Instaurare | Fall 2015

Instaurare The Christendom College Quarterly Magazine

FALL 2015

WINNING HEARTS FOR CHRIST MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS

Ireland Summer Program Strengthens the Church | Introducing the Freedom Fund Record Breaking New Year | High School Summer Program: The Best Week EverFALL 2015

1

Instaurare

VOLUME 23 | NUMBER 3 | FALL 2015 Published quarterly by the Christendom College Marketing Office.

Executive Editor: Tom McFadden Managing Editor & Design: Niall O’Donnell Photos: Zachary Smith, Declan O’Donnell, Niall O’Donnell, Abigail Reimel, Cecilia Flagg Contributors: Zachary Smith, Kris Burns, Vince Criste Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 800.877.5456 | christendom.edu Copyright © 2015. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from INSTAURARE, the quarterly magazine of Christendom College (christendom.edu).” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. Instaurare magazine (pronounced “in-sta-rar-ay”) receives its name from the Latin in the college’s motto, “Instaurare Omnia In Christo” or “To Restore All Things in Christ.”

Christendom College does not discriminate against any applicant or student on the basis of race, sex, color, or national origin.

CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Timothy O’Donnell, President Donna Fitzpatrick Bethell, Chair Douglas Dewey, Vice Chair Robert Scrivener ’81, Secretary Bernadette Casey-Smith John Cecconi Robert Crnkovich Richard Esposito Daniel Gorman Richard R. Hough III Steven O’Keefe ’93 Mary Beth Riordan Mark Swartzberg Thomas West Eugene Zurlo

Mary Ellen Bork Philip Crotty Robert P. George Joan Janaro Kay MacAvoy John De Matteo Rev. C. John McCloskey III John McNeice Joseph Melancon Rev. Robert Morey Robert Mylod Hon. James Nicholson Rev. George W. Rutler Mark Ryland Rev. William Saunders Hon. Rick Santorum Owen Smith Marjorie Teetor David Vicinanzo George Weigel Thomas Young Luane Zurlo

On the Cover Speakers at the 2015 Summer Conference (L-R): Timothy O’Donnell, Patrick Madrid, Scott Hahn, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Marcus Grodi, Brendan McGuire, and RJ Matava. See page 4.

Want more news from Christendom?

SIGN UP FOR OUR CHRISTENDOM NOW EMAIL NEWSLETTER christendom.edu/now

OR FIND US ON

“Christianity is a way of life. It is a formula for daily living. It is a spiritual road map…the religion established

by Jesus Christ gives unity and a sense of direction to all the mosaics that make up our daily life. Life is not one senseless thing after another. It is not one meaningless drab routine after another…no. It is a meaningful pilgrimage…to follow the light that is Christ is to live Christendom in the best sense of the word.”

- FRANCIS CARDINAL ARINZE The Cardinal offered Mass at the college’s July 11 conference on apologetics. Find out more on page 12.

Inside This Issue 12

Encountering Christ On July 11, at Christendom’s biennial summer conference, a record attendance of over 450 people travelled across the nation to enjoy lectures by highly acclaimed speakers.

20

The Confidence to Answer The St. Columcille Institute drew students from across the United States and Ireland together to join in a mission both noble and necessary— creating tomorrow’s leaders in the New Evangelization.

26

Guardians of Memory History Professor Chris Shannon discusses history’s special place in the liberal arts curriculum of Christendom College.

2

From the President

3

Liberal Arts in Action: Journalists

4

Record Breaking Year

6

News in Brief

7

Faculty Notes

8

The Best Week Ever: High School Summer Program

10

This Summer: Photo Album

16

Free to Thrive: Introducing the Freedom Fund

18

Alumna’s Experience as Student and Journalist in Rome

23

Protecting the Future

24

Widespread Impact on Religious Life

28

Alumni Day of Recollection

29

Classmates: Alumni News

32

Omnia in Christo

FALL 2015

1

Virtues That Shape All We Do FROM COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. TIMOTHY O’DONNELL Dear Friends, As Christians the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are meant to shape everything that we do. Our faith allows us to encounter God in Christ and He gives us the great gift of hope. These gifts of faith and hope enable us to love—to love God above all else and those we encounter in this life. Not a sentimentalized love, but a love filled with courage and strength, which seeks to embrace the true, the good, and the beautiful.

“Each and every one of us is called to be great! To become the great person that God has called us to be.”

The spiritual and intellectual foundations of the western—or universal—canon have been enfeebled or abandoned completely.

Chesterton’s “Democracy of the Dead” has been abandoned. Theology has been dethroned and replaced with religious studies. There is widespread dissent from magisterial teaching, thought of as “just one voice among many.”

We are under a tyranny of a dictatorship of relativism, spoken of by Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. Philosophy, in the words of Alexander Pope, “shrinks to its second cause and is no more.”

We no longer have a God-centered core of humane studies, but a rudderless diversification of studies—the base of which is mere professional training. This training, in lieu of a timeless education, is a disservice and betrayal to the human person, which is why Saint John Paul the Great prophetically cried out: “You must proclaim the whole truth about man, only in the mystery of Christ does the mystery of man receive light.”

As a Catholic liberal arts college, Christendom’s essential purpose is to assist our students, and all of us together, on the path to Christian wisdom—a wisdom born from the contemplation and love of both natural and divinely revealed truth.

I’d like to share with you something that Pope Benedict XVI said about Catholic education for young people:

2

Instaurare

“Never allow yourselves to become narrow.

The world needs good scientists, but a scientific outlook becomes dangerously narrow if it ignores the religious or ethical dimension of life, just as religion becomes narrow if it rejects the legitimate contribution of science to our understanding of the world. We need good historians and philosophers and economists, but if the account they give of human life within their particular field is too narrowly focused, they can lead us seriously astray. A good school provides a rounded education for the whole person. And a good Catholic school, over and above this, should help all its students to become saints.”

Each and every one of us is called to be great—to become the great people that God has called us to be. We are here to help our students answer that call. We have an outstanding faculty, the finest teaching body in the country, here to help our students achieve this goal. Our wonderful chaplains offer Mass, frequent Confessions, and spiritual direction providing the graces we all need.

And our great staff is committed to assisting our students in the most personal way on their journey.

I’d like to close this note with a quote from Chesterton. Many pundits and the vast herd of independent thinkers in the media think the Church has been defeated and we are on the wrong side of the march of history, but as Chesterton observed: “The one perfectly divine thing, the one glimpse of God’s Paradise given on earth, is to fight a losing battle and not lose it!”

We know we are on the winning side. If we come together and support one another with faith, hope, and charity, and truly dare to be great, we will create a hopeful future.

Charlie Spiering ’05 Major: History White House Correspondent Breitbart News

ArtsinAction L i b e ra l

Christendom alumni are involved in just about every field possible and are making an impact on the culture. As journalists, our alumni are using their passion for the Truth and evangelization to communicate current affairs with accuracy and a deep knowledge of the Faith, world history, and the philosophies that shape our world.

“I look back on my time at Christendom as providing me with invaluable tools for my profession: critical thinking, confidence in the truth, and the basis for a prayer life. In my field, sifting through the politics, the misunderstandings, and the agendas can be a daunting task as I try to discover the truth, let alone communicate it. Although it has been more than ten years since I graduated, Christendom gave me many skills I now use to confront these challenges, not only through its academics, but also by showing me the importance of integrating prayer into all areas of my life. My experience was that the professors were not just concerned with teaching the mind: they were helping us to be formed as people. As a journalist, the academic, human, and spiritual formation I received during those four years often serves as a compass, giving me the direction needed to discover the truth and the confidence to defend it.”

“The program at Christendom taught me how to read, write, and think, which are crucial skills for a journalist. It’s astonishing how helpful these skills are when you are sorting through the glut of information that exists in the modern news cycle. Once I was at Christendom, I chose to major in history simply because I enjoyed the subject. But the exercise in studying past world events has proved helpful when living and writing about the historic events happening in the nation’s capital. More importantly, the Christendom experience taught the value of fostering relationships with people which helped me build sources in Washington, D.C., and have intelligent conversations on the complex issues driving American politics today.”

