In ancient Roman mythology, the god Ianus held a special position within the pantheon of gods.
Portrayed with two heads, one looking forward and another looking backward, Ianus was considered to be the protector of thresholds, gateways and transitions. As such, he was invoked at the beginning of every ceremony, and the first month of the year was named after him, January.
His temple in the Roman Forum was only open when Rome was at war – and it remained open until peace was achieved.
I offer this as introduction to the fact that we make new beginnings at various times of the year, none more important than the graduations that take place each spring.
Also called commencement, a beginning, graduations are a time when we take on the form of Ianus because we look back and reflect on how we have changed since we began our academic career. Preschool children and kindergartners make the transition from shy little ones hiding behind their parents to bravely processing across a stage barely able to balance a mortar board on their tiny heads. Eighth-graders, in the midst of adolescence, look back with the help of photos and videos and are amazed at their physical, intellectual and spiritual transformations. They also look forward to a whole new world where these kings and queens of the hill will find themselves once again at the bottom of the pack.
Seniors, who began the year counting the days until graduation, look back at their time in high school wishing that things could just remain the same, at least for a bit longer. “How can high school be over? I will miss my friends, teachers, coaches and staff,” they say. At the same time, they look forward to the new challenges that adulthood will bring and the new directions their lives will take in colleges and careers.
The Diocese of Camden is blessed to serve the local community by providing a faith-based, Catholic education for thousands of children each year. The witness of our teachers, principals and school staffs – in cooperation with faithful and dedicated parents and families – makes a real difference. Guided by those who serve in the Office of Catholic Education, our schools consistently incorporate our Catholic faith into the lessons taught inside and outside of the classroom.
At the heart of the ability to do so are the sacrifices made by many. This includes teachers and administrators whom we cannot pay at the same rate as their public school counterparts; parents and families who make Catholic school a priority as they budget; and parish communities who work hard to fundraise and support their local Catholic schools. As Jesus taught us, every sacrifice is a gift of love, which has the power to transform.
As we celebrate commencements, our graduates, school personnel and families, like Ianus, will look forward to the adventures that lie ahead and back on the paths that brought them to this day. However, in our Catholic tradition, they will do so in the context of the Eucharist. At the many baccalaureate Masses that are celebrated, we give thanks to Almighty God for His abundant blessings and the graces we need – but most of all, for the love God showed us in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.
Father Robert Hughes is Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.
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