Editor’s note: We apologize for the oversight of missing Friday’s graduation ceremony and offer this report on the celebration.

AUBURN – Watching her son in his cap and gown – and remembering when he was little – provoked Heather Emery to smile and cry.

“He’s my first to graduate,” she said of Christopher Emery, who will soon be off to college in Pennsylvania.

Most parents shed some tears, said Michael Murphy of Winthrop, who watched his daughter, Kelsey Murphy, graduate. She’ll soon be off to Notre Dame in Indiana.

Emery and Murphy were among 53 who graduated from St. Dominic Regional High School on Friday night, a ceremony attended by Maine Catholic Bishop Richard Malone, and hundreds of relatives and friends of the graduates.

It was the seventh graduation held at the new school on Gracelawn Road.

Principal Donald Fournier said the class of 2009 was special to him. He got to know many well, having a third of them in religion class before becoming principal two years ago. He described the graduating class as a giving group.

Nearly half gave up weekends to raise money, and gave up their spring vacation to labor for the poor in one of the hottest states as part of “Mission Mississippi,” Fournier said.

In April and May, seniors volunteered for 30 institutions and schools, logging more than 4,000 hours.

Key Club, National Honor Society and Student Senate members worked many hours to plan activity days and inspired a renewed school spirit.

“You graduates have valiantly and with great commitment carried on some of the proudest traditions of St. Dom’s,” including sports, academics and drama, Fournier said.

Carrying on a tradition begun by his predecessor, late principal Michael Welch, Fournier shared a few words describing each graduate.

There was Ben Lewis, “our card-playing gentleman and future Mariner,” who loves burnt bacon and cross country, is positive and compassionate.

Megal Hulbert was described as caring, artistically gifted, a “free spirit who can hold her own in a debate.”

C.J. Bergeron “really flies on the ice, always has a smile on his face, and constantly raced with Missy to be the first one out the door at the end of the day,” Fournier said.

Sammy Laverdiere was described as caring, a dance revolutionary, loves animals, is gifted in her comedic timing.

Pablo Barajas was said to be theatrical, amiable, creative, always smiling and a guy who loves cupcakes and joke telling.

Lori Robinson was a dependable, detail-oriented scholar-athlete who put her community service ethic to good use in Mississippi by cooking, cleaning, using power tools and planting watermelon.

Charles Slonina was one of the founding fathers of the school’s new video game club who brought his love of tennis to children in Mississippi.

Michael Girouard gave the valedictory address and Kelsey Murphy gave the salutatory address.

Murphy described the graduation as bittersweet. “It’s so exciting, but at the same time it’s hard to say goodbye.”

Murphy, who lives in Winthrop, attended grades K-8 at St. Augustine’s Catholic School in Augusta.

“I really knew having a Catholic education was important,” as was a small-school setting, Murphy said. “It was exactly what I wanted. I made great friends. I’m prepared for college.”