Ann Schneible ’04 Major: English Language & Literature Journalist Catholic News Agency’s Rome Bureau / Vatican Radio

FALL 2015

3

RECORD BREAKING YEAR This Fall’s Historic Start Christendom College began its fall semester with a record enrollment, including a record number of newly admitted students to the college.

The student body of 469 includes 172 new students—a combination of transfers, re-admitted students, and first-time freshmen. By bringing in a record number of students, and increasing retention rates, the admissions office exceeded its goal by 3%, setting a record enrollment for Christendom.

Above, freshmen sport new “Dare to be Great” t-shirts during orientation weekend. Below, new faculty hires (L-R): Prof. Daniel Garland, Prof. Kevin Tracey, Prof. Miriam Byers, Prof. Brian Fox, and Prof. Matthew Tsakanikas.

“

All of our students are responding to God’s call—to be a great man or woman—and Christendom is going to give them the education and formation needed to achieve their dreams.

”

“People want to be here at Christendom, to study, to live, to truly become great,” says admissions director Sam Phillips.

“All of our students are responding to God’s call—to be a great man or woman—and Christendom is going to give them the education and formation needed to achieve their dreams.”

This year’s freshman class of 149 students hail from 33 U.S. states, Canada, Belgium, and Korea. Additionally, 58% of the incoming class are alumni of the Experience Christendom Summer Program, while 38% are siblings of former or current students. Of special note, there are four sets of twins in the freshman class – another first.

4

Instaurare

Below, Madonna Hall was expanded with a new faculty office building. This year, the college plans to break ground on a new female residence hall, St. Clare Hall, as well as an expansion to the St. Lawrence Commons.

“Christendom’s enrollment has grown 22% since the fall of 2012 – a real testament to the outstanding education that we offer and the hard work of the admissions office team. Most colleges today are seeing a steep decrease in enrollment, so we are very encouraged by our unique position of growth and look forward to giving our students the best education possible,” says vice president for enrollment Tom McFadden.

Above, the college recently launched a new viewbook titled, “Dare to be Great,” which brings Christendom’s educational experience to life in a new way. View it online at christendom.edu/viewbook.

In an effort to help others learn more about the truly transformative nature of Christendom’s Catholic liberal arts education, the college recently published a new viewbook with an inspiring message: “Dare to be Great.”

Focusing on greatness—and not the mediocrity found in today’s world—this new message hopes to help students understand that through studying the liberal arts at Christendom College, they will gain the tools needed to dream big and become successful in all that they do.

Above, new residence directors Joe Walsh and Marilyn Charba are ready to enhance the students’ residential life. Below, Bishop Loverde opens the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.

“Our unique and rigorous curriculum expands our students’ intellects in such a powerful way that their potential is expanded and they are then empowered to dream big and enter the world prepared to succeed in a way that no other college curriculum can provide,” says McFadden. “We see it happen all of the time, and we are looking forward to helping others unlock their potential, strive for success, and achieve greatness with their Christendom degrees.”

FALL 2015

5

N EW S

in

BRIE F

Planned Parenthood Facility Closes The Washington, D.C., Planned Parenthood abortion clinic where Christendom College’s student-run pro-life organization Shield of Roses has been praying and counseling women, was recently shut down. Students had been traveling to the 16th Street clinic for years, with nearly half of the student body coming out to protest in the annual “Mega Shield” events.

The Planned Parenthood clinic, where students prayerfully protested for 16 years, shut down this spring.

AWARD WINNERS

2015 Award-Winning Alumni Journalists Christendom alumni are receiving high praise and recognition for their writing talents in the world of journalism, with Peter J. Smith (’09) and Ashleigh Buyers (‘12) recently being honored at the 2015 Catholic Press Association (CPA) Awards.

Taking top awards for journalism and advertising, Smith and Buyers are the latest in a series of alumni finding great success in journalism, revealing the strong writing and communication skills that a Christendom education provides. [Read more about college alumni in the field of journalism on pages 3 and 16-17.]

6

Instaurare

National Top 5

Vocation Boom

Christendom was ranked as one of the top five colleges in the nation for its “premier” liberal arts education, according to a recent article in Best College Reviews. Noted for its adherence to John Henry Newman’s Idea of a University, Christendom was placed ahead of such well-known institutions as The University of Notre Dame, The University of Chicago, Boston College, and Columbia College.

On Saturday, June 6, 2016, alumni Rev. Mr. Noah Morey and Rev. Mr. Rob Schmid were ordained to the priesthood, in the dioceses of Arlington, Va., and Raleigh, N.C., respectively. Their ordinations raise the total number of Christendom alumni priests to 74.

Praise for Principles Principles, the new bi-monthly periodical from Christendom College, is garnering acclaim with the publication of its second issue, which focused on the importance of a father’s presence in the household. Dr. Jeffrey Mirus of Catholic Culture wrote a glowing review of the article, which was written by philosophy professor Dr. John Cuddeback. Read Cuddeback’s article and subscribe for free at getprinciples.com.

Faculty Notes

Christendom professors are primarily student-oriented educators and mentors. At the same time, they are experts in their fields of study and are engaged in a variety of other scholarly pursuits as they seek to “restore all things in Christ” beyond the college’s campus.

Dr. Andrew Beer, Assistant Professor of Classical and Early Christian Studies, delivered two papers: “The Two Kinds of Rhetoric in Plato’s Gorgias” and “Socrates and Gorgias on Rhetoric.”

Dr. Ben Reinhard, Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature, delivered three lectures on early English literature at the Institute of Catholic Culture.

Dr. Michael Kelly, Assistant Professor of History, appeared in Moreana with his article, “Mankind, Matter, and More: Sacred Materiality in the Tower Works of Thomas More.” He also is co-organizing a panel for the Sixteenth Century Society Conference to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in October.

Prof. Mary Stanford, Adjunct Instructor of Theology, gave a three-part lecture series on the Theology of the Body for St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington, Va., as part of the parish’s “Marriage Boot Camp” program. She also delivered a lecture entitled “Communication Technology and Our Kids: What are We Risking” as part of the Catholic Conference for Moms, as well as at the 14th Annual Immaculate Heart of Mary National Homeschool Conference in Fredricksburg, Va.

Dr. Robert Matava, Assistant Professor of Graduate Theology, submitted two session proposals for next year’s International Congress on Medieval Studies, WMU, Kalamazoo, Mich., one in philosophy, the other in theology. The title of the theology session is “The Christological Dimensions of Medieval Moral Theology.” The title of the philosophy session is “From Physics to Metaphysics: Causation and Change in Medieval Philosophy.” He also had a paper accepted to the annual ACPA convention this fall in Boston, Mass. The title of the paper is, “Francisco Suarez on the Ontological Status of Divine Action: Implications for the Freewill Debate.” This summer he delivered a paper on natural law for the World Congress of the International Association for the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR) in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kurt Poterack, Adjunct Professor of Music, taught a “Gregorian Chant Practicum” course at the Catholic University of America this summer.

This intensive, one-week, eight-hour a day course introduced people to Gregorian chant and was part of the summer offerings of the Centre for Ward Method Studies at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at CUA.

Dr. Thomas Stanford, Associate Professor of English Language and Literature, was published in Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture. The peerreviewed journal featured his article, “‘What do I not owe you!’: An Examination of Gratitude in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.” He also gave a talk on the short fiction of Catholic author Tim Gautreaux as part of the college’s Beato Fra Angelico Fine Arts Series.

Prof. Mark Wunsch, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, finished a course on ethics for the Magdala Apostolate of the Institute of Catholic Culture. Wunsch taught an “introduction to philosophy” course the last two fall terms and a course on medieval philosophy last spring. Each of these courses were well received and aided in the ongoing intellectual formation of many wonderful religious representing a host of vibrant orders.

FALL 2015

7

Experience Christendom Summer Program Celebrates Record Summer

T

he college offered 6 sessions of its mostpopular, well-attended, and highlyranked pre-college summer program this year, drawing 264 students from across the nation and around the globe to take part in the Experience Christendom Summer Program (ECSP), or as the participants call it, “The Best Week Ever.”

In an effort to meet the ever growing demand for the ECSP, the college added two additional one-week sessions to this year’s program, allowing 50% more students to attend than last year – a record-breaking attendance that could have been even bigger.

“We’ve experienced waiting lists for the program year after year, which is why we added two extra sessions this summer.

