Instaurare Spring 2021 by Christendom College

Instaurare THE CHR IS TEND O M C O LL EG E MAG AZINE

SPRING 2021

Shenandoah Beauty BUILDING A CHURCH THAT POINTS TO GOD

A L U M N I B RO T H E R S F U L F I L L D R E A M | P U T T I N G T H E C U LT U R E “ BAC K O N T R AC K ” S T U D E N T L E A D I N G A G E N E R AT I O N T O S AV E T H E N E X T | G O T O J O S E P H

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VOLUME 29 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2021 Published three times yearly by the Christendom College Marketing Office. Editor & Design Director: Niall O’Donnell Assistant Editor: Zachary Smith Design Assistant: Johanna Burke Photos: Johanna Burke, Niall O’Donnell, Zach Smith, Gwyneth Sawicki, Sarah Jackson, Megan Meehan, Mary Katherine Duca Contributors: Johanna Burke, Zachary Smith, Vince Criste, Isabella Reilly, Danielle Dusseault, John Cuddeback Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 540.636.2900 | www.christendom.edu Copyright © 2021. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from Instaurare, the official 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 sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Mr. Martin R. Boles Mr. Robert Crnkovich (Treasurer) Mr. Gene D’Agostino (Vice Chairman) Mr. Timothy Halisky ’01 Mr. Julian Heron Mrs. Karla Hester ’99 Mr. Richard Hough Dr. Timothy T. O’Donnell (ex officio) Mr. Stephen O’Keefe ’93 (Chairman) Mr. Gary Schuberg Mr. Mark Swartzberg Mrs. Michele Velasco ’90 Mr. Thomas C. West Jr. Ms. Luanne D. Zurlo (Secretary)

Mr. Guy Amisano Sr. Mrs. Donna Bethell Mrs. Mary Ellen Bork Mrs. Bernadette Casey-Smith Mr. John Cecconi Mr. John De Matteo Dr. Robert P. George Mr. Daniel Gorman Mrs. Joan Janaro Mr. John McNeice Mr. Joseph Melancon Rev. Robert Morey Mr. Robert Mylod The Honorable James Nicholson Mrs. Mary Beth Riordan Rev. George W. Rutler Mr. Mark Ryland The Honorable Rick Santorum Rev. William Saunders Mr. Robert Scrivener ’81 Mr. Owen Smith Mr. George Weigel Mr. Thomas Young Mr. Eugene Zurlo

ON THE COVER

Artistic rendering of the new Christ the King Chapel that tells the story of the construction of the chapel commissioned by the general contractor, Hoar Construction.

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MEN AND WOMEN WERE CREATED FOR SOMETHING GREAT, FOR INFINITY. NOTHING ELSE WILL EVER BE ENOUGH. — Pope Benedict XVI Sunset view of the new and old Christ the King Chapels. Photo by Gwyneth Sawicki ’23

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Inside This Issue 4

Shenandoah Beauty Journalist and Christendom parent Jeff Minick recounts his experience of a tour of the new Christ the King Chapel.

Fulfilling a Dream Alumni brothers seek to build Catholic community of artists in Los Angeles.

Go to Joseph In honor of the Year of St. Joseph, Christendom philosophy professor John Cuddeback gives a biblical reflection for men today.

Leading a Generation to Save the Next How student body president and senior Elizabeth Eller is making a national impact in the pro-life movement.

From the President

Christ the King Chapel Update

News in Brief

In the Classroom—Thomas More: Humanism and Reform

Couple Helps Students Find Faithful Formation

Putting the Culture “Back on Track”

Classmates: Alumni News

Omnia in Christo: Revelation of Interiority in Jane Austen

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Our Unique Role in the Church’s Mission FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT DR. TIMOTHY O’DONNELL

Obviously, we are facing some

“Popular culture would have us believe that our problems stem from faith being forced on others. But the opposite is true.”

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serious challenges in our beloved country. Our second president, John Adams, stated: “We have no government armed with the power which is capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” There is definitely a fierce assault on religious faith in many sectors of our society. This concerted effort to destroy faith can be seen in mass media, social media, big tech, and the popular culture. In many ways, religious faith is being undermined with smartphones and other devices, by offering an unprecedented degree of distractions. Intrusive technology is everywhere, as seen in the disturbing documentary The Social Dilemma. Popular culture would have us believe that our problems stem from faith being forced on others. But the opposite is true. An increasingly hostile and intolerant secularism is being forced on people of faith. The Catholic faith and liberal arts education that we offer help us to form men and women of character who are free of ideological falsehoods. It empowers them with the courage to swim against the toxic secular tide. Our education allows us to cultivate—in this age of the “emotive will”—a philosophical habit of mind and ultimately to have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). I encourage our students here to not be distracted by the winds and the waves of our turbulent culture; to keep their eyes fixed on Christ and their duty, their vocation as students. God is truth, and any education or anything which denies or ignores Him is not worthy of man. I urge our students and all of us to build out time to sit quietly in your room, the chapel, the woods… or just find a quiet spot. Take time to clear all the clutter away. Then as faith-filled Catholic men

and women we can sit and be enfolded with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and realize how much He loves us! If we do that, we can renew the face of the earth. Although iniquity abounds, we must not let charity grow cold. I know we are all works in progress, but in our students, alumni, benefactors, faculty, and staff I have seen so much goodness, despite the cynical voices of the world telling us to ignore the love of our Father. We are called to greatness—to holiness, self-sacrifice, heroic virtue, chastity, and love. All of us have a unique role to play in fulfilling the Church’s mission for the salvation of others in our troubled world. Let us open our hearts and minds to Him who came to cast fire on the earth. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of Love, pray for us!

