On the morning of May 1, 2021, Sacred Heart Major Seminary honored 107 graduates from the Class of 2020 and 71 graduates from the Class of 2021 with Mass and commencement ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The 96th annual Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and was immediately followed by commencement exercises led by Msgr. Lajiness and Fr. Laboe.
Recognized this year, the Class of 2020 earned 120 certificates, diplomas, or degrees, including 14 graduates earning the Licentiate in Sacred Theology. The Class of 2021 earned 79 certificates, diplomas, or degrees, also with 14 being the Licentiate in Sacred Theology.
Msgr. Lajiness congratulated all the graduates, both in person and those joining via livestream, saying, “Every one of you has a very unique story, a very powerful story for what brought you to the seminary, what sustained you in the seminary, and then what now moves you forward out as a witness with this certificate, diploma, or degree. What a great blessing that’s going to be for your parish, for the Church, for you personally. And that story that the Lord is writing in your own heart, hopefully that story has many more chapters in the future.”
With these being his final commencement ceremonies as Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Msgr. Lajiness also took the opportunity to address and thank his fellow faculty members.
“The faculty, for me, are not just peers and colleagues, but truly friends,” he said. “Over the years we’ve shared many, many joys and questions and challenges, and to work with you, alongside you as friends is a great blessing for me, and I’ll certainly continue to pray for all you but as a faculty, we could never complete the task that’s entrusted, the mission that’s entrusted to us without you, so to all of you, I want to say thank you.”
Archbishop Vigneron offered his thanks to Msgr. Lajiness, as well, in recognition of his decades of commitment to the seminary community.
“Among all of the thanks that need to be articulated today, certainly one that’s most appropriate and falls to me is to express thanks to you, Monsignor, for your devoted years of service to Sacred Heart,” he said. “I want to pay tribute to you here today for all that you’ve done, and to wish you God’s blessing in your role in Plymouth at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Thank you so very much.” The rector was met with a standing ovation.
Please join us in congratulating the Classes of 2020 and 2021, and in prayer for the success of each of them and Msgr. Lajiness in all their future endeavors.