Even with all of the additional space, applications were still up, and we had a waiting list, too. Clearly, students couldn’t wait to experience what we have to offer,” said director of admissions Sam Phillips.

Phillips, who oversees the program personally, noted that many of the students came to campus apprehensive and unsure of what exactly they were going to experience.

“By the end of the program, they were all challenged in ways they had never considered. Through their exposure

8

Instaurare

6,000 Miles from Home

to philosophy, theology, history, and literature in the classroom, through debates and discussions with our faculty and their fellow students, and through the various fun activities that we do, they were thrilled with all that they experienced,” he said. “With an authentic glimpse into what makes this place special, you can understand why 70% of all students who attend an ECSP end up applying.”

Whether from Spain, Italy, Mexico, Ireland, Lebanon, Canada, or the United States, the record number of students all left with a deep appreciation of the liberal arts and their importance in society today.

“I have uncles who are professors at big name ‘Catholic’ schools, but Christendom’s professors are so powerfully impressive. They are truly brilliant — their teaching showed me that Christendom College is the ‘real deal’ Catholic place to be,” said Jack McCartin, a senior from New York. “I went in as a stranger to everyone, but I left with brothers and sisters in Christ. This program helped me realize that there is a beacon of hope

‘to restore all things in Christ’ in today’s culture—it’s Christendom College!”

At the end of all six sessions, the 264 students were asked to rate the program on a scale of 1 to 5. After a week of classes, social activities, and friendships formed for life, the students brought the average rating for all six sessions to an astounding 4.75 — a testament to the lasting academic, cultural, and spiritual power of the ECSP. “We are always humbled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we receive, and we see how this program changes lives. As our society plunges deeper into secularism and mediocrity, I think students are looking to do something big with their lives – achieve greatness. This program, and college, gives them the hope they need for the future. These students came from different backgrounds, different places, but 75% of them agreed on one thing – this was the best week of their lives,” said Phillips.

Gabriella Soriano, who travelled over 6000 miles from Lebanon to experience what Christendom had to offer, was impressed by Christendom’s liberal arts education as well — the same education experienced by the saints, scientists, scholars, and heroes of the past 2000 years. She was ambivalent about attending at first, after attending secular schools overseas her entire life, but could not have been more impressed by the conclusion of the week.

International students from session six (L-R): Sophie Soriano (Beirut, Lebanon) Francesco Aquili (Rome, Italy) Gabriella Soriano (Beirut, Lebanon), and Gemma Garcia Caldero (Barcelona, Spain).

“We were all different, we came from different parts of the U.S. and the world, yet we all came together for a common reason: we wanted to experience Christendom. The classes were very interesting, and I found some discussions to be thought provoking. If you’re into liberal arts, you should definitely look into ECSP,” says Soriano. “ I cannot stress how amazing the counselors, campers, professors, and admissions team were. Everyone was friendly, enthusiastic, and considerate. At ECSP, you’re bound to cement some great friendships—I know I did.”

FALL 2015

9

1

2

3

4

6

7

8

10

Instaurare

5

9

THIS

10

11

12

SUMMER

P H O TO A L B U M

1.

St. Columcille Institute: Evening class on Sheephaven Bay.

2.

St. Columcille Institute: Chaplain Fr. Mark Byrne says Mass at one of Ireland’s sacred Mass Rocks.

3.

St. Columcille Institute: Director of English Programing for Vatican Radio leads a workshop on Communication and the New Evangelization.

4.

St. Columcille Institute: Mass at Marian apparition site, Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

5.

St. Columcille Institute: On top of the world at Croagh Patrick.

6.

St. Columcille Institute: Faculty enjoy lunch with Bishop Boyce of Raphoe, Ireland.

7.

St. Columcille Institute: Surveying the site of Doe Castle.

8.

Graduate School Residential Program: Students prepare for final exam with Dr. R.J. Matava.

9.

Vita Consecrata Institute: Rev. Eugene Hayes, O.Praem., Abbot of St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, Calif., delivers a lecture.

10. Experience Christendom Summer Program (ECSP): Participants have fun during an Irish music sing-along at college president Dr. Timothy O’Donnell’s barn.

13

14

11. ECSP: Student participates during a special session of the Chester-Belloc Debate Society.

12. ECSP: Fun near the college dock on the Shenandoah River.

13. ECSP: Students enjoy a beautiful candlelit rosary procession.

14. ECSP: Swing dancing after a festive Italian meal.

15

16

15. ECSP: An intense game of dodgeball (students vs. counselors) is enjoyed each session.

16. ECSP: College president Dr. O’Donnell teaches theology to the participants of the program.

From Virginia to Ireland, each year, Christendom College offers many summer programs for students of all levels.

Visit christendom.edu/summer for more information.

For more pics follow us on Instagram!

@christendomcollege

FALL 2015

11

Encountering Christ

Prominent Scholars Reveal Joy of New Evangelization at Summer Conference

C

hristendom’s mission to “restore all things in Christ” is not only restricted to the students of the college, but is also a call to all Catholics to join in the New Evangelization and bring every living soul to Christ. On July 11, at Christendom’s biennial summer conference, a record attendance of over 450 people travelled across the nation to join the college in its mission.

Titled “Encountering Christ: Apologetics and the New Evangelization,” the oneday conference featured Francis Cardinal Arinze, Dr. Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, Marcus Grodi, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, and Christendom faculty members Dr. R.J. Matava, and Dr. Brendan McGuire.

12

Instaurare

Conference Highlights

“

It is most important that we, as Catholics, approach our faith with great joy and celebration. When we reach out in compassion to help a brother or sister or a neighbor in need, we are bearing witness to the light of Christ — the light of Christ is shining through us. When we share our faith as bold disciples of Jesus, fruit will be reflected in our efforts.

– Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, President, Christendom College

The fact is, you can be a saint in the middle of the world, and through friendship you can share the joy of the Gospel — and that is what people are looking for, more than any argument, more than any proof-text. Joy is what people find irresistible. At the end of the day, the joy of the Gospel will be the indispensable means by which God the Father communicates the Holy Passion of the Eternal Son, which makes us one family that doesn’t just circle the globe but reaches the highest heavens.

”

– Dr. Scott Hahn, Founder and President, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

FALL 2015

13

“

While the original evangelization generally brought the Gospel to the pagan world, the “new evangelization” must bring the Gospel to a world described by some as “post Christian,” and not least to people who are baptized but lack faith. What then is the most urgent task of a new apologetics for the new evangelization? I would suggest that it is to cultivate in others, so far as we are able, the necessary dispositions to earnestly consider the reasons for the faith.

– Dr. R.J. Matava, Graduate Professor of Theology, Christendom College

Catholic teaching has its own gravitational pull—it has its own beauty.

But it’s our job to show forth that beauty by being willing to talk about these things and share our faith…it really does draw people. When you’re doing apologetics, you don’t have to be complicated…if you share from your heart, it’s incredible the miracles that can take place… we have a job to do, to be person specific and to help the people we can in the moment.

”

– Patrick Madrid, Host, Patrick Madrid Show, Immaculate Heart Radio

There’s truth to be found in [Newman’s] historical scholarship that is especially important for us, in light of the fact that the very claims of our faith rest upon historical basis. Newman shines forth as a model for the role that the historian can play in service to the Church today. No one other than the trained historian is equipped for this kind of rigorous deep spadework that can shore up the solid foundation of the Church’s claims, and the need for historical scholarship and historical education should be clear to all of us.

– Dr. Brendan McGuire, Professor of History, Christendom College

14

Instaurare

President’s Council Reception Following the conference, the prominent speakers joined members of Christendom’s President’s Council — benefactors who contribute $1000 or more annually to the college — for an intimate cocktail hour and elegant dinner, held in St. John the Evangelist Library.

“

In my own journey, as I was growing closer to the Catholic Church, I realized that there was more than just being in Jesus. Christ calls us to abide, and the necessity of abiding will continue for the rest of our lives — this isn’t a one time thing…if we’re not abiding, then we don’t produce the fruit.

Intimacy with Jesus is more than just receiving Him in your heart — the way you abide in Christ is by receiving Him in the Eucharist….we have a real treasure to share.

