As we gather together on this beautiful day, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy.

A beautiful Catholic theme for May 29 is:

Gratitude to God through the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As the month of Mary draws to a close, we give thanks for the many blessings received throughout this school year and entrust our students, families, staff, volunteers, benefactors, and board members to Our Lady’s loving protection and guidance.

This theme aligns beautifully with the motto of Saint John Paul II Academy:

Totus Tuus — Totally Yours

Saint John Paul II adopted these words to express his complete entrustment to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we approach the conclusion of another remarkable school year, we too place all that we have accomplished, all that we have learned, and all that we hope for in the loving hands of Our Blessed Mother.

Today, we begin with the greatest gift we can receive, the Holy Eucharist.

Mass will be celebrated this morning at 7:45 AM in the Saint John Paul II Academy Chapel.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Good Shepherd Parish, Father Augustine, Father Francis, and Father Edwin. Throughout this school year they have gone above and beyond in supporting our school community. Through their generosity, kindness, and dedication, our students, staff, and families have been blessed to gather regularly for Holy Mass every Tuesday and Friday.

This ministry has made an extraordinary difference in the life of our school.

In a world that often moves too quickly, these Masses have reminded us to pause, pray, and place Christ at the center of everything we do. Our students have been nourished by the Eucharist. They have witnessed faithful priests who joyfully serve God’s people. They have learned that faith is not simply something we study, but something we live.

June 12 will mark our final weekday Mass for this school year before we take a well deserved summer break. As that day approaches, we do so with profound gratitude. Good Shepherd Parish welcomed us, supported us, and ensured that our school community had regular access to the sacraments.

For this tremendous gift, we are deeply grateful.

Thank you Father Augustine.

Thank you Father Francis.

Thank you Father Edwin.

May God abundantly bless each of you for your faithful service.

This evening we celebrate another important milestone in the life of our school community as our Grade 12 students gather for their Prom.

Prom is much more than a celebration.

It is a beautiful rite of passage.

As Catholics, we recognize that life is made up of sacred moments that help shape who we become. Tonight marks a transition from one chapter to another. It is an opportunity for our graduates to reflect on friendships formed, challenges overcome, lessons learned, and the many blessings received throughout their time at Saint John Paul II Academy.

In the Gospel, Jesus continually invites His disciples to step forward in faith and trust Him with the future. Our graduating students now stand at a similar threshold. They prepare to enter universities, careers, vocations, and new adventures while carrying with them the values, faith, and formation they have received.

We congratulate each of our graduates and pray that they always remember that their greatest identity is not found in achievements, careers, or accomplishments, but in being beloved sons and daughters of God.

May tonight be filled with joy, gratitude, friendship, and many beautiful memories.

This weekend many members of our community will be attending the Consecration Celebration of Our Lady of the Mountains in Whistler.

This is truly a historic moment for the Catholic Church in British Columbia.

The story of Our Lady of the Mountains is a story of faith, perseverance, vision, and generosity. It stands as a testament to what can happen when faithful Catholics respond courageously to God’s call.

A special tribute must be paid to philanthropist Andy Szocs whose vision, generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment helped make this dream a reality. Through years of dedication and support, Andy helped create a legacy that will serve generations of Catholics for years to come.

The church stands as a beacon of hope, faith, beauty, and evangelization. Long after we are gone, families will gather there for Mass, weddings, baptisms, confirmations, funerals, prayer, and worship.

What an incredible gift.

If you are planning to attend this weekend’s celebration, please let us know so we can have an idea of how many members of the Saint John Paul II Academy community will be present.

As we celebrate this historic occasion, we give thanks to all those whose generosity helped make it possible.

We are also working diligently on our Spring Summer 2026 Foundation Magazine.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has submitted articles, photographs, stories, reflections, and content. The response has been tremendous.

This magazine is becoming a beautiful testament to the many ways God is working throughout our school, our Foundation, our parishes, and our broader Catholic community.

If you are contributing content, we would be grateful to receive all final submissions by next week as we prepare for publication shortly thereafter.

Thank you for helping us share these stories of faith, hope, generosity, and community.

We are also pleased to announce a new Parent Participation Program opportunity for families wishing to complete their Parent Participation Hours during the summer months.

Event Coordinator and Foundation Ambassador

This opportunity allows parents to fulfill their Parent Participation Hours before September while serving the mission of Saint John Paul II Academy Foundation.

Parents will assist with events, hospitality, communications, community outreach, marketing initiatives, donor engagement activities, and Foundation projects throughout the summer.

We are seeking individuals who are:

• Friendly and welcoming

• Organized and dependable

• Comfortable speaking with people

• Strong communicators

• Passionate about Catholic education

This role offers parents an opportunity to develop leadership skills, meet new families, support Foundation events, and strengthen our Catholic community.

Suggested participation is between 3 and 5 hours per week during June, July, and August, with flexible scheduling that can be completed from home or from the Foundation office.

For more information, please contact:

Silveria Roselli

As we conclude today’s briefing, let us once again return to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Throughout this month dedicated to Our Lady, we have sought her intercession, her protection, and her example of faithful discipleship.

As the school year gradually draws to a close, may we imitate Mary’s humility, courage, obedience, and love for Christ.

May she watch over our students as they complete their studies.

May she bless our graduates as they prepare for new journeys.

May she guide our teachers and staff as they conclude another successful year.

May she protect our families throughout the summer months.

And may she continue to lead each of us ever closer to her Son.

Have a wonderful, safe, and blessed weekend.

Totus Tuus.