‘A Special Place for God’

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The following is the text of remarks delivered by Nicolas Camacho of Salesian High School in New Rochelle, the student speaker at the Mass for High School Seniors celebrated by Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral April 26.


Your Eminence, Cardinal Dolan, and members of the Class of 2012,

Upon our entrance into the eighth grade about five years ago, we became leaders of our middle and elementary schools. We were looked on by the other kids as “big shot” leaders...And maybe we thought of ourselves that way, too! We were well known in our schools, as we were only a year away from entering high school. We were, essentially, the role models of our schools.

Many of sitting here had the privilege of attending a Catholic elementary school. As graduates of our respective elementary schools, we were all apprehensive and excited for the next stage in our lives: high school. There, our talents were to be showcased, our skills honed, our maturity developed and our decisions to become more insightful. One thing is for certain: we were never alone and to this day we remain accompanied in this journey.

Four years of high school have come and gone, leaving indelible marks on us, spiritually, mentally and physically. These four years have made us who we are and who we will be. During these years, we began to find ourselves and our path in life. So far, we have learned both in and out of the classroom, we have competed in both academic and athletic activities, and hopefully each of us has reserved a special place for God in his or her heart, a place that can only be filled by God and God alone.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to us, saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” We need Jesus in our lives, and the whole purpose of our Catholic school education has been to fix this conviction deep in our hearts.

During these years, we have grown in our morals and values, becoming the good Christians and honest citizens that both our parents and educators want us to be.
Embarking on our high school careers, we began a journey of reason, religion and love: a journey we could not make alone. Who would teach us what we had to know? Who would be there to support us in our moments of despair? Who would help us understand the mysteries of God and His creation? Surely, without our teachers, our educators in the faith, we would not be here today. First among those, are our parents, and I am sure there is not one of us here this morning not thanking God for the gift of his or her parents and the opportunity they gave us to have a quality, Catholic education… But then, there are also our teachers, and first among those is you, your Eminence, as the chief teacher and pastor of the Archdiocese of New York. I was reflecting that this is the first time you join the seniors of our Catholic schools as New York’s newest Cardinal. And in the name of all of us, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you on this newest honor and to ask you to continue to be a strong teacher of the faith for us.

We are ready to take our place as future leaders in the Archdiocese and we look to you, Cardinal Dolan, for your love, support and wise teaching… And, this morning, we congratulate you and thank you for taking on this new dignity and responsibility.

As a student as Salesian High School in New Rochelle, St. John Bosco is for us our master teacher and it struck me, your Eminence, that like Don Bosco you believe that “education is a matter of the heart.” Your example teaches us to serve the community, learn from life’s lessons and to help build pedestals for others to reach their greatest potential. As members of the Class of 2012, we are ready to take on the challenge. We realize, your Eminence, that with your guidance and support and the guidance and support of our families and educators, we are tomorrow’s leaders.

The decisions we make are impacting the lives of many, and this morning, your Eminence, we want to assure you, as the Archdiocese’s newest graduates, that with the foundation of our Catholic education and with God’s help, we will be witnesses of the Good News and ambassadors of Christ in our actions, words and manner of living. We are the men and women of the Class of 2012.