Graduates ring the bell after SNC's Commencement ceremony on May 12, 2024.

‘Love Is at the Heart of it All’

St. Norbert College celebrated the achievements of 381 graduates during its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 12. The event was marked by a commencement speech by retired SNC professor Paul Wadell (Emeritus, Theology & Religious Studies).

Wadell received an honorary degree alongside the Rev. Ken De Groot ’58 and Sister Melanie Maczka, co-founders of Green Bay’s Hispanic resource center, Casa ALBA Melanie. Lucia Sanchez ’24 was this year’s student speaker, Mileana Burmesch ’24 was the student vocalist and Ben Schaefers ’24 served as student conductor.

In his keynote address, Wadell emphasized the essence of a Catholic liberal arts education at St. Norbert College, noting that it’s about more than preparing for careers; it’s about grappling with fundamental human questions.

“A St. Norbert College education ought to be a four-year-long conversation about what it means to live a truly good and flourishing life,” Wadell said. “A four-year-long and endlessly rich and fascinating conversation about what it means to be a human being and what kind of life is worthy of us.”

He stressed that such an education teaches “the crucial difference between making a good living and living a good life,” encouraging graduates to seek wisdom and virtue over material success.

Wadell challenged the conventional advice of simply following one’s dreams, proposing instead that the best aspects of life often come from unexpected paths and unplanned opportunities. “Planning is important, but I think it’s overrated. Life is much richer and more fulfilling when you let yourself be called, not just once, but day after day.”

He further urged the graduates to answer the calls to kindness, compassion, justice and love, framing these as daily choices that shape a truly good life. “When we answer the call to kindness, we look for ways to bless, encourage, affirm and support one another. At a time when indifference and even meanness have become increasingly acceptable, be artisans of kindness,” Wadell advised.

The call to compassion, Wadell said, involves standing with others in their suffering and helping alleviate their burdens. He described the call to justice as a response to the world’s “mess,” encouraging graduates to act against injustice and stand in solidarity with those affected by it. Lastly, he called on graduates to be “artisans of love,” using love as the greatest power to draw others more fully to life.

“Graduates of St. Norbert ought to be great lovers, really fantastic lovers,” Wadell remarked, drawing laughter from the audience, “because if the whole point of a St. Norbert College education is to form you in the habits of a truly good life, love is at the heart of it all.”

May 30, 2024