Diocesan administrator congratulates graduates

May 12, 2005

Dear Graduates:

This is the time of year in the Diocese of Sioux City when many of our young Catholic people will graduate from the schools, universities and centers of learning in Northwest Iowa. It is for each one of you a personal achievement; an achievement brought about by the use of your God-given human talents. Rejoice in it. It also is a time when we come to the end of the Easter season in which we have been celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. He had been sent by the Father to reconcile everyone with God and reunite humanity completing His mission. Now he has returned to the Father and has left us His Church: a Church, which we are members of when we were called by name at our Baptism and received the gift of faith. Rejoice in it.

Each of you will now commence or begin another important phase of your life. That may be further education or entering the world of work and career, which you plan to do with vision and enthusiasm. Just as you continue to use your human talents, aspiration and qualities, so too must you as a confirmed Catholic Christian give a response to the gift of faith you receive, an answer to God.

When we reflect upon the return of Jesus to the Father we must also hear the words and mandate of Jesus: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you," which is our mission as believers. You will give your response to God when you continuously live as Jesus has asked by being faithful to His Word, which you hear. You will live that word by having an intimacy with the Lord Jesus in the Mass, the sacraments and prayer. By choosing this you will find joy in your future education, work or career and more importantly you will be true witnesses - "sent by Jesus" - and make a difference in our world, in our Church, in our families. You will be evangelizers - something which our new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has said we must be.

As the Diocesan Administrator, I extend my sincerest congratulations to all Catholic graduates. I also take this opportunity to thank the many people in your lives who helped, supported and guided you to this achievement in your lives: your parents, teachers, mentors, school administrators and other benefactors.

As Jesus sends you into the world to help complete His mission, I ask the prayers of Mary, the Mother of God to assist you.

With every best wish, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Roger J. Augustine
Diocesan Administrator