May 2026

Dear Graduates,

Congratulations on your achievement! You have worked hard, grown in wisdom and taken real steps toward maturity. But this moment is not just about what you have completed — it is about who you are becoming.

As you graduate, I would like you to remember one simple truth — your life is a calling.

When we hear the word “calling,” many people think first of a career or a particular job. Those matter — but God’s calling is bigger than that. Your vocation is not just about what you will do; it is about how you will live and whom you will serve.

God did not create you by accident. Your gifts, your questions, even your struggles are part of the way He calls you to serve the world. Wherever you go next — to high school, college, work, military service or something not yet clear — God is not waiting at the finish line. He is walking with you now, inviting you to listen and respond.

This means you do not need to have everything figured out. Many of the most faithful people in Scripture discovered their calling gradually — often through uncertainty, failure or unexpected turns. What mattered was not having a perfect plan but having a listening heart and the courage to say “yes” when the call became clear.

Your calling will always include loving others: treating people with dignity, seeking justice, forgiving generously, learning from the poor, and using your talents for more than yourself. If you live that way, you will be faithful — no matter what title you hold or path you take.

And remember this: God’s call is never withdrawn. Even if you stumble, even if you wander, God does not stop calling you by name. The Church will always be here to help you hear that voice again — in the Eucharist, in prayer and in the community of believers.

Graduates, the world needs what God has placed within you. Trust that your life has meaning, your choices matter, and your future is held in God’s hands. May you listen carefully, respond generously and live your calling with courage.

Congratulations, and may God bless you always.

+Bishop John Iffert