WELCOME TO THE 2021 BOSTON COMMENCEMENT. WELCOME TO THE 2021 BOSTON COMMENCEMENT. WELCOME TO THE 2021 BOSTON COMMENCEMENT. WE ASK THAT THE FACULTY MARSHALLS SEATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME TO PLEASE RISE. YOU'LL NOTICE A BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF COLORS IN THE ACADEMIC ATTIRE THAT THEY ARE WEARING. COLOR IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF ALL ACADEMIC CEREMONIES. NOT ONLY DOES IT LEND BEAUTY IT IS USED ON HOODS, ROBE, TASSEL, CARRIES SYMBOLIC MEANING THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES. WHEN COLOR AND COSTUME TO THE MOST ILLITERATE POPULATION. TO RANK AND POPULATION. IN THE UNITED STATES, IN 1895, A STANDARDIZED CODE FOR ACADEMIC REGALIA WAS DROWN UP AND ACCEPTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND IS OBSERVED TO THIS DAY. ACADEMIC REGALIA IS DESIGNED TO DISPLAY THE ACADEMIC AND SCHOLARLY ATTAINMENTS OF THE WEARER. THE MOST DRAMATIC PART OF THESE ACADEMIC REGALIA IS THE HOODS. THEIR SHAPE AND SIZE INDICATE THE LEVEL OF DEGREE ATTAINED AND THE COLORS REFLECT BOTH THE ACADEMIC FIELD AND THE INSTITUTION THAT GRANTED THE DEGREE. THE HOODS ARE LINED WITH THE COLORS OF THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY GRANTING THE DEGREE. SUCH AS, THE MAROON AND GOLD OF BOSTON COLLEGE. SO VISIBLE HERE ON THIS DAY. THE COLORS OF THE HOODS VELVET BORDER BASED ON ANCIENT TRADITION REFLECT THE ACADEMIC FIELD OF STUDY. WHITE WAS WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES TO THE WHITE FUR TRIM USED ON THE HOODS AT ENGLAND'S OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES. SCARLET RED, THE TRADITIONAL COLOR OF THE CHURCH WAS GIVEN TO THEOLOGY. GOLD AND YELLOW, SYMBOLIZING THE SUNLIGHT OR ENLIGHTENMENT OF DISCOVERY GOES TO SCIENCE. DARK BLUE REPRESENTS WISDOM AND TRUTH AND WAS THEREFORE CHOSEN FOR PHILOSOPHY. THE COLOR OF ROYALTY AND GOVERNANCE. PURPLE. IS USED BY LAW. THESE AND OTHERS ARE PART OF THE SPECTACULAR RAINBOW OF COLORS, THE FACULTY DISPLAYED BEFORE US. [ POMP & CIRCUM] POMP & CIRCUMS] [ POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE ] THE PLATFORM DIGNITARIES WILL PROCESS IN FRONT OF THE WEST STANDS TO MY RIGHT AND ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STADIUM AND DOWN THE CENTER AISLE. LEADING THE PLATFORM PARTY IS REVEREND JAMES F. KEENAN OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS. CHIEF MARSHALL OF THE PLATFORM. PROCESSING NEXT ERIC J. SILVA. PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND REVEREND MICHAEL C. MAGREE, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, OF THE MORRISSEY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES WHO WILL DELIVER OUR INVOCATION. NOW PROCESSING ARE THE DEANS OF THE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF THE UNIVERSITY. ENTERING NEXT ARE THE VICE PRESIDENTS, AND SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS OF BOSTON COLLEGE. APPROACHING THE PLATFORM NOW ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND TRUSTEE ASSOCIATES OF THE UNIVERSITY. PROCESSING NEXT ARE OUR 2021 HONORARY DEGREE CANDIDATES. LYNDIA DOWNIE, ESCORTED BY JAMES J. HUSSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT. SEAN IAN GUTHRIE ESCORTED BY PATRICK KRAFT, THE WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS. CHRISTINE MONTENEGRO MCGRATH, ESCORTED BY AKUA SARR, VICE PROVOST FOR UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS. LEO V. SULLIVAN, ESCORTED BY JAN M. LENT, ASSISTANT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES. PROCESSING NOW ARE HIS EMINENCE, CARDINAL SEAN O'MALLEY, ARCHBISHOP OF BOSTON, AND KEVIN SHEA, VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT. AND NOW OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. DAVID BROOKS, IS A NATIONAL COLUMNIST AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, ESCORTED BY JOHN F. FISH, CHAIR OF THE BOSTON COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE REVEREND WILLIAM P. LEAHY, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, PRESIDENT OF BOSTON COLLEGE. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND FOR OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION. THE UNIVERSITY CORRAL, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JOHN FINNEY, WILL SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. ♪ OH SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST ♪ ♪ GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES ♪ ♪ AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ OVER THE RAMPARTS ♪ ♪ WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS ♪ ♪ STILL THERE ♪ ♪ OH SAY DOES THAT ♪ ♪ STAR-SPANGLED ♪ ♪ BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ OVER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [APPLAUSE] MICHAEL C. MAGREE OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS WILL OFFER THE INVOCATION. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, SWEET FIRE, THE SIRE OF NEWS, MY SOUL NEEDS THIS. I WANT THE ONE RAPTURE OF AN INSPIRATION. IN THESE WORDS, THE POET JARED MANLY HOPKINS CRIED OUT TO YOU, OH GOD. HE CRIED OUT ASKING FOR YOUR SPIRIT TO ANIMATE HIM. TO GIVE HIM THE INSIGHTS AND DEFINE DELIGHT THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO YOUR WORK IN THE WORLD. WE TOO TODAY CALL UPON YOU. WITH THE SUMMITS, WE HAVE WONDERED FOR MANY MONTHS, WHY, OH, LORD DO YOU STAND FAR OFF WHY DO YOU HIDE YOURSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE? BUT AFTER THESE MANY MONTHS, TODAY, TODAY, OUR HEARTS ARE LIFTED UP. WE LOOK AROUND US AT THIS GREAT GATHERING OF SISTERS AND BROTHERS WHO WILL GRADUATE. WE ACKNOWLEDGE AN ACHIEVEMENT AND A WISDOM THEY HAVE GAINED. AS WE INVOKE YOUR NAME AND YOUR PRESENCE UPON THESE 144TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT BOSTON COLLEGE. LET THIS INVOCATION BE A MOMENT OF VOCATION. LET OUR CALLING UPON YOU BE A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR CALL TO US. TO SERVE THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. TO WITNESS TO JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD SO IN NEED OF IT. TO SACRIFICE OUR PRESENT DESIRE FORCE A VISION OF A FUTURE OF PEACE AMONG ALL PEOPLES. AND LET OUR WORDS TODAY THEN BECOME ONCE AGAIN THE WORDS OF THE SONGS. TO YOU, OH, LORD, I CRIED. AND YOU HAVE TURNED MY MORNING INTO DANCING. AND YOU HAVE CLOTHED ME WITH J JOY. AND YOU WHO LIVE AND REIGN FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> PLEASE BE SEATED. >> WILLIAM P. LEAHY, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, PRESIDENT OF BOSTON COLLEGE, WILL NOW OFFER HIS WELCOMING REMARKS. [APPLAUSE] >> Mr. FISH AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, YOUR IMMENSE, CARDINAL O'MALLEY, HONORED GUESTS, PARTICULARLY DAVID BROOKS, OUR SPEAKER TODAY AND OUR OTHER DISTINGUISHED HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS, MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON COLLEGE, FACULTY AND STAFF, PARENTS, GUESTS, AND FRIENDS AND ESPECIALLY THE 2021 GRADUATES OF BOSTON COLLEGE. [ APPLAUSE ] ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, I WELCOME ALL HERE THIS MORNING, IN ALUMNI STADIUM AND THOSE PARTICIPATING VIA WEBCAST, TO THE 144TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF BOSTON COLLEGE. COMMENCEMENTS INVITE GIVING THANKS FOR YEARS OF SUPPORT, REMEMBERING SPECIAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS. AND THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE. TODAY WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THIS GRADUATION TOGETHER AND THAT COVID-19 AND RELATED RESTRICTIONS DID NOT PREVAIL. [APPLAUSE] THE PAST 15 MONTHS HAVE HAD THEIR SHARE OF DIFFICULT, STRESSFUL MOMENTS. BUT WE, STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND HAVE ANOTHER PRODUCTIVE ACADEMIC YEAR. SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED IMPRESSIVE COMMITMENT, RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE AMID UNCERTAINTY. AND HELPED PROTECT THE HELP AND SAFETY OF ALL. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR GRADUATES. NOT ONLY FOR THEIR RESOLVE DURING THE PAST YEAR, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED DURING THEIR TIME AT THE HEIGHTS. THEY BROUGHT NEW LIFE TO BOSTON COLLEGE WITH THEIR TALENTS, ENERGY AND GENEROSITY. THIS COMMENCEMENT ALSO REMINDS US HOW MUCH OUR GRADUATES RECEIVE FROM THEIR PARENTS, SPOUSES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. PEOPLE WHO STEADFAST SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAD SUCH DECISIVE IMPACT. TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE, MAY I ASK THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOSE RECEIVING DEGREES STAND NOW TO ALLOW THE CLASS OF 2021 AND OTHERS PRESENT, TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GREAT GRATITUDE BOSTON COLLEGE FACULTY AND STAFF FOR THEIR ROLES IN HELPING THOSE GRADUATING TODAY DEVELOP THEIR INTELLECTUAL GIFTS AND PERSONAL TALENTS, GROW IN SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND COMMIT THEMSELVES TO LIVING LIVES OF MEANING AND PURPOSE. FINALLY, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS WHOSE GENEROUS GIFTS OF TIME, ADVICE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR MANY TO GRADUATE TODAY. [APPLAUSE] THE CEREMONY ALSO INVITES REMEMBERING AND REFLECTION ON PARTICULAR PEOPLE, SHAPING MOMENTS, AND GIFTS RECEIVED. MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2021, AND ALL RECEIVING DEGREES TODAY TAKE WITH THEM MEMORIES THAT WILL BE PART OF THEIR LIVES FOREVER. MEMORIES OF FRIENDSHIPS BEGUN AND NOURISHED OVER THE YEARS THAT TAUGHT POWERFUL LESSONS ABOUT SELF, THE GOODNESS OF OTHERS AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD. EXPERIENCES ON CAMPUS. IN CLASSES, RESIDENT HALLS AND RETREATS. OR WHILE ON SERVICE TRIPS OR STUDY ABROAD THAT EXPANDED UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND PERSPECTIVES. TIMES WHEN A FACULTY MEMBER, ADMINISTRATOR OR STAFF MEMBER HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OR PERSONAL GROWTH. THIS COMMENCEMENT CAN ALSO LEAD TO THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE. NOT ONLY AMONG THOSE RECEIVING DEGREES, BUT FOR ALL PRESENT. WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS PEOPLE OF INTELLIGENCE, FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF SOCIETY. TOO MANY AROUND THE WORLD LIVE AMID VIOLENCE, WAR, POVERTY, ILLITERACY. INTOLERANCE AND APATHY, THREATEN RELIGIOUS FAITH IN TOO MANY PLACES. RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY CONTINUED TO CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE AND THREATEN PEACE, STABILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. GOVERNMENTS AT THIS STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME PARTISANSHIP. AND ADDRESS URGENT MATTERS CONCERNING IMMIGRATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, AND HOUSING. WE CLEARLY FACE DAUNTING PROBLEMS. BUT THAT HAS BEEN TRUE IN EVERY AGE. AND YOU BOSTON COLLEGE GRADUATES OF 2021 HAVE GREAT TALENT AND PROMISE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, PREPARATION AND COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS FOR PRESSING PROBLEMS OF OUR TIME BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND EXPERIENCED IN OUR COMM COMMUNITY. AND YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM A BOSTON COLLEGE EDUCATION EMPHASIZING THE LIBERAL ARTS AND PROVIDED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF CARE AND FAITH SHAPED BY THE JESUIT CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE. I URGE THAT YOU GIVE TO OTHERS FROM THE ABUNDANCE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES, VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT HAVE LONG SHAPED BOSTON COLLEGE AND MOTIVATED ITS ALUMNI. MAY SUCH PHRASES AS MEN AND WOMEN FOR OTHERS, GO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, AND EVER TO ITS ENEMY, AND INSPIRE YOU AS YOU LIVE AND WORK AND SERVE AS LEADERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. MAY YOU ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE BEACONS OF HOPE AND LIGHT FOR THOSE AROUND YOU. AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I WILL NOW READ THE LATIN VERSION OF THE DEGREE. CURATÓRES COLLÉGII BOSTONIÉNSIS ÓMNIBUS PRESÉNTES LÍTERAS VISÚRIS SALÚTEM IN DÓMINO. HÍSCE LÍTERIS NOS AD ID MÚNERIS SÚMMA REIPÚBLICAE MASSACHUSETTENSIS. AUCTORITÁTE DELEGÁTI. TESTÁMUR DILÉCTOS NÓBIS RÍTE PROBÁTOS. AD ÁRTIUM, SCIÉNTIAE, EDUCATIÓNIS, LÉGUM, RÉI SOCIÁLIS. PHILOSOPHIAE, THEOLOGIAE GRÁDUS FUÍSSE PROVÉCTOS. ET ÓMNIBUS ET SÍNGULIS JÚRIBUS ET PRIVILÉGIIS AD ÍSTOS GRÁDUS. PERTINÉNTIBUS ÉOS A NÓBIS FUÍSSE DONÁTOS. QUOD UT ÓMNIBUS INNOTÉSCAT, PRESÉNTES LÍTERAS COMMÚNI NÓSTRO SIGÍLLO ET PRAÉSIDIS HÚJUS COLLÉGII CHIRÓGRAPHO MUNÍTAS DÉDIMUS IN AÚLA NÓSTRA ACADÉMICA DIE VICESIMO QUARTO MENSE MAIO ANNO DOMINI BIS MILLESIMO VICESIMO PRIMO. THE CANDIDATES FOR THE HONORARY DEGREES WILL NOW BE PRESENTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE UNIVERSITY. LYNDIA DOWNIE. [APPLAUSE] TRULY A WOMAN FOR OTHERS. LYNDIA DOWNIE DEDICATED 36 YEAR CAREER TO UPLIFTING MEN AND WOMEN, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. AS PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PINE STREET INN SINCE 2000, SHE HAS SPEAR HEADED THE EXPANSION OF PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN BOSTON. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THE PINE STREET INN HAS BECOME THE LARGEST, HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDER IN NEW ENGLAND. HOUSING MORE THAN 800 TENANTS AND SERVING THOUSANDS OF GUESTS EVERY DAY THROUGH ITS EMERGENCY SHELTERS, STREET OUTREACH AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, SHE FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE PINE STREET INN WHILE READING A ROOMMATE'S COPY OF BOSTON COLLEGE MAGAZINE. A YEAR LATER, IN 1984, SHE APPLIED FOR A JOB AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT THE INN. SHE WENT ON TO HOLD POSITIONS OF EVERY OPERATION. HEADING THE MEN'S SHELTER TO OVERSEEING PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT. OVER THE YEARS, SHE ALSO ENFORCED PINE STREET LEADERSHIP, WITH BOSTON COLLEGE POST PROGRAM FOR SERVICE LEARNING PROVIDING FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR HUNDREDS OF UNDERGRADUATES. TODAY, HER EXPERTISE AND ACHIEVEMENTS, SURROUNDING THE COMPLEX TOPIC OF HOMELESSNESS. HAVE MADE HER SOUGHT AFTER SPEAKER, SEVERAL PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AND NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 100 LEADERS IN MASSACHUSETTS BY THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE AND THE BOSTON GLOBE IN 2019 AND 2020. FOR HER TIRELESS EFFORT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE, BOSTON COLLEGE AWARDS LYNDIA DOWNIE THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE. HONORIS CAUSA. SEAN GUTHRIE. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SEAN GUTHRIE HAS HEARD HIS NAME CALLED IN ALUMNI STADIUM. A FORMER CAPTAIN OF THE EAGLES FOOTBALL TEAM WHOSE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP PROPELLED HIM TO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THIS 2001 BOSTON COLLEGE GRADUATE NOW LEADS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. INSPIRED BY THE EXAMPLES SET BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, HE HAS ALWAYS REGARDED EDUCATION AS THE PATHWAY TO A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER WORLD FOR US ALL. AFTER HIS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAREER, HE FOUND HIS SECOND CALLING IN TEACHING. HE RETURNED TO BOSTON COLLEGE TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE AS A DONOVAN URBAN TEACHING FELLOW IN 2014, AND BECAME A MATH TEACHER IN SCHOOLS IN BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE. IN 2016, HE WAS SELECTED AS A PRINCIPAL FELLOW AT BOSTON COLLEGE'S LYNCH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, AND HE WENT ON TO AN APPOINTMENT AS PRINCIPAL OF BOSTON'S YOUNG ACHIEVERS SCIENCE AND MATH PILOT SCHOOL. SINCE 2019, HE HAS SERVED AS HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THE FESSENDEN SCHOOL IN NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, LEADING PROGRAMS FOR 109 BOYS IN GRADES FIVE AND SIX. NOW IN HIS FIFTEENTH YEAR AS AN EDUCATOR, HE HAS HELD TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. IN BOTH SETTINGS, HIS DECISIONS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THE SAME GOAL: TO ENHANCE LEARNING AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH EDUCATION. FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS AN EDUCATOR AND HIS DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, BOSTON COLLEGE AWARDS SEAN IAN GUTHRIE THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS, HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] >>CHRISTINE MONTENEGRO MCGRATH. [APPLAUSE] CHRISTINE MONTENEGRO MCGRATH EXEMPLIFIES THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP TO PROMOTE CHANGES THAT IMPROVE NOT ONLY THE BOTTOM LINE BUT ALSO THE WELL-BEING OF THE PLANET AND ITS PEOPLE. AS VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF GLOBAL IMPACT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND WELL-BEING FOR MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL-A COMPANY KNOWN FOR SUCH POPULAR FOOD BRANDS AS OREO, CADBURY, AND TRIDENT-THIS 1987 BOSTON COLLEGE GRADUATE CONFRONTS MANY OF THE PRESSING ISSUES FACING OUR WORLD TODAY, INCLUDING DEFORESTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, OBESITY, AND GENDER INEQUALITY. ONE CENTRAL EXAMPLE OF HER LEADERSHIP AT MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL IS THE COCOA LIFE INITIATIVE, A $400-MILLION PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2012 THAT AIMS TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE COCOA INDUSTRY BY FOSTERING EFFICIENT FARMING PRACTICES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND FOREST CONSERVATION EDUCATION. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS BEEN A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. NAMED BY FORTUNE MAGAZINE AS ONE OF THE 50 MOST POWERFUL LATINAS IN BUSINESS IN 2017 AND 2018, SHE WAS ALSO SELECTED AS A LEADER OF HER COMPANY'S INAUGURAL GLOBAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL. PRIOR TO JOINING MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL, SHE SERVED FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES AT KRAFT FOODS IN ROLES INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE LATINO CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE COMPANY'S INVESTMENT AND GROWTH IN THE LATINO MARKET. IN RECOGNITION OF HER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING COMPLEX SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, BOSTON COLLEGE AWARDS CHRISTINE MONTENEGRO MCGRATH THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] > LEO SULLIVAN. [APPLAUSE] A POPULAR AND HIGHLY RESPECTED ADMINISTRATOR, LEO SULLIVAN DEVOTED HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO ENSURING THAT BOSTON COLLEGE WOULD BE A CARING, SUPPORTIVE, AND DESIRABLE PLACE TO WORK. FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS, HE OVERSAW HUMAN RESOURCES AT BOSTON COLLEGE, FIRST AS DIRECTOR AND THEN AS THE DIVISION'S VICE PRESIDENT FROM 1989 TO 2014. BY RECRUITING AND HIRING KEY SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS AND CREATING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, HE HELPED SHAPE THE BOSTON COLLEGE WORKPLACE OF THE LATE 20TH AND EARLY 21ST CENTURIES. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN 1971, THE CHILDREN'S CENTER IN 1988, AND THE OFFICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY IN 2005. HE EMBODIED THE JESUIT PRINCIPLE OF CURA PERSONALIS IN HIS VOCATION AS A HUMAN RESOURCES LEADER. DURING HIS TENURE, THE DIVISION LAUNCHED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEES' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS, AND HE WAS KNOWN FOR THE PERSONAL CONNECTION HE HAD WITH THE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES ON CAMPUS. IN 2014, WHEN HE ASSUMED HIS POSITION AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT, FATHER LEAHY RECOGNIZED HIM FOR HIS PASTORAL CARE, WISDOM, SENSITIVITY, AND PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON THE LIFE AND CULTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY. A GRADUATE OF NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, HE IS THE FATHER OF TWO BOSTON COLLEGE GRADUATES AND A PART OF THE BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI FAMILY, HAVING EARNED A MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY IN 1980. IN GRATITUDE FOR HIS DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO ITS EMPLOYEES, BOSTON COLLEGE AWARDS LEO V. SULLIVAN THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS, HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] >> DAVID BROOKS. [APPLAUSE] AS ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING VOICES ON POLITICS AND CULTURE, DAVID BROOKS HAS MADE A SINGULAR AND LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL LIFE. BROOKS BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A POLICE REPORTER IN CHICAGO, LAUNCHING A CLASSIC JOURNALISTIC SUCCESS STORY THAT HAS INCLUDED STINTS AT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE ATLANTIC, AND NEWSWEEK, AS WELL AS APPEARANCES ON PBS, NPR, AND NBC'S MEET THE PRESS. IN 2003, HE TOOK ON ONE OF THE MOST COVETED JOBS IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS WHEN THE NEW YORK TIMES HIRED HIM AS AN OP-ED COLUMNIST. HIS CROSS-IDEOLOGICAL APPEAL-ALONG WITH HIS TRENCHANT ANALYSIS OF POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, ECONOMICS, AND SOCIAL ISSUES-HAS MADE HIM ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED AND HIGH-PROFILE COMMENTATORS OF OUR TIME. BEYOND SCRUTINIZING THE NEWS OF THE DAY, THIS CANADIAN NATIVE HAS EXPLORED BROADER MATTERS OF FAITH AND MORALITY IN HIS BOOKS THE ROAD TO CHARACTER AND THE SECOND MOUNTAIN: THE QUEST FOR A MORAL LIFE. HIS WRITINGS ADVOCATE FOR REBALANCING THE SCALES BETWEEN OUR "RÉSUMÉ VIRTUES"-ACHIEVING WEALTH, FAME, AND STATUS-AND THE "EULOGY VIRTUES" THAT EXIST AT THE CORE OF OUR BEING: KINDNESS, BRAVERY, AND HONESTY. HE HAS SOUGHT TO IMPART THESE LESSONS NOT ONLY THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD BUT ALSO IN CLASSROOMS AT INSTITUTIONS LIKE YALE AND DUKE UNIVERSITIES AND FROM THE SPEAKER'S PODIUM. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DISTINCTIVE ROLE IN SHAPING AMERICAN PUBLIC DISCOURSE, BOSTON COLLEGE WELCOMES DAVID BROOKS TO CAMPUS, AND AWARDS HIM THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS, HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] >> DAVID BROOKS, NATIONALLY NOTED COLUMNIST AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, WILL NOW ADDRESS THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] HELLO BOSTON COLLEGE! CLASS OF 2021! YOU GUYS CERTAINLY DIDN'T TAKE THE EASY ROUTE TO GET HERE. AND YOU MANAGED TO COMPLETE ALL OF THIS DURING ONE MUCH THE HARDEST PERIODS OF OUR LIFETIME. YET, THIS DAY IS REAL. YOU ARE HUNGOVER, YOUR PARENTS ARE PROUD, YOUR PROFESSORS ARE SHOCKED AND I'M IN AWE. YOU ARE THE WINSTON CHURCHILL OF COLLEGE CLASSES. AND YOU SHOWN TENACITY, COURAGE AND ADD MIRACLE ABILITY TO ONLY MODERATELY CHEAT ON THE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES. AND YOU MASTERED AMAZING SKILLS. AND YOU LEARNED THE PRIMS OF BIOLOGY OVER ZOOM AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY MAKING YOURSELF BREAKFAST. AND YOU LEARN TO AGGRESSIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SEMINAR DISCUSSIONS IN THE FIRST CLASS, IN THE FIRST THIRD OF YOUR CLASS TO TURN OFF YOUR VIDEO FOR THE SECOND TWO-THIRDS OF THE CLASS. AND YOU LEARNED TO ADJUST BACK TO IN-PERSON DISCUSSION, THE HARSH REALIZATION THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO WEARING PANTS. AND YOU LEARNED TO STARE AT ME RIGHT NOW WITH EXPRESSIONS OF WRAPPED ATTENTION, EVEN THOUGH IN FACT YOU ARE ALL FAST ASLEEP. WHENEVER I'M HONORED TO GIVE ADDRESSES TO GRADUATING CLASSES, I TRY TO PASS ALONG A FEW PIECES OF VALUABLE INFORMATION. THE FIRST IS, THIS MAY BE YOUR FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATION. SO YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN YOU GET YOUR DEGREE, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO TIP FATHER LEAHY $10-$20 JUST TO SHOW HIM HE DID A GOOD JOB. ALSO IMPORTANT TO TIP YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. USUALLY SOMETHING IN THE LOW FOUR FIGURES. [ LAUGHTER ] THE OTHER RITUAL OF THESE EXERCISES IS THAT THE SCHOOL PICK AS PERSON WHO HAD SOME CAREER SUCCESS TO GIVE YOU A SPEECH SAYING, CAREER SUCCESS DOESN'T MATTER AT ALL. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE FASHION FOR PEOPLE LIKE STEVE JOBS AND J. K. ROWLING, TO GIVE ADDRESSES ON HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FAIL. THIS, YOU LEARN THAT FAILURE IS WONDERFUL IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE STEVE JOBS OR J. K. ROWLING. MY ADVICE TO YOU IS DON'T FAIL. THE USUAL CLICHE'S OF THESE SORT OF ADDRESS IS FAMILIAR. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION, TAKE RISKS, LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE. YOUR FUTURE IS LIMITLESS, BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. FIRST, MY GENERATION LEAVES WITH A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT AND DERAILING ADVICE THAT PREVENT YOU FROM EVER PAYING IT OFF. SO LET'S DISPENSE WITH ALL OF THAT TODAY. THIS IS A COLLEGE GRADUATION LIKE NO OTHER IN OUR LIFETIME. ALL GRADUATIONS ARE TRANSITIONS. BUT THIS IS THE MOTHER OF ALL TRANSITIONS. FOR YOU, MOST, BUT FOR THOSE IN THE STANDS AND THE PODIUM, THIS IS A NEW OPENING. THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS STADIUM TOGETHER IS A NEW BIRTH. AND IT IS TRULY A DAY TO CELEBRATE. FIRST I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO -- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO CELEBRATE THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE IN THE HALL. SO MANY WHO LOVE YOU AND MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE, COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS. WATCHING ON-LINE. THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDPARENTS. SISTERS, BROTHERS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES. AND THEY ARE FILLED WITH JOY TODAY BECAUSE YOU ARE HAPPY. THEY ARE PROUD OF EVERYTHING YOU DO AND EVERYTHING YOU ARE GOING TO DO. AND HOW ABOUT WE TAKE A SECOND TO GIVE THEM APPLAUSE FOR THOSE ON-LINE. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALL COMING OUT OF SOMETHING HARD. FOR MANY OF US, THERE HAVE BEEN GRIEF, LOSS AND FEAR AND DREAD FOR ALMOST ALL OF US, EXHAUSTION STRESS AND MEMORY LOSS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, DURING THE PEAK OF COVID, WANDERING INTO ROOMS WONDERING WHY I WEPT IN THERE. I SPENT AN AWESOME AMOUNT OF TIME WONDERING WHERE MY EAR BUDS WERE. I BECAME MORE TOUCHY, FRAGILE, DURING ALL OF THIS. I THINK THAT IT WAS BECAUSE ALL OF THE EMOTIONAL NOURISHMENT WE MISSED, DANCE PARTY, SPRING BREAK, SITTING AROUND A BAR LATE AT NIGHT, LAUGHING. BEFORE COVID, 25% OF AMERICANS SAID THEY WERE LONELY. NOW IT IS 35% AND 61% OF YOUNG PEOPLE. BUT HERE IS THE GOOD THING ABOUT ENDURING A HARD THING WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG, FOREVER AFTER, YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SURVIVE HARD THINGS. AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE FAIR TERRIFIED OF THEM. TODAY THE POWER OF COVID HAD OVER OUR LIVES IS SHRINKING. THE POWER WE HAD OVER OUR LIVES IS GROWING. IMAGE THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS RECESS. THINK OF A BUNCH OF KIDS STUCK INSIDE FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, BURST THROUGH THE DOORS OF PLAYGROUND AND SPRINT OUT INTO THE PLAYGROUND OF LIFE. THAT IS US RIGHT NOW. WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF HAVING A LOT OF FUN. SPRING IS HERE. ECONOMY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SMOKING HOT. WE ARE MOVING TO RELEASE FROM ABSENCE TO PRESENCE, TO DISTANCE TO COMMUNION. AND THE ONLY QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO LET OLD ANXIETIES HOLD US BACK? OR SEIZE THE ABUNDANCE THAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE STARTING TODAY? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE THE WORLD'S BEST APPRECIATOR. I'M GOING TO TRY TO DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I TOOK FOR GRANTED. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T USE TO SEEM LIKE FUN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, SEEM LIKE FUND. NOT CATCHING THE BARTENDER'S ATTENTION BECAUSE THE BAR IS PACKED. THAT WILL BE FUN. [ LAUGHTER ] I'M A METS FAN, BUT GOING TO A YANKEES GAME WILL SEEM FUN... SO LONG AS THEY LOSE. GOING TO WEDDINGS WILL BE FUN. EVEN WHEN WE THINK THAT THE COUPLE IS MAKING A MISTAKE. GOING TO AGE INAPPROPRIATE CONCERT ALSO BE FUN. I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BOOMER AT CARDI B. CONCERT, I AM GOING ANYWAY. THE PROBLEMS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IS NOT DISTANCE BUT OVERSTIMULATION. TOO MANY PTIONS, FRAZZLE, THE HARD PART CHOOSING WISELY TO SPEND OUR TIME. SO WE SPEND OUR TIME ON THE THINGS WE LOVE AND NOT THE DISTRACTIONS THAT WE SORT OF LIKE. WE LOVE A LOT OF THINGS. BUT SOME DESIRES ARE HIGHER THAN OTHER DESIRES IN A WORLD OF PLENTY, IT IS NECESSARY TO SIT DOWN WITH A PIECE OF PAPER AND RANK THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SCHEDULE MATCHES YOUR RANKINGS. THIS IS ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY HARD EXERCISE. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD? WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE TRUTH TO WHICH YOU SURROUNDER? WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE? WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DESIRE? IF YOU CAN'T RANK YOUR LOVES, YOU'LL SCATTER YOUR TALENTS AND LIFE WON'T ACCUMULATE INTO ANYTHING. AND YOU WILL LEAD AN AESTHETIC LIFE OF PLEASURE AND DISPLEASURE BOREDOM BUT IT WILL NOT BE AN ACCUMULATION OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. HOW YOU SPEND YOUR DAYS IS HOW YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE. SAID ANNIE DUALER. THIS IS THE PART WHEN I GIVE YOU PRACTICAL ADVICE. WRITE THIS DOWN OR TRY TO REMEMBER ONE OF THESE THINGS. ONE, FORM A GIVING CIRCLE. TAKE TEN OF YOUR BEST THESIS FRIENDS AND ALL OF YOU COMMIT TO PUT MONEY IN A POT, EVERY YEAR. THEN GATHER EVERY YEAR FOR A FEW DAYS TO DECIDE HOW TO GIVE IT AWAY. THE CHARITY PIECE OF THIS EXERCISE IS NICE. BUT IT REALLY JUST A PRETEXT SO YOU CAN LIVE LIFE SIDE BY SIDE WITH A GROUP OF LIFELONG FRIENDS. TWO -- [APPLAUSE] DIVIDE YOUR LIFE INTO CHAPTERS. SAD PEOPLE EXEXPERIENCE THEIR LIVES AS A PROFESSION OF DAYS AND BEFORE TOO LONG, THEY REALIZE THEIR LIFE HAS SORT OF DRIFTED AWAY. HAPPY PEOPLE STOP AT CROSSROADS MOMENTS LIKE TODAY AND SAY, OKAY, THIS NEXT 3-5 YEARS IS A CHAPTER IN MY LIFE. WHAT DO I WANT THIS CHAPTER TO BE ABOUT? WHAT IS MY LIFE TASK RIGHT NOW? AND THEN AFTER THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS, DO IT AGAIN AND THEN DO IT AGAIN. THREE, IDENTITY CAPITAL. YOUR JOB IN YOUR 20s IS TO BUILD WHAT MEG JAY CALLS, IDENTITY CAPITAL. THAT IS HAVING SOME WILD EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE AT DINNER PARTIES AND JOB INTERVIEWS ARE GOING TO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. MAYBE IT IS SALMON FISHING IN ALASKA, OR TEACHING KINDERGARTEN IN MONGOLIA. BUT DO SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTING AND WIDEN YOUR HORIZON OF RISK. FOUR, THE GEM STATEMENT. WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING WITH SOMEONE ABOUT SOMETHING, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING DEEP DOWN THAT YOU AGREE ON. WE SIBLINGS MAY DISAGREE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S MEDICAL CARE BUT WE BOTH WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR FATHER. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISAGREEMENT, YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS BY FOCUSING ON THE GEM STATEMENT. FIVE, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT MARRIAGE LONG BEFORE YOU THINK YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT MARRIAGE. I DON'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GET MARRIED THIS WEEK. BUT YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE MAKING ROMANTIC COMMITMENTS SO THAT YOU HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THE BIGGEST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE. WHO TO MARRY. AND REMEMBER, A MARRIAGE IS A 50-YEAR CONVERSATION. PICK SOMEBODY YOU CAN TALK TO THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. LOVE WAXES AND WAYNES, BUT ADMIRATION ENDURES. PICK SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE. SIX, HOW TO FIND YOUR PURPOSE. THE WRONG THIS TO DO IS ASK, WHAT DO I WANT FROM LIFE? THE RIGHT QUESTION AS VICTOR FRANKEL PUT IT, WHAT DOES LIFE ASK OF ME? WHAT PROBLEM IS OUT THERE THAT I'M EQUIPPED TO TACKLE? THE ANSWER TO YOUR LIFE'S DEEPEST QUESTIONS ARE NOT INSIDE, THEY ARE OUTSIDE. I'LL END BY TALKING ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PROCESS WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. AND THAT IS THE GREAT UNMASKING. FOR 15 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN WEARING MASKS. PEOPLE WEAR MASKS WHEN THEY FEEL UNSAFE. IT FILTERS OUT THE VIRUS BUT ALSO FILTERS OUT EACH OTHER. TWO PEOPLE WEARING MASKS FIND IT EASIER TO WALK BY EACH OTHER ON THE STREET WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. BUT OF COURSE, WE DON'T ONLY WEAR PHYSICAL MASKS BUT ALSO PSYCHOLOGICAL ONES. PRODUCTIVITY IS A MASK. I'M TOO BUSY TO STOP AND SEE YOU. THE AMERITOCRACY IS A MASK. I JUDGE YOU BY WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TO OR WHAT JOB YOU GOT. ESSENTIALISM IS A MASK. I CAN MAKE ALL SORTS OF ASSUMPTION BASED ON WHAT RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP YOU ARE IN. FEAR IS A MASK. I DON'T SHOW YOU MYSELF BECAUSE I AM AFRAID YOU WON'T LIKE ME. EMOTIONAL AVOIDANCE IS A MASK. I HAD PARTS OF MYSELF, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO CONFRONT MY OWN FEELINGS. WORST AND MOST SERIOUS OF ALL, DISTRUST IS A MASK. I BRING MYSELF IN, BECAUSE I'M SUSPICIOUS YOU'LL HURT ME. DISTRUST IS AT RECORD LEVELS IN AMERICA TODAY. IT IS THE CANCER EATING AWAY AT OUR RELATIONSHIPS. OUR POLITICS AND OUR SOCIETY. AND I HAVE TO ADMIT, A LOT OF THE DISTRUST OUT THERE HAS EARNED THIS TRUST. PEOPLE FELT BETRAYED BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN BETRAYED. BUT DISTRUST BREEDS DISTRUST. WHEN SOMEBODY IS DISTRUSTING OF ME, I'M DISTRUSTING TOWARDS THEM AND SPIRAL INTO A MISTRUST DOOM LOOP. AND THAT IS THE STATE WE ARE IN NOW. THIS IS HOW NATIONS FAIL, FAMILIES FAIL, ORGANIZATIONS FAIL. IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD, WE WILL ALL BE UNMASKING. AND AS WE TAKE OFF THE PHYSICAL MASKS, IT SEEMS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE OFF SOME OF THE EMOTIONAL ONES. ONE OF MY GOALS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IS TO TRY TO UNDO WHAT COVID TRIED TO DO TO ME. COVID TRIED TO DISTANCE ME, ISOLATE ME. IT DID THE SAME TO YOU. I HOPE TO SHOW THAT I WASN'T BROKEN BY THIS HARD SEASON OF LIFE BUT I WAS BROKEN OPEN. THAT IS SOCIAL DISTANCE WILL BE REPLACED BY SOCIAL CLOSENESS AND SOCIAL COURAGE. I HOPE TO PRACTICE WHAT A FRIEND CALLS AGGRESSIVE FRIENDSHIP. BEING THE ONE TO ISSUE THE INVITATIONS, WILLING TO SEE THE TREASURE AND SINGULARITY IN EACH HUMAN PERSON. APPROACHING EACH PERSON WITH A CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT HE OR SHE HAS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. I'M HOPING TO BE AVADE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THERE ARE RANDOM TIMES WHEN A FRIEND OR MAYBE A STRANGER ON A PLANE WANTS TO CONNECT WITH YOU. I'M HOPING THAT IF SOMEBODY KNOCKS ON MY DOOR THEY WILL FIND IT ALREADY OPEN. IT WAS SAID OF THE NOVELIST E. M. FORESTER, TO SPEAK TO HIM, WAS SEDUCED BY INVERSE CHARISMA. SENSE OF BEING LISTENED TO WITH SUCH INTENSITY THAT YOU HAD TO BE YOUR MOST HONEST, SHARPEST BEST SELF. WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE THAT GUY? PEOPLE TALK ABOUT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE BUT BEING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSIDERATE PERSON IS NOT AN INTELLIGENCE. IT IS A SKILL YOU LEARN BY PRACTICE. IT IS THE SKILL OF TAKING TIME TO LABEL THE EMOTIONS AS YOU FEEL THEM. IT IS THE SKILL OF WHAT THE NEURO SCIENTIST LISA PHILEMON BARRETT CALLS EMOTIONAL SINGULARITY. UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO TELL THEM APART. THAT MEANS KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING ANGRY, AGGRAVATED, ALARMED, SPITEFUL, GRUMPY. IT IS A SKILL OF KNOWING HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS OPENLY AND IN THAT NAMING TO REGULATE THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF GETTING OLDER GIVES YOU WISDOM. I PROBABLY HAD AS MUCH WISDOM AT YOUR AGE AS I DO AT MINE. THERE IS ONE HARD THING THAT I LEARNED. AND I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THIS IF NOTHING ELSE. AND YOU HAVE MORE TO FEAR FROM YOUR INHIBITIONS THAN YOU DO FROM YOUR VULNERABILITIES. MORE LIVES ARE WRECKED BY THE SLOW AND FRIGID DEATH OF EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS THAN BY THE SHORT AND GLOWING RISK OF EMOTIONAL OPENNESS. AND AS WE UNMASK, I'M HOPING THAT EMOTIONAL OPENNESS WILL BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY. THIS WAS A SCHOOL BUILT ON A RESURRECTION. THE STONE MOVED. THE TOMB WAS EMPTY. THIS WAS A SCHOOL BILL ON A DEATH, AWAITING AN ARISEN CHRIST. MAYBE I SHOULDN'T QUOTE A PRESBYTERIAN HERE. BUT MY FRIEND TIM KELLAR, POINTS OUT, THAT THIS RESURRECTION STORY IS A STORY OF HOPE AND AWAKENING. GLORIOUS HOPE. CERTAIN HOPE. SUBVERSIVE HOPE. HOPE IN THE PRESENCE OF JOY. HOPE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUFFERING. RESURRECTION STORY IS A STORY THAT WE ARE GUIDED BY, INSPIRED BY AND GIVEN HOPE BY IN A MOMENT OF NATIONAL RECOVERY AND REAWAKENING. AFTER A RESURRECTION, THINGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO NOT GO BACK TO THE WAY THAT THEY USED TO BE. THE TEACHING OF THE RESURRECTION IS THAT EVERYTHING GETS INVERTED TO FIND YOURSELF, YOU HAVE TO LOSE YOURSELF, TO GAIN POWER, GIVE YOURSELF UP. SALVATION COMES TO THE WEAKNESS OF REPENTANCE. SUCCESS LEADS TO THE GREATEST FAILURE WHICH IS PRIDE AND FAILURE LEADS TO THE GREATEST SUCCESS WHICH IS HUMILITY. INVERSION FOLLOWS UPON INVERSION. GOD CHOOSES THE POOR OVER THE RICH. THE FOOLISH OVER THE WISE. THE MEEK OVER THE PROUD. YOU ENTERED BC DURING ONE HISTORICAL ERA WHICH HAD ONE SET OF VALUES. AND YOU GRADUATE THERE BC AT THE START OF A DIFFERENT HISTORICAL ERA. WITH A NEW SET OF VALUES. WHICH YOU WILL WRITE WITH THE BOOK OF YOUR LIVES. A YEAR AGO, WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR GENERATION. AND I THOUGHT, YOU ARE REALLY THE UNLUCKIEST GENERATION. BUT NOW, I LOOK AT YOU AND I LOOK AT WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO YOUR LIVES. I THINK YOU ARE THE LUCKIEST GENERATION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROARING 20s. AND THE QUALITY OF THIS DECADE AND THE DECADES TO COME, WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL YOU ROAR. SO I SALUTE YOU EAGLES. HAVE A BLAST. GOD BLESS YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] THE UNIVERSITY CHORALE WILL PERFORM TOLLITE HOSTIAS COMPOSED BY CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS. TOLLITE HOSTIAS IS THE FINAL MOVEMENT OF THE CHRISTMAS ORATORIO BY SAINT- SAËNS. TODAY IT IS SUNG BY THE UNDERCLASSMEN OF THE CHORALE AS AN OFFERING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [ SINGING TOLLITE HOSTIAS ] [ SINGING TOLLITE HOSTIAS ] [APPLAUSE] THERE NOW FALLS THE CONFERRAL OF DEGREES IN COURSE. IN ORDER OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOLS. THE DEAN OF EACH SCHOOL WILL PRESENT THE DEGREE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THE CONFERRAL OF THE DEGREE. >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN THE ROBERT J. MORRISSEY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, TO PLEASE RISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF SCIENCE, AND DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE ROBERT J. MORRISSEY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES GRADUATE SCHOOL, TO PLEASE RISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS OR MASTER OF SCIENCE, AND THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. EMMA SAART, GRETA BONFATTI, AND MADELYN RAY WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS IN THE LAW SCHOOL, TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS IN THE LAW SCHOOL, TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] >> FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS AND THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS. ISABELA ALVES, MORGAN LAM, AND KAYLAANN SNYDER WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THE JAMES A. WOODS, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, COLLEGE OF ADVANCING STUDIES, TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE AND MASTER OF HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION IN THE JAMES A. WOODS, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, COLLEGE OF ADVANCING STUDIES, TO PLEASE RISE. FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS, AND THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE AND MASTER OF HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION. RILEY ODAMS AND KERRY CASEY WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, TO PLEASE RISE. FATHER PRESIDENT, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK AND THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. EVA BUTTEN AND SMITHA RAO WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FINANCE, AND MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING IN THE CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE AND MASTER OF SCIENCE AND ACCOUNTING AND CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MANAGEMENT STUDIES IN THE CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MASTER OF SCIENCE AND THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MANAGEMENT STUDIES. HARIHARAN SHANMUGAM, DEWIN HERNANDEZ, AND XIANG ZHENG WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN THE WILLIAM F. CONNELL SCHOOL OF NURSING, TO PLEASE RISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE AND SPECIALTY CERTIFICATES IN THE WILLIAM F. CONNELL SCHOOL OF NURSING, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE DEGREE IN THE WILLIAM F. CONNELL SCHOOL OF NURSING, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN THE WILLIAM F. CONNELL SCHOOL OF NURSING, TO PLEASE RISE. FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE AND FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY CERTIFICATES THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE, AND THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. MARGARET POLK, SAMANTHA FALKOWSKI, DONNA CULLINAN AND CAITLIN VITALE WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [ INDISTINCT CROWD CHATTER BRK] [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THE CAROLYN A. AND PETER S. LYNCH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, TO PLEASE RISE. [APPLAUSE] MAY I ASK CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION, MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TEACHING AND THE CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIZATION IN THE CAROLYN A. AND PETER S. LYNCH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION IN THE CAROLYN A. AND PETER S. LYNCH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, TO PLEASE RISE. FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS, THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION, MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF SCIENCE AND THE CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIZATION, AND PHILOSOPHY AND DOCTOR OF EDUCATION. OLIVIA R. BERLIN, JOLENE MCGLYNN, AND CHRISTINE LEE POWER WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SACRED THEOLOGY, MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES, MASTER OF DIVINITY AND MASTER OF THEOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF LICENTIATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY, TO PLEASE RISE. MAY I ASK THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SACRED THEOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY, TO PLEASE RISE. FATHER PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY, I AM HONORED TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION, AND I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SACRED THEOLOGY, MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES, MASTER OF DIVINITY AND MASTER OF THEOLOGY, AND TO PRESENT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL FACULTY AT BOSTON COLLEGE, I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEGREE OF LICENTIATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY, AND THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF SACRED THEOLOGY. KELLY SANKOWSKI, SISTER OANH NGO, AND REVEREND JOSEPH BRIODY WILL ACCEPT THE DEGREES FOR THE CLASS. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER INVESTED IN ME BY THE TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, I WELCOME TO THE COMPANY OF SCHOLARS THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO ME BY THEIR DEANS, AND DECLARE THEM RESPECTIVELY, BACHELORS, MASTERS AND DOCTORS IN THEIR APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINES. >> BY VIRTUE OF THE POWER INVESTED IN ME BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL FACULTY AT BOSTON COLLEGE, I WELCOME TO THE COMPANY OF SCHOLARS THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO ME BY THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY AND DECLARE THEM AWARDED THE DEGREE OF LICENTIATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY AND DOCTOR OF SACRED THEOLOGY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAY I ASK HARIHARAN SHANMUGAM TO JOIN US FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE EDWARD H. FINNEGAN, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, AWARD? [APPLAUSE] >> THE EDWARD H. FINNEGAN, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, AWARD IS PRESENTED EACH YEAR TO THE GRADUATING SENIOR WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE UNIVERSITY'S MOTTO "EVER TO EXCEL". THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT IS A BIOLOGY AND ACCOUNTING FOR FINANCE AND CONSULTING DOUBLE MAJOR WHO WORKS AT THE NEXUS OF SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND POLICY TO ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH ADVOCACY. A GABELLI PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR, HE IS A MEMBER OF ALPHA SIGMA NU, THE HONOR SOCIETY OF JESUIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND BETA GAMMA SIGMA, THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS HONOR SOCIETY. ON CAMPUS, HE SERVED AS CO-PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT HEALTH EQUITY FORUM, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, AND PUBLISHED RESEARCH AS AN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOW. OFF CAMPUS, HE CONDUCTED RESEARCH IN MEXICO, PRESENTED COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION IN INDIA, AND VOLUNTEERED AT NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL AND FRANCISCAN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. AS A MEMBER OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION, HE CHAIRED A RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOCATING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH HIV/AIDS. HE ALSO SERVED ON MASSACHUSETTS'S ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC STEERING COMMITTEE, WORKING TO REDUCE THE TIME BETWEEN DIAGNOSIS AND CARE FOR HIV PATIENTS. FOR HIS RECORD OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS PRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS, BOSTON COLLEGE CONFERS THE 2021 EDWARD H. FINNEGAN, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, AWARD ON HARIHARAN SHANMUGAM OF THE CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT. [APPLAUSE] ERIC J. SILVA, CLASS OF 2000, PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, WILL NOW ADDRESS THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> ALMOST THERE! ON BEHALF OF THE MORE THAN 185,000 BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, IT IS MY SPECIAL PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU - THE CLASS OF 2021 - TO THE BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FAMILY. WE TRUST THAT YOUR JESUIT EDUCATION AT BOSTON COLLEGE HAS PREPARED YOU INTELLECTUALLY AND SPIRITUALLY TO SEEK "EVER TO EXCEL," TO TRULY BE "MEN AND WOMEN FOR OTHERS" AND TO BE AN INFLUENCE FOR GOOD IN ALL OF YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THROUGH OUR ANNUAL ALUMNI EVENTS, ALL OVER THE WORLD, THE BOSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOSTERS LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR BELOVED ALMA MATER. WE ARE READY TO ASSIST YOU IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE DIVERSE SET OF PROGRAMS CREATED JUST FOR YOU, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, SO THAT TOGETHER WE MAY CARRY ON THE RICH TRADITIONS THAT CHARACTERIZE OUR GREAT UNIVERSITY. BEST WISHES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL! [APPLAUSE] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I ASK YOU TO PLEASE RISE FOR THE BENEDICTION THAT WILL BE OFFERED BY HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL SEÁN O'MALLEY, ARCHBISHOP OF BOSTON, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF THE ALMA MATER ALONG WITH THE UNIVERSITY CHORALE. >> IN EARLY APRIL, AS THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY CONFRONTED RAPIDLY ESCALATING PANDEMIC AND BEFORE THE UNITED STATES WAS SHAKEN WITH FOUNDATION BY SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, FATHER OUR SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, SPEAKING TO INTERNATIONAL JESUIT LEADERSHIP SHARED WITH THEM, THAT THE WORST VIRUS IS NOT COVID-19. BUT THE INJUSTICE THAT DOES NOT ALET PEOPLE LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE. DURING THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN MANY WAYS THE PANDEMIC UNMASKED, INEQUALITY IN OUR SOCIETY, THAT DENY TOO MANY PEOPLE THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT EVERY PERSON IS DUE AS A MEMBER OF GOD'S FAMILY. IN ADDRESSING HIS COLLEAGUE, FATHER MADE CLEAR THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST CANNOT CONSIDER ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE TO BE EXPENDABLE OR NOT DESERVING OF CARE AND CALL THEM TO CARE FOR LIVING IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL HUMANITY. OUR NATION'S PROGRESS IN BRINGING THE PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL IS TESTIMONY TO HOW CONCERTED EFFORTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CAN HELP US ADDRESS THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS OF OUR WORLD. OUR CATHOLIC FAITH CALLS US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, NATIONALITY OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF. THE STUDENTS RECEIVING THEIR DEGREES TODAY, CANNOT KNOW WHAT UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES THE FUTURE MIGHT PRESENT THEM. BUT THEY CAN KNOW THAT WITH THE HELP OF GOD AND ONE ANOTHER, IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTIES, THEY CAN BE WITNESSES OF CARE AND CONCERN, OF CONSOLATION AND HOPE. OF SOLIDARITY. BY LIVING AS WOMEN AND MEN FOR OTHERS. LET US PRAY. LORD FATHER, OF OUR HUMAN FAMILY, YOU CREATED ALL HUMAN BEINGS EQUAL IN DIGNITY. POUR FORTH INTO OUR HEARTS A FRATERNAL SPIRIT AND INSPIRE IN US A DREAM OF RENEWED ENCOUNTER, DIALOGUE, JUSTICE AND PEACE. MOVE US TO CREATE HEALTHIER SOCIETIES, AND MORE DIGNIFIED WORLD. A WORLD WITHOUT HUNGER, POVERTY, VIOLENCE AND WAR. MAY OUR HEARTS BE OPEN TO ALL OF THE PEOPLES AND NATIONS OF THE EARTH. MAY WE RECOGNIZE THE GOODNESS AND BEAUTY THAT YOU HAVE SOWN IN EACH OF US. AND THUS FO FORGE BONDS OF UNITY AND COMMON PROJECTS AND SHARE DREAMS. TODAY AT THIS GRADUATION, WE INVOKE OUR BLESSING UPON ALL OF US AND OUR LOVED ONES IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. [ MUSIC ] ♪ HAIL! ALMA MATER! ♪ THY PRAISE WE SING ♪ FONDLY THY MEM'RIES ROUND OUR ♪ HEART STILL CLING. ♪ GUIDE OF OUR YOUTH, THRO' THEE ♪ WE SHALL PREVAIL! ♪ HAIL! ALMA MATER! ♪ HAIL! ALL HAIL! ♪ HAIL! ALMA MATER! ♪ LO, ON THE HEIGHT ♪ PROUDLY THY TOW'RS ARE RAISED ♪ FOR THE RIGHT ♪ GOD IS THY MASTER, HIS LAW THY ♪ SOLE AVAIL! ♪ HAIL! ALMA MATER! ♪ HAIL! ALL HAIL! ♪ HAIL! ALMA MATER! ♪ HAIL! ALL HAIL! [APPLAUSE] >> THIS CONCLUDES THE UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT. THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WILL BEGIN IN 30 MINUTES. THE LOCATIONS OF THE VARIOUS DIPLOMA CEREMONIES ARE LISTED ON THE LAST PAGES OF THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM. AND FINALLY, MAY I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REMAIN STANDING UNTIL THE DIGNITARIES OF THE PLATFORM AND MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY HAVE LEFT THE STADIUM. ALL GRADUATES ON THE FIELD AND GUESTS OF THE MORRISSEY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR PLACES. CHARLES GALLAGHER, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, WILL DIRECT YOU NEXT FROM THE PODIUM. [ SINGING ] FOR BOSTON, FOR BOSTON WE SING OUR PROUD REFRAIN! FOR BOSTON, FOR BOSTON 'TIS WISDOM'S EARTHLY FANE FOR HERE ALL ARE ONE AND THEIR HEARTS ARE TRUE AND THE TOWERS ON THE HEIGHTS
