Sarno, whose daughter Cassandra is a sophomore at the school, stressed Cathedrals tradition of producing leaders in the city, the state and beyond.
SPRINGFIELD - It was raining purple caps Friday as 80 Cathedral High School seniors gathered on the soggy lawn outside St. Michael’s Cathedral and flung their caps in the air to celebrate graduation.
In the school's 123rd commencement ceremony, 80 seniors received diplomas from Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell after a brief address by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
The Cathedral High School Concert Choir provided music.
McDonnell told the graduates they had grown in wisdom, age and grace during their four years at Cathedral.
"Continue to grow in your relationship with God and neighbor and make Cathedral proud," the Bishop said.
Sarno, whose daughter Cassandra is a sophomore at the school, stressed Cathedral's tradition of producing leaders in the city, the state and beyond.
"You are the problem solvers; you are the individuals who work with other people to make a better society," the mayor said.
Taking note of the pelting rain outside the church, Sarno said it was “God’s tears of joy and maybe you’re parents tears of joy that you’ve made it this far.”
The class, 98 percent of whom will be attending college, cheered Valedictorian Matthew B. Foley and Salutatorian Chad D. Fanti -- and every other member -- as they walked one-by-one to the altar to receive their diplomas.
Senior Mary Kate Sullivan began the ceremony by listing the misadventures the Class of 2013 had witnessed, including the loss of the Surrey Road campus to the June 1, 2011 tornado.
“People say 13 is an unlucky number. My class has been through a tornado, a hurricane, even an October blizzard,” she said.
“Nothing has stopped us yet,” she said.