Marian Catholic High School on Saturday launched it's 60th class to the enthusiastic applause of a full house that included six members of the first graduates, the Class of 1955.

The Class of 2015, some 79 strong, walked down the aisle, two by two, taking their first steps into promising futures.The graduates have accepted a total of $2 million in scholarships, said Principal Sister M. Bernard Agnes,

I.H.M. Sixty will go to four-year colleges, 10 to community college, five have enlisted in the military, and four will enter the workforce.The graduates sat quietly as they listened to Allentown Diocese Bishop John O. Barres offer his congratulations, and a little advice.He told the class they are graduating "at a very interesting time in the global history of the Catholic Church."He spoke of the presence of the Holy Trinity in the saints, and how it moved them to become "dynamic missionaries in the cross roads and the cross currents of our world."Barres also spoke of the importance of silence for effective action and effective direction in life."Listen in silence to God. Extend the arms of your desire for my riches. In silence, you will find new energy. You will drink deep of serenity. And above all, you will achieve true unity: The unity of your thoughts, your prayers, and your actions," he said.Valedictorian Matthew Karnish spoke of the challenges ahead."One quality that Marian has instilled in all of us, and that we will continue to apply to our lives after high school, is the importance of hard work," he said. "We have seen considerable success throughout our four years at Marian that has come from time, effort and perseverance."Salutatorian Nico Agosti spoke of the permanence of God in their lives.Quoting Pope Francis, he said "The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead to the Good."The roads of the Class of 2015, he said, "have come closer together. But after today they will slowly start to drift apart. We are all going in different directions, whether it is to a college or university, a trade school, the armed forces or even into the workforce. But we must remember that God will always be with us."The Class of 1955 graduated when Marian Catholic High School was actually held in three schools. Freshmen were at St. Jeromes, sophomores at St. Ann's, and juniors and seniors at St. Mary's.About a dozen members of the Class of 1965, the first class to graduate from the newly-built high school in Hometown, also attended the Saturday's ceremony.