The Rev. Christopher Aubuchon urged Helias Catholic High School's 178 graduates on Sunday to "set the world on fire" through their Christian faith in his homily to the graduates.
Their lives as students have been blessed in so many ways through academics, sports and otherwise, he said during the graduation Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. "But the greatest of all of these gifts is the gift of your Catholic education," he said.
He said the foundation of who they are is their Catholic identity, and of all the titles they will have in their lives, the most important will be "beloved son" or "beloved daughter" of God.
Aubuchon told them to carry their happy memories with them and to "allow the Lord to set others on fire through you. The power of the Holy Spirit is very consuming. Amazing. Something that's easy to take for granted, including by myself. But the Lord asks us to remember who he is in our lives and how he wants to work through us ."
He said it's harder to go through life when we don't allow God to assist us, sometimes with a prideful or "I don't care" attitude. The challenge, he said, is to become more like God, saying: "I'm going to do what you want because I know this is best for me. Because I know this is going to fulfill my life, my heart, my soul. And I can't, like you, help but share that with others. That fiery joy."
He challenged the graduates to continue to attend Mass on Sundays and on days of holy obligation, to share their faith joyfully with others and to keep the blessed mother Mary in their hearts.
He told them to look forward to where God is taking them next. Many of them have college plans, he said, "but you have no idea what awaits you there. That's all the more reason to keep God by your side" and trust God to know what's best for their lives, especially when difficulties arise.
Honorees at the graduation included:
Fourteen co-valedictorians, who each earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages: Allie Ashcraft, Noah Blume, Charlie Colozza, Anna Donovan, Whitney Hake, Anne Jarrett, Margaret Jones, John McDonald, Nolan Sachse, Aaron Schepers, Kiefer Schmidt, William Wibberg, Allison Wieberg and Emma Wyrick.
Five graduates entering the military: Clinton Campbell, Missouri Army National Guard; Jacob Wolken, Missouri Army National Guard; Cole Johnson, Missouri Air National Guard; Ryan Gartner, Missouri Army National Guard; and Ryan Hartman, United States Marines.
Emma Albertson and Shianne Walther received the Seal of Excellence Award from Nichols Career Center. Albertson earned it for graphic arts and was named the outstanding student for the graphic arts program. Walther received it for the agriculture program.
Austin Gardner was named the outstanding student in the building trades program at Nichols.
Jade Forck was named the outstanding student in the health sciences program at Nichols.
John McDonald and Madeline Dunkmann received the Veterans of Foreign War Awards by the faculty, based on citizenship, scholarship and good attendance.
T.J. Hagenhoff and Wyrick earned the American Legion Citation, selected by the faculty based on leadership, scholarship and service.
Colozza and Kylie Mulholland won the Father Helias Award for their outstanding contribution to Helias during their four years of attendance.
Most of the graduates stood when asked if they had been offered or received scholarships. The seniors were offered more than $2.4 million in scholarships and accepted more than $1.2 million.