Tolton Catholic H.S. sends forth 82, ready for the future
CLICK HERE to see a gallery of photos from the Baccalaureate Mass.
CLICK HERE to see a gallery of photos from the Graduation Ceremony.
“Class 2026, you will never be forgotten.”
Father Michael Coleman, chaplain of Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, made that prediction from the pulpit during their Baccalaureate Mass May 15 in Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
“I’ve loved every class we’ve ever had; they’ve all been very special,” said Fr. Coleman, who’s been a chaplain at Tolton Catholic since it opened in 2011. “But there’s something about you guys ... your goodness and your commitment to spirituality and your love for the Lord.
“We love you deeply, and the Lord loves you a gazillion times more than any of us do,” he stated.
He urged the school’s 82 graduating seniors to remember what Daniel Everett Ed.D., president and principal of the school, often told them: “that we are holy and that you are loved.”
“You are a part of Tolton Catholic that nobody else could ever be,” the priest asserted. “You fulfill a place that no other class can fulfill, and God has a special mission for every one of you. Nobody else can do it, only you. And that’s why you’re so important.”
High distinctions
Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell and Erin Vader Ed.D., diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, attended Commencement in the school’s fieldhouse on Sunday, May 17.
Graduating senior Sawyer Burchfield led the Opening Invocation.
“God, our Father, how wonderful are the works of your hands,” he prayed. “As we gather here today and look forward to an exciting future, let us not forget the blessings we have received this far.”
Bishop O’Donnell congratulated the graduating seniors and thanked their families and everyone else who had helped them reach this important milestone.
He urged the soon-to-be graduates to look around the fieldhouse and see how many people had been there all along, supporting them.
“Your faith community and the community of Tolton Catholic continue to support you as you bring honor to this community with all your good work,” he said.
Among the awards presented to graduating seniors were:
- the St. Paul Service Award to Katie Sutter, who completed the most hours of community service during her four years at Tolton Catholic;
- the Bishop John R. Gaydos Award to Aven Chievous; and
- the school’s highest honor, the Fr. Tolton Award, to Dominik Abadi.
Both the Bishop Gaydos and the Fr. Tolton awards, voted on by the faculty and staff, are for exemplifying the school’s mission.
Makaylin Viet and Aven Chievous received the Fr. Coleman Award for exemplifying the spirit of the school.
“Quiet strength”
Makaylin, in addressing her classmates, called to mind St. Catherine of Siena’s exhortation to “be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”
“At Tolton, we’ve been given the chance to grow, not just as students but as people and in our faith,” she said. “Through our time here, we’ve learned lessons far beyond the classroom about how to be better people and better followers of Jesus.”
She encouraged her classmates to make a real impact in the world by being their true, authentic selves and by choosing kindness, courage and faith in whatever God has planned for them.
Amelia Ottinger talked about how she and her fellow graduating seniors had gone from being classmates to being family.
She spoke of the “quiet strength” it had taken to keep going, even when things felt impossible — “to show up, day after day, even when no one else saw how hard it was.”
“We made it through the moments we thought would break us and the moments that built us,” she stated.
Bishop O’Donnell helped distribute the diplomas.
Fr. Coleman offered the Class of 2026 a final blessing.
“Lord our God, I praise and thank you for this class,” he prayed. “Keep them close to you in good times and in bad, and may they never forget how loved and precious they are in your sight.”
Lofty ambitions
In interviews, Katie Sutter, Avery Hazelrigg, Dominik Abadi and Aven Chievous said they’re different because of their time at Tolton Catholic.
“When I first started coming here, I didn’t take my religion very seriously,” said Katie. “And over these past four years, I’ve developed a super deep connection, and I feel like my life is just happier all around.”
Dominik said his teachers, staff and especially his football coaches taught him ways to motivate himself and stay disciplined.
“That’s put my life on a better trajectory,” he said.
Aven said he’s grown stronger in his faith, through such activities as early morning Masses and the school’s Rosary Club and Bible Club.
