Our cross, our faith, our strength

BY AUBREY M. TABACO

With the start of a new school year, our lives begin to grow out of our summer ways and we go back to our normal routines of daily life. Our schedules tend to become more hectic and we often push aside things that do not seem as important at the time. Our religion and faith can sometimes be one of those things neglected in our everyday living, even though it may very well be one of the most important things to a human being. Fortunately, Kellenberg students are blessed to be going to a school that provides opportunities that strengthen and further emphasize the importance of faith in our lives.

On Sept. 14, Kellenberg Memorial High School held their annual Triumph of the Cross ceremony. At this occasion, each student, along with friends, family, staff, and the students of St. Martin de Porres Marianist School attend a prayer service outside around our cross. The cross was made by Yan Rieger and was originally dedicated on September 14, 1992. As a spiritual reminder, each student was given a cross to wear, that was also blessed during the Mass. This year I was able to be a part of the service, processing in with the crosses to be blessed. Although it is only my second year attending Kellenberg and this event, I feel that I have grown so much in faith since the last time I stood watching the Triumph of the Cross ceremony one year ago. Being a part of the service, it was such a moving experience looking out at the crowd of over 3,000 people gathered all together as one Marianist family celebrating such an inspiring moment of Jesus triumphing over the weight of the cross that He bore for us, and ultimately triumphing over death itself.

During the homily, our chaplain, Father Thomas Cardone, S.M., spoke about the crosses that each person carries in their own lives. Like Jesus, every one of us has or will struggle through a time where we must bear the weight of a very heavy cross upon our shoulders. This cross may be sins we have committed, a hardship we are facing, or anything that we meet that may test our faith in God. Each person carries a different type of cross with no one being the same as the other. As every human being is their own individual, an original work of God, we are also each given different situations that we must face. Jesus’ walk to Calvary symbolizes our own journey through life. However, we are blessed in knowing that we will never walk this journey alone. Although there are times that a person may feel as if they can no longer hold everything they must bear, God will never give us more than we can handle. Like Simon of Cyrene to Jesus on Good Friday, God will be there for us to give a helping hand and carry our cross when we are at our lowest points in our lives. He will always be there to encourage us to get back up and start anew.

Kellenberg has taught me that there is always someone to turn to when in need of help. For me, I am grateful to have such a large spiritual family, which is my school, to support and strengthen me. Events like the Triumph of the Cross remind all who attend how important our faith is in our lives and the power that it possesses when we truly believe. This and many other events throughout the school year at Kellenberg show how powerful our religion really is, with the ability to bring together such large amounts of people in one place, working towards the same mission of bringing ourselves closer to God. Although each of us may bear our crosses throughout life, know that God will always be by our side, present every step of the way.

AUBREY M. TABACO is a sophomore at Kellenberg Memorial High School, Uniondale.