Blessing of Graduates

About the Blessing

This blessing, suitable for both 8th and 12th grade graduates, and may be used in conjunction with some of the other recommendations below in order to affirm and raise up the giftedness of those graduating.

Ideas for Celebrating a Baccalaureate (Graduation) Sunday

  • Invite graduates to present their parents with flowers before the service or after the blessing.
  • Involve the graduates in as many of the liturgical ministries as possible. Use their giftsof song, dance, and speech throughout the liturgy. Invite a couple of the graduates to offer a reflection on the meaning of this moment of transition in their lives and how God has been a part of their journey.
  • Introduce each graduate by calling them forward to receive a "Diploma of Hope,” perhaps having the blessing or other words of hope and encouragement printed on parchment and rolled up with a ribbon.
  • Prepare a special insert or program listing each of the graduates and what their next step in life might be (what college or high school they will be attending or job area they will be pursuing). Take this idea a step further by highlighting one name in each program or insert and asking the congregation to keep the person highlighted in their particular program in prayer throughout the summer and fall as they make their transition to this next step along their journey.
  • During the offertory, have representatives of the graduating class bring up the gifts,including a gift they could take up a collection for and present to the parish, such as a perennial plant or flowering tree, or some furnishing or special window, or piece of artwork.
  • Another item that could be brought up in the offertory is the prayers and hopes of each of the graduates. Invite each one to write their prayer or hope on a slip of paper and then place them in a basket, which are brought up and prayed over during the offertory.
  • Use the blessing as a way for parents to bless their sons and daughters, either during Mass by standing face to face with their hands upon their child’s head while the blessing is said, or given to parents to use at home, prior to or after the actual graduation ceremony.
  • Consider having the graduation Mass during the Saturday Mass time, so it can be followed with a nice meal for graduates (possibly prepared by parents of next year's graduating class).

Blessing of Graduates

Before you were even formed, God knew you.
While in your Mother's womb, God named you.
At your birth, God's breath filled you with life.
Today we celebrate what you have become
at this moment in time. And so we pray,


God of our beginnings,
We thank you for the gifts of these graduates;
their excitement, their awesome wonder and curiosity,
their open speech and encouraging words.
Their contributions have blessed and challenged us,
and we have become a richer
and more diverse community because of them.


As they step forward into the world that awaits,
comfort their fears with the full knowledge of your divine presence.
Strengthen their resolve to walk in the footsteps of Jesus
as modern-day disciples in a world that needs their spirit.
Guide their feet as they move through life,
protecting them from the pitfalls of darkness
while they help to lead future generations
into the warmth and promise of your light.


We ask this blessing upon each of them,
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

AMEN!

Blessing of Graduates

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