Jr./Sr. High School – Oneida, NY
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  HCA Celebrates Tenth Commencement

Most Rev. James M. Moynihan Presides at Baccalaureate
Mass & Commencement Ceremony

ONEIDA CASTLE, NY (June 24, 2011) – Holy Cross Academy welcomed Bishop James Moynihan, the retired Bishop of the Syracuse Diocese, as the main celebrant and homilist for the Tenth Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremonies. On Friday, June 24, families, friends and teachers of the Holy Cross Academy Class of 2011 gathered at the Academy Chapel to send off its newest graduates Bishop Moynihan, who led the Syracuse Diocese from 1995 to 2009, gave his blessing to the founders of HCA to establish the Academy in 1997. He addressed the graduates during his homily.

Bishop James Moynihan (center) and the Holy Cross Academy Class of 2011. They are flanked by (l-r):
Rev. Reynald Yudin, OFM; Msgr. Matthew Luczycki; Fr. Richard Kapral; and Deacon James Chappell.

“Whatever your future accomplishments in life may be,” he said, “your task will be not to glory in those accomplishments, but rather to hold up the accomplishments of Jesus Christ and of the wonderful things God has accomplished through Him and through his followers.”

“I am thankful to Almighty God to be able to celebrate with you this tenth commencement and the fifteenth year of [the Academy’s] existence,” he continued.

The nine seniors received their diplomas from Daniel Miller, President of the Board of Trustees, and Principal Therese Maciag.

The Valedictorian is Michelle Stadelmaier, daughter of Robert and Cindy Stadelmaier, Canastota. The Salutatorian is Kayla Johnson, daughter of Jerry and Anne Johnson, Verona. Both students plan on attending Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY, this fall.

In her heartfelt address, Stadelmaier personally addressed each of her eight classmates and recalled the strong friendships that bonded them throughout their years at HCA.

“This class has shared some amazing memories. Both inside and outside of school, we have formed friendships with each other that will never be forgotten,” she stated during her address.

Speaking to the students in attendance, Stadelmaier advised, “that regret is the hardest thing to live with, so try to live each day to the best of to the best of your ability, and that way regret can never touch you.”

At the conclusion of the Tenth Commencement, Bishop Moynihan was honored as the first recipient of “The Cyrenian” (see photos left), an award instituted this year by Holy Cross Academy. In bestowing the honor, Board of Trustees President Dan Miller commended the Bishop on “all that you have done for the Church, for the Diocese, for individual souls, and in recognition of your life of distinguished service to Christ and His Church” The honor takes its name from Simon of Cyrene, who assisted Jesus Christ in carrying His cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32). The Academy is dedicated to that same Holy Cross, and its mission is to assist Our Lord in bringing young men and women to their proper end: salvation. Throughout history there have been many Simons of Cyrene, dedicating their lives to assisting in the redemptive work of Christ, both in quiet ways and in public ways. It is our desire to recognize some of these individuals among us today, to thank them, and to honor them for their work.

The graduates and their families then gathered in the Academy’s cafeteria for a reception following the ceremonies.

The graduates of the Class of 2011 are:

Christopher Abbe (SUNY Maritime), Cody Anderson (MVCC), Brad Eberly (Hilbert College), Kayla Johnson (Hilbert College), Carrie Lohr (Herkimer County Community College), Catherine Pfluke (SUNY Oneonta), Kevin Rudd, Steven Seelman (SUNY Cobleskill), Michelle Stadelmaier (Hilbert College).