Monsignor Monaghan Presentation
This morning we presented Monsignor Monaghan with a statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas for the wonderful spiritual guidance he has offered pupils, parents and staff throughout this session and also to mark the 49th anniversary of his Ordination as a Priest later this month. We are truly grateful for the outstanding service Monsignor offers and his involvement in the life of the school and will make his 50th year extra special!
The following text is Monsignor’s speech from the S6 Graduation when he was the Guest of Honour. It highlights his wisdom, inspiration and love for the pupils, parents and staff of St Ninian’s High School.
In preparation for this evening’s Graduation Ceremony, I noted down the places where I received my formal education. I began in St Mary’s Annexe, Paisley for a year before going to St Mary’s Primary in the West End of Paisley for six years. My Secondary Education was at St Mirin’s Academy, Paisley in the East End of the town. I then studied languages for two years at Campion House…a Jesuit College in London and from there returned to Scotland to study Philosophy for two years and Theology for four years at St Peter’s Seminary in Cardross. Later in life I went back to London for a couple of years to study Matrimonial Jurisprudence at Millhill College. Now all those places of education have something in common. I don’t mean that I studied in them. No, something quite different. Everyone of them closed some time after I left and none of the buildings exsist anymore! Mr Docherty will be relieved that I was never a pupil at St Ninian’s High School! That having been said, I should add that I have learned a great deal in my association with the school. What have I learned? A seriousness about applying myself to work in hand. A love and care for staff and students. Dedication. Application. Friendship. Commitment and Fidelity. In addition to those natural virtues, I could add, spiritual virtues and the place and importance of a prayerful life.
I need to say that I have learned that from staff and students. Year Six ladies and gentlemen…I know of your affection and admiration of your teachers. I’m sure you have learned a great deal and, because of the solid dedication you have received, you will continue to learn even more. Mind you, while qualifications are important and useful, there is so much more to a good Catholic education. Our aim for you was more than nurturing and developing your talents. We wanted you to grow and become really fulfilled… that is, strong and faithful happy men and women. I know you recognise the endless dedication of the staff to each one of you. I know that you will miss them and I can well imagine that it will take you some time to adjust to not coming to school after all these years. But you have been fine and admirable young men and women. So talented. So pleasant to be with. It will also take us some time, after all these years, to adjust to your not coming to school. But when you leave, forget not the school motto: Floreat Juventus…Let Youth Flourish. It is a Latin exclamation to express our desire that the pupils will flourish. You dear students have done so with flying colours. Let me give you a new motto, also in Latin, for the years ahead: Just one word. Easy to remember. Simply this: Excelsior! Ever lofty, ever higher!