– Marcus Grodi, Host, The Journey Home, EWTN

”

Cardinal Arinze fittingly closed the evening by thanking Christendom for living out the Catholic Faith since its inauguration, and called on the faculty, staff, guests, and friends of the college to continue witnessing to Jesus Christ in the public square, for He “deserves to be known, loved, lived, shared and defended.”

FALL 2015 2015 FALL

15 15

FR EE TO THRIVE Proud to Be the First Catholic College Free from Federal Funding

T

he late great St. John Paul II once said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Since its founding Christendom College has not accepted a penny of federal money.

For the college, accepting federal funding would open the door to massive government intrusion, such as making it subject to Title IX mandates, which include policies that run against Catholic teachings. Federal funding also requires costly administrative structures that increase education costs and degrade the quality of student services.

Introducing the Freedom Fund Because of this commitment to remain free of federal funding for our students and programs, Christendom uniquely relies on the financial support of faithful friends.

For this reason, the college launched the Freedom Fund, which will help cover the costs incurred each year by providing federal-free financial aid. More than eight out of ten Christendom students rely on federal-free financial aid provided by the college itself. The Freedom Fund will underwrite over $5.5 million in annual student financial assistance.

80% of Christendom students rely on federal-free financial aid.

This is a tremendous investment the college is required to make that only a handful of other colleges in the country emulate. With the cost rising each year, the Freedom Fund hopes to generate awareness among the friends of the college in order to help its students to remain free.

By choosing to forego federal funding, Christendom is free to: •

Practice the Catholic Faith without qualifying it.

•

Teach students the fullness of Truth, in complete accord with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

•

Implement sound student life policies in accord with Catholic teachings.

•

Offer internally funded loans and need-based grants with repayment modification such as forgiving loans for religious who take a vow of poverty.

Less than 1% of Catholic colleges and universities in America are free from government funding.

less than

over

16

Instaurare

1% FREE FROM FEDERAL INTERFERENCE

99% RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING

“

More than eight out of ten Christendom students rely on federalfree financial aid provided by the college itself. The Freedom Fund will underwrite over $5.5 million in annual student financial assistance.

”

DID YOU KNOW? In a recent document, the Department of Education extended its sexual discrimination prohibition to claims of “discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity...Similarly, the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the parties does not change a school’s obligations.” Due to this policy change, all Catholic schools receiving Title IX funding may be forced to adopt policies in contradiction to Catholic teachings.

A visit to the campus brings to life how students thrive at Christendom. Sophomore, Dan Snyman, visited and it changed the entire course of his life. Upon visiting, he had no intention of attending and had actually made other plans to attend a different college.

“I was on a track to pursue a degree and be a tepid Catholic. I hadn’t thought about going to Christendom until I visited the campus for a week and fell in love with it. There was something about the students, staff, and campus life that were contagious. I could tell they were here for more than just a great education; they lived each day with a sense of mission and passion to pursue Christ and the truth.”

Christendom College challenges students to respond to the call to greatness and the call to be heroically generous with their lives.

“The standards are high because the truth is proclaimed here,” Snyman says. “It’s not easy, but since being at Christendom, I’ve been transformed. I’ve felt challenged to become a better, virtuous, disciplined man and you are provided all the faculties and resources here to do it. I’ve received a true gift and desire to take what I’ve experienced here beyond the campus.”

SUPPORTING THE FREEDOM FUND Help ensure that future generations of young Catholic students will have the opportunity to attend Christendom College and be free to thrive by giving to our Freedom Fund today.

As we pray for our nation and the future of true, authentic Catholic education, we remain steadfast in our commitment to offer academic excellence that prepares students to be faithful, informed, and articulate members of Christ’s Church and society.

VISIT CHRISTENDOM.EDU/FREEDOM. FALL 2015

17

Bountiful Sustenance for the Road

By Cecilia O’Reilly ’12

Cecilia O’Reilly graduated from Christendom College 2012, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor’s in philosophy. Currently, she is obtaining her licentiate in Institutional Communications at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. She works as an Italian-English translator and communications assistant for the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross’s Press Office, Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Register, staff writer for Family and Media, and communications co-director for Catholic Bytes Podcast. As correspondent, she has covered events such as St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII’s canonization, Rome’s annual March for Life, special Vatican initiatives such as 24 Hours with the Lord, and personally enjoys sitting down for in-depth interviews with differing personalities that frequent Rome.

E

very place and every person can be an oasis of sorts that God gives us in His time to rejuvenate and nourish us before heading back out into the wilderness. Sometimes we don’t even know it’s an oasis until we leave it, and we wish we could run back to pitch a tent away from the elements and enemies. Some – at least speaking for myself– tend to overlook that the oasis is only meant to sustain us in our journey onward.

My time at Christendom College was an oasis. There was constant intellectual, moral, physical, and most importantly, spiritual nourishment. The community was vibrant and close-knit. The professors cared not only for students’ academic development, but also their moral well-being, knowing that the latter was the very foundation for success in the former. After four years of running from class, to Mass, to soccer, to study, to that next cup of coffee – all in an endless cycle – I woke up one morning to funny looking garb and a hat that kept sliding down my head. Graduation. The class of 2012 marched up one by one to shake hands with President O’Donnell and receive their degree—mine being philosophy. That day was strange, but exciting; a bitter-sweet end, but a promising beginning.

One year down the road, I received my acceptance letter to go to the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome for graduate studies. I am currently finishing up the last of

18

Instaurare

O’Reilly in action. Top L-R: At work on a Roman bus, with a ticket to a papal event, with parents Frank and Angelique O’Reilly. Bottom L-R: Interviewing a monk at Monte Casino, “on air” at her university radio studio, interviewing Rebecca Kiessling founder of “Save the 1” at Rome’s March for Life 2013.

my three years studying Institutional Communications for the Catholic Church. The program not only supplies students with the skills to be professionals in the field, but also teaches how to communicate the contents of faith in a digital era, the media ‘frames’ in which those contents are usually presented, and how as believers we need to ‘reframe’ them. Philosophy at Christendom has not only “taught me to think,” but has had more practical implications. It’s helped me recognize how certain “cultural modes of thinking” have been influenced by corresponding modern philosophies, and thus better understand undercurrent argumentation and logic—or the frequent lack thereof.

While pursing communications after philosophy was not an obvious or immediate choice, the “light switch,” so to speak, was rather simple: a line in a book. When St. Philip is sent out on a desert road (Acts 8:26-40), he meets an Ethiopian eunuch with Scripture in hand and asks if he understands what he is reading. The response: “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?” It was a gentle slap in the face. The nourishment I had received at Christendom, and other oases along the

way, such as family, were given for a specific reason—not to store up and relish for myself, but to give, to share along a desert road, to help others understand who had not received the same. Truths of faith are not easy concepts even for the formed and faithful. How could I expect the unformed or non-believers to understand, no less accurately communicate, the activities and teachings of a counter-cultural 2000 year old institution?

Pretty frequently I don’t feel ready for things I am doing along the journey. Sometimes I daydream about running back to Christendom and pitching a tent at that oasis, the flowing fountain of intellectual and spiritual richness. Then the image of the oasis in the desert floods my mind and there are the words of Christendom’s founder, Dr. Warren Carroll: “At this moment of history, Christendom can exist only in small and self-contained places. But the Christian in such a place never settles for it, never hides in it, for he has a message to bring to the world.” While my time ended at Christendom years ago, it sent me on the road not only with the necessary rations to survive, but also with bountiful sustenance to give.

FALL 2015

19

t he

20

Instaurare

c

onf dence

to

answer

C

enturies ago, St. Patrick stepped upon the gray stones and green slopes of Ireland, witnessing a land of paganism in desperate need of evangelization. Today, St. Patrick would see a similar site not only in Ireland, but in America and across the globe. For this purpose, Christendom College founded the St. Columcille Institute in 2013, drawing students from across the United States and Ireland together to join in a mission both noble and necessary—creating tomorrow’s leaders in the New Evangelization.

These ideals are what drew Katie Ascough and Claire Byrne to the St. Columcille Institute this summer. Both natives of Ireland, from Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin and Wicklow respectively, Ascough and Byrne have witnessed firsthand the secularism that has swept through the land, and see the St. Columcille Institute as a remedy to the problem.

