On a beautiful June day, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Class of 2025 was sent forth with blessings, prayers, and proud hearts during the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield. The event marked a pivotal moment in the lives of the graduates, one of reflection, thanksgiving, and hopeful anticipation for the journeys ahead.
The day began with the tradition of the Baccalaureate Mass, a time to honor God’s guiding presence throughout the students’ high school years and to seek His continued blessings as they prepare to take their next steps. The homily, delivered by Fr. David Keyes, offered encouragement to the graduates. He reminded them that their true identities are not defined by a diploma but by their relationship with Christ. “Formation takes time, but it is essential,” Fr. Keyes said. “You have been formed here academically, artistically, spiritually, and morally. Remember all who helped form you, especially your parents, who invested time, energy, and love even when you didn’t notice. Honor them with your life and legacy.”
The music for the Mass, led by the liturgical choir under the direction of Mr. Joseph Cullinan ‘02, created a reverent and joyful atmosphere with hymns that included City of God, Pilgrims of Hope, and We Are One Body.
Following Mass, the Commencement ceremony honored each graduate individually. As their names were announced by Class Advisor Mr. Joe Vigilante, the graduates were conferred their diplomas by the Most Reverend Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen, recognizing not only academic achievements but the culmination of years of faith-filled formation, friendship, and perseverance.
The graduates then heard from two of their outstanding classmates. Valedictorian Averie Branche inspired her classmates by affirming their limitless potential. “I know that every single one of you has an endless amount of potential and is capable of so much more than you may think,” she said. “Surround yourselves with people who help you grow and make you strive to be a better person every day.”
Salutatorian Mahiya Sundar reflected on the collective achievements of the class: “Together, our class has accomplished a great deal throughout our high school years. We’ve won Battle of the Classes twice through teamwork and determination. Many of us have shone in theater productions and music performances, and others have flourished as talented athletes in their respective sports.”
Principal Harry Ziegler addressed the graduates with words to inspire courage and ambition. “Nurture big dreams and dare to fail,” he urged. “Think about all the goals you’ve accomplished these past four years. Before you take this momentous step forward, take a moment to honor the past: your teachers and counselors, your parents, and God who will always be there for you.”
The ceremony concluded with some thoughts and a moving rendition of the song The Prayer by senior class officers Elizabeth Bera and William Owens: “The story of the class of 2025 has been truly a beautiful one and our way of expressing our gratitude to God and our classmates is this song.”
As the graduates turned their tassels and processed out of the church, they moved forward as Trojans united, illuminated by the values of truth, faith, love, and friendship, ready to serve the world with wisdom and courage.
The members of the Class of 2025 now embark on their next chapters, carrying with themselves the wisdom and spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a community where One Trojan Family stands strong.
