Friday, May 21, 2021
Michael Francis Collins, M.D. ’77
Father Boroughs; Chair Patterson and members of the Board of Trustees; Faculty and Staff of the College; Family and Friends of the Graduates; Fellow graduates!
He sat in the stands, right there. She was on the stage, right here. They were everywhere.
He was my father, from the Holy Cross Class of 1939, who’s brain was riddled with tumor the last time he was at Fitton field!
She was Mother Teresa, now a saint, who, in 1976, came to this campus, to be honored at the commencement ceremony.
They were the Jesuits, faculty and staff of Holy Cross, imbued with the charism of St. Ignatius, who were the stewards of our education and the Mission of our beloved college and who carried on Ignatian values to this day.
In 1977, I received my “first” degree from Holy Cross. It was a most special day!
For you see, my start as a student had not been that great. As a chemistry major and pre-med, doing well in my first chemistry class was an imperative. As Professor Martin returned the first exam to each student, he folded the blue book in half. As I unfolded the papers, I saw the red-pen-inscribed “48” at the top of the page. Turning to my classmate sitting next to me, I showed him the grade and with cocksure pleasure, I exclaimed, “…Must have been out of “50!” Turning disappointedly towards me, he exclaimed, “I don’t think so, I got a “52!”
Clearly, there was nowhere to go but up; and the four years that followed that moment were among the most special of my life.
I came to Holy Cross with the singular goal of getting into medical school. While Holy Cross was instrumental in my achieving that objective, as I reflect on my education and the privilege it has been to care for and about so many, I realize that I received so much more:
Professors Vellaccio, McMaster, and Vidulich taught chemistry. But Professor Susan Waldbauer taught me about the symphonies’ movements; Father Reboli introduced me to cubism, impressionism and Mies van der Rohe’s architectural belief that form should follow function; and Father Paris was the first to challenge me about Reinhold Niebuhr’s views on the allocation of a scarce resource.
The grandeur of Dinand Library exuded the importance of literature; Kimball taught the essence of community; the Hart Center celebrated athletics and wellness; St. Joseph Chapel became a source of prayerful solace and consolation.
It was in that chapel, in moments of reflection on the day before my medical school acceptance letter would be mailed, that I committed to a life in service to others and where I pledged that I would always help a member of the Holy Cross community who needed advice, counsel or care. In fidelity with those promises, I continue this day to aspire to be a person for others.
But during that majestic day in 1977, when I sat where you sit today, I began my appreciation of the gift it was to attend a college whose name bore witness to the very foundations of our Catholic faith.
For on that Holy Cross, the Lord did not exclaim, “Why me?” Rather, he proclaimed, “I do this for you!”
Today, it is with profound humility that I am accorded the extraordinary privilege to receive a “second” Holy Cross degree. In this moment, I reflect with greater appreciation on the importance of Holy Cross.
In the challenges that face our world today, we need Holy Cross and its graduates!
Be it for the poor in spirit, those who mourn, are meek, ill or are wounded, during the time of a pandemic and beyond, can we respond that we are here “For you!”
Be it for the hungry or those who thirst, are homeless or in jail, here in our City of Worcester and far beyond, can we respond, we care “For you!”
For those who are persecuted, insulted and in need of peace, today on our own streets in America and wherever injustice prevails throughout our world, can we promote justice and act in way that is “For you!”
My mother and father gave me everything they could to support my dreams. Your parents are doing the same. Engraved on the bench just outside the Hogan Center is a phrase my mother coined: “First you have to want to, then you can!” As you embark on the next chapters of your lives, if you want to, you can respond to St. Ignatius’ call to serve others!
It was very special for Maryellen and me on the days when our son, Michael and daughter, Elizabeth graduated from Holy Cross. I would have given anything to have my father present on my graduation day. For in one of the greatest parenting moments I shall ever know, on a day when I awaited college admittances from other institutions and received none, he said as we drove onto Linden Lane, “Holy Cross will be good for you, and you will be good for Holy Cross!” Holy Cross has been so good to me; I have time, yet, to further fulfill his wisdom. I encourage you to join me in that journey.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, a diminutive and faith-filled woman often said. “I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, He will not ask, “How many good things have you done in your life?” Rather, He will ask, “How much love did you put into what you did?” When in service to others you act, will those actions be known for their love?
Fathers Boroughs, McFarland, Brooks, Miller, MacDonnell, Hart, Dunn, Manning, Harman, Hayes, Lapomarda, Markey and so many other Jesuits, like Ignatius, in the company of Jesus, have prayed: “Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil, and not to seek for rest; To labor, and not to ask for reward - except to know that I am doing your will.”
In your thoughts, prayers and actions, as women and men for others, what are the gifts you shall give in furtherance of that will?
I trust Holy Cross has been good to you! Bring love to your actions for others. Be humble in doing God’s will! And always, be good to Holy Cross!
Today, in the presence of the Holy Cross, as you leave this field and embark upon your life’s journey, imbued with your Holy Cross education, in what way will you proclaim, “I do this for you!”
AMDG