Christ the King Chapel U

D A T

Over the past Several months, the new

Christ the King chapel has seen remarkable progress. Most notably, the 35-foot steeples housing the 12 bells will be raised at the end of April, bringing the final silhouette of the chapel to life. In addition to the installation of the steeples, four gold crowns will be installed at the top of the high tower, helping to make the chapel even more visible throughout the valley. Under the direction of alumna artist Mandy Hain ’07, several students and other volunteers applied 23-karat gold leafing to the facets of the 12-sided crowns. Remarkable progress has been made in the interior of the chapel as well. In the winter, the restored Nativity and Resurrection windows were installed at the south and north transepts. The creation of new stained glass windows and the restoration of rescued windows is ongoing, with several installations anticipated in the spring. The four antique Marian windows—the Annunciation, Visitation, Assumption, and Coronation—will be installed, along with the restored Sacred Heart window in the Lady Chapel. The new rose window depicting Our Lady Seat of Wisdom ringed by angels that represent the seven liberal arts will be installed above the main entrance on the west façade as well.

The design for the statuary is being finalized, and a Gothic-style Pieta and Death of St. Joseph statue have been selected. Engineering and design for the new Botafumerio—a large thurible hung from the ceiling akin to the one used in Santiago de Compostela in Spain—are currently in motion. Mandy Hain is also in the final stages of painting the ceiling of the crossing tower. Work on the next phase of the chapel now begins with a shift to installation of interior wood paneling and wood flooring, installation of the main altar, and work on the four side chapel shrines—The Sacred Heart, The Crucifixion, Our Lady of Fatima, and Divine Mercy. With warmer weather on the way, the chapel’s outdoor features will also begin to take form. The parking lot will be paved, exterior walkways around the chapel will be installed, and final grading will be completed in the coming months. Designs for the Piazza of Christ the King are being finalized, with construction expected to begin this summer. Seeing such beautiful progress on the new chapel is cause for inspiration. Please continue to keep the construction of the Christ the King chapel in your prayers.

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Shenandoah Beauty BUILDING A CHURCH THAT POINTS TO GOD

BY JEFF MINICK Several times I’ve gone into the field —

Williamsburg and Jamestown in Virginia, and the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in Asheville, North Carolina—to write for The Epoch Times, but never did I think one of these assignments might kill me. Until now. It was mid-December 2020, and Pat Haggerty, a man in his 40s who is the project manager for the new Christ the King Chapel at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia, had decked me out in a construction helmet, bright yellow vest, safety glasses, and for some reason, gloves, to enter the chapel’s construction site. We had completed part of the tour when we reached the “crossing” at the other end of the church. I craned my head up to view the high dome above and saw a narrow walkway beneath it. “Can people walk up there?” I asked. “Yeah. Would you like to go up?” “Sure!” I said. What in the name of cardiac arrest was I thinking? Yikes! Up we went on a narrow, enclosed spiral staircase, up and up, climbing and climbing. At some point, I was nearly down on all fours, clutching the handrail and pawing my way up stair after endless stair. By the time we reached the top, that climb had sucked the wind from my lungs and made a bass drum of my heart. “I hope you know CPR,” this 69-year-old man wheezed.

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Pat just laughed, thinking I was cracking a joke. “It’s nine stories,” he said. “It leaves me a little short of breath sometimes too.” As I stood there, well away from the walkway—heights and I have never gotten along—I caught my breath, felt the banging in my chest subside, and reveled in the magnificence being created all around me.

Alumna artist Mandy Hain ’07 at work on the tower ceiling.

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A BRI EF HI STO RY Christendom College is a small Catholic liberal arts school— it now enrolls about 500 students—and has long needed a new chapel. The old one, which stands at the heart of the campus, is too small to meet the needs of the student population. About 10 years ago, the school’s president, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, and some others began making plans to build a new chapel to accommodate the growing number of students. Originally, these planners considered tearing down the old church and erecting a new structure on that site, but complications with that plan led to this new location, which Pat explained was the highest point on campus. The site work for the church began in the spring of 2019, and construction commenced in September 2019. By the time of my tour, workers had completed most of the exterior construction, with the exception of certain towers, parking lots, and landscaping. The target date for opening the doors to students and faculty is April of 2022.

