是什么给了我们力量?"

In addition to Markarova, the University presented honorary degrees to: 圣约瑟夫·珍妮·麦高恩修女.Ed. ’90费城拉萨尔学院院长; 赫伯·斯坎内尔，79年, a leader in broadcast media and diversity advocate; 卡特里娜·肖.S.W. ’98, a nonprofit leader and force for social justice in Boston and beyond; and retired BC men’s hockey coach 杰瑞·约克67年, one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history. 阅读荣誉学位引文.

Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences student Huel (Trey) Cox III was honored as this year's recipient of the Edward H. 芬尼根的.J.,奖, presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the University’s motto, “永远追求卓越.玛丽·沃尔什(Mary Walsh)，丹尼尔·E. Kearns Professor in Urban Education and Innovative Leadership at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, 收到圣罗伯特·贝拉明，S.J.,奖, which recognizes a distinguished 教师 member whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission of 太阳城网赌平台.

大学校长William P. 莱希,年代.J., noted that 毕业典礼 is not only an occasion to offer appreciation—to parents, 配偶, 家庭, 朋友, 教师, 工作人员, 校友, 捐助者, and others who contribute to students’ BC experiences—but to consider our response to compelling issues and events, 作为个人和全球社区的成员.

“Today we are especially mindful of the war in Ukraine, the thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides killed in it, and the devastation it has caused for millions of people,他说.

Markarova pointed out that Monday marked 452nd day of Russia’s invasion of her country, which “many experts across the globe” had predicted would fall in three days. She touched on recent developments—including the liberation of Kherson and other towns in southern Ukraine and a “heroic stand” against Russian forces in the town of Bakhmut—as indicative of her country’s steadfastness: “Ukraine is still standing. 我们仍在战斗.”

The question she hears every day, said Markarova, is “what gives us strength?”—the title of a poem written more than a century ago by Ukrainian poet Lesia Ukrainka at a time when publishing in the Ukrainian language was punishable by prison. Ukrainka’s poem recounts the story of a poor carpenter in Jerusalem hired to construct crosses for the crucifixion of three criminals, 她说. 完成工作后, 木匠哀叹自己的命运, until he sees the three prisoners trying to carry the heavy crosses to the place of their execution. 木匠来帮助一个人, 说:“我把这个十字架做得这么重,他说, “拿着它是我的工作.”

她继续说道, 他挺直了脊背, 他的手臂恢复了往日的力量, and his eyes burn with determination as the carpenter bears Jesus’ cross to Golgotha.”

What gave the carpenter such strength, said Markarova, and what is the relevance to Ukraine today? She singled out three sources of strength for her and her people, 首先是责任. 乌克兰来之不易的民主”, 就像那个粗糙的十字架, 仍然笨拙, 有些地方很粗糙. 但这是我们的. 我们不能忍受失去它. Just like the carpenter in the story rose up to take the responsibility for his craft, 我们奋起反抗对我们民主的威胁.”