alike, and are fitting examples of what these graduates can achieve by the grace of Holy Spirit, as they begin a new chapter in their lives.
May the Lord grant them and their families many blessed years!
