January 29, 2006

Dedication Mass for Saint Patrick Catholic School

Remarks by Charles V. McPhillips, Chairman, James-Barry Robinson Trust

Bishop DiLorenzo, Gathered Clergy, Congresswoman Drake, Mayor Fraim, Honored Guests. Thank you for being here to celebrate this great occasion with us. Please don't think me rude, however, if I take this opportunity to address my remarks to our schoolchildren.

Children: I am Charles, a sinner, the most unsophisticated and unworthy of all the faithful of God, yet I have been given the privilege of addressing you on this historic day.

Some of your parents will recognize that I just borrowed from our School's patron saint. In his Confessions, Saint Patrick expressed his wonder that an unimportant little man -- "Ignorant Patrick", he called himself -- had been chosen by God to deliver, to the Irish, the Holy Word of God.

Far less worthy than Patrick (and some might add, far more ignorant), I have the honor of conveying, to you Irish Wolfhounds, the same message that, as a young slave, Patrick received in a dream, beckoning him to a saintly destiny:

 

"Behold, Your Ship is Ready"

 

In August, on Granby Street, you boarded a sturdy old boat, and you have been brought safely here. Then, as now, you embarked on a voyage of the mind, of the body, of the spirit, learning basic lessons and exploring great truths, honing your character, lifting your hearts. Today, for your onward journey, we christen a glistening new vessel, one built with the finest modern craftsmanship, outfitted with the latest electronics, navigated by an excellent principal at the helm, and manned by an outstanding crew in your classrooms.

 

"Behold, boys and girls, your ship is ready"

 

Here at Saint Patrick's, we talk a lot about gifts. God made each of you gifted in some way; and whether your special gift is in math, in science, in language, in music, in art, in athletics, in exhibiting leadership, or in lovingly coming to the aid of others, please know that we dedicate these buildings and these grounds to one very important use: to help you find that special gift, to nurture it and, when you cross Saint Patrick's Green one day at graduation, to celebrate that gift like Mardi Gras has come to Norfolk.

Of course, the most important thing about a gift is what you do with it. Do you store it away or do you put it to work? Do you hoard it or do you share it? Do you clutch onto it, holding onto that gift for your own selfish pleasure and benefit, or do you use that gift to please and serve others?

You and the entire Saint Patrick's family, myself included, have been given a tremendous gift: these beautiful buildings to learn and perform in, our sports fields (eventually) to run and play on, this blessed ground to pray and dream upon.

 

How, then, will we use this gift?

 

Let me ask the grown-ups too.

 

Will we Catholics who built this School, and who run this place, warmly invite our friends from other traditions to join us, to knit their souls with ours, in order to share the blessings of our common faith?

Will we welcome friends from other Catholic schools, other religious schools, other independent schools, and the public schools too, to come here to exchange the best ideas and share the best techniques for lighting a fire in the hearts and minds of schoolchildren?

Will those of us who live in comfort be willing to work (and sacrifice) so that this very special place always remains welcoming and accessible to folks from all walks of life -- white, black, yellow and brown, rich and poor?

And will you, our students, measure your future success solely by what you get and accumulate, or, instead, by what you get and share with others? How many of you will use your gifts to help your neighbors, to better this City, to serve your God?

 

Children, let me ask each of you to close your eyes for just a moment and picture the block your family lives on. I bet you see at least one house, perhaps the biggest and fanciest one on the street: it's always dark, shuttered, sealed up like a tomb. You hesitate to retrieve a ball that rolls onto its front yard for fear that some snarling old man will storm out, chasing you away with an upraised cane.

But, keep your eyes closed just a moment longer. You also see a home on your block -- I hope it's yours -- where the front door is open and the lights shining, the welcome mat is always out, you can see friends and neighbors inside, you can hear laughter, you can feel love.

If you haven't already, children, open your eyes. Now look around at all your family, friends, neighbors and guests gathered here. See how bright and happy and loving this house is today. Dream of how bright and happy and loving we can make Saint Patrick's for all the days of your lives.

Now, I know it is 2006. I know that, in this day and time, security must be ever-present and everyone must sign in at the front desk. We must be forever careful. Our children must be protected.

But I pray O God, in this house built of hopes and dreams and visions: Be Thou our Hopes, Be Thou our Dreams, Be Thou our Vision. And let this School become that brightly lit, welcoming home, full of love, laughter and song, drawing nearer all who pass by, inviting in all who wish to enter -- to find and nurture and celebrate those gifts with which they have been endowed by You. And, I pray O God, all will feel welcome in this place where, Lord, You will hold them, all of them, in the palm of Your hand.