“Just by existing—by being in Ireland—the St. Columcille Institute is helping us. It’s going to keep attracting more and more Irish students, as it already is, which is a great thing for my homeland.

We don’t have anything like Christendom here, and for Christendom

to come over here for three weeks during the summer makes such a big difference to, and for, the Irish people,” said Ascough, who is currently studying science at the University College of Dublin.

Byrne, who is studying theology and education at the Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin, agreed with Ascough’s sentiments. Both have lived much of their lives surrounded by an Irish people devoid of any real religion, as the country has continued to lose much of the Catholic theology and history that once formed the land and much of the Western world.

Now, Byrne believes she has the knowledge and confidence to evangelize to her friends, classmates, and beyond for the sake of her homeland.

FALL 2015

21

Participants climbed Croagh Patrick.

At Donegal Castle

Katie Ascough and Claire Byrne

“It’s nice to see that there are actually kids my age here in Ireland who believe what I believe, and to be with them, even just for three weeks, gives me a sense of fellowship, and the feeling that what we’re doing is truly good,” said Byrne. “I’ve been asked questions before by friends and classmates about Catholicism, and haven’t been able to give them satisfactory answers. Now, after these three weeks, things make so much more sense in theology. I feel that if someone came up to me, I’d have the confidence to answer them now,” said Byrne.

“

up with in class and learning all about them, it’s like hearing about home.”

Those studies, combined with communications workshops with Vatican Radio’s program director Dr. SeanPatrick Lovett, helped equip the students with a better understanding of Catholicism, an understanding needed to both evangelize and defend the faith in secular society.

Such learning was combined with excursions and hikes to Ireland’s most beautiful locations as well, including Glenveigh National Park, the Marian Shrine at Knock, Donegal Castle, Croagh Patrick, and Dublin—adventures that immersed the students in the traditional Catholic culture of Ireland, and strengthened the bonds of fellowship even tighter between the students and faculty at the Institute.

Now, after these three weeks, things make so much more sense in theology. I feel that if someone came up to me, I’d have the confidence to answer them now.

Ascough and Byrne—and a large group of other students from across the U.S. and Ireland—studied for three weeks at the beautiful Ards Friary of County Donegal, gaining insights into the theology, history, and literature that shaped Ireland, and the Western world, across the centuries. For the Irish native students, many of these insights about their homeland were new, giving them a greater understanding of Ireland’s great legacy and why it is worth preserving.

“Before [the Institute], I didn’t know much about Irish history at all — I didn’t even really enjoy learning about it until I came here,” said Ascough. “The professors made it all understandable and clear, not just in history but in every class. They actually cared about the students as well, something I’ve never experienced before at my college in Ireland. It was really enlightening to learn more about my own history, as a result. To hear all the names that I’ve grown

22

Instaurare

”

Such fellowship led to connections that Ascough and Byrne hope to continue long into the future, building a community of leaders across continents that can bring evangelization to Ireland, the United States, and the whole world.

“This experience was simply life-changing, due to these people that I’ve met. I have made friends that I’ll have forever now, even if they live in different continents, and I’ve forged connections that I’ll cherish—these are people I feel I can turn to whenever I need them,” said Byrne.

PROTECTING THE FUTURE

so far as driving across the border to North Carolina every Sunday so her children could attend Mass. This drive to raise her children fully in Catholicism eventually led Turner to Christendom College, a place she had heard of in the Catholic literature she frequently read, and through her close friend Mary Bowes, who would send her own children, Beth and John, to Christendom in the 1990’s.

Turner took Anne to visit Christendom’s campus in the early 90’s, seeing it as a beacon of educational hope, in stark contrast to the public school system Anne was currently enrolled in at Laurel Fork — a school where she was the only Catholic in attendance. While her sons would eventually go to state school, Anne fulfilled her mother’s dream and received a fully Catholic education, graduating from Christendom in 2002.

L-R Susan Turner, Turner with her grandchildren.

T

he United States is in a state of confusion, with the very notion of marriage and family that the nation was founded upon being “redefined” by media pundits and political parties alike. For many parents, the future seems to be at risk, and they want to ensure that their children are prepared for this uncertain future.

The outstanding liberal arts curriculum and vibrant spiritual life of Christendom inspired Turner to send her daughter there in the first place, believing that the knowledgeable faculty would give her daughter the Catholic education that a state school could never provide. After seeing the results of her daughter’s time at Christendom, Turner determined to make sure other children could receive the same gift in the future. She began making regular gifts to Christendom over the next decade before passing away this past March.

Anne, the executor of her mother’s estate, found one last gift in her will: an estate gift for Christendom College, to be utilized wherever the college needed it most. Turner believed passionately in the mission of Christendom to her last day — an inspirational showing of generosity that will help the college continue to prepare students for the world long into the future.

Susan Turner shared this same belief nearly twenty years ago, seeing the need for a strong, proper education that would help her daughter, Anne, become one of the leaders that this country so desperately needs. Where did she turn to for aid? Christendom College — a place she felt offered the best possible Catholic education in the land.

By making an estate gift to Christendom, friends of the college can help the school make the “history-makers” this nation so desperately needs, even after death. A gift from a will is an ideal way to support the academic and spiritual programs that make Christendom students and alumni such a powerful force for change in the world — alumni like Susan’s daughter, Anne.

The Turner family grew up in Laurel Fork, Va., a location noted for its rural, country beauty but not for its Catholic culture. Living in a small town lacking both a Catholic Church and a Catholic community, Turner fought hard to raise her daughter and two sons properly in the Faith, going

As Christendom begins another academic year, the contributions of generous benefactors, both living and deceased, will help the school continue to prepare the next generation of Catholic leaders.

FALL 2015

23

Widespread Impact on Religious Life A Carmelite Sister of the Divine Heart of Jesus studies on Christendom’s Front Royal, Va., campus.

Graduate School Trains Future Leaders of Religious Orders and Fosters Vocations

T

his Year of Consecrated Life marked the tenth anniversary of the Vita Consecrata Institute (VCI), a summer program hosted by Christendom’s graduate school and the Institute on Religious Life. A record 77 religious, priests, and other consecrated persons attended this unique program of spiritual formation and studies in spiritual theology and consecrated life.

With many of the participants being formation directors or teachers within their orders, as well as founders and directors, Christendom’s impact is widespread.

24

Instaurare

Orders such as the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart and the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus have turned to the VCI for formation and guidance in the consecrated life. Even sisters from Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Vietnam have traveled to Christendom’s Front Royal campus for this intellectually and spiritually enriching program.

Beyond the VCI, the graduate school has also played a role in helping graduate students to discern religious vocations. Dozens of students have discovered their path to the priesthood or consecrated life. Those who attend the graduate school’s residential summer program have had the added advantage of making friends with the religious at the VCI, giving them the opportunity to meet with various

Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate travel from Vietnam each year.

Graduate School Commencement

orders from across the world and to get to know their distinct charisms.

Recently, Rebecca Jones, a retired US Army colonel and Christendom graduate student entered the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy in Belleville, Illinois.

“My time at Christendom was such a blessing,” Jones said.

“Attending the summer program last year and meeting all the religious really helped me to search out and to joyfully accept this call.”

Christendom College celebrated its Graduate School commencement on August 2, awarding ten Master of Arts in theological studies degrees, as well as two Apostolic Catechetical Diplomas, to this year’s graduates.

Also, Ryan Dent, former DRE and Youth minister who attended the graduate summer program for several years, will now enter formation for the priesthood at Holy Apostles Seminary, for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD. “I owe my vocation to the men and women religious at the summer graduate school and the Vita Consecrata Institute,” he says. “Joining them in prayer, hearing their vocation stories, and sharing in common meals and a way of life was instrumental in my discernment to the holy priesthood.”

Dent noted the impact of the graduate school’s summer residency program calling it “a perfect balance of intense academics and a rich spiritual life.”

“You will not find this online, nor at any other Catholic university,” he says.

Graduate student Ryan Dent is set to enter formation for the priesthood.

Graduate Nancy Rowland, a retired astronomer, delivered this year’s valedictory address during which she lauded her professors and Christendom’s graduate program.

“The entire program was well designed for learning the truths of the faith, and every class was well designed for learning the subject matter. Every teacher has such a depth of knowledge and faithfulness to orthodoxy…we benefited greatly from their high standards, which challenged us to do well, from their devotion to teaching us, which motivated us to learn, and from their own holiness, which inspired us. I believe they all are fine examples of the Christian balancing act and we will do well to follow their example,” said Rowland.

