JPII seniors make thesis presentations to bishop

Seniors Patrick Sheridan, Miranda Sanchez, Eric Willingham and Nicholas Nye presented their senior theology thesis to Father Patrick Higgins, Father Peter Martinez, Bishop Michael Mulvey and Father Peter Stanley.

The 2013-14 school year is close to wrapping up and final projects are underway and in full throttle at Blessed John Paul II High School. Seniors have kept a busy schedule year-round and the remaining months until graduation have been no exception.

On March 21, four seniors presented their final theology thesis to Bishop Michael Mulvey, Father Peter Stanley, Father Peter Martinez and Father Patrick Higgins. Eric Willingham, Miranda Sanchez, Nicholas Nye and Patrick Sheridan received high marks from a grading panel made up of teachers and advisors earning them the opportunity to present to Bishop Mulvey.

Students spoke on divorce, war, abortion in the case of rape and ethnic cleansing. All students were applauded for their in-depth research and conviction in delivery.

Miranda Sanchez said she was thrilled to make her presentation on divorce to the bishop. “It made me feel good to know that he was listening and heard how passionate I was about the topic,” Sanchez said. “And I think it means a lot how he wants to get the youth involved…I know a lot of us, the youth, are declining in participation not just in attending Mass but in other church activities.”

Sheridan, who spoke on ethnic cleansing, admitted the questions he answered at the end of his presentation led him to want to rediscover his topic.

Nye's topic of abortion in the case of rape was a subject all too close to home for the senior when he learned of a friend’s rape last year. He chose the subject in hopes of informing other teens and inspiring discussion among youths about the topic of abortion.

“You don’t know what other people go through until you kind of go through it yourself,” Nye said. “I’m a guy so I’ll never really go through that, but when someone that close went through something like that, it made me want to know the truth about different things.”

The students will make a final presentation of their thesis to the entire student body in April. Before leaving, Bishop Mulvey expressed his gratitude to the students and teachers for their service and leadership to the Church.