Graduates, colleagues, family and friends, it is a joy to be with you for this commencement ceremony — and to have the opportunity to address the Class of 2026. As you have heard, my Dominican roots run deep, and so, I know the magnitude of what we celebrate today, not only the academic accomplishments, but also, the shared values, lasting friendships and the sense of tradition.
Because we have a family connection, so to speak, let me begin with a bit of Dominican wisdom from Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, OP. He writes about the Catholic Church today, and by extension about Catholic, Dominican education — “We should be alive with a joy that intrigues people. So that they will want to know what our secret is.” Class of 2026, you benefit from the “secret sauce” of an intriguingly joyful Dominican education, one that is rigorous academically, practical in application, and deeply relationship-centered, one that not only encourages you to be of service to your communities, but also to “spark” positive change. This gathering is a public witness to that vocation and the affirmation that you have good companions — family, friends and mentors — to help you persist and thrive.
It is a complex and unpredictable time for new graduates, as I know that you know. The social upheaval is constant; the economics are volatile, and the pace of technological change is mind boggling. This is exactly the environment that distinguishes and mobilizes all the elements of a Mount Saint Mary education. As Dominicans, you are committed to truth-seeking, not only in your chosen discipline, but also, in how you navigate life. Your degrees have never been just about your own successes, though I wish you many. Rather, they are the vehicles through which you participate in the creation of a more just, humane and sustainable world.
In my experience, a good commencement address has three deliverables. It provides you with a memorable image; it gives you a piece of advice, and it leaves you with a challenge — all in 10 minutes. So, here is my trinity of insights.
As you know, we have a new Pope. I am actually going to meet him in June. In his first Apostolic letter Pope Leo chose to focus on education. His metaphor, and the image that I ask you to take to heart is that of the college graduate as a “cartographer of hope” — a mapmaker. Leo writes — (Graduates,) “you are not just inheriting the world, you are drawing new maps of hope for it.” In other words, in this complex, fragmented, digitized world, the Church is seeking graduates just like you — with the human-centric, joyful disposition that is so defining of the Dominican Sisters of Hope and at this educational ministry that they sponsor.
I know that that mission imperative puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders as new graduates, so here is my nugget of advice, borrowed from a friend. As you walk across this stage today and begin the next stage of your life, reach for opportunity, yes, you deserve it. But also, “leave space for the magic of serendipity, fused with the alchemy of discovery.” In other words, stay curious, welcome the unexpected, see hurdles as opportunities for personal growth, and recognize that the path to your true calling is rarely without difficulty and is sometimes a matter of “crazy, holy grace.”
With that let me segue to my final take away — the challenge. Just recently I had the honor of judging the final essays for the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize for Ethics. The theme for the 2026 competition was — Silence, Conscience and Responsibility. I leave you with the question that we asked the essay finalists — When does silence protect human dignity and when does it betray it? As graduates of Mount Saint Mary College, as members of the extended Dominican family, as a community of faith, this is the challenge of our day — and should be a constant focus of your discernment — but not for today.
Class of 2026, you have made it to the finish line. Today is your day to celebrate accomplishments, to hug friends, to recognize mentors, to thank family — and, to quote the great Meister Eckhart, OP, to trust in the magic of new beginnings.
Congratulations.
