Message for the Class of 2020 from the Mercy Center
Dear Members of the Class of 2020,
Congratulations! You are at the end of your final year at Salve Regina, and even though it is not as you imagined it might be, there is much to celebrate. We are so proud of you for all that you have accomplished, even in these challenging times.
You have forged life-long friendships, pursued knowledge and practice in your degree, encountered the power of mercy, both that shown to you and that which you have shown, and discovered more of who you are and who the world may need you to be.
You are graduating Salve Regina into a world in which there is both opportunity and need, joy and sorrow, beauty and deprivation. Your time at Salve Regina and the legacy and example of the Sisters of Mercy have prepared you well. Now, it is up to you to continue to bring Mercy to the world according to your unique talents and calling. No one is better qualified to do this than you are, right now, in this very moment.
We will always remember you, Class of 2020, for the contributions you have made to this university and to our community. Your career at Salve Regina has concluded unlike any other. Just as you neared the finish line, a global pandemic turned the world upside down. But you persevered, and you have succeeded. Be assured that when this has passed, your class will be celebrated unlike any other.
Each of you will always be a cherished member of the Salve Regina family, but as in every family, there comes a time for farewell. So, we offer this prayer for you:
May you be blessed with an abundance of occasions to practice mercy and may mercy rain down upon you. May you understand in the depths of your heart that God walks beside you, and may you know that it has been our honor and privilege to have you walk with us these last four years. May you be courageous enough to fail and gracious enough to thank those who have helped you succeed. May you rest peacefully at the end of each day, grateful that you have done what you could to make the world a bit more harmonious, just and merciful.
Best wishes and God’s blessings.
Anna Mae, Amy, Matt, and Father Ray
