The sun shines brightly on Saint Anne's Graduating Class of 2008 The students of Saint Anne's School have worked in partnership with our Parish Social Ministry this year. The 8th graders have been part of our Share-a-Meal program, through which parishioners prepare and deliver meals to people who are in difficult circumstances at this time.

Jim Donoghue is a senior parishioner whose wife, Margaret, is now in a nursing home. He is 95 years old and receives meals regularly from families at Saint Anne's. Father John invited Jim to come to the 8th graders graduation last Saturday and to offer some remarks to the kids. With real dignity and a twinkle in his eye, Jim offered the following remarks to the Class of 2008 (whether or not you are from Saint Anne's, his advice is priceless!)

"My name is Jim Donoghue. At 95 years old, I believe I am one of the oldest members of Saint Anne's Parish. I am a retired Captain with the New York City Fire Department and I have been asked to offer you a few words of wisdom. Before I do that, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Class of 2008.

Msgr. John D. Gilmartin shares his microphone with Jim Donoghue so all may hear his "Words of Wisdom"; "I graduated from high school in 1932. They did not have middle school then. They did also did not have crazy glue, silly string, cell phones, the Internet or computers. Gasoline was 8 cents a gallon!

"I am sure life in 1932 is hard for you to imagine. Believe it or not - life was in full color, not black and white as all of the old movies and photographs would lead you to believe. Life was more challenging physically. There was no air conditioning and we really did walk to school.

"To entertain ourselves, we would all chip in a few cents and buy a baseball. We didn't have a backyard, so we played in the street. If the baseball broke we would stuff it with rags so we could keep playing. We also had no electricity and no central heat. Light was provided by a kerosene lamp. Our coal stove was hooked up to a small hot water heater. To keep warm, my mother would put bricks in the oven. She would wrap them in rags and give them to us to hold onto when we came home from school.

Jim Donoghue arriving at Saint Anne's Graduation Mass. "But as much as the world changes, it remains the same.

* Show respect for others and they will likely respect you in return.

* Set goals for yourselves

* Be proud of who you are and do not be afraid to be different.

* When you go through difficult times, instead of feeling sorry for yourself, try and learn from it.

* In return, rejoice when life is being good to you.

"Coincidentally, there are 9 Catholic priests graduating from the seminary and being ordained today. Please keep them in your prayers and ask that they provide strong Catholic leadership. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Father Gilmartin for being such a strong leader for our parish.

"In closing, life has been an amazing journey for me and it will be an amazing journey for you as well. Godspeed, and as the Irish say:

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind always be at your back

The sunshine warm upon your face

The rains fall soft upon your fields and

Until we meet again -

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Congratulations and thank you!"

~ James Donoghue