High School continues with 10th anniversary celebration

Bishop Michael Mulvey asked students, family members, teachers and staff at St. John Paul II High School's 10th anniversary Mass to reflect on the person of St. John Paul II. "Many times when one's name is attached to an institution–we forget that's a person," he said.
 
"St. John Paul II demonstrated heroic virtue. He was disadvantaged. He lost his mother and soon after, he lost his father, then his brother. In many ways he lived poor, under communism and an oppressive government. He let none of that keep him down. He seized the opportunity. He had a true love for Christ, a true love and probably, like you, didn't understand everything. He had a tender love for the Blessed Mother. And all that just welled up in him and guided his life," Bishop Mulvey said in his homily on Oct. 21.
 
The bishop said, Pope John Paul II was "open to God's will, which meant he was open to live in the present moment."
 
"That's what strikes me about John Paul, he would be doing something and some other thing would come and deviate him from the program, as our present pope does, and he would go and embrace someone in need," Bishop Mulvey said.
 
The bishop said Pope John Paul II was gentle and patient. He was a man who knew how to love. The bishop said not to confuse courage with bravery. Courage is to do right, to do what God wants us to do, beyond all opposition. Pope John Paul II was heroic in his courage.
 
"He was a man of joy, that's the fruit of a life that is lived with heroic virtue. He was a man who could embrace--embrace those who are different and embrace them with joy.
 
Referring to the day's Gospel reading, Bishop Mulvey told students that they, like Jesus said to His apostles, could be "…the light of the world…the salt of the earth." The bishop told the students they could look at Pope John Paul II and say, "he did it, I can do it;" look at the situations which they may need to be courageous and say, "he did it, I can do it."
 
The bishop noted that probably Pope John Paul II's final prayer was "teach me to be like your Mother Mary and that is why he had the big 'M' on his pastoral symbol—to be more like Mary—gentle kind, patient, and courageous. She would also do great things for the world. Id like to hope that those who have been here and those who will come here will do great things for the world because you are the light of the world you are the salt of the earth."
 
Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody, Father Peter Martinez and Msgr. Seamus McGowan concelebrated Mass with Bishop Mulvey.

Before the Mass was over, Bishop Carmody spoke of past, present and future Centurions who after graduation will go out into the world "to promote the Kingdom of God."
 
Father Peter Martinez, president of St. John Paul II, thanked both Bishop Carmody and Bishop Mulvey on behalf of the high school. He described them as–the one who got the ball rolling and the one who continues to carry the football. As an aside he said, "just–know that I'm blocking for you and we're going to get us to the end zone, one way or another."
 
Marshall Matthews, a 2010 graduate of St. John Paul II High School, asked for support to keep the school going and gave examples of graduates, who have gone on to college to become doctors, lawyers, entered the military or the seminary. Matthews now teaches physics and chemistry at St. John Paul High School.
 
Bishop Mulvey blessed a basket of commemorative coins that were handed out as a keepsakes for those in attendance.
 
After Mass attendees enjoyed a meal at a tailgate party sponsored by Citgo followed by a scheduled football game against Lutheran South Academy.