A GCU grad gets a hug from a proud family member. Russ DeSantis Photography and Video, LLC
When college graduates become overwhelmed by many challenges, they need to find their passion and use it to focus on one of those challenges, a Georgian Court University trustee told graduates at the 2025 Baccalaureate Mass.
“The list of challenges can wear us down before we start, causing a numbness that paralyzes us to non-action,” Msgr. Vincent Gartland told graduates at the May 15 Mass at the Dorothy Marron University Community Chapel in Lakewood. “I challenge each of you to develop your passion and bring it to focus on one of these issues to make the world a better place and create a life worth living. A single individual filled with passion, equipped with knowledge, fortified with faith and infused with hope will move us slowly but surely to the Kingdom of God.”
The Mass honored more than 450 students who received degrees – undergraduate, graduate and doctorates – at Central and South Jersey’s only Catholic university, founded by the Sisters of Mercy.
Msgr. Gartland, a retired priest of the Diocese and board of trustee member at the university, said he hoped the graduates’ passions had “been infused with the Mercy values of respect, compassion, integrity, justice, and service.”
Advice for graduates
Later that day, in a series of ceremonies, university officials, professionals and student speakers offered advice and encouragement.
“I see a class defined not just by achievement, but by resilience, purpose, and heart. You have learned so much,” Dr. Eugene Cornacchia, interim president, told students who received bachelor’s degrees in the Wellness Center Arena. “You’ve found strength in your community, built bonds that will last a lifetime, and discovered who you are and what you care about most.
Msgr. Gartland preaches the homily during the Baccalaureate Mass. Russ DeSantis Photography and Video, LLC
“You’ve organized food drives, mentored students with disabilities, researched alongside faculty, and extended care to those who needed it most. You made this campus better, and we are grateful. You leave not just with a degree, but with the knowledge that you are capable of transformation – your own and the world’s.”
Undergraduate student speaker Emma Gildea gave her fellow graduates a chuckle when she said her message was to “Just keep swimming,” the phrase made famous in the movie “Finding Nemo.”
A bagpiper leads the commencement procession of graduate students. Russ DeSantis Photography and Video, LLC
“Life, like Nemo’s Ocean, will present challenges and unexpected detours. But each moment is an opportunity. Take risks, stay curious, trust yourself and others, and never underestimate your capacity to grow from adversity,” she told the packed arena, while more than 1,300 people watched remotely.
Take the shot
Later, Kim Guadagno, former New Jersey lieutenant governor and secretary of state and current executive director of the Mercy Center in Asbury Park, N.J., received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and presented the graduate address.
“GCU provides a value-driven education and always stays true to its mission. Embody the Mercy spirit, let it guide you, and be the bedrock of your success,” she urged graduates. “You will be surprised by what your education has prepared you for. I know all of you will make a difference in this world because of the education you received here.”
Guadagno also urged them: “Always take the shot! You have to be willing to take the chance, face challenges, and have confidence in your abilities. Take the shot and you will never regret a single day of your life.”
Lauren Jensen, graduate student speaker, had similar advice: Do not fear change.
“Saying ‘yes’ opens doors that we never knew existed, and it is often pleasantly surprising where those doors may lead,” said Jensen. “It puts each of us on the journey that we are meant to be on that will bring us where we need to be. Today, we celebrate the changes we have embraced, the growth we have undergone, and the endless possibilities we have ahead.”
Undergraduates let everyone know how happy they are that it’s graduation day. Russ DeSantis Photography and Video, LLC