At the baccalaureate Mass, celebrated earlier in the morning by Bishop Emeritus John M. D’Arcy, and concelebrated by Father John Stecher, university chaplain, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop D’Arcy spoke about the day’s Gospel from John 6:16-21: “We see Jesus Christ approaching the Apostles in a time of great turmoil, trouble and difficulty. This scene is repeated several times, Christ’s coming to them across the water, while they were in a storm. Over the centuries, the Church has always used this as an act of faith of Christ, in His presence in the Church and in the lives of each one of us at a time of trouble and difficulty and turmoil.”
In the Resurrection accounts, Bishop D’Arcy said Christ is always the One who approaches. Bishop D’Arcy said Christ is always approaching us — “Christ seeking to find His way into our hearts.”
“Do not be afraid. How many times in the Gospel do we hear that?” asked Bishop D’Arcy. The angel told Mary at the Annunciation, “Do not be afraid.” Bishop D’Arcy added that Blessed Pope John Paul II’s first words at his inaugural homily was “Do not be afraid.”
He spoke of the things that make us afraid — perhaps the fear of not finding a good job, the fear of not being successful in one’s profession, or the fear of not finding love — or not being able to give love or to receive love.
“Love is a gift. It comes to us in Baptism,” Bishop D’Arcy said. “The love of God for us, our love for Him, comes to us in Baptism.”
He spoke of the universal call to holiness. “Everybody is called to a life of holiness,” Bishop D’Arcy said. “It means believing in Jesus Christ and doing His will.”
That was the bishop’s hope for the students of the University of Saint Francis. “Doing the will of God, following Him, being close to Him,” Bishop D’Arcy said.
He encouraged the graduates to pray. “One overcomes fear by believing deep in the presence of God,” Bishop D’Arcy said. He encouraged the graduates to remain close to Jesus Christ who has risen from the dead and has overcome sin and death.
The bishop also offered the graduates his hope and prayer — taken from the Second Vatican Council — that the students learn to make a gift of themselves to others, to one another.
After Mass, Bishop D’Arcy greeted the graduates in front of the cathedral. While taking photos with classmates and family, Susan Maloney, of St. Therese Parish, Fort Wayne, expressed her joy. Maloney received a master’s degree in nursing and will be a nurse practitioner. She has been working on the degree for four years and has served as adjunct faculty for two years.
Of the program, Maloney said, “It’s great because it is Christ centered.” She plans to use her degree to serve in family practice, and is discussing work with a physician who reflects her Catholic values.
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Maloney said she was thankful for her family support. Outside the steps of the cathedral she was surrounded by her husband, daughter, mother and niece.
Printed with permission from Today's Catholic News, newspaper for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind.