Not every gift comes wrapped in shiny paper with a bow and sits under a Christmas tree.
Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM explained how every attendee has a specific set of gifts given to them by God to benefit those around them during his homily at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass at Padua Franciscan High School on Monday, December 8, 2025.
“Today, we remember the moment that Mary was conceived without sin,” Cafiero said. “She was preserved by God from the very beginning so that she could say yes to His plan with total freedom. Now think of that. Before Mary even spoke a word or made a choice, God had a dream for her life, and the same is true for all of you.
“God has loved you from the first moment of your existence, and He planned and placed gifts within you. Talents, passion, a unique personality that each of you, like Mary, would live out a mission that no one else could have accomplished.”
In addition to the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, the Padua community officially welcomed the juniors as upper-class students during the mass. Instead of the traditional ring ceremony, each student was presented with a blessed medallion to remind them they are “Never Alone” and “Always a Bruin.”
As part of the homily, Cafiero reminded the juniors that the road ahead may be difficult, but to be guided through those trying times by values and conviction of one’s beliefs.
“Mary teaches us something very crucial,” Cafiero said. “The grace that Mary received doesn’t eliminate challenges, but it gives you the strength to face them. As you receive these medallions, those of you who have rings and this beautiful rosary, they’re not just items to wear. They’re signs, visible reminders of the power of the Franciscan community that continues to shape you, remind you of the values that you choose in life.
“Hopefully, among them are pillars of prayer, service, care, and peacemaking. The reminders of the commitment to grow into the person that God created you to be: happy, holy, healthy, highly prepared and fully alive, this medallion, the ring and rosary can become what Mary was in the Annunciation. (Mary is) a daily reminder to say yes to God, not just in the big moments, but in the small ones, in how you treat others, how you work, what you write on social media, and what choices you make when no one is watching. When Mary said yes to God, she didn’t get an easier life. She got a meaningful one.
“Your yes to God will shape your lives, too. You don’t always know where it will lead you, but you can be certain of this, that God walks with you, that grace will strengthen you, and your life will matter in ways that you now can’t even imagine. Today, as you receive these medallions and the rosary, I invite you to make a quiet promise in your heart, to let God’s grace work in you, to say yes to what is good and true, to use your gifts generously to build a life that reflects faith and the values you have been given by your families.”
Following the homily, Cafiero invited Nathan Carlson, the President of the Class of 2027, to address his fellow classmates.
“Today’s mass invites us to think about what comes next,” Carlson said. “Seeing our rings and medallions is more than just a tradition we have. It’s a reminder of the responsibility we now carry, and leadership now will look so different for each and every one of us. Some believe it’s through their voices, some believe it’s through their actions, but all that really matters is that each of us uses our unique gifts to strengthen the community around us.
“If you look ahead to the next two years, think back to those keys you imagined. Keys can only open something if you choose to use them. Keys only really matter when you are willing to take a step forward. Today, each of us is being given a symbolic key.
“The real question is: What we will choose to unlock? What kind of leaders will we become? What kind of class will we be? And most importantly, what legacy will we leave behind? If we carry these questions with us, our impact will reach far beyond our time. So let us step in this moment with purpose. Let us continue to lead the humility. Let us continue to show strong school spirit. Let us keep serving with that same heart that already defines us.”
Following the Mass, all students, faculty and staff received a rosary made by the St. Joseph Rosary Makers at St. Justin Martyr Parish in Eastlake, Ohio. The Rosary beads were in school colors of brown, white and orange.
