(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Tuesday morning, 19 May 2015)

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God…

For me, La Salle has always been a family affair. I’ll be the seventh cousin in a row (and the last) to graduate from here. I remember when my brother Casey decided to come to the Academy, instead of our father’s alma mater “Bishop Hendricken.” At the time I was in the sixth grade and my father had me bleeding green & gold and singing Hendricken fight songs from the 1970’s. On Casey’s first day I questioned him as to why he ever wanted to go to “that school that takes bubble baths.” He told me that it was because when he was there, it felt like home. I kept taunting him like this for weeks. But, after a few times of picking him up from football practice with my mother, I too fell in love with La Salle.

My first weeks of freshman year were a joy thanks to Casey. He was pretty well known, due in part to his curly ginger hair. So for those first weeks I was “Casey Mackisey’s little brother Aaron.” I loved it! For the first time I felt like I was a part of something bigger than just my family at home. I was a part of this Lasallian family of brothers and sisters.

Ever since then La Salle has been my second home, both physically and figuratively. It has shown me my purpose and direction in life. It has given me a place to shine, a place to be myself, and a place to fit in. La Salle has helped shape me into the person that I am today. Without La Salle, I would just be a number in another school system. I would just be an average test score. But, not at La Salle.

La Salle is a home, a place of comfort and happiness. A place that watches out for you. A place that takes you in as a small, awkward and naive freshman, and lets you out as a young adult ready to face the world. I will miss this building and the times I’ve had in it: performing on stage, delivering the news, all the laughs shared with my lunch table, that time we all sang on top of our lunch table, the mission trip to NOLA last year, and the opportunity to just be myself. My memories – and those that we all hold in our hearts – will live on forever inside us all.

Thank you La Salle – Thank you for being a home

Let us pray
‘Dear Lord, grant us peace of mind that we may find inner peace in the home that is your heart.”
Amen

Saint John Baptist de La Salle…Pray for us
Live Jesus in our Hearts… Forever

Aaron O’Brien Mackisey–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Friday morning, 15 May 2015, the Feast of our Founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle)

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

Growing up in South Providence and attending the San Miguel School, I never thought I would love another place as much as I loved San Miguel. The close community helped shape me into a young man with dreams and goals.

Coming to La Salle was a dream come true for my family, because La Salle is the best school in our state and it meant an excellent education for me and a way to college.

While it was an awesome opportunity for me, I was nervous to leave what I knew behind and come to 612 Academy Avenue. I have seen a lot in my life that has impacted me greatly and that made it difficult for me to reach out to others who I perceived weren’t like me. For three years, I spent most of my time here at La Salle with a new family that I was lucky to make in Academic Support. I grew comfortable and confident from their love and support of me and I loved coming to school to see them, both the kids and teachers.

Sometimes though, I judged my peers that weren’t in my Academic Support family. I thought that they had it easier than me and I didn’t reach out to them or bother to get to know them. It was through a retreat experience during this year, that Mr. D encouraged me to go on, Kairos 16 that changed all that for me. I’m definitely not your typical retreat kid, but I took a chance and it changed my perceptions on everything.

I finally became friends with a group of people that I will never forget. I met students from all corners of La Salle. I became friends with people I never would have met if I did not attend this retreat. I finally understood that La Salle was just like San Miguel; another home. A place I can always come back to. A place where I can be me. A place where I know love. I thank God every day for this opportunity. I still play basketball in my local community center. When the younger kids see me in my La Salle Uniform, it gives them hope for their futures, just the way I had hope for my future when I saw guys at San Miguel in their La Salle uniforms like Johan Molina, Omar Valerio, and Josh Rodriguez.

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of La Salle in my life. Help me to continue to pay forward all that I have been given. Amen.

St. John Baptist de La Salle…Pray for us

San Miguel …Pray for us

Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever!

Orlando Reyes–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Thursday morning, 14 May 2015)

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God:

Out of the blur that was my freshman year of high school, I can recall one moment with striking clarity. It was late October on the last day of the first quarter and I was sitting in room 104 in Mr. Hall’s Geometry class next to the kid that would become my best friend. We had gotten Mr. Hall away from the world of Mathematics and off on a tangent about the state of Alabama oddly enough. Absentmindedly, with no real intention, I scrawled a fraction on the cover of my notebook—One sixteenth. That number represented my progress through high school to that point. Four quarters a year for four years and I had gotten through one. That percentage seemed tremendously large to me. I recall thinking about how after the second quarter I would be one eighth done. And then before I knew it, one fourth. For a moment, as a fairly new freshman, I was fully aware how fast my time at La Salle would go by. What I did not know was how my time would be filled, what memories I would make and what people I would meet.

