memory: prolonging your presence - closing remarks seniors' night 2013

What would happen if we have no long term memories, if like the goldfish in an aquarium we have only three minutes of memory, meaning the farthest we can remember in our lives are the events that happened 3 minutes ago.  But we are not gold fishes.  We are persons of memories and memories are important for us.  In fact memories are instruments by which the actions of God are recalled and renewed.  That is why we celebrate the Eucharist because we remember, we are capable of remembering, and our remembering can be very powerful.    What has happened in the past continue to happen in the present because of our remembering.  To remember is to prolong the action.

I would like to thank the fourth year both in the college and the high school.  Most of you will leave.  Some of you for good, never to come back .  Some will stay for the next four years.   Some will proceed to theology and when they come back to us they are already priests like us. It is sad to say goodbye but that is life.  The only assurance we can give is this, we will not forget you.  You will be remembered.  And our remembering will prolong your presence here.

I would like to thank personally Joseph.  I have been with Joseph and worked with him since he was a seminarian.  I remember him particularly because he was one of the few seminarians who never reported for IC.  However, I do not know by what form of reasoning, he came to me for IC in quick succession one after the other after he decided to leave the seminary for good.  Now what kind of logic is that?

He was the most able of the secretaries the college council ever had and because of him we were able to commit into writing what we did as college – the four general themes, the pillars of formation, the council of discipline, the new rules which we formulated.  These were during Joseph’s time, that is why, even now, he can be passionate about these things.  Understandable – he helped in formulating all these.  Probably you have sensed his agitation when we have lost the original spirit and enthusiasm.  Probably you have sensed his aspirations recalling those bygone years when everyone was enthusiastic about the program and where every year, every graduating class contributed to its form now, to what it is right now.  Then after we left he went back as a teacher.  From there you already know him.  Joseph thank you so much for your presence.  You will leave us but  our memories have the power to prolong your action, your dreams, your desires for the formation of the community especially the college.  Thank you and you can go.