Catholic Central High School - Shamrock Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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il Hs i q li - Liu his ll il lluring, smiling Katie listens intently as Rocky pleads for her love in song in the musical - Corn on the Cob hreaktast at Sardi's pro- vides a novel entertainment program at the Easter Mon- day party ot the Mothers' Club lionterences of Father Foran, C.S.C. with the student body constitute a major part of our annual Retreat

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ga fl: er FATHER J. W. EMBSER, C.S.B. Principal Father Embser chatting with a group of students and an alumnus on furlough. I Cmbaer 'J Jileuage .... For twelve years, most of you have been in Catholic schools and already many of your number are in the armed forces and you will follow them very soon. There you will find boys, great numbers of whose training is not what yours has been, they think differently than you think, they value but little some of those truths which you value highly. They seek other things than what you seek. They are different-or shall we say that you are different, because of your home and your training. Now there are two courses open to you. You can let them change you or you can exercise an infiuence on them. They can pull you down or you can lift them up. You can take the lead or will you permit them to lead you? I think I can say that many of us are afraid to take the lead. We are afraid that some one will scol? at us, will laugh at us and will make sport of us. We are timid. We have our convictions, we have been well instructed, but we do not have the courage of these convictions and we do not have the moral strength to lead the way. True, it is difticult to lead, but does not the Master give us the example, was He not derided, made sport of, laughed at and scorned? He knew what was true and what was right. He never hesitated, He never compromised. He led the way and you must follow. You cannot expect any different treat- ment at the hands of godless men than He received. And now how can you lead the way? It is not too difficult. You scarcely have to say a word. Your life, the way you live it, the way you speak and act, the way you pray and attend Mass, all this will speak so eloquently and much more effectively than anything you may say. Others will notice you and admire, some will follow you. There is an idea which is so false. It is the principle of the man who lacks character, we must do this because everybody else is doing it, because we won't be one of the gang unless we do. They will laugh at us if we do not. My dear boys, you have your principles engraven deep down into your souls, you have your ideals. They are not the product of any human mind. They are divine, they are those things which endure. A man of character will never do what is wrong because others are doing it. I challenge you to take the lead, have others honor and love God because you do, have others say their prayers and go to Holy Mass because you attend, have others keep their souls pure and beautiful be- cause you are making an effort to keep your soul full of grace. These things endure. If you do this, you will be a man of character, a Christian man of character. We shall ever be proud of you. May God bless you. J. W. EMBSER, C.S.B.