La Salle Academy is an amazing place. You are truly in control of your own experience. What you decide to get involved in, how hard you decide to push yourself, what risks you are willing to take–all dictate the type of experience you will have. As I reflect upon my personal experience, MY four years at La Salle, I am grateful for many things. I am grateful for my dean, Mrs. Kelly, for everything she does for me, from proof reading announcements, to listening to my random/often very unrealistic ideas for class events and the Beehive, and always keeping those ideas in check. I am grateful for those teachers that I had in class who in addition to molding me as a student and challenging me in the classroom took the time to get to know me as a person. I am grateful for those teachers whom I never took a class from yet still know well and am able to talk to in the hallways. I am grateful for those individuals who keep La Salle running behind the scenes receiving little recognition: People like Carl, Larry, and mustache Joe…… I am grateful for the people I have met and the friends I have made, all the students that give this place life and give me the motivation to come in every single day. My best friends go to school here. I think it is a special thing to be able to say that and it is a testament to the culture that exists here. Everyone seated in homeroom right now is part of an incredible school community. It is unlike anything I have ever heard of, seen, or experienced. Going to school here can be challenging, yes, but it is also the most fun I have ever had. I don’t want to leave, but I know La Salle has served me well over these past four years and I am confident that I am ready for the next chapter in my life.

For the underclassmen, my advice is to keep in mind that, at La Salle, it is never too late to start something and to strive always to meet new people. I have molded some of my best friendships only this year. You can only have one high school experience, so make it something you can be proud of.

As for the seniors..the class of 2015.. here we are, on the cusp of finishing quarter 16 out of 16.. the culmination of four years of hard work. Hopefully you can look back favorably on your time here, and undoubtedly you will leave with plenty of memories. Lets enjoy these final days and cherish the simple moments that perhaps we have taken for granted , starting with Mass today, our last that we will share with the entirety of our school. The legacy of the class of 2015 is and will continue to be great and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

So Let us pray.. Thank you God for the gift of La Salle Academy and the people that make it so special. Allow us students to appreciate everything you have given us and to realize that we are truly luck to have the opportunity to be Lasallians.
ST JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE…PRAY FOR US

LIVE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS…FOREVER

Michael Papazian–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Tuesday morning, 12 May 2015)

Let us pause and remember we are in God’s holy presence.

When Mr. Daly asked me to write a prayer reflecting on my time at La Salle, I wasn’t really sure what to talk about. As I started to think back on my high school memories, I realized there were so many things that I don’t think I would have been able to experience if I was at any other school. From dressing up in crazy clothes to go a to game, to running around Spain on a scavenger hunt for my Spanish class trip, to finding an encouraging note on every student’s desk in homeroom, to just spending my Wednesday afternoons at Meeting Street with the students, I realized that this type of community is not easy to come by.

One of my favorite memories that happened just a few weeks ago fully shows this community of celebrating each other’s accomplishments and talents. After the Senior Class saw the play Grease in the morning, we all went to the cafeteria for lunch where songs from the musical were playing. As the seniors who played Danny and Sandy began to sing Summer Nights it eventually evolved into a duet on top of the tables while everyone was singing along. Eventually dancing broke out as the song Greased Lightning came on and Kenickie headed to the center of the cafeteria to do his infamous dance move. As I’m sure most of us have wished our school could be like the Disney movie High School Musical, I never thought I would actually be a part of something so close to it.

It’s these moments that make me know that I’m going miss La Salle. It isn’t at many schools that there is such a sense of community in the student body. This community is a result of the dedication and hard work of Mrs. Kelly, the teachers, and the Student Council who provide us with the opportunities to support each other and get to know each other through various events and it is something that I will never forget and will always be grateful for.

Beyond that, I am thankful for the chance to be put outside my comfort zone through service opportunities, and to be pushed to my full potential academically. La Salle has taught me so much about myself, my faith, and how to be a member of an amazing community. I may not know what the future holds, but I know no matter where I end up I will always remember the friendships and memories I have made and the teachers I have met during my time here.

If I could give any advice to the underclassmen, it would be to enjoy these moments, and participate in all the opportunities the faculty and your peers make possible. Your time at La Salle is going to fly by and, before you know it, you’ll be the one graduating in a few weeks.

Let us pray.

Dear Lord,
Please help the seniors to make the most of the little time they have left at La Salle and help the underclassmen to take advantage of all the opportunities they have to make their high school experience unforgettable.

St John Baptist de La Salle…. pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts…. forever.

Abigail Sawyer–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Monday, 11 May 2015)

Let us remember we are in the Holy Presence of a Loving God.

At this moment, as I’m sure most of the seniors already know, we have approximately 24 days until graduation. Wow! that doesn’t even seem real. How did four years turn into 25 days? I’m sure most of us are way too excited to even be nostalgic at this time but let’s not overlook our last moments at La Salle, as worried as we are about the future, because it is going to be here before we know it. This morning I would like to just take a minute to reflect on our time here and draw attention to all of the individuals that have helped us get to this moment.

Let’s start with our first moment at La Salle. This seems like a lifetime ago but try to remember; maybe it was an open house or the entrance exam. Then acceptance letters arrived and from that moment on each of us became part of something bigger than ourselves. We became part of a team, a club, a cast, a class, and a family, our Lasallian family. Since that day we have changed so much. None of us is the same person we were when we entered La Salle Academy four years ago. Each moment creates a chain reaction in our lives whether we know it or not. God has a plan and gives us opportunities and we need to take them. I truly hope that you took advantage of all the opportunities La Salle has had to offer. Just think of all of your favorite memories and moments at La Salle: prayer before opening night, singing on the bus ride home with the team, Kairos retreats, Mission trips, ultimate Frisbee in the pouring rain, storming into Clash of the Classes (and winning), chanting with the Beehive, winter balls and proms, tackling your teammates after that state championship win or just hanging out in Campus Ministry.

