In Principio August 2017

…ON GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD I know that without my dark and challenging times I wouldn’t be here today. Once again, this ordinary girl from a small country town a long way from here has been blessed beyond her desserts to be here with you: at this beautiful university and at this wonderful time of your life. Today is your day to celebrate what you have achieved and to do so with all those who love you and have supported you – congratulations to you all. It is also a day to look forward. To dream, to aspire, to hope about what lies ahead. My prayer, my dreams and my hopes for all of you as you leave this beautiful university and walk out into the world, is › › that you embrace your own God given unique gifts, skills and talents; › › that you embrace your life, live your own life, and do so in a way that is good, which is decent and which serves others; › › that in times of joy you laugh, take pleasure and are filled with gratitude for the blessing which you have been given; › › that in times of darkness and challenge, you find the strength and courage to get through them with an openness to yourself, an openness to others, an openness to and trust in God, so that one day you can look back on them with gratitude for the blessing which they gave you; and › › that you truly love and know that you are truly loved throughout every moment of every day. I N P R I N C I P I O | 5