Interior of Christ the King Chapel

SOM E N UM B E R S As Pat led me on this excursion—“You’re tour number 101,” he told me—his knowledge and his recitation of certain statistics blew me away. The roof, for example, will contain 42,000 pieces of slate. The organ will have 2,800 pipes. The towers will contain 12 bells—the largest weighs 1,400 pounds— which the college chaplain, Father Marcus Pollard, has already blessed in a special ceremony. Stained glass windows, 115 of them, will grace the walls of this gem, containing 8,000 pieces of hand-blown French and German glass. The new chapel will hold 840 people and will seat 540 in the pews, whereas the maximum capacity of the older church is 380.

TRE AS UR ES FROM T H E PA S T As we made our way through this church under construction, Pat again and again pointed out how many pieces of art and furniture came from shuttered churches up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Some of the bells, many of the stained glass windows, and pews from the 1850s were “rescued” from other churches. “How do you find these things?” I asked him. “Oh, there are brokers now who deal with closed churches,” he said, which is sad news for churches but of benefit to places like Christendom.

The new building will also hold some local objects as well. Black walnut from trees on the campus will be used on part of the floor, and the heap of large stones dug up during the early site work—the church has no crypt, or basement, because it sits on stone—will be used in exterior decoration.

M AKI NG I T PERSO NAL Three college alumni are also mixing their artistic talents into the building. According to “Alumni Artisans Contribute to New Christ the King Chapel,” an article in Instaurare (the Latin name of the college’s magazine means to build, to renew, and to restore), Michael Schmitt, Mandy Hain, and Corey Morgan wanted “to contribute to the chapel through their artistic talents, giving back to their alma mater in a significant way while also assisting in an ecclesiastic project that would impact lives for the better.” Following the traditional practices of the Middle Ages, Schmitt put aside a stone blaster and used a mallet and a chisel to hand-carve “HAEC EST DOMUS DEI ET PORTA COELI,” meaning “THIS IS THE HOUSE OF GOD AND THE GATE OF HEAVEN,” across the 24-foot-long panel over the entrance to the church. “The panel should help create a special and sacred aura at the chapel,” says Schmitt. “It’s a signpost, so to speak—it points to God.”

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“

Their efforts and care in this construction of Christ the King Chapel clearly demonstrate that we are still capable of constructing beautiful buildings, that we can merge the treasures of the past with the talents of the present...

”

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Morgan, an experienced artisan in woodworking who has contributed to several other area churches, is working on arches, side chapels, confessionals, and the altar in Our Lady’s Chapel behind the main high altar. In the article, Morgan speaks of how meaningful it is to give glory to God through the work of his hands, adding: “It is also incredibly special to be able to give something lasting back to the college, literally one of the fruits that I gained while in attendance there, namely my love of faith, and the inspiration to pursue the very life of craft I am living now.” Mandy Hain has also worked in beautifying churches. In this case, she has added the gold gilt to the inscription carved by Schmitt and is creating artwork for the ceiling of the chapel, including the part I viewed after my death march toward the heavens. (When Pat informed me that Hain had painted this cupola another couple of stories above us, my one thought was: “Better you than me, kiddo.”) “Art Is the Grandchild of God.” Those words above, from Dante, kick off the Instaurare article. During our tour, Pat remarked that the creation of such a building in this day and age is amazing for a college this size. After seeing the efforts made

to bring beauty to a building and to give glory to God through architecture, I agreed with him, though the use of “chapel” to describe this church seemed understated. “Cathedral” might better describe this edifice, though no bishop sits here. I’ve left out a dozen more details from my tour, but here is a final example of the care and thought put into this creation. When Pat took me to the choir loft, which is above the entranceway, I asked him whether they’d experienced any problems with acoustics. He explained that a single layer of drywall in such buildings can do harm to the quality of the sound, and went on to tell me they had therefore installed in the choir loft three layers of drywall glued together and two layers throughout the rest of the church. They then brought in some members of the Christendom College choir, had them sing, and found that this tactic worked. Near the end of my tour, Pat Haggerty remarked, “We’re really pleased with the team we’ve put together—the architects, the artists and engineers, and all the others.”

BE AUTY 'S R O L E “Beauty will save the world.” So wrote Dostoevsky. Is that true? Can beauty really redeem our fallen humanity? Of that I am uncertain, but I do know that Haggerty’s team is teaching the rest of us a lesson. Their efforts and care in this construction of Christ the King Chapel clearly demonstrate that we are still capable of constructing beautiful buildings, that we can merge the treasures of the past with the talents of the present, and that as Mandy Hain says: “Beauty is not an accessory. It is a necessity that has transformative, healing, and encouraging power. It brings us to its source and makes us better without effort on our part.” Agreed. Except when climbing those nine stories of stairs. Now that took some effort.

Jeff Minick has four children, who attended Christendom College, and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog.

This article originally appeared in The Epoch Times, (www.theepochtimes.com).

D window 02.02.2021

Rendering of new canopy encasing the window of the Sacred Heart of Jesus currently under production at Beyer Studio in Philadelphia.

