St. Michael’s first scholarship recipient grateful for parish community
Last year, to celebrate St. Michael’s 150th anniversary, the Church of St. Michael-St. Peter in Syracuse established a 150th anniversary scholarship for any graduating senior who remained active in their parish community until graduation. The first recipient, Marianna Bednarski, offered a reflection at the end of the July 27 baccalaureate Mass, which Father Michael Galuppi, parish pastor, said “really captured the spirit and essence of parish life.”
From Marianna Bednarski:
“It’s an honor to stand before you today. And not just as a graduating senior and first recipient of the Saint Michael’s and Saint Peter’s $1,500 scholarship, but as one of the many voices in my graduating class.
Today is a celebration of all of us, those of us stepping into a new chapter in life, and the people that helped us get there.
We want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for the support and love we’ve experienced here over the years. This church, for many of us, is a place we’ve come to grow our faith, to find guidance, and to feel known by people who truly care for us.
When I found out I was receiving this scholarship, I was shocked. But it reminded me of something … that others believe in us. That’s what this church has done again and again … proved to us that we are not alone in our journey, and that we are seen, supported, and loved.
People like Bonnie, Deacon Matt, especially Stephanie, all the priests that have come and gone are just some of the people that have made a lasting impact on our lives. Your kindness, encouragement, and faith in us have helped us become the people we are today. You’ve believed in us even when we struggled to believe in ourselves. This scholarship, for me, is a symbol of that belief, and I will continue to carry your belief with me into the future, as I hope everyone else in my class will.
Graduating is exciting. It feels like we’re standing on the edge of something huge that’s full of possibility and full of unknowns. Yes, it’s a little scary. There’s pressure. There’s uncertainty. There are so many big decisions waiting for us, just outside these walls. But one of the most important things we have learned here is that faith doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means believing and trusting in God even when it’s hard or we are struggling to believe in ourselves. And that trust is something we hold onto tightly.
Going through communion and our high school years in this church was special. It’s being a part of a community that sees us for something other than our grades for once. It’s being surrounded by people who ask how we are doing and really want to know. It means learning that faith is lived out in service. And it means realizing that we belong to something bigger than ourselves.
We’ve grown up in a world that sometimes moves too fast — where it’s easy to get lost in comparison, in pressure, in fear. But here, we know where we belong, and we know our purpose. Here, we’ve been reminded that our worth doesn’t come from what we do, but from who we are — beloved children of God.
So as we take this step, know that we do it with gratitude. Gratitude for everyone who showed up, and for the lessons you have taught us. Gratitude for the people who’ve given all of their love. Gratitude for the chance to now take what we have been given and now share it with others so that they, too, can be closer to God.
Thank you for believing in us, for reminding us that no matter where life takes us, we will never walk alone as long as we truly trust in God.
This church will forever be a part of who we are. And I truly hope that in some small way, we’ll make you all proud.
Please keep praying for us — because we know we’ll need it. We promise to remember what we have learned to help us serve others the way you have served us, and to keep our hearts open and hear God’s call, and listen, to wherever it may lead us.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, and may God bless you all. Amen.”