FALL 2015

25

GUARDIANS OF MEMORY History in the Liberal Arts Tradition

By DR. CHRIS SHANNON CHAIR, HISTORY DEPARTMENT

H

istory has a special place in the liberal arts curriculum of Christendom College. It is the discipline of our founder, Dr. Warren Carroll. Committed to renewing theological education, Dr. Carroll nonetheless insisted that history play a central role in the intellectual and spiritual life of the college.

Dr. Carroll recognized that the theological crisis of his time was not simply a matter of doctrine, but of cultural heritage—indeed, of memory.

“Historians are the guardians of memory,” he insisted, and the history department at Christendom makes the memory and living reality of the Catholic tradition present in the lives of Christendom students. Other faithful Catholic colleges minimize, or even exclude, history in their core offerings. At Christendom, every student receives four semesters of history instruction, covering the grand narrative of the faith from the initial call of Abraham to the life of the Church in our present day.

A Catholic historian must acknowledge the subordinate place his discipline holds in the hierarchy of learning. Still, in an

26

Instaurare

age that largely dismisses the universal truths of theology and philosophy, history has a unique role to play in communicating the truth of the faith to the wider world.

Skeptics and contemporary critics of the Church are much more likely to take issue with historical phenomena such as the Crusades and the Inquisition than with the doctrine of transubstantiation.

History thus serves as a kind of first front of engagement with the wider world. Debates over history have proved as rancorous and divisive as any older theological debates.

The Black Legend (i.e., the Church is the greatest single source of evil in Western history) is alive and well in public

“

A Catholic historian must acknowledge the subordinate place his discipline holds in the hierarchy of learning.

Still, in an age that largely dismisses the universal truths of theology and philosophy, history has a unique role to play in communicating the truth of the faith to the wider world.

”

discourse. There is a temptation, in rushing to the defense of the Church, to counter the Black Legend with a kind of White Legend, in which the Church is only a source of good, and maybe even the only source of good, in human history. History at Christendom rejects this approach in favor of an Augustinian view of history, which understands that good and evil, the City of God and the City of Man, are inextricably bound up in every human institution, including the Church in its human dimension. Students read excerpts from St. Augustine’s City of God in their first semester of history core and apply his insights to the full range of historical phenomena, covering the ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods.

Secular colleges and universities have largely forsaken any sort of grand historical narrative in favor of narrow, specialized analyses of particular places and times. Committed to telling the full story of the faith over time, history at Christendom nonetheless seeks to impart to students an appreciation for the insights and achievements of secular history, particularly with respect to empirical and analytic complexity.

Course Highlights from the History Major • • • •

HIST 411 Reconquista and Crusade HIST 351 Renaissance, Revolt, and Reformation HIST 352 The Enlightenment and its Critics HIST 432 Causes and Effects of the Communist Revolution

History majors at Christendom all take an upper-level course in historiography, the study of the study of history.

In this course, students step back from the raw material of history to think, in a reflective and philosophical way, about how historians construct arguments and stories. Above all, students are given an opportunity to understand history as an interpretive art rather than simply an empirical science—an art characterized as much by a conflict of interpretations as by a consensus on the facts. This interpretive sensibility is essential to a discipline whose subject matter is the contingencies of time rather than the eternal verities of doctrine.

The members of the history faculty at Christendom hold doctorates from some of the leading research universities in the United States, including Northwestern University, St. Louis University, the University of Notre Dame, and Yale University. By combining the best of secular learning with the traditions of the Church, history at Christendom prepares students to see the good in the world even as they bring that natural good to completion in the light of Christ.

FALL 2015

27

Day of Recollection Alumni Encouraged to Strengthen Domestic Church

A

lumni of all vocations returned to Christendom’s campus for the first annual Alumni Day of Recollection and Discussion on July 10. Featuring discussions, meditations, and talks from alumni, college president Timothy O’Donnell, and Mass with Francis Cardinal Arinze, the all-day event drew forty alumni from across the country for the opportunity to receive encouragement as they continue to rebuild a domestic church in today’s world.

L-R: Alumni enjoy lunch in St. Kilian’s Café; almunus Mark Rohlena at one of the discussions; former Christendom chaplain Fr. John Riley addresses alumni; alumni priests, Fr. Tom Vander Woude ’88, Fr. Fred Gruber ’06, and Fr. Stephen McGraw ’88, concelebrate Mass with the Cardinal.

Focusing on the topic of “Living the Call to Missionary Discipleship: The Domestic Church in the Modern World,” the event was structured around a series of presentations throughout the day, each followed by a meditation from former Christendom chaplain Fr. John Riley and alumnus Fr. Tom Vander Woude ’88. Each presentation concluded with an open discussion amongst the alumni, facilitated by alumnus Mark Rohlena ’00, director of social development for the USCCB, and fellow alumnus Vince Criste ’98, who serves as Christendom’s assistant director of alumni and donor relations.

“The event combined the practical with the intellectual and the spiritual in a dynamic, interactive way that appealed to all of the alumni present,” said Criste. “This was an alumni initiated and alumni driven event. Mark Rohlena approached me about it, and it all came together nicely. We were able to hold it in St. Thomas Aquinas Hall, which was once

28

Instaurare

the Christendom chapel for many of the alumni who were present, giving the event an intimate, historic feel.”

Rohlena agreed with Criste, saying that the event helped him, and other alumni, refocus in their attempts to combat a modern world that has become increasingly secularized and hostile toward the traditional family.

“

[It] was an oasis for our family.

”

“The day of recollection on the family as domestic church was an oasis for our family. We felt nourished by the sacraments, emboldened by those who led us in prayer and meditation, and then supported by the wisdom and insight of alumni singles and couples who are striving to live their vocations in difficult times. It was really wonderful,” said Rohlena.

CLASSMATES

our to dy Sen sions mis es@ sub ssmat .edu m a l c ndo iste r h c

[your paper & ink alumni social network]

1980’s

John Corrigan ’89 is in the final semester of a Ph.D. in philosophy at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. John hopes to defend his thesis

by February 2016

1990’s Fr. Charlie Bak, MSA, ’91 has been promoted from Pastoral Assistant at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, Conn., to Master of Novices for the U.S. Province of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (MSA).

On April 28, Gerry Zapiain ’80 enjoyed Spandau Ballet’s first concert in Washington, D.C., at the 9:30 Club. Zapiain and his wife, Csilla, had danced to “True” by Spandau Ballet at their wedding almost twenty-five years ago. The concert was an unforgettable evening of the best in 80s music.

Fr. Ed Murphy ’83 was ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida in 1992. He is currently the pastor the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2013, his beautiful, historic church was elevated to the title of minor basilica. Fr. Murphy is also the director the Courage/Encourage apostolate for his diocese and works heavily with the Pro-Life cause.

John Bowman ’86, now Father Michael Bowman, OSB, will be celebrating his 25th anniversary as a Benedictine monk on Sept 29, 2015, at his monastery, the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine in Le Barroux, France.

Gloria Falcao Dodd ’87 gave a talk on “Mary as a Model of Hope in a Culture of Death,” in Seville, Spain for the Extraordinary Congress of the International Marian Congress sponsored by the International Pontifical Academy of Mariology. She was made a member of the International Pontifical Academy of Mariology shortly after the event. Gloria is currently a professor at the University of Dayton with her primary focus on Mariology, and is seeking books or articles about Mary. To contact her, email her at glrdodd@yahoo.com.

Diana (Weyrich) Pascoe ’88 and her husband Craig have six home schooled boys (ranging from rising junior in high school down to kindergarten).

Jeannette (Hannick) Warrington ’94 is married with three children, one having just graduated from Navy boot camp and another set to study nursing this fall. Jeanette changed careers about three years ago after she received her teacher’s license and is now teaching Civics & Economics and Language Arts at the Spratley Gifted Center, Hampton, Va.

