Dear Fr. Liu, IMC managers, Principal Sung and Principal Ng, PTA Chairlady Ms. Wong, teachers, parents, and my dear graduates,

Welcome to the 68th Graduation Ceremony of Maryknoll Fathers’ School.

Graduates, let me begin with a simple question: what does this moment mean to you? Is it merely a celebration of a milestone—or is it something more?

As we gather today, I am reminded of the words from the Bible:

“There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens…

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot…

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance…

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away…

He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

So let me ask you again: what does this time mean for you today?

To me, it is your time of completion, of thanksgiving, and of new beginnings.

It is a time of joy and pride for you and your parents, as you move from innocent adolescence into purposeful adulthood, ready to stand on your own feet.

It is a time to be grateful — for the care and guidance of your teachers, and for the friendships that will remain with you for life.

And yes, it is a time to look ahead with excitement, as you begin to explore a wider world beyond these school walls.

But it is also a time to remember that you have a part in something greater — the unfolding story of humanity ever since its beginning, in which each of us has a role to play.

Across history since Christ, every age has faced its own questions.

• The Renaissance renewed learning and affirmed human dignity.
• The Reformation called for reflection on faith and conscience.
• The Industrial Revolution reshaped how people lived and worked.

 

Today, we face a similar question: how should we live in a rapidly changing digital world?

We are now in the Digital Revolution, entering the age of artificial intelligence—a world filled with opportunity, but also uncertainty.

Do you understand these changes? Are you ready to adapt? Will you be able to discern what truly matters?

History offers us important lessons. Let me quote two recent examples.  Our graduates may not know these names, but they are global giants in their respective industries in your parents’ time. 

• Kodak, the global giant in photography technology, helped create digital photography, but failed to embrace it and ultimately went bankrupt.
• Blockbuster led home entertainment with DVD rental, but did not respond to change in streaming technology and was also wiped out from the industry.

These lessons remind us that when change comes, we must learn to recognise it—and to respond with wisdom, courage, and hope.

Yet even as the world around us continues to change, one truth remains constant: our values must endure. Our school motto, “Truth & Loyalty,” guide us and lighting our paths ahead. It is deeply heartening to see how generations of our graduates, over the past 68 years, have carried this spirit with them—living it out in their work, their relationships, and their contributions to society.

When you return for our Homecoming events, and especially as we celebrate our 70th anniversary in 2027, you will meet many of them. Their journeys will remind you that while times may change, the values we hold dear will always be our greatest strength.

In this spirit, we are honoured to have with us our Officiating Guest, Fr. Dominic Lui, an authority in Hong Kong on Catholic ethos. His work is a powerful reminder that, regardless of how rapidly technology advances, the values we uphold—human dignity, compassion, truth, integrity, and responsibility—remain steadfast and unchanging.

My dear graduates, what you have received at MFS is more than knowledge or skills. You leave with more than certificates—you carry principles and values.

Principles that will guide and anchor you as knowledge changes and tools evolve.

Principles that will shape your relationships and influence your contribution to society.  

This is formation—of character, of values, and of conscience.

I was truly heartened to witness these qualities in you in your graduation year, especially in the way you organised and presented yourselves at your graduation mass and dinner.

 

No matter what path you will choose for your career — whether in healthcare, law, business, the arts, or fields yet to emerge — the tools and operational duties of today may change, but your responsibility to serve with integrity and compassion will remain.

In a world of rapid change, wisdom lies in discernment. So always ask yourselves:

• Will I use what I know to serve others?
• Will I act with integrity?
• Will I stand for what is right?
• What truly matters? What is worth standing for?

As you step into the future:

• Be attentive—recognise the signs of the time.
• Be resilient—persevere through uncertainty.
• Be adaptable—learn, unlearn, and relearn.
• Be guided—by your values and by your faith.

And above all, always strive to grow—

• not only in knowledge, but in wisdom;
• not only in achievement, but in humility.

For without humility, we cannot truly learn; without recognising our limits, we cannot truly grow.

Dear Graduates, go forward with both humility and confidence.

Be thoughtful in your choices, yet bold in your purpose.

Trust that in every season, there is meaning—and there is grace.

Congratulations, Class of 2026.  Congratulations dear parents, that your child has reached one of the important milestones in life journey.

May you be blessed with wisdom, discernment, and God’s abundant grace.

May you go forth as witnesses of His glory, and as people of purpose who bring light to the world.

 

Agnes G. Yeh

Supervisor