Gratitude, Goals, and God
End of Year Homily
Editor’s Note: This is a summary of a homily that Fr. Ben Daghir preached on May 29, 2025 at the end of the year Mass at DuBois Central Catholic to grades 6-11, along with 8th-grade graduates and their families.
Good afternoon—students, faculty, staff, parents, and especially our 8th-grade graduates.
As we come together at the close of another school year, we pause with the Lord to receive His grace in and through the Eucharist. As we conclude this school year and enter summer, I’d like to reflect on three simple yet powerful words: Gratitude, Goals, and God.
Gratitude:
Let’s begin with gratitude. This past year—2024-2025—was full of challenges, growth, victories, and adversity.
At the end of the school year, it’s very easy to move on to the next thing, the next thing, and the next thing without pausing to be thankful. But it’s essential as Christians to pause and be grateful for what has happened.
I want to pose a few questions to help us reflect on what we are grateful for:
What are we most thankful for from this school year?
Was it a teacher who helped us understand something difficult?
A friend who helped us when we were having a rough day?
A team we were a part of?
A project we completed?
Jesus Teaches the People by the Sea by James Tissot (c. 1886). A quiet moment when we sensed God’s peace?
What did we learn—not just in class, but about ourselves?
Did we discover a strength we didn’t know we had?
Was there a serious challenge this year (it could be an injury, a conflict, or some form of adversity), and now, in hindsight, we can see how God helped us to grow?
The end of the year is not just a time to say, “We’re done.” It’s a time to say, “Thank You.” Because every single day of this school year has been a gift.
I pause at the end of any type of season or experience and write out what I’m grateful for. I’ve found that one sheet of paper is often not enough. Gratitude leads to more gratitude. It’s pretty remarkable to be filled with gratitude. It leads to joy.
Goals:
Now, let’s look ahead to the summer with goals in mind. Summer isn’t just time off—it’s time given. It’s a season for refreshment and growth. As Christians, we are called to be purpose-driven.
So, I want to challenge all of us—not just students but also teachers, parents, and myself—to consider: How will we grow this summer?
Let’s make these questions practical:
Socially:
Will we deepen friendships?
Will we reach out to someone who feels left out?
Will we put our phone down long enough to look someone in the eye and listen?
Will we visit family members? It could be our grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
Will we visit our neighbors?
Personally:
Will we take care of our body and mind—exercise, rest, maybe even read something that’s not required?
Will we learn something new?
Will we try a hobby we’ve never had time for?
The Sick Awaiting the Passage of Jesus by James Tissot (c. 1890).
Intellectually:
Will we stay curious?
Will we study something over the summer?
Will we ask questions about the world, history, science, religion, politics, and people?
Will we remain learners—even without a classroom?
Spiritually:
Will we make time for prayer?
Will we make Sunday Mass a top priority?
Will we spend time in silence and listen to God?
Will we open the Bible or sit before the Blessed Sacrament and just be still?
Will we remember that our soul needs nourishment, too?
Set goals this summer—not just to achieve more, but to become more. I write out my goals, and I hang them on the wall. I’m 32 years old, and I plan to continue doing this for as long as I live.
God:
And this leads us to the third G: God.
Gratitude must lead toward God, who has given us all gifts and blessings and all that is good. Goals without God are just self-help. But with God, our gratitude becomes praise, and our goals become purpose.
Because everything we have—this school, this community, our families, our talents, our very breath—comes from God. And everything we do—our studies, our sports, our relationships, our hobbies, our rest—should be directed back to Him.
That’s our purpose. Whether we’re finishing 6th grade, 8th grade, or 11th grade, or we are in our 50s, 60s, or 70s, or teaching in our 20th year, or our 3rd year of priesthood - we are made for God.
So, as we close this school year and begin summer, I ask:
Will we take a moment to thank God for this past year?
Will we invite Him into our goals?
Will we offer our summer back to Him?
To all our students, families, and faculty: may this summer be more than a break—may it be a time of gratitude, goals, and God.
Gratitude. Goals. God.
That’s how we finish well, and that’s how we begin anew with the Lord.
Fr. Ben Daghir
Excellent Fr. Ben! You are a blessing to the school and all of us! Thank you!