St Michaels High School - Footprints Yearbook (Union City, NJ)

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PLAY FUHEWURD We face the futurel ln a war-weary, terrilaly siclc worlcl just at tlie crisis ot its worst illness, We face tlme future. The Class of ,415 is tleie fourth class to gracluate from St. Michaelys since our country has become engulfed in tliis global conllict, ancl tliougli on tlie Western Front lwostilities liave ceasecl tlwere clawns no liope of peace in tlie imme- cliate future. As we step into tliis war-torn, puzzling worlcl upon gracilualion, we laave a choice of two attitucles lowarcl it ancl towarcl lite in general. One attitucle is, ol' course, pessimistic. We woncler, at times, wlwetlier the iclc-als ttial our lnoys are fighting ancl clying for are being preservecl in tllis country. We tool: at all tl'1e discontent arouncl us, at tlwe greecl, tulle semslaness, tlie lialrecl anal rare prejuclice, ancl conclucle tliat the answer slioulcl lJe, no. We are tolrl tliat unless man comes laaclc to Gocl all the lolooclsliecl will lwave laeen in vain: tlwat we may expect anotlmer Harmisticeu similar to the farce of Versailles in 1918. ancl anollier war in a few flecacles or so. Loolcecl at from ttiis point of view, our ettorts clo appear futile, ancl it would seem tllere is cause enougtl for pessimism. But we are Catholics witli a laaclqgrouncl of Catlnolic training -- a fact wluiclw can alter our wlwole outloolc, ancl account for our adopting a clitterent attitude. We liave lneen tyrouglit up in possession of a weapon more powerful and etlicacious than any tuomlys, mines, or rleptli cliarges ever usecl or ever to be usecl in any war. Ancl tluat weapon is prayer. It' prayer can 'move mounlainsn it can move inen,s laeartsg it can luring peace to tlie worlcl. Nve liave learuecl from our Catlwolic teacliing that the lcey to true world peace lies in tlie incliviclual's peace witli Gocl in liis lieart. It' all men were at peace witli Gncl, worlcl war woulcl lae an impossilnilily. In our choice ol' a tlweme we liave triecl to show liow everytliing in connection with our sclxool life, classes, clulns, activities ancl sports W all motivatecl :incl governecl lay tlue spirit of Clirist - liave preparecl us to Hmm-et tlie worlclf' Why, tlien, slwoulcl we lne pessimistic? Witli prayer in one lianrl, as it were, ancl souncl Catliolic teaclling in tlwe other, we neecl fear notlaing. lt is not alone For lite in tliis worlcl we liave been preparing, but for the encl of lite when we slwall really face the future. CLASS OF '45 7

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CLASS OF '45 '-1 the natiorfs hest Eager, huoyant, hrimful of zest, Fresh ancl conliiclent and sure, ln your youth all safe, secure, Firm your trust that all is Well, Your laughter lilce a silver hell - il QTUUY By the time the years have rolled around, Moy it mean that each of you has founcl Complete fulfillment of the hopes That stir you, as from Michaels walls You go where God or duty calls. Cynics, pessimists, criers-clown, Fiel for shame, that slceptic frown, For all the future comes alive Through the faith of the Class of '45l

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ST. IVIICI-IAE1.,S MONASTERY CliURC1'l 8