PRESIDENT MARK J. MIDDENDORF

Dear Friends,

It is truly a joy to be celebrating with my colleagues the 25th anniversary of Ave Maria University. It’s been such a beautiful journey, or perhaps we should say a pilgrimage in faith.

Although I’ve had the honor and privilege of being AMU’s President for only a little over a year, my association with this incredible university goes back many years. As one of the original Founders Club members, I made my first donation before the shovel was put into the dirt here. At that time, before the first groundbreaking, there was nothing but a tomato field where now we have our beautiful campus. Way back then, even as I wrote my first check to support the vision Tom Monaghan had for a new, authentic and faithful Catholic university, I had in mind the hope or the possibility that perhaps my own children might someday come here. That particular desire came true, or perhaps I should say that the prayer was answered, because three of my children have either graduated or will graduate from AMU.

One of the things I loved about the vision of the school was its Marian culture. As our very name proclaims from the housetops, this is Our Lady’s University. It is hers! Her spirit pervades everything about AMU’s culture. It’s what I call “Ave joy.”

Ever since the earliest days, I have shared Tom Monaghan’s hopes and vision for a good, true and beautiful Catholic university, dedicated to Our Lady. It is truly a joy beyond words to bring this vision to fruition as Ave Maria University’s fourth President. In this labor of love, I am building on the work done by AMU’s first three Presidents — Nick Healy, Jim Towey and Chris Ice — and on the foundations laid by those current and past board of trustee members, other benefactors, and clergy. It is my great fortune to inherit such a legacy of faithfulness to our mission.

My deepest desire, as it has been Tom Monaghan’s since those early days, is to send students into the world to spread the word of the Gospel and to form future saints. As Tom has often said, “We want to teach what the Church needs the most,” and, as another board member, Denzil Samuels, says, “All through the humble grace of Mary we are forming tomorrow’s Catholic leaders today.” As Our Lord tells us, the one who receives the seed that fell on good soil is the one who hears the Word and understands it. He produces a crop yielding 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. Ave Maria University is truly the good soil yielding the good harvest.

At root, our mission is inspired by St. John Paul II, who was himself inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Magna Carta for Catholic colleges and universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which he issued on the Solemnity of the Assumption in 1990. In this groundbreaking and foundational document, he said that, without any doubt, Catholic universities are essential for the growth of the Church and the restoration of Christian society. What is at stake, he said, is the very meaning of the human person. He concluded with the following crucial and powerful words: “A Catholic University is without any doubt one of the best instruments that the Church offers to our age which is searching for certainty and wisdom.” In the difficult times in which we live, we need to ponder these prophetic words of the Holy Father and act upon them.

It is a sobering thought that only 15 of the 221 Catholic universities and colleges in the United States adhere to the principles St. John Paul laid out and defined in 1990. Of these 15 faithful institutions, only eight are universities and only two of these have a doctoral program in theology. We are one of those two universities left in the country to hold this distinction. This is so important because we are teaching those who will be the future teachers at the seminaries. This is why we are working closely with the bishops and religious orders and other Catholic institutions to ensure there will be good and faithful scholars to teach future generations of good and faithful priests.

These men and women who we are teaching and training are destined to make a big difference. Properly formed intellectually with the love of truth and the love of God, these men and women can move mountains. Through God’s grace and our Blessed Mother’s intercessory help, they can be a fountainhead of renewal for the Church, a beacon of light in the darkness.

Mother Teresa once said, “I can go places you can’t go, and you can go places I can’t go, but together we can do something beautiful for God.” Here at Ave Maria University, I really believe we are doing something beautiful for God.

I hope you will continue supporting the University through our Annunciation Circle so our good soil can nourish more and more young people, enabling them to carry the seeds of the Gospel to future generations. With your support and God’s grace, all under our Blessed Mother’s mantle of protection, we can fulfill the mission God is calling us to: forming the future saints who are and will be fountainheads of renewal for our Church, our society, and our country.

God bless you, President

FAITH IN ACTION: PROVIDING HURRICANE IAN RELIEF TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Led by President Mark Middendorf, 60-70 students, faculty, and staff volunteered to help those affected by Hurricane Ian in Naples, Florida. Just days after the storm, the group cleaned the streets and houses of Southwest Florida residents, including the house of Founder Tom Monaghan. AMU’s involvement was covered by local press NBC 6.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/faith-in-action

Faculty Meet Pope Francis At Thomistic Congress In Rome

Five faculty members from the department of theology at AMU were invited to speak at the 11th International Thomistic Congress in Rome September 19-26, 2022. To present at the Congress, one must either be invited by the Academy or submit a proposal approved by a review board.

AMU was the most well-represented institution in North America at the Congress. Faculty members in attendance privately met with Pope Francis in the Vatican during their trip.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/pope-francis

Launching The Catholic Theology Show

AMU launched its first faculty-led podcast, “The Catholic Theology Show,” in October 2022. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Michael Dauphinais, Matthew L. Lamb chair of Catholic theology at AMU. Each week, Dr. Dauphinais sits down with colleagues, friends, and other members of the University community to discuss Catholic theology. Themes covered in the show range from religious liberty and higher education to the natural sciences and philosophies of St. Thomas Aquinas. This podcast is made possible by our generous Annunciation Circle supporters.

Full Article: avemaria.edu/cts