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NEWS

BRIEF PIUS X ALUMNI AWARD Christendom College’s Alumni Advisory Council posthumously honored the late, beloved Dr. Brendan McGuire with the college’s Pius X Alumni Award at the end of December 2020. The college’s Alumni Advisory Council, early in 2020, requested nominations from alumni for the award, with McGuire the overwhelming nominee because of his work in academia and the broader college community, and most especially because of his heroic personal example of a life centered in Christ. The award is typically given at Christendom’s Homecoming, but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the weekend was canceled for 2020. As a result, the college presented the award to McGuire’s wife, Susan, in a special ceremony.

RECORD ENROLLMENT Christendom College began 2021 with a record enrollment for a spring semester with 510 students studying at Christendom. That number includes 26 students who are studying in Rome, following the success of the college’s fall semester in the Eternal City—a semester in which Christendom was one of only five American colleges to invite students to study in Rome.

FRIENDSHIP AND HAPPINESS Philosophy professor and alumnus Dr. John Cuddeback’s acclaimed work True Friendship: Where Virtue Becomes Happiness is now out in a new, expanded edition from Ignatius Press. Featuring new chapters on human friendship as preparation for friendship with God and more, the book provides a practical guide to the most rewarding of human achievements: being a friend. 10

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YOUNGEST OF SEVEN

EVANGELIZING IN TEXAS Alumna Elizabeth Slaten (’15) is taking an active part in the New Evangelization in her new role as managing editor of the Catholic East Texas magazine, using her knowledge and passion to restore all things in Christ. Slaten, inspired by Bishop Strickland’s Constitution of Teaching, hopes that the Catholic East Texas will become a tool for evangelization and catechesis in every home in the Diocese of Tyler on a regular basis.

Nearly 20 years after their oldest child first enrolled at Christendom, the Lancaster family from Seminole, Florida, will see their youngest—Caroline—graduate this May. When she does so, the Lancasters will set a new record for Christendom, becoming the first family to send all of their children—seven—to Christendom and see all seven of them graduate. Other families have sent all their children to the college, but the Lancasters will become the largest family to do so, topping the previous record of six.

in the press DANGERS OF GNOSTICISM Academic Dean Dr. Ben Reinhard dug into one of the “defining features” of modern discourse in his article for Catholic World Report, presenting the dangers of Gnosticism and its impact in today’s world. Examining the rise of modern Gnosticism, Reinhard argues for turning away from social media and the relentless news cycle back toward the family, prayer, and the Sacraments, following the example of the Incarnate Christ rather than the Gnostic views espoused by many in society. Read the article at bit.ly/38OoYwx

GRAHAM GREENE History professor Dr. Adam Schwartz appeared in the Kirk Center's University Bookman reviewing a new book on the life of author Graham Greene. In the review, Schwartz says, “Graham Greene’s imagination gave intellectual and ethical shape to a supernaturalist understanding of the universal problem of evil, one that interacted critically and creatively with his era’s competing worldly narratives of meaning by averring that an earthly New Jerusalem cannot be built out of the crooked timber of humanity.” Read the article at bit.ly/30LVsTI

Requiescat in Pace Former Payroll, Human Relations, and Benefits Manager Carolyn Tharpe, who joyfully served the college community for over 30 years, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 8. Tharpe first joined Christendom in 1988, working with the rest of the college’s business office to ensure the successful operation of the college. Tharpe will be sorely missed by the entire Christendom community.

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Fulfilling Brothers Seek to Build Catholic Community of Artists in Los Angeles

It’s 2:00 in the morning—

Joe ’14 and Michael ’19 Duca

“

It’s one thing to know the truth, but to live it out, you can’t do that alone.

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and warm. Inside an old barn in rural Virginia in the middle of July, the space is musty and, strangely, packed with people. Joe, Michael, and Daniel Duca are all watching their sister, Elisa, act out a crucial scene from Joe’s first movie, Her Name Was Jo. Standing off to the side, along with members of the crew, are Pamela Duca, the mother of the family, and friends and classmates of Joe. Each is there with a similar purpose: to support the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. At one point, for Joe at least, fulfilling this dream was a solo endeavor. But after four years at Christendom, that desire was transformed into something more fulfilling, more honest, and more restorative than he—or the rest of the Duca brothers—could have anticipated. Growing up, the Duca brothers each quickly developed a desire to pursue art. On their property in Marshall, Virginia, they made their own movies and their own music, and began to discover their own creative voices through their projects. Early on, Joe, a graduate of the class of 2014, became the one obsessed with moviemaking. No matter the genre, Joe grew interested in joining the business himself and making the movies he was dreaming about day after day.

a Dream BY ZACH SMITH

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Young actresses Mary Cate Williams and Elisa Duca in a scene from Her Name Was Jo.

