We Are Not Alone

Mass on the Feast of the Archangels
Tommy Bamonte
Salesianum School 2026

Good morning, everyone. My name is Tommy Bamonte, and I’m honored to share a reflection about my journey here at Salesianum.

When I first came to Salesianum, it felt like the life planned out for me was finally complete. This is the only school I wanted to attend as my dad and brother are alumni.  However, my freshman year was still one of the most challenging years of my life.

My first year, I was overwhelmed by constant anxiety. No matter where I was, at practice, in the hallways, or in the library, there was a voice in my head telling me that I wasn’t good enough. Some days, I felt utterly lost at school. I was surrounded by friends, but felt like I had no one to turn to. That’s the hard part about mental health struggles; they often are kept on the inside, shielded away. On the outside, I was laughing and smiling, but secretly, I felt like I could barely breathe. 

Anxiety and doubt became overwhelming as the years went on, but I soon realized that hurting myself wasn’t the answer. This wasn’t going to fix anything. There wasn’t a huge event that changed my life; instead, it was two kids in my English class who I barely knew at first (Tai Wu and Abraham Castellano). Soon, they became the brothers I needed in my darkest days. They reminded me that I had value and that I wasn’t fighting these battles alone. That pushing people away and the feeling that my story was coming to an end wasn’t going to get rid of struggles. These two kids became some of my best friends and showed me what we really mean when we talk about brotherhood. What pulled me back wasn’t isolation but the connection I had with my Salesianum brothers. The support of brothers around me reminded me I wasn’t alone, that my life had value, and that even though I felt there was darkness everywhere, there was always light. 

My journey reminds me of today’s first reading from Revelation. The passage describes St. Michael and his angels fighting the destructive dragon. The dragon in this represents the Devil, temptation, lies, and manipulation. This dragon isn’t just in scripture; it can be found in our day-to-day lives. For me, the dragon was the constant anxiety, the self-doubt, and the temptation to despair. In the reading, St. Michael doesn’t beat the dragon alone. He had the rest of the angels fighting alongside him, and we, too, have the same. 

We don’t face our battles alone. We need God and other brothers around us to step in. The Salesianum brotherhood represents the angels who stepped in and helped Michael destroy the dragons, not alone, but with the support of each other. The message in the reading is clear. These dragons we face are real, but this doesn’t mean we run away- rather, we fight. At Salesianum, we don't ignore the struggles of our brothers; we step into their struggles and fight alongside them. One thing we do every day, and every class, is the Direction of Intention Prayer. Many of us say this without any thought.  However, this intention emphasizes accepting all the difficulties we may meet in life. This intention doesn’t just serve as a repeated prayer; it truly embraces the idea that we need God in every action we take, whether good or bad. 

Every person is fighting battles that may never be seen. Some of us are stressed about getting excellent grades, others about family situations, some about sports, a lot about college decisions, or the silent struggles about mental health. Through our brotherhood, we don’t let each other fight battles alone; we fight them together. 

That’s why it’s so powerful that we honor the Archangels and the people they represent: 

St. Gabriel serves as a constant reminder of our education, the people who guide us through our ups and downs in life, and teach us how to grow into a Salesian gentleman. Every teacher here serves a large function in who we become. Everyone has bad days, but the teachers put this aside and continuously show up for us, no matter how hard it gets.

St. Raphael is the patron of healthcare workers who bring healing and compassion when some feel completely lost and do not know what to do with their lives anymore. Mrs. O and many others here in the community serve as a constant reminder that no matter where we are in life, and what we are going through. People understand and are there to help you heal. 

St. Michael, the patron of first responders and veterans who show courage every day, putting their lives on the line for the good of all of us sitting here. 

These three angels, put together, emphasize the idea of standing together, so no one needs to fight alone. Each of the Angels here with us today has answered their calling to help our communities. Let them be an inspiration to all of us, whether we take that calling in large actions or just small ways every day. We can all strive to learn and teach one another, to offer compassion for those in need, and to show courage in the face of adversity. 

So I ask all of you this: don't underestimate your strength and influence. A word of encouragement can be the difference between someone feeling alone in their struggles and realizing they have a brother who actually cares. This year, let's not just go through the motions; let's be like the Angels who stood by St. Michael, and remind each other that no one has to fight alone at Salesianum. 

We step in, check in, and we show up. 

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