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September 1, 2016
Each year, Bishop Richard Lennon joins the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School community to celebrate our Opening Mass. He takes time out of his very busy schedule to lead the Viking family in prayer for the start of the school year and each year we are grateful for his presence at our school. This year was no exception.
“It certainly is a pleasure for me to be here this morning with you,” Bishop Lennon said. “You call me each year and you ask if I will come and I am thrilled each year to say ‘yes.’”
Bishop Lennon explained to the VASJ students that Jesus knew what it was like to be watched, observed and sometimes judged.
“People see us,” Bishop Lennon said. “Sometimes they are impressed, other times they may not be.
“Today, officially we have the beginning of a school year. A year that gives us an opportunity to realize that people do look and they see you. They see you as students of this school and they see how you interact in the neighborhood in Cleveland and what good you do by being who God has made: You, in his likeness and his goodness.”
He went on to explain that everyone is an example to others, but why type of an example is up to the individual.
“Each one of us needs to know that you can be a good example and hopefully never a bad example, but a person that is acting in a way that is wholesome and good and that people benefit from your presence,” Bishop Lennon said. “Know that my prayers will be with you throughout this year.”
Bishop Lennon’s message was consistent with VASJ’s ministry theme for this year: “Because of God.” For it is “Because of God” that each of us are able to be an example to others and it is “Because of God” that we are able to turn negative situations into positive ones.
“Be grateful for the things you have and the people you know,” Peer Minister Hailey Barnett ’18 said. “For it is because of God that you have them.
And it is “Because of God” that we know the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School 2016-17 school year is sure to be a blessed one.
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Opening Mass video (below)