THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
Yesterday we held the 58th commencement exercises of Bishop O'Connell High School. Continuing a more than three-decade long tradition, the ceremony was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, this year on the Feast of the Visitation. It is a real blessing to our school community to be able to hold this important moment in our school calendar in this beautiful and sacred place.
Moments like Mr. Peter Kadeli conducting the chorus on the steps of the altar through a remarkable arrangement of the National Anthem, seniors Rosie Coolidge and Peter Lucas singing the Ave Maria from the ambo, and the moment when the seniors turn to face their families and receive a thunderous ovation from the sea of proud and happy loved ones filling the basilica, highlight what is special about a Catholic education at Bishop O'Connell.
During my brief opportunity to welcome everyone to the exercises, I took a moment to recognize four retiring teachers who have given a combined total of more than 120 years of service to Bishop O’Connell – Mr. Bill Carpenter, Mrs. Patrice Connolly, Mr. Tommy Orndorff, and Mrs. Mary Lou Wentzel. Their teaching, coaching, mentorship and prayerful support of O’Connell Knights over many decades is remarkable and deserved special mention at this, their last graduation ceremony.
I also spoke to the graduates, reminding them that on their first day as freshmen, I told them they had already begun writing the next chapters of the school’s legacy and congratulating them on their long list of accomplishments that now inspires future Knights to think about a Bishop O’Connell experience because they want to reach, strive and accomplish as the Class of 2018 has.
It was a great day to be a Knight.