(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Tuesday morning, 22 May 2018)

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of a loving God.

The humid September breeze drifts lazily, and the sun begins to hide behind the trees. Loud music greets my ears, the beat shaking the bleachers beneath my feet. My hand grasps my friend’s tightly, and we look at each other, a look of exhilaration and anticipation in our eyes. We hold on for dear life even with sweat gathering between our palms. As I join in with my classmates, and scream “I believe that we will win!”, I’m overcome with a feeling that’s virtually indescribable. It’s a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for the moment, it’s pure awe of this unique tradition, and it’s love for my school and my fellow Lasallians.

Have you ever experienced a moment when – halfway through – you realize how much you’re going to miss it? At La Salle, I’m lucky enough to have had many of these moments, occurring especially often as my time here comes to an end.

Because yes, the big, important moments at La Salle have meant the world to me. But, sometimes everyday, seemingly insignificant moments deserve to be recognized and remembered too.

I’m talking about the afternoons spent laying on a couch in campus ministry, surrounded by friends. My stomach aches as we laugh through a game of catchphrase or just good conversation.

Walking into school in the morning and sharing a greeting and a smile with those locker buddies I’ve gotten so used to seeing every day.

Making a play in practice with my teammates that gets me so excited because it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for.

Opening up the outside cafeteria door to warm sun and a gust of wind, my gaze finding its way to my friends gathered around a table.

Walking down to the theater with the rest of my class to see the final theater production we will get to see at La Salle. Knowing it’s going to be amazing and feeling the overwhelming melancholy of seeing something come together so beautifully for the last time.

Seeing Mr. O as I walk to my locker and getting a hug – extremely rare, and the best surprise.

And finally, back to that football game. That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you know you’re part of something bigger – a community full of people who will support you unconditionally.

In the future, big moments will inevitably be remembered. But, I know I will also remember the small moments, that happened on ordinary days, that made me feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I feel so thankful that I have these memories, big and small, in the back of my mind, as I move on to the next chapter of my life. I and the rest of the Class of 2018 are so lucky to have been blessed with such joyful moments that make us sad to leave. I hope as we hang out in campus min for the last afternoon, say our final greetings to locker buddies, play in our final minutes, or support our classmates in the stands for the final time, we feel gratitude more than sadness. Now that we have had the opportunity to enjoy all that La Salle has to offer, we get to move on to a new phase, hopefully with a newfound appreciation for the little things in life.

Let us pray. Lord, thank you for the people that unite the La Salle community, and thank you for providing us with the classmates that have become our closest friends. Help our seniors to take the golden memories from this chapter of life and chase more opportunities in the next chapter. Also, help the seniors to appreciate those who have led us to this point and recognize that they were sent from You. And lastly, guide the underclassmen to recognize the vital importance and impermanence of everyday moments here at La Salle, and be fully present in each of them. Amen.

St. John Baptist de La Salle. Pray for us.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever.

Eliza Mahoney–Class of 2018