Winnie (Newcomb) Ehlinger ’96 is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Special Education Advisory Committee of Warren Co., a volunteer for Special Olympics and Challengers baseball, a Special Needs CCD teacher at Saint John’s, chauffer for these events and Books and Barks Special Needs reading and adaptive aquatics, part time instructional assistant for Seton Home Study School, and fulltime mom to two rising 6th graders, Ignatius (11) and Marcellus (10). Winnie and her husband, Tim, have been married over 15 years. Keep updated with the Ehlingers on the Ignatius Ehlinger Fund Facebook Page.

Lt. Col. Patrick Weinert, USMC, ’98 is now stationed at the Pentagon. He has been deployed six times including four deployments in the Middle East and four deployments flying the cobra helicopter.

Mary (McFadden) Brand ‘98 is the coordinator for the Front Royal Pregnancy Center’s 4th Annual Walk for Life fundraiser to be held on October 3, 2015.

She is working closely with other alumni, including Maura McMahon ’09 and Kristin (Elliot) Fier ’05 on the Walk preparations. The Center, which was founded by Christendom alumni in 1991, is in need of funds to continue its life-saving work. Visit www. frpcwalkforlife.com for more information.

Chris Muro ’98 has received a promotion and is now the Liberal Arts Department Chair and Assistant Political Science Professor at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida. He has been with the college since 2005 and his responsibilities include teaching political science, curriculum development, as well as managing a department of 55 colleagues in numerous disciplines such as Humanities, History, Political Science, and World Religions. Chris and his wife, Sarah (Stafki) ’00, had their fifth daughter, Larissa Danielle, just over a year ago.

Fr. Anthony Stephens, CPM, ’99 has been named a formation advisor, a full-time role at The Athenaeum of Ohio Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ordained in 2005, Fr. Stephens recently served as the Director of Seminarians for the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy, a religious community headquartered in South Union, Kentucky, dedicated to the preaching of parish missions and retreats.

Liz (Higby) Kelly ’99 recently returned to teaching this past year after having earned her Masters and certification. She currently teaches history to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at St. Joseph School in Meriden, Conn. She also serves on the board of a local Birthright Pregnancy Center and she and her husband Brendon teach Pre-Cana classes. Brendon is a VP for The Hartford insurance company and they live in Middletown, Conn., with their four children - Liam, Rebecca, Luke, and Jack.

Fr. Gerard Saguto, FSSP ’98 was ordained in 2004 for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, one of six alumni to join this religious order. Fr. Saguto has just been appointed to an initial three-year term as the North American District Superior for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The North American District encompasses 90 priests and 47 apostolates in the United States and Canada.

2000’s Mike ’00 and Colby ’99 Storck welcomed Anthony Clement, their second son and sixth child, on May 21.

FALL 2015

29

Lydia (Thigpen) Borja ’04 launched a new website ministry, Flourish in Hope—a resource of solidarity, encouragement, and support for women who are struggling with postpartum depression. The website is www.flourishinhope.com, and on social media, @flourish_hope.

Jacinta Whittaker ’05 married Jeffrey Whiting on April 26, 2014. They now live in Winchester, Va., with their baby boy, Alexander Joseph Whiting, born February 17, 2015.

Ben ’00 and Anna (Bertolini) ’03 Hatke have been living in Italy for the past three months, and Ben is currently working on a two-part middle grade graphic novel called “Mighty Jack.” He is also releasing a new graphic novel called “Little Robot.”

They now have five daughters, with the youngest being Ida Penthea, who was born in March.

Theresa (Miller) Ortego ’05 married John M. Ortego in October 2007, and have two beautiful children, Marie and Joey, six and four, respectively.

Joey is a special needs child who is both medically fragile and complex. He is a little fighter who has had many miraculous intercessions to save him from severely life-threatening situations. “I am forever indebted to Christendom for my liberal arts education, which has also played a crucial role in choosing the right doctors, coordinating overall plan of care for a child who has almost every organ affected, but no overall diagnosis to guide physicians in their decisions. A degree in the medical field would have been useless, as it would have been too narrow in scope and only taught me to think inside the box,” Theresa says.

Maria Bissex ’02 has written a stage adaptation of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” She will be directing a performance of this original script in October of 2015 in Sterling, Va. Visit sterlingplaymakers.com, or contact Maria at muliermvb@gmail.com for more information.

Michael Baron ’03 and his wife welcomed their sixth child (fourth boy) on August 6. Michael works in the computer department at Seton Home Study School and has worked at Seton since June 2005.

Ed and Monica (Horiuchi) Burns ’09 were married in November of 2011. They now have two children, Felicity (3) and Charles (2), and baby number 3 due in December 2015. They moved from Maryland to Fort Worth, Texas, this past winter.

Fr. Robert Schmid ’08 (right) was ordained a priest on June 6, 2015, for the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C.,

by Most Reverend Michael Burbidge at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville, N.C. He currently serves as Parochial Vicar at the same parish.

Christopher C. Lancaster ’06 is a personal injury attorney, working in Sarasota, Fla. He was recently co-counsel in a motorcycle accident case in which his client received a $2.6 million verdict in a jury trial. Chris married Kathryn “Katie” (Pondo) Lancaster ’07 in 2008 and they currently live in St. Petersburg, Fla. Katie works as a Youth Minister and Website Designer for Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Joseph ’03 and Sara (Runge) ’04 McFadden welcomed Roanan Stewart on June 25, 2015.

Roanan joins his siblings Fiona (7), Brodie (6), Isobel (4) and Caitriona (2). Roanan was baptized in the same church where Joseph and Sara were married by the same priest that married them, Father George Maroun at St. James in Carthage, N.Y.

30

Instaurare

Adrienne (Stravitsch) Smith ’07 is married to Richard Smith and just moved from Fort Sam, Texas, to Fort Eustis, Va., in May 2015. She recently graduated with her Masters in English Literature.

The Smith’s are settling into their new home with their three daughters, Elizabeth (5), Mary (3), and Anne (1).

Sr. Carmen Veronica of Jesus Crucified (formerly Shannon Michel ’08) entered the Carmelite order in Morristown, N.J., after returning from her Rome semester. She made her final vows this past June and has been a Carmelite for approx. 9 years.

She credits Christendom with giving her a strong foundation in her faith and she is truly blessed and filled with joy in serving our Lord.

Jonathan Fehrenbacher ’09 has been ordained subdeacon after his fifth year of seminary with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest by His Grace, the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone.

Philip “Ross” Windsor ’09 writes for The Catholic Geeks blog (thecatholicgeeks.wordpress.com), along with fellow alumni Matthew Bowman ’09, Lori Janeski ’09, and Olivia Bushey ’10.

2010’s Alisha (Onsager) Fogarty ’10 married Michael Fogarty ’06 in January 2010. Michael is a Nuclear Electrician on a fast attack submarine, the USS Alexandria. They have three going on four children: Lydia (4), Joseph (2.5), Clare (14 mo.), and a baby boy due in December.

On August 5, Sr. Mary Joseph of Jesus (Lindsey Mersch, ’10) took final vows at the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Kensington, California.

Eve Owen ’10, Sarah Miranda ’10, and Lindsay (Willard) Hurd ’10 attended the special occasion.

Rebecca Willen ’15 has accepted a job at the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, as Database and Special Projects Analyst for their Mission Advancement Office.

Mary Kate Hunt ’10 is living in Westminster, Md., and dating Brian Cook. Mary Kate works for Reliable Churchill as a wine salesman and just went on an educational trip to California. Her family just came to visit from Texas and they had a fabulous family reunion. She also has a new puppy named Begonia.

Julie Wells ’15 is currently pursuing the field of children’s book illustration and has recently launched a new art website at www. juliewellsillustration.com.

Mark Turner ’15 is currently employed at State Farm Insurance in Fredericksburg, Va., along with Peter Foeckler ’15. Mark hiked the Camino de Santiago (Spain) with two fellow graduates Maria Bonvisutto and Margaux Killackey this past summer.

Jeremiah and Katie (Erwin) Ii ’10 welcomed their second little girl, Celine, in May. Katie (Carducci) ’10 and Kevin ‘12 Todd welcomed Augustina Anna Grace Todd in January. Kevin has taken a full time position as National Director of Operations, Facilities Management, and Financial Planning for a faith-based Hybrid-Academy that currently has almost a dozen centers throughout the U.S. Kevin is also trying to obtain sponsorship and raise the funds to enter and drive in the 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Dominic Vieira ’12 married Beth Heine this past June at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal, Va.

