Central Catholic graduation recognizes value of Catholic education

A mother's meaningful message and the value of religion were the focus of the Central Catholic High School graduation on a Mother's Day Sunday.

Central Catholic alumna Trish Curran said the three R's of education -- reading, writing and 'rithmetic -- have great value, but it's the fourth R of religion that has really carried her through.

Curran recalled telling faculty, friends and fellow students of her Class of 1980 that she wanted to go into mortuary science.

She quipped that they all should be nice to her because she may bury them some day.

Curran had a plan for her future, a schedule, a timetable. Her mother, who was adamant that her own six children have a Catholic education, responded to Curran with a post-graduation-ceremony lecture.

"You think you may know everything, but mark my words … there will come a time in your life when you do not have the answers," Curran said her mother advised. "No math equation, no essay, no friend, no timetable, no schedule, nothing is going to make you feel better or answer that question for you."

"You will be alone in yourself and the only thing you have left to do is to pray. And when that time comes, you will pray like you've never prayed before. You will pray like nobody's watching you," Curran said her mother continued.

"And then this is the kicker of the whole thing," Curran said. "(My mother)  said, ’When that time comes and in the midst of your prayer, you will need to be silent and listen. You'll have to be silent to know that God is near you."

Curran said 28 years after that advice, with a college degree, one husband, two children, having buried her own father and having started her own business, her mom was "totally correct."

"There have been so many times in my life that that's all I had to do," she said.

"So, as you leave today, before you rush off to your graduation parties to celebrate your Class of 2008, make sure you look for that person or persons that's responsible for you being a part of this class because -- mark my mother's words -- you will need prayer," Curran said.

Norma Peters, the journalism, sociology and computer teacher at Central Catholic, started teaching at the school the same year as the Class of 2008 began as sixth-graders there.

She praised the class as one that became a teacher to her.

The students taught her things such as being quiet doesn't always mean shy, not saying something is sometimes the best response, to persevere, to lead by example, to serve others, to take time to laugh.

Class speaker Tim Dvorak outlined the academic, athletic and fine arts talents among the class members. Class speaker Keri Simonds said the class literally grew up and into one around the lunch table. She recounted the social dynamics that played out around that table.

Final class speaker Marie Lesiak thanked God for the foundation of the class. Although it's time for each class member to move on, she said the love and memories made at Central Catholic will always be cherished.