By MYRNA FOSTER
Moapa Valley Progress
Members of the Moapa Valley High School class of 2014 met on Sunday evening, June 1, at St. John’s Catholic Church, to participate in their baccalaureate services. Logandale resident and former MVHS teacher, Sherrie Whitney played the processional music that ushered the students in. Lynae Barlow, Senior Class President welcomed the attendees and their families. Makenzie Bush offered the invocation.
Following the prayer, MVHS Encore Choir sang, “The Prayer,” under the direction of Robin Maughan. Alyssa Zerkle accompanied the group on the piano.
Next, Lynae Barlow introduced the speaker: Dr. Marc González, Director of the Department of Faith and Ministry Formation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas. Dr. González has over forty years experience as a catechist of adults and adolescents.
Dr. González spoke about some of the changes the senior class will soon face. He used various examples, from fiction and real life, of how different people react to change and the effect their reactions have on others.
“We never go through change alone,” he said. “There’s always someone with us.”
González spoke about Parley Pratt, a missionary and a writer from early Latter-day Saint history. Gonzalez said that Pratt could be seen as “the Paul of the Mormons. He traveled extensively and wrote extensively.”
González then he noted that Pratt had his large family and his faith to help him through it.
“We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors in the faith, and others will stand on our shoulders,” González added.
Next he spoke about Katharine Drexel. Her parents left her four million dollars in 1885. Drexel used her fortune to help impoverished Native Americans and African Americans. She used it to fund universities and hospitals. She established the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and she became Saint Katharine when Pope John Paul II canonized her in 2000.
Dr. González also mentioned Tristan Ables, a former member of the MVHS class of 2014 who was killed in an auto accident in 2013. González said that he couldn’t say why these types of tragedies happen. But he drew attention to the Book of Job in the Old Testament and the fact that Catholics find solace in the words of Isaiah.
In closing, he said, “Be the person God wants you to be. Be filled with his love.”
The service ended with Cymoni Cooper playing “Spiritual Medley” on her viola, accompanied by Beth Cooper. After which, Jennifer Ramirez offered a benediction on the service.