We also need to recognize that we would not be graduating without the help of so many people in our lives. Our parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, teachers and school administrators have made every day at La Salle not only possible, but enjoyable. It is hard to even fathom the amount of sacrifice these individuals have made for us. Our families have sacrificed financially to offer us the opportunity of a Lasallian education, as well as sacrificing so much of their time coming to support us at games, competitions and plays. As underclassmen, how many times did our parents chauffeur us around Rhode Island? I’ve lost track. Our teachers have been a bigger part in our years at La Salle than most of us are aware. I can think of many examples of teachers genuinely caring about our well being: pulling us aside in the hall or in class to ask how we are doing when its been a rough day; writing our college recommendations and probably painting us in a better light than we deserve; coordinating mission trips and retreats and giving up their vacations and weekends; coming in before school to supply us with review sessions for work we don’t understand; reading some of our awful essays that we wrote at 2AM and then providing extra credit; decorating their entire classroom to spread Christmas cheer; helping us find prom dates and supplying us with truck loads of Hershey kisses; or staying at La Salle until late hours to build sets for shows and ensure we shine on stage. Our Guidance counselors comforted us during breakdowns while they helped us send out college application, after application, after application. What about coaches? Sacrificing an entire season to help us win a championship. Or even the lunch staff. I can’t think of another school where a lunch lady would know a student by name and their usual lunch choice. Most importantly our dean, Mrs. Kelly. She has practically been a second mother to us these past four years. Mrs. Kelly took the time to not only learn every single one of our names but actually know us as individuals. Mrs. Kelly knows our names, what classes we’re in, what extracurriculars we participate in, that we won the big game last weekend, received a part in the school musical, or…. were late for school that morning. We have taken this for granted over the years. It is hard for us to understand that not all schools have such amazing staff as La Salle. Not every school cares so much about their students’ successes not only in the classroom, but in the community and their personal lives. God has a plan for each of us and we need to appreciate every day, person, opportunity and moment on this earth he gives us. Perfect moments are rare and hard to come by but our moments at La Salle are some that I hope will be in our memory for a long time.

All I’m trying to say is that moments are there for a reason. Appreciate them and live in the moment because some day you are going to look back and your whole life will be nothing but memory. We never realize how important a moment is when it happens because we always think there will be another tomorrow, but sometimes there’s not. One day there isn’t going to be another moment so appreciate every single one you have. Try to appreciate the moment you are in before it’s gone because before you know it, it will be.

Dear God, help us be aware of the moment we are in and thankful for every moment that we have experienced, especially at La Salle. Allow us to be mindful that our moments on earth are numbered and to take every opportunity given to us. Help us to be more thankful to the individuals who make the moments unforgettable and have affected us most at La Salle.

St. John Baptist de La Salle…pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts…forever.

Veronica Berretta–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Friday morning, 8 May 2015–the end of Right-to-Life Week)

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

Imagine a time when you were sick in your life. Did you go to the doctor? Were you prescribed an antibiotic or another medication for that sickness? How did you feel after that medication? Healthy? Were you thankful for that medication for making you feel better? Maybe even for keeping you alive?

Now, I want you to imagine getting a prescription to die. A doctor has given you a prescription for medication that will end your life, knowingly. This sounds like a horror story but it happens every day, even in America, despite the fact that doctors take an oath to “do no harm.”

Physician-Assisted Suicide is legal in 5 states in America. This means that it is legal for a doctor to knowingly murder a patient using the logic that dying now is better than dying later. In Oregon alone, from 1997 to 2012, 1,050 human beings received lethal prescriptions, and 673 human beings’ lives were taken as a result of these prescriptions. But, it gets worse.

In foreign countries, namely the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, euthanasia is much more common. You don’t need a terminal illness or a psychiatric evaluation. Even newborn babies with disabilities can legally be murdered under this idea of death with dignity. The elderly have to carry with them a “Passport for Life” saying that they DO want to be resuscitated, since otherwise they automatically are left to die. This is what happens with a slippery slope of assisted suicide where eventually someone else views your life as not worthy of continuing. If you know anyone with a disability, I’m sure you wouldn’t view their life as undignified. If you know anyone fighting a terminal illness, I’m sure you wouldn’t view their life as undignified. Because LIFE is never undignified!

Let us pray.
God, we pray for anyone struggling with a terminal illness, that they enter hospice so they can continue to live each day with dignity until a natural death. We also pray for the end of active euthanasia in America and around the world, as well as a respect for life in all its forms. AMEN.

St. John Baptist de La Salle
Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts
Forever

Ean Drezek–Class of 2015

(Prayer offered on the Intranet for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Friday, 1 May 2015)

 

 

Ed Sirois–Religion Department