Initially, that dream was plotted along the same lines as other Hollywood directors: leave home for a fresh start and find oneself by making movies. These directors went to places like the University of Southern California or UCLA. So, how did Joe eventually find himself enrolling at Christendom? “Ever since I wanted to be anything at all, I wanted to make movies,” recalls Joe. “But as much as I wanted to learn the craft, that’s only one part of being an artist. I wanted to have something to say, a voice, a perspective on the world—to have a vision. Going to the University of Southern California would’ve really helped with networking and camera placement, sure—but to really have a sense of the world, its history, and my place in it? Why am I putting a camera there? Why am I even picking up a camera? That’s what I wanted to find. Philosophy begins in wonder, and so does art. And to cultivate that joy in creation, that honesty in discovery—I don’t think I would have found that anywhere else but at Christendom.” Over the course of the next four years, Joe began to discover truths about himself and his potential that he had pushed aside over time. The Catholic community life at Christendom, coupled with what he was studying in the classroom, resulted in an emotional and intellectual actualization of his potential. After years of study and Catholic cultural experiences, Joe left believing he could follow his dreams but do so in an even more fulfilling way: by eventually building a community of Catholic artists in Hollywood. In the seven years since graduating from college, Joe has now made two feature films—both with his family. Evergreen

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is currently available to rent on all major platforms, while his other film, Her Name Was Jo, was recently picked up for international distribution, with a local premiere being held in the Front Royal area—where the movie was shot. Her Name Was Jo and Evergreen gave him the opportunity to grapple with the messiness of human nature outside of the abstract concepts of philosophy class, to see it play out in experience, and to offer that to an audience. Even more so, both gave him the ability to make films with his family and fellow Christendom alumni, replicating the experience he had on Christendom’s campus in a broader way in the world. That emotional throughline—of discovering which values mean the most, especially community—were heavily influential on Michael’s career choices as well. Michael, a graduate of the class of 2019, has been writing and performing songs for years now, starting in a shed outside his family’s house before graduating to high school talent shows and eventually coffee shops in Los Angeles, California, while living with Joe soon after his 2014 graduation. Once he arrived at Christendom in 2015, Michael started pouring even more time into his work. Two years into college, Michael released his first EP: Best Face Forward, inspired by personal stories. A year later, Michael released his second EP, Eat Local, and another four singles were released in the following years. He released two of those singles—Myself from Me and Sway—during the tumult of 2020. Throughout this artistic process, Michael realized the value of collaboration and community. The relationships he formed with professors and classmates at Christendom helped

“

Philosophy begins in wonder, and so does art. And to cultivate that joy in creation, that honesty in discovery— discovery —I don’t think I would have found that anywhere else but at Christendom.

Top left: Official poster for Her Name Was Jo. Bottom left: Joe Duca on the set of Evergreen. Top right: On the set, Joe Duca directs a scene from Her Name Was Jo in a Catholic church. Bottom right: Duca reviews scenes with his crew during the filming of Evergreen.

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Christendom reinforced and further developed my understanding of the human experience, and also gave me the ability to express this understanding confidently.

Top left: Michael Duca performs at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse in Ohio. Top right: Daniel Duca is enjoying his junior semester in Rome as a Christendom student this spring. Below: Daniel, Michael, and Joe Duca at Michael’s wedding in January 2021.

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him grow in his relationships with his family. The time spent talking with roommates late at night gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams of going into music. And in his class, he ultimately met his greatest collaborator: his now-wife, Mary Katherine (Mooney) Duca, who has designed every one of his album covers to date. “As a musician and songwriter, I was uniquely affected by my time at Christendom,” says Michael. “I’ve always been very convicted about the things I believe to be true, but prior to Christendom, I lacked the skills to express those things well. Christendom reinforced and further developed my understanding of the human experience, and also gave me the ability to express this understanding confidently. Through conversations with teachers and students at Christendom, I came to better understand myself and what I wanted to say to the world through songwriting. Since art is a reflection of the artist, my time at Christendom has forever changed the way I create.” Today, Michael and Mary Katherine, along with Joe, reside in Los Angeles. Joe is in the midst of developing several projects, including a sequel to Evergreen and another smaller-budget picture. Michael’s next single, Midnight Comeback, was released on March 26, with more singles planned for release throughout 2021, all leading into the writing, production, marketing, and release of his first full-length debut album.

All the while, Daniel, the third brother, is in the midst of his third year at Christendom. During the summers in between academic years, Daniel has spent time in both Los Angeles and Virginia, developing his skills and learning more about the film and music industries. He’s helped both Joe and Michael with their projects and is now currently applying for internships to work in music management over the coming summer. His ultimate goal is to land a position at a prominent management firm and begin his journey in establishing himself as a personal music manager. Christendom, for him, is the best place to begin preparing for his future career. “The education at Christendom has given me the confidence to go out into the world and believe that I can help people,” says Daniel. “The college has helped me identify my talents and the good that I have to offer through the curriculum. Studying the liberal arts, especially philosophy, allows me to honestly assess who I am, and, through that, what I want to do. Not only that, it has also helped me to look at the world and see what is lacking so that I can use the gifts that God has given me to play my part in evangelization.” Over the past decade, the Ducas have taken major risks in pursuing their dreams. Film and music are notoriously difficult career fields to get into, but each feels they have been given the tools to pursue their dreams—in a community—because of their

