Sacred Heart graduates told to “set the world on fire” for God
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Abby Tippie clearly recalls her first day of kindergarten at Sacred Heart School in Sedalia.
“I remember walking into Mrs. Dove’s classroom and seeing all these new little faces — several I can look over and still see today,” Abby, Sacred Heart High School’s 2023 valedictorian, told her 21 graduating classmates.
“I’m deeply grateful for our time together and am proud of each and every one of you,” she stated at their high school graduation ceremony on May 21.
“I wish you all well in the same way that I would wish my own siblings,” she said. “And just like a family does, I believe all that you will accomplish great things.”
Mark Register Ed.D., retiring president of Sacred Heart School, noted that the class’s cumulative grade point average is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Twelve of the 22 carried a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.
The Class of 2023 was awarded $1,638,064 in total scholarships and accepted $528,084.
“Clearly,” said Dr. Register, “there is an environment present that makes success a priority and drives learning.”
The Class of 2023 selected Debbie Bolin, who retired last year after 27 years as the school’s campus minister, to give the commencement address.
She pointed to Bible passages that reveal God to be a generous but watchful investor.
“If we have been blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge and time, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and to benefit others,” she stated.
She said this year’s seniors did that in many ways during their time at Sacred Heart.
“You are a true gift to our community and are leaving this school a better place,” she said.
She addressed each senior by name, along with an affirming story or observation.
“Graduates, always remember that God and all of the people here today and the people who could not be here are your base, are your support, and we are here for you!” she said.
“Change the world”
Two nights before commencement, the graduating seniors processed into Sacred Heart Chapel for their Baccalaureate Mass.
“Brothers and sisters, it is good that we are here!” said Father Joseph Corel, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish of Pettis County.
He invited the seniors, seated at the front of the lofty gothic edifice, to stop and reflect on their years in the Sacred Heart family.
“Thank you, God, for these memories and creating us to enjoy them and having the talents to be able to achieve such great moments!” he said.
He asked the seniors also to consider the moments when they carried part of Jesus’s cross with them.
“These are just-as-important opportunities to grow in faith, hope, trust and see what we are made of when God made us,” he noted.
Looking ahead, he urged them to remember that they are graduating from school, not from their faith or from growing in their relationship with God and following his plan.
“Rely on the Lord and not just on your own abilities,” the priest instructed. “Trust God and he will give you all you need to accomplish his will.”
He reminded the seniors that God has a mission for each person, which will bring happiness, joy, peace and fulfillment.
He urged them to pray every day for help in deciding how to spend the rest of their lives.
“Then, do your part of following the mission God has in mind for you and change the world,” he said. “Set the world on fire for him!”
What friends are for
Sacred Heart is the only Catholic school in the diocese that includes kindergarten through high school.
Graduating seniors Caitlin Carrico, Tanner Damlo, Laura Granados and Michael Marquez reflected after Mass on their time at the school.
Caitlin and Michael started there in kindergarten, Tanner started in first grade, and Laura arrived in time for third grade.
Their years at Sacred Heart have yielded valuable lessons.
“I learned that I can always count on my friends, no matter what,” said Caitlin. “Knowing I have that kind of support system has taught me so much about how to become a bigger person outside of school.”
Tanner, who played varsity baseball and basketball, learned the importance of prayer by praying at the start of every class, every practice and every game.
“Learning about our faith in class and taking that out onto the field or on the court, that’s important to me,” he said.
Tanner said he’ll miss the tight community he experienced at school.
“You know everybody when you walk the halls,” he said. “You know every face.”
Kaitlin said she’ll miss the teachers.
“They’re very kind and always willing to work with you and help you, no matter what,” she said.
Laura said she’ll miss how welcoming the school is to everyone.
“You come here for the first day and you already feel like you’ve been here for years,” she said. “I really like that.”
Michael will miss the friendships he’s spent the past 12 years building.
Caitlin said she plans on maintaining those friendships.
“None of us are going too far away, and I think we’re all still going to hang out every summer and stay in touch and meet up once in a while,” she said.
And when they do, “we’re going to be able to talk like we’ve been together every day, like we have been for all these years,” she said.
Tanner said he plans on taking his relationship with God with him “out into the real world.”
“Because over the past 12 years, we’ve been able to learn about our religion openly,” he said. “We haven’t had to hide it, which has been a really good opportunity for us.
“We got a good start with our faith, and we can take that and continue to grow with it,” he stated.
Laura said she and her classmates taught each other how to be present to each other, through good and bad times.
Michael believes those close friendships will be helpful “when we’re all out there trying to find ourselves and find our own way.”
“We can take the lessons we’ve learned from those significant relationships, like what they meant to us, and put them toward our new relationships that we’re going to form when we’re adults,” he said.
“No matter what”
Tanner plans to study engineering this fall at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in Warrensburg.
Laura plans to study nursing at the University of Missouri (MU) in Columbia.
Caitlin plans to study speech pathology at UCM.
Michael plans to study nursing at MU.
All four said they plan to remain Catholic.
“This school has helped me build on faith,” said Caitlin, “and being here since kindergarten has taught me a lot and has helped me realize that the Catholic faith is leading me in the right direction.”
“I really like how they’ve taught us that God will always be there for us, no matter what, and no matter what we do,” said Lauren.
She appreciates how her teachers took tough questions about the faith seriously and went out of their way to answer them.
“We can have free discussions of different religions and points of view, and tie it all up. God is always with us and wants what’s best for us,” she said.
Caitlin asked for prayers for her wellbeing and that of her classmates, and for them to have the motivation to follow through when things are difficult.
“Leaving our parents and all of that — it’s going to be hard,” she said.
Laura asked for prayers for the graduating seniors to make good friends, feel safe and welcome and learn whatever they need to learn in college.
Tanner asked for prayers for everyone to know that “through the good, the bad and the ugly, God will always be there for us, no matter what.”
Michael requested prayers for his generation and all generations to come, “for us to have the strength and courage to follow their ancestors’ footsteps and always follow God.”
“Because that’s what he wants,” said Michael.
Contributing to this report was Chris Howell, a reporter for the Sedalia Democrat newspaper (sedaliademocrat.com).