“And with more opportunities to be a leader, like through Student Council or leading a Bible study, I’ve also become more confident,” he said.
Avery said both her faith and her confidence in trying new things have increased.
“Something about this place just makes you want to strive to achieve higher goals,” she said.
For Dominik, that meant volunteering to do things that were difficult or made him uncomfortable.
“Like reading at Mass and other forms of public speaking or getting up early to train for football — I’m comfortable with those kinds of things now, and now it’s second nature to me,” he said.
Katie plans to major in exercise science this fall at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Avery plans to major in food science and nutrition at the University of Missouri.
Dominik plans to major in biology and play football at Benedictine College and eventually study dentistry.
Aven plans to double-major in digital storytelling and film studies at the University of Missouri.
Valuable lessons
Aven talked about how much he’ll miss his friends and teachers at Tolton Catholic.
Dominik will miss the relationships he’s been able to forge with his schoolmates.
“Even though I’ll still be in close enough proximity, I’m still going to miss them,” he said.
Avery will miss hanging out with her friends every day and visiting with them in the hallways.
Katie talked about missing her coaches, running track and playing sports.
All four said their time at Tolton Catholic had yielded important and sometimes unexpected lessons.
“Everything you do can really impact others,” Dominik noted. “I didn’t realize how much I could help other people grow their faith.”
Katie learned to overcome the fear of trying new things, “because what you’re afraid of might lead to something that’s ultimately really great for you.”
She started out playing volleyball and basketball but was afraid to try track or cross country.
“Finally, I tried out for cross country my junior year, and it turned out to be my favorite sport of all time,” she said.
She noted that stepping out of her comfort zone “can be super scary.”
“But the feeling of actually doing something you’re not normally comfortable with is a lot stronger than the fear that would have kept you from doing it,” she said.
Dominik said he learned about the importance of respecting others.
“Every time I talk to someone, no matter who they are, I smile at them and treat them with as much respect as I can,” he said.
Faith forward
Avery plans to maintain her friendships from Tolton Catholic while making new friends in college.
“I’ve known some of these people for 13 years!” she said. “I want to stay in touch with them.”
Having gotten to know everyone well at Tolton Catholic, Katie said, “I can take that extra step to get to know all my classmates and not be a stranger to people” in college.
Dominik said he enjoyed going to an additional Mass on a weekday each week and hopes to continue that at Benedictine.
Aven plans on freely sharing his faith with other people and inviting them to get closer to God.
He’s learned from experience that the best way to do that is by being a good friend and being open to what other people have to say.
All four said they want to continue to be Catholic for the rest of their lives.
Avery said being Catholic is a relationship that she and God have been building up deep within her soul for her entire life.
“And that relationship has become the backbone of my life that I can always rely on,” she said.
Katie said everything felt sad and negative before she decided to take her faith seriously and put real effort into it.
“Since then, everything in life has been better,” she stated. “I would like to continue that, and maybe I can help other people in college who are struggling with similar issues.”
Aven has realized that God wants to have a relationship with him, “and life is just better when I’m searching for God and have love for God that isn’t selfish.”
Dominik feels drawn to the reverence the Church offers and that it encourages him to have for God.
“If you really pay attention and are involved in it, you will find anything you need through the Catholic faith,” he said.
Intercession
Katie asked for prayers for confidence and conviction for all young people taking the next step toward adulthood.
“It might be a little bit overwhelming, but I just want to push through and know things will be better on the other side, even in hard times,” she said.
Avery requested prayers for strength as she and her classmates adjust to whatever comes after high school.
Aven suggested praying not only for him to remain strong in his faith, but also to be able to draw other people to it.
Dominik asked for prayers for discipline and persistence.
Aven said the most helpful thing older Catholics can do to help him and other people his age is to continue building relationships with them.
“Keep affirming their faith, keep bonding with them, showing them the good aspects of Catholicism and showing them, ‘this is how we do it,’” he said.
