ALUMNI
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMICS
CLOSING REMARKS – ALUMNI HOMECOMING
January 23, 2010
Sister Nicole de Marie P. Dabalus, SPC
Good morning everybody.
The Scriptures is ever right when it said “how good it is for brethren to live as one”. This morning’s togetherness aptly put these words into life in each one of you. Maybe for some time and for several reasons, you had been far from one another, in distance, in communication, but I believe, you never lost connection. All these years, the umbilical cord that you have managed to tie was never broken, was not disconnected.
It is so good to have you around. This is the Paulinian pride: that the sons and daughters of St. Paul remain loyal, joyful, simple and humble despite the success that the world has gifted them. Your Paulinian pride of honesty and integrity, strength and excellence which you learned during the early years of work and play is still manifested by your being true from day to day.
We thank you for all through these years, you have kept St. Paul in your hearts since you came and listened to his call. You know you have never been alone because your pains and joys are hers to keep. You may not recognize it as being there, but your souls know that your childhood’s early dreams are closely linked with hers. How can a mother forget a child’s dream? And what is the core of that dream which is closely connected with St.Paul’s dream for you? Is it wealth? Is it fame? Well, it is so much more than that. It is the unfathomable gift of heaven – heaven’s dream that she unfolded to you… the wealth of heaven – Christ the Lord! He is heaven’s dream that thou unfolded to us.
I know that since early this morning, as you chatted and enjoyed the presence of one another, you felt how sweet are the days of your childhood with friends you loved and cared. Those early childhood times were moments devoid of serious problems, days of fun and tears, days when you felt everybody is worth trusting, days when felt that youth was for all eternity.
However, you know that in one click reality sets in – and you realize that you have all grown in wisdom and in age. Before you is a world that awaits your Paulinian warmth, loving service, unconditional love. Ahead of you is a people longing for models in life, shepherds that will lead them to the right path. The time has come for you to hold the reigns and direct life. This is where your Paulinian upbringing with the tradition of excellence is put to challenge. Are you willing to take the yoke?
At this very time, as you are still within the circle of people close to you giving you the sense of security and ease, I enjoin you, do stay and while the hours away. This moment seldom comes your way. And later today, when once more, it will be a time for you to leave your dear old school, let the memory of today be implanted in your hearts so that time and time again, it will be recalled. These memories we will recall, these memories we will recall.
Thank you very much for your presence.
Alumni President’s Speech