I have come full circle, and more than ever, I realize how much God has guided my priesthood and my life. I also realize how blessed I am.
It’s hard to believe that I graduated from St. John’s High School 61 years ago on June 2. Three days later, on June 5, I will celebrate Mass at the 2026 commencement ceremony as I complete my third year as chaplain.
I retired from Catholic Charities DC three years ago this summer, and I have enjoyed every moment at St. John’s. What a blessing it is to see the growth our young people experience and the opportunities they receive throughout their high school years. I know this is true at all our high schools and places of learning.
One of our sayings at St. John’s is, “You come to learn. You leave to serve.” I love that, and I see it happening throughout the school in our ongoing service to each other, our service trips, and in our student peer ministers. There are many opportunities for young people to be involved in our community, our parishes, and the Church.
We held 18 retreats this year for students across all four grade levels. The experiences grow with the students – from one-day freshman and sophomore retreats to overnight junior retreats and finally Kairos for seniors, a powerful experience led in large part by the students themselves.
Cardinal McElroy came to the school for our Founder's Day celebration on May 18, and we had 27 young people take steps on their faith journeys. Four were baptized, nine received their First Eucharist, and all were confirmed.
I deeply enjoyed accompanying these students through our OCIA process. We met at least monthly during the first semester and weekly during the second. While the curriculum covered much of the teaching of our faith, our conversations often centered on deeper spiritual questions: Why be Catholic? Why receive the sacraments? What is drawing you toward the faith?
Most spoke about the example of their parents and grandparents and the way they lived their lives. They also talked about their experience at St. John’s and how accepted they felt, regardless of their faith tradition. Over time, they sensed that it was time to take this next step and join the Catholic tradition.
It’s heartening to see so many young people seriously considering their faith journey and how they can grow closer to God. I know many young people are still discovering what's important for them and how God fits in their lives. I pray for them. I also know that many are taking these next steps and choosing to live their journeys in the Catholic faith.
I am looking forward to the summer and some time to relax and refresh. At the same time, I am looking forward to what will probably be my final school year at St. John’s beginning in the fall. I think 80 is a good age to retire. I am working to find another priest to replace me, someone who can carry on the good work at the school and bring God's presence to our wonderful young people in their high school years.
In this time of new beginnings and transitions, let’s celebrate the good news of your young people growing up, of positive, faith-filled environments, and of all the support and care they receive. Let’s also celebrate that they have chosen to continue growing and shining – academically, athletically, through the arts, and, most of all, spiritually.
God is in charge and has great things in store for them. What a gift it is to witness their journeys and share in God's plan for them.
(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the mission advocate of Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and is a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School in Washington. He writes the Faith in Action column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites.)