time at Christendom. The college’s culture and community gave each an emotional confidence, but also a further desire to build out such a community in places like Hollywood. “To every Catholic that wants to pursue a career in art: don’t be afraid,” encourages Michael. “In Los Angeles, my wife and I have found a thriving community of young Catholic creatives who desire to bring the Faith to the arts. Yes, it is a daily test of your faith [in Hollywood]. As Matthew McConaughey says, ‘Hollywood is not a place to go find yourself.’ That’s what a Christendom education is for. With that education, we should be inspired to challenge the entertainment industry by creating honest, compelling, and moral art that explores all truths of human life. So, when I say, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ I mean trust your conscience, believe in yourself, and have faith that God will guide you. Then, create art for the culture and people that are starving for something honest and beautiful.” When Warren Carroll founded Christendom, he did so with the explicit desire that the college form lay men and women to go out and impact every level of society. The Ducas heard that mission and took it to heart. For them, their dreams and the mission of the college are linked. “Daring to be great implies an individual doing the daring,” says Joe, “an individual with their own personality, their own wants and needs and longing. There’s a person there with their own unrepeatable response to God’s calling to fulfill creation in their own heart and their own way. So that’s the corollary to me: you must also dare to be authentic. To be courageous as only you can, to offer the world your unique image and likeness. You must cultivate your own identity, your own path to eternity. We owe it to the world. To restore all things in Christ, I think we must first restore ourselves in Him.” “Christendom affords a space and resources to do that," he concludes. “There’s a lived-in quality—a messiness—to growth. And to be able to do it in an environment of friends, professors, a community who want to accompany you in that growth—it’s priceless. It’s one thing to know the truth, but to live it out, you can’t do that alone.” The Ducas have already accomplished so much with their talents, but for them, they are only just getting started. Their hope is that their story will inspire other students and alumni to take risks to pursue their passions, using what they learned at Christendom to truly fulfill Warren Carroll’s dream.

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Childhood of Christ by Gerrit van Honthorst

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B Y J O HN CUDDEBAC K, PHD

In this year of St. Joseph, I turn to God’s Word to meditate on the vocation of a husband and father. “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?” (Luke 12:42) Indeed, who is he? If I am a husband and father, then it seems that I am called to be he, for surely my household is really His household, and I have been set over it—whatever exactly that means!

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The Church applies these Gospel words to St. Joseph. Therefore, it is fitting that I meditate on the life of St. Joseph to try to discover more about who he is, so I can better understand who I should be. To this end, I will go back to that Old Testament type of St. Joseph—the ‘other Joseph,’ Joseph of Egypt—to glean from his story insight into St. Joseph. I will take as a directive for me the words of pharaoh of Egypt, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” (Genesis 41:55)

S TEP P IN G U P TO T H E VOC ATI O N OF A MAN “[A]nd he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.” (Genesis 39:4) Pharaoh’s steward Potiphar put Joseph over his house. Later, the pharaoh himself would do the same. “[Y]ou shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.” (Genesis 41:40) There is something quite dramatic here. A man who has no special claim to it is given a great charge. He is put over a household, and then a nation, that is not really his—at least not as his own possession. Yet it becomes his, as a place that he serves, by the order of someone higher—someone who has an even deeper interest in the good of those people. To be a man is to be a crafter of the good life, in oneself and others. A man wants to make something. Just what is the primary object of his making, of his crafting? For a husband and father, it is the real flourishing of his household—i.e., the persons in the community under his special care. The household is the real home of masculinity. Anything a man does in business or sports, for instance, is but a shadow of what he does here. The household is the most natural context where manhood is developed and honed precisely in and through a man’s discovering and exercising his place there. And what is he to do there? “You shall be over my house.” (Genesis 41:39) So says Pharaoh to Joseph, and so said God to St. Joseph. And amazingly, He says this to me. This is my calling, regardless of how strange it sounds, or how unprepared I find myself. Now is the time for me to step up. I am not “discreet and wise” (Ibid.) as were the two Josephs, but I must do my best.

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Joseph and Jesus in the workshop. St Martin’s Church, Kortrijk, Belgium.

THE G I FT O F AUTHO RI TY “Lo, having me, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand.” (Genesis 39:8, Joseph to Potiphar’s wife) “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” (Luke 2:51) True authority is in God. That He deigns to exercise authority over His creatures is one of the most profound expressions of His love for us. That He deigns to share authority with His creatures—inviting them in various ways to have and also be

under authority—is a further gift, one that is mysterious and multifaceted. Mine is the challenge to discover the reality of authority and its inseparable connection with my love for my wife and children. I need to remember two things. First, authority is sometimes invested in those who are unworthy of it. Indeed, ultimately, only God is perfectly suited to the exercise of authority. The nature and ends of authority are not to be judged from the suitability or the performance of those invested with it. This is clear in scripture, history, and experience. Second, whether I or anyone

else likes it or not, human authority is an absolutely essential means for the flourishing of human persons—especially in the most important contexts, such as the household. Scripture repeatedly speaks of authority in terms of being “over” people. What am I to make of this? Am I really called to be “over” those closest to me? It is critical that I get this right; everything depends on it. I must distinguish between “over” as taskmaster and “over” as foreseeing guide and provider. “Over” can be a mode of love, bringing God’s love and care, according to His plan, to those I serve by my authority. Or it can be an

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G O I NG TO J O SEPH

Joseph revealing himself to his brothers.

