“GOD CREATES THE BEST ARTWORKS; NUMBER ONE OF HIS MASTERPIECES IS YOU. WHAT YOU ARE IS A GIFT FROM GOD, WHAT YOU BECOME IS YOUR GIFT TO HIM.”
It is indeed a great accomplishment! After years of hardships and sacrifices, you can finally say “YES, I MADE IT”. Many set out to accomplish great things, but few put in the dedication and hard work it takes to make them happen. I do salute you for your perseverance and determination, at the same time I would want to congratulate your parents for despite the many difficulties in life they were able to support you in your studies.
Let us celebrate your success and achievement in a very unique, virtual and personal way. Hoping that this crisis will soon end and never happen again. Let this school year’s theme inspire you- Josephian Graduates: Gifted with Excellence, Empowered for Mission. Graduating during pandemic times truly makes all of you our nation’s Filipino youth-in-mission. We hope that what you have experienced, and what the country is now experiencing has enlightened you not just about the kind of future you wish for yourselves but about the kind of leaders, policy makers, agents of change and catalysts of progress you need to become to establish a future that is true, good, and beautiful, fair and just for all of mankind.
As a Josephian graduate,
You are GIFTED. Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, you were gifted with the Holy Spirit who inflames you with faith, passion, and courage to commit yourselves in service of others, as well as renewing the Church and the world. You are gifted with wisdom and provided with the knowledge that you can make use of it as you go through life’s travel. Find that special gift in you. Find that purpose God has assigned for you. You have the chance to appreciate life and all the good things that may come with it as you go on living. Don’t take this for granted. You have the opportunity to invest your time and talents that not only make your life better but also that help better the lives of others. You have all the opportunity to not just dream of good things, but getting up and make those dreams a reality. Be a gift yourself (good influence to your friends and your family all the time).
You are EMPOWERED. Christ not only loves you to be his friend. He also wants you to tell others about him. He wants you to bring your friends to him. He wants you to make him part of your circle of friends. He wants you to be an active part of the process of establishing God’s kingdom. You are empowered to share in the values and principles that Christ is passionate about. As a Josephian graduate you have a mission to accomplish. In doing this mission, make good use of your sense of WONDER, by striving to look for what is true, good and beautiful. Be a person of INTEGRITY by doing the right thing always even if no one is looking. Grow in FAITH, for this is your direct connection to God, your direct link to Jesus, and always uphold your IDENTITY, you are a JOSEPHIAN, be who you are, do not pretend to be someone you are not. Learn to share the love that God bestowed on you to your fellowmen without conditions.
My dear Josephian graduate, You are gifted with knowledge, and empowered for mission. Bear in mind the 3 C’s of Life: Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change., Always remember what you are is a gift from God, what you become is your gift to Him.
CONGRATULATIONS Josephian graduates, your mission now begins.
REV. FR. GERARD ARISTON P. PEREZ, MA
College President