Philip Gilbert ’15 will be entering Saint Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Washington, D.C., this fall. He took an awesome trip as he drove home to California from Virginia after graduation.

Staying with the families of people he knew from Christendom, he went out of his way to see the country and immersed himself in the beauty of God’s creation by visiting some of the National Parks.

Emily Bot ’15 is now teaching at Pope John Paul II Academy, a small Catholic school in Montrose, Colorado.

Andrea “Andie” (Smith) Pelletier ’12 just earned her national EMT certification (NREMT-B) and is volunteering with Culpeper County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Her husband, Brian ’12, is a firefighter with Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department.

Christopher Tipton ’12 is a seminarian for the Diocese of Arlington, Va., entering Theology II at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Penn.

Katie Brizek ‘15 spent two months this summer in Santiago, Chile volunteering at La Fundacion Las Rosas, a catholic nursing home in Chile which cares for abandoned, destitute or homeless elderly men and women.

Peter Hill ’13 and Emiko Funai ’13 were married on April 18 in Seattle, Washington, with alumus Fr. Gerard Saguto, FSSP ’98 presiding.

Chris and Liz (Sartor) Foeckler ‘12 recently purchased their first home in Front Royal. Chris just began his 3rd year teaching at Chelsea Academy, and Liz continues to teach choir at Seton School in Manassas, Va., and Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, Va. Luke Tillotson ’13 and his wife, Mary, have moved to Ann Arbor, MI where Luke is transitioning into real estate sales. Luke welcomes the opportunity to assist any alumni (or their family or friends) living in the greater Ann Arbor area with their real estate needs. Contact Luke at luketillotson@gmail.com.

Mary Frank ’13 took part in the “Spring Into Service Summer Program” with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Denver, Col., a six week summer job experience as a Hospitality Aide at their nursing home, Mullen Home for the Aged. While there, she met up with Christendom alumna Rachel Kujawa ’13 at the Mother Cabrini Shrine.

Thanks to all who submitted alumni updates!

The response was so good, we filled three pages! If you don’t see your update, it will be printed in the next issue. Inspired by seeing these updates? Send your update today: classmates@christendom.edu.

Join the Yahoo! email list. christendom.edu/yahoo Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/cdomalumni

FALL 2015

31

Omnia in Christo The Anglo-Saxon Vision of Nature and Creation

Taken from the college’s motto “Instaurare Omnia in Christo,” this section features an excerpt from a recent paper or talk by one of Christendom’s distinguished faculty.

By Dr. Ben Reinhard

A

ny attempt to examine AngloSaxon ideas of the natural world is soon confronted by a serious problem: namely, that the Anglo-Saxons do not appear to have had much of a concept of the natural world at all.

When Old English poets do attempt to describe nature, it is often through specific terms extended by synecdoche to the whole: heofon and eorðe (heaven and earth), eardas and uplyfte (the dwellings and the upper air), and middangeard (middle-earth). None of these terms capture – even by extension – what a modern English speaker means by “nature” or “the natural world.” Of the Old English words in common circulation, gesceaft probably comes closest to modern English nature. But gesceaft is not equivalent to nature, it is closer to Latin creatura – Creation, the thing-having-beenmade.

These words matter. As Pope Francis reminds us, In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the word “creation” has a broader meaning than “nature,” for it has to do with God’s loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance. Nature is usually seen as a system which can be studied, understood and controlled, whereas creation can only be understood as a gift from the outstretched hand of the Father of all, and as a reality illuminated by the love which calls us together into universal communion.

Nature is something separate, other, and absolute, by connotation if not denotation; it can be dominated or defied. Creation, by contrast, is contingent and relational. The contingency of Creation with regards to the Creator is obvious: he created it, and it belongs to him. Creation is, as Francis notes, “a gift from the outstretched hand of the Father” – as such, there are limits to man’s exploitation of it. This is doubly true as man is also a part of the larger creation, and is implicated in it.

32

Instaurare

This sense of dependence and limits extends to the specific terms used synecdotally for the created world. The terms are freighted: they make assumptions on behalf of those who use them. So, for instance, the Old English heofon is never merely “the sky.” It is, when used in a Christian context, the eternal dwelling of God and his holy ones; in naturalistic terms, it is the domed roof of men’s home on earth. An even clearer sense of dependency is built into the term middangeard: middle-earth or, more appropriately, the middle-dwelling (or even middle-hall). The word demands that we view the created order in a certain way, even if the precise image evoked by the term is ambiguous and unstable. In some contexts, middangeard is the little disc of habitable land surrounded by the great ocean; in others, it is the dwelling of man between heaven and hell. Middangeard is small. It is fragile. It is ours.

This shared vocabulary gives rise to a bewildering – and seemingly contradictory – range of particular responses. On the one hand, we have St. Cuthbert who, according to Bede, recaptured Adam’s edenic prerogatives; all creation (including eagles, otters, ravens, springs, and the sea itself) ministered to his wishes. On the other hand, we have St. Guthlac battling demons in a haunted fen. Sometimes, the tension exists within the corpus of a single author, or indeed within a single work. In Beowulf, the optimistic vision of the scop’s song of Creation is balanced by the dark anarchy of Grendel’s teeming mere. These apparent contradictions point to a healthy Christian realism. Seen through the eyes of the Old English poets, creation groans, awaiting its redemption and the adoption of the sons of God. Sanctified by grace, creation is ordered, beautiful, subservient; disfigured by sin, creation is wild, violent, and menacing.

For all this, it must be admitted that creation is rarely treated directly in Anglo-Saxon literature: it is primarily background, not landscape. To admit this is not to deny the importance of creation in Anglo-Saxon thought, however. Far from it. The Anglo-Saxon idea of Creation is important precisely because it is in the background; as background, it defines (by bounding, juxtaposition, and contrast) the action in the foreground. Moreover, as background, creation largely escapes critical scrutiny. Neither author nor audience, generally speaking, subject it to conscious evaluation; it is a given, an assumption.

Anglo-Saxon assumptions about creation present both challenges as well as opportunities for the critic, however. In the first place, as I have attempted to demonstrate in cursory fashion, Anglo-Saxon assumptions about creation are woven into the fabric of their thought. It is natural that this should be the case. Creation – nature – is the stage on which human history is enacted; to an extent, every human culture understands and defines itself in terms of its relationship with the created order. This process is natural, and it is necessary. However, the Anglo-Saxon assumptions about Creation are substantially different from our own. Put simply, if we are to understand the imagination of the Old English poets, we must understand them.

Even more importantly, if we are to understand our own ideas of nature and creation, we must understand those that came before.

Dr. Ben Reinhard received his Ph.D. from the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame, writing his dissertation on Old English religious literature. At Christendom, he teaches courses in classical and medieval literature.

JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO ROME AND ASSISI March 5-13, 2016 Led by Dr. and Mrs. Timothy O’Donnell

! s u n i o J

christendom.edu/pilgrimage

Homecoming October 9th to 11th

CLASS OF 2005 10-YEAR REUNION EAST VS WEST FOOTBALL GAME MOON BOUNCES AND FACE PAINTING DANCE ALUMNI VS STUDENTS BASKETBALL GAMES FUN EVENTS FOR FAMILIES & ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES FOR MASS AND CONFESSIONS CLASS OF 1995 20-YEAR REUNION GOOD FOOD & DRINK ALL 80’S REUNION EVENT WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CLASS OF 1985 MEN’S & WOMEN’S HOME SOCCER GAMES BABYSITTING YOUNG ALUMNI NETWORKING EVENT REGISTER AND FIND OUT MORE AT CHRISTENDOM.EDU/HOMECOMING

6th Annual Thomas S. Vander Woude

GOLF TOURNAMENT

October 9, 2015 Register at christendom.edu/golf.

FALL 2015

1

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Huntington, IN Permit # 832

134 Christendom Drive Front Royal, VA 22630

Great minds think alike.

What the world needs now is greatness — not mediocrity.

Our time-tested Catholic liberal arts education — the same education that has inspired the greatest minds of Western Civilization — is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are willing to accept the bold and challenging call from God to become the great men and women He wants them to be.

Dare to join us.

Dare to be great.

Front Royal, Virginia christendom.edu 800.877.5456