Make connections, Anna Maria president says

By Margaret M. Russell | The Catholic Free Press
  
The Anna Maria College president encouraged graduates to make genuine human connections a priority and to engage directly and personally with others in society, throughout their lives.

 “Compassion and human interaction, however brief, is beautiful,” President Mary Lou Retelle told the 272 graduates, families and friends Saturday during commencement exercises at The Hanover Theatre.
  She was recounting a story told by Father John F. Madden, pastor of St. John Parish in Worcester, about a person he would see on the street asking for a handout. One day, instead of passing him by, Father Madden listened to his heart, stopped and greeted the man, and found out a little about him. They exchanged names. Then he invited him to get a free meal at St. John’s. The parish runs the Food for the Poor program in the St. Francis Xavier Center where hundreds of people are fed daily.
Father Madden’s message was that “in every encounter (an offer of) help is always right.”
President Retelle said the Paxton college, founded by the Sisters of St. Anne, has prepared the graduates to make a difference in the world where “the problems are great and your talents are greatly needed.”
“Educating the next generation of ethical leaders who will be actively engaged in their communities and the world is our mission as a Catholic college,” she said.
 “Today you graduate as responsible, ethical, service-oriented leaders. Our communities and our world will be stronger with you there,” she said.
President Retelle cited the two honorary degree recipients, Claudia Nassef Paul and Francis R. Carroll, as individuals who directly speak to the college’s mission. She noted their commitment to serving others.    
Father Madden introduced Mr. Carroll, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Administration degree. Mr. Carroll was instrumental in raising the $1.7 million needed to build the St. Francis Xavier Center at St. John’s. Father Madden explained that Mr. Carroll’s successful Small Business Service Bureau opened the way for his life-long humanitarian efforts with a focus on veterans and the hungry.
Sister Yvette Dargy, co-provincial leader of the Sisters of St. Anne, introduced Claudia Paul, a nurse and mother of 14, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Human Service degree. Sister Yvette said that if you ask Ms. Paul what her greatest accomplishment is – she answers, it is her family. “She raised her 14 children to be close to God,” Sister Yvette said. At the age of 50, Ms. Paul began her nursing education. For the past 10 years she has been director of nursing at the Marie Esther Health Center in Marlborough, run by the Sisters of St. Anne, taking care of aged and ailing religious sisters.
There was cheering when Deborah Joseph of Brockton got up to tell her story as the student speaker. Ms Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in health and community services and is to continue studying at Anna Maria for a master’s in business administration.
She told her peers about her educational journey, which took a detour to Germany as she served in the U.S. Army after her first try at college. She talked about lessons learned at Anna Maria, which included both triumphs and setbacks. The loss of classmates made her advise: “Never take people for granted. We must always uplift the people around us.”
“At Anna Maria I learned that life is not a checklist, life is more like a battalion run,” Ms. Joseph said.
When you hit mile three of a three-mile battalion run you think you are where you want to be, she said. But the run continues. At mile four you have to find the energy to keep pushing. You have to motivate each other to get through the next miles - to the keep the pace. By mile eight, she said, you are exhausted but have a feeling of accomplishment and know that you are part of a team.
“Today we celebrate the eighth mile in our run. But the run isn’t over yet … And I don’t know about you, but I didn’t run that hard just to stay in place,” she concluded, to more applause.
The college conferred 82 master’s and 190 bachelor’s degrees. Special awards were given to three individuals.    
The Bishop Timothy Harrington Award, given to a student who has demonstrated compassionate service in the promotion of peace and justice, was given to Kristan L. Richardson of Tewksbury, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing.    
The Sister Yvette Bellerose Award, given to a student who exhibits a commitment to the Catholic faith, service to the most vulnerable and encouragement to all, was given to Kaylee Elizabeth Marshall of Ware, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
The Dr. Bernadette Madore Award for the full-time student with the highest cumulative grade point average was earned by Colleen Rose Bogonovich of Athol, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA and received a bachelor’s degree in social work.