exercise of selfishness rather than love, and force rather than real strength. And this distinction makes all the difference in life. To recede or shy away from my authority will be to fail in love—to fail to receive the gift God intends for me, and more importantly, for my loved ones. “To give them their portion of food at the proper time.” (Luke 12:42) Clearly, this concerns much more than just bodily needs. My authority in the home is an instrument tuned to the key of true human flourishing in all of its richness. Authority brings right order, arranging things for the good of those “under” it, putting first things first. It takes many forms: instructing, directing, commanding, correcting, punishing, encouraging. Perhaps the central challenge, especially today, is to discern how my wife and I have joint authority in the home, while at the same time I also have a first authority, even in relation to her. This is very mysterious and a common stumbling block. Words often fail in capturing this reality; people are offended and confused. This is understandable. Failures in the exercise of authority are often precisely what make us doubt, distrust, or even hate it. We men have not done our part, and so the gift of our authority has been discredited and rejected. And then there is St. Joseph, whom God put over the Holy Family. Over Mary. Over Jesus. And he loved, and he served them, by his authority. He must have wondered, “How can I be ‘over’ them?” But Mary needed a real man for a husband, and Jesus needed a real man for a father. And they would not be let down. Not on St. Joseph’s watch.

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St. Joseph will be my patron. The man who says nothing in the New Testament has much to say to me. I will have to listen carefully. I need to meditate on his dispositions and his actions. There is more here than I have realized. I will need to attend to directives from God the Father and listen for communications from angels. I will need to get up in the middle in the night—perhaps regularly—and sometimes I might need to wake up my wife and children too. I will need to lead them, sometimes to a place they know not; sometimes a place that I hardly know at all. But I must still take first responsibility. The reality is that the world is often hostile to what we as a household are trying to do and to be. This is not new, even if it is newly virulent. What is it about Egypt? Perhaps in certain kinds of adversity a man can learn what is most important. There, I might develop that other-centered-focus that is the flowering of masculinity. Joseph of Egypt labored there for long years, for some of which he was a slave or prisoner. St. Joseph was there in exile and poverty. And their hearts were refined like gold. They learned to focus on God, and the vocation to serve others, in their specific call as men. A couple of lines from scripture I will carry with me: First: “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” St. Joseph is my God-given pattern and patron. His actions speak louder than words. Second: “They did not know that Joseph understood them.” (Genesis 42:23) This was when Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt and they spoke among themselves in his presence, thinking he couldn’t understand them. St. Joseph is a patron for all men in all circumstances. Our challenges are not foreign or unperceived by him, nor by God our Father. He understands. Finally, scripture says that “the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.” (Genesis 39:5) God, grant that I might be such a source of blessing to all in my house and beyond. John A. Cuddeback, PhD, has been a philosophy professor at Christendom for a quarter century. He blogs at Life-Craft.org, where he offers the free online courses Man of the Household and Woman of the Household. His book, True Friendship, has just been republished by Ignatius Press in a new expanded edition.

In the Classroom HIGHLIGHTING A COURSE FROM OUR RICH CURRICULUM T H E O 4 9 3 THO MAS M O RE : HUM ANISM A N D R EFOR M BY MICHAEL KELLY, PHD Thomas More by Hans Holbein

Dr. Kelly in the classroom

In spring 2020, I introduced a new

course in the History Department—Thomas More: Humanism and Reform. Supported by the happy chance that St. John the Evangelist Library owns the entire magnificent Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St. Thomas More, I got about 20 students to embark upon the study of the life and turbulent times of the patron saint of lawyers. Born into an England roiled by the Wars of the Roses, More would go to the scaffold a victim of the Henrician Reformation, while along the way he would be deeply involved in, reflect upon, influence, and be influenced by the major Christendom wide political, intellectual, and cultural developments of the seven decades in which he lived. Students got to know the English paragon of Christian humanism and ardent promoter of the liberal arts through studying the history of his times and his own compositions—history, biography, poetry, religious polemic, devotions, and meditations, as well as the famous and ever-provocative Utopia. We moved from More the literary man, to More the courtier, to More the exemplary paterfamilias, to More the champion of the Church, saint, and martyr. Class benefited from Kelly’s own photographs of sites in England associated with Thomas More: his birthplace on Milk Street, his parish Chelsea Old Church, the site of his home on the Thames, and his last residence, the Tower of London. At last, forced to go virtual as much of the world went into quarantine or lockdown, we perhaps got a slight taste of More’s last days as we read together and reflected upon one of Thomas More’s majestic prison works, The Dialogue of Comfort in Tribulation, composed as he prepared to die “the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”

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For Present & Future

Generations

Catholic Couple Helps Students Find Faithful Formation to Combat Rising Tide of Secularism

