Good afternoon, once again, to our graduating students, families, and friends on this very special day! No matter what it took to get you here, the early mornings and late nights studying, working a job or even more than one job while going to school, dealing with the pressures of your classes, all while dealing with the challenges of everyday life—through all of that—you made it, and this is the moment to celebrate your accomplishment.
It is our hope that during your time here at Molloy you have learned a few things. Yes, certainly the kinds of things relevant to your major, but I also hope you learned much more than that. You see, at the core of our mission and vision at Molloy are the values we cherish brought to us by our founders, the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, who created Molloy University embedded in the tradition of St. Dominic and opened its doors in 1955. So, this coming Fall marks Molloy’s 70th anniversary—a milestone we will celebrate as a community.
70 years is impressive, but speaking of the Sisters, and of milestones, I’d like to introduce you to Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella, one of our own Sisters of St. Dominic, who is now the oldest religious Sister in the United States. This past Easter Sunday, Sister Francis celebrated a birthday, and—brace yourself—it was her 112th birthday! Sister Francis taught math at Molloy and also worked in the finance office. I had a chance to speak with her recently at the Motherhouse in Amityville, and she is still witty and sharp. With a gleam in her eye, she told me about her days teaching math at Molloy, and I could see the joy on her face. And she has a sense of humor! When a reporter asked Sister Francis what it felt like to be the oldest living nun in the United States, she quipped: “well I wish I were the youngest!” God bless you, Sister Francis, and if you’re willing, I think it would be wise for Molloy to launch the “Sister Francis Masterclass on the Secrets of Longevity,” available on your favorite social media platform.
It is the people of Molloy, like Sister Francis, that make it a special place and a unique learning environment for our students. I am certain that each of you graduating here today can think of the professor who made a difference in your life, a staff member who assisted you when you needed help, and a classmate who has become a dear friend. It is the Molloy community that will live with you as you leave this arena today, lasting far beyond your years taking classes.
The following words were delivered at the dedication of Kellenberg Hall in 1958: “Molloy has some unique qualities: the genuine friendliness of a comparatively small group in an academic setting, the resulting close faculty-student-community relationship, emphasis upon quality rather than quantity, the wisdom to know that knowledge plus character is necessary for a successful happy life here and hereafter. These comprise the spirit of Molloy.” Those are profound words, and I dare say that they are as valid today as they were way back then.
Those of you graduating today began your college experience as the world was beginning to emerge from a global pandemic, you saw Molloy College become Molloy University, and you were a part of a new era at Molloy that has seen some of the largest new student enrollments in our history, which is not a common story in higher education these days.
In a world that currently seems to be defined by political and cultural division, the mission and values you learned and practiced at Molloy calling for respect for each person, acting justly and with kindness in all our endeavors, and transforming our communities, offers promise and hope for the future. Molloy University’s official motto is “veritas,” the Latin word for “truth.” In that vein, I call on you to rely on your critical thinking to reject the untruths so prevalent in our world, and to rely on the virtues and values you learned as a member of our community. In the words of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, “God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! All of us are in God’s hands. So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another other!
Congratulations, Molloy graduates, and may you witness peace, joy, love, and success in all your future endeavors.