Xavier Celebrates the Class of 2016 

Xavier will celebrate its Class of 2016 at events throughout the next week. Graduates and their families will gather in the Church of St. Francis Xavier for the Baccalaureate Mass this Saturday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m., with graduation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to follow on Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m. Baccalaureate will be streamed live at www.xavierhs.org/livestream, as will graduation at www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/live.

Mike Fernandez ’72, a loyal Son of Xavier, generous benefactor, and namesake of Xavier’s new 32,000-square-foot addition, Fernandez-Duminuco Hall, will travel from Miami to deliver the Commencement Address. Christian Raslowsky ’16, a Weehawken resident who will continue his education at Santa Clara University, will deliver the Valedictory Address. The Salutatory Address will be given by Francis Rayos del Sol ’16, a resident of Forest Hills who will attend Cornell University.

This fall, the 255 members of the Class of 2016 will depart for colleges and universities around the nation, including Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, the University of Virginia, Boston College, Fordham, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, NYU, Bucknell, Villanova, Williams College, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, West Point, and many more.

Generations of Sons of Xavier will be on hand to celebrate their achievements at graduation, including Joseph O’Neill ’41 and James Maguire '41, who will represent the 75th Reunion class. Graduation will also mark the retirement of longtime faculty members Chris Kennedy, Jerome McKinney, and Sheryle Neuffer-McCann and the conclusion of the terms of Xavier trustees Rev. Vin Biagi, S.J. ’67, Susan Conniff, Dennis Langley ’70, Michael O’Rourke ‘91, and Rev. Anthony SooHoo, S.J.

Look out for a special graduation edition of the Xavier E-News on Thursday, June 16.

Congratulations, Class of 2016!