BY ISA BELLA REILLY & DANIELLE DUS S E AULT

Even amid these uncertain times,

Marvin and Cheryl Spychaj are sure of this: they want Christendom College to continue to be financially stable now and far into the future. Marvin and Cheryl have been faithful supporters of Christendom College and are particularly interested in providing valuable financial aid to students who hope to receive a Christendom education. Why are Christendom students so important to the Spychajs? Because, as Marvin says, “young people are the future” and their college years are an important time of formation. Marvin recounts how he had a wonderful experience at a Jesuit college, with strong theological and philosophical studies, which enabled him “to both live my faith and grow in my faith.” However, in recent years, many young Catholics are not blessed with that experience of college. Young people are having to face an increasingly secular world, where traditional values and views are rejected. Moreover, most young Catholics are not receiving the kind of education that enables them to analyze and respond, intentionally and critically, to the numerous agendas and propaganda of an increasingly secular world. In fact, Cheryl’s college experience exemplified the challenges that, sadly, most young people are still facing. Unlike Marvin, Cheryl’s college experience left her shaken in her faith. Though Cheryl was raised Catholic, she left the Catholic Church shortly after her college years. Cheryl says, “I recall being taught in college that everything is relative. If it feels right to you, then 24

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do it. Because I was taught this in a Catholic college, I just thought it must be right … [and] this opened the door of my heart to the very dangerous waters of relativism.” By the grace of God, Cheryl returned to the Catholic faith because of her deep yearning for the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, not all young people who fall away from the Faith in their college years are rescued by the deep call of the True Presence. Disturbed by the number of young people leaving the Catholic Church while attending college these days, Marvin and Cheryl admit they are concerned about the Church’s future. They have, however, found hope in Christendom’s mission to educate students in the Truth. As the Spychajs attest, “Christendom truly is a Catholic college whose orthodoxy is unquestioned. There, young people are challenged to embrace their faith and grow their faith as they prepare for the challenges of adulthood.” “Christendom is the answer to many challenges young people currently face,” Marvin continues. “While we cannot avoid what the world often demands of us, we can live as our Faith guides us. Christendom College is giving students the tools to do this. We need to ensure that colleges like Christendom—and there are others—are there for present and future generations, providing them an opportunity to learn about and live their faith free of worry or concern from the secular world.” Through their ongoing support, Marvin and Cheryl are ensuring that Christendom College will continue to provide a faithful Catholic education that forms young people in Truth

Marvin and Cheryl Spychaj

To learn how you may designate an IRA to Christendom, go to www.christendom.edu/designate-ira on the college’s new planned giving website.

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While we cannot avoid what the world often demands of us, we can live as our Faith guides us. and prepares them to be future Catholic leaders—all while remaining independent of coercive federal strings thanks to zero federal funding. The Spychajs recognize that “in the near term—as well as in the long term—there will be Christendom students who will need financial aid to continue and complete their studies at the college.” Consequently, to ensure the future of the college, they have named Christendom College as one of the beneficiaries of their individual retirement account (IRA) assets. This enables the Spychajs to preserve their Catholic

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heritage by helping educate future Catholic leaders of the Church, while still providing for their own needs. Marvin and Cheryl maintain control of the IRA during their lifetimes in case an unforeseen financial need arises. This type of gift will also ensure that their legacy will make a lasting impact on the Faith for generations. “We need to ensure that Christendom exists for present and future generations,” share the Spychajs. “If we can help more students receive such a faithful formation, we’ll have accomplished our goal!” SPRING 2021

Putting the Culture “Back on Track” Through Faithful Catholic Education BY DANIELLE D US S EAULT

“These days, we are so divided as a nation

and even as a church,” reflects Christendom benefactor Paul Faraci. “In addition, Catholic higher education is suffering from decades of low standards and the deterioration of family life. This needs to change.” In the face of the division he sees within society, Paul believes that the key to healing the culture and the Church lies in restoring authentic Catholic higher education. He sees in Christendom College a remedy for the troubles plaguing our society these days. Hailing from Alexandria, Virginia, Paul first heard of Christendom College 15 years ago through an announcement in his parish bulletin for Christendom’s then-annual Summer Institute on Marriage and the Family. After hearing positive reviews and wanting to experience the College himself, Paul attended the Summer Institute and has been involved with Christendom ever since. 26

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As a member of the President s Council—Christendom’s donor recognition society consisting of those who generously contribute $1,000 or more a year—Paul has taken advantage of the various formation opportunities Christendom offers to connect its family of donors with the Christendom experience. Through on-campus events like the annual Christmas at Christendom celebration and Summer Consortium, Paul has attended lectures by many of Christendom’s faculty and other visiting Catholic luminaries. His engagement with the intellectual culture of Christendom has motivated his growing support for the College and its students.

Paul Faraci, pictured above, has enjoyed many conferences engaging in the intellectual culture of the college.

“After attending some of these classes, I can see that Christendom has its priorities straight,” says Paul. “The curriculum prioritizes nurturing and imparting the sacred truths of Holy Mother Church, not only for its current students but also for the future of society and the Church.” Seeing firsthand the effects of a Christendom formation, Paul wants to help students in need attend the College. He chose to sponsor two students through Christendom’s popular “Sponsor a Student” program. Since Christendom rejects federal government funding, there is an average shortfall in the cost of educating the students

of about $5,000 per student each year. Paul and other generous Christendom benefactors help bridge this gap through their support. They make Christendom’s time-tested