Graduation Celebrations at St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon
20 October, 2022
St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon, farewelled their graduating Class of 2022 with multiple celebratory events earlier this week. On Monday 17 October, Bishop Michael McCarthy presided over the Senior Celebration Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Lammermoor. Concelebrated by Fr Andrew Hogan, the church was filled with St Ursula’s College students, staff, and families. In his Homily, Bishop Michael encouraged the graduates to reflect on the Gospel, and ‘knock, and the door will be opened for you’. He paid tribute to the actions of the Presentation Sisters, the founding order of St Ursula’s College, and how the sisters’ wisdom to provide education to those in need was linked to the First Reading from Proverbs, ‘happy are those who find wisdom’. At the conclusion of Mass, Year 12 Student Leaders handed their badges of office over to the incoming 2023 Student Leaders, and each Year 12 student exchanged a candle and Senior badge with their Year 11 counterparts.
On Monday evening, graduates and their families gathered in the Ballygriffin Cultural Centre for the official Graduation Ceremony. Each student was given oil blessed during Mass by Bishop Michael, and were led in a ritual by Fr Andrew Hogan. Special Academic, Sporting, and Cultural Awards were distributed, and the Highest Achiever in each subject was also acknowledged.
On Tuesday, Year 12s attended Assembly, and processed out the College gates through a guard of honour, after a final roll call by Principal, Mrs Deborah Ryan.
Year 12 students will now concentrate on their external exams, to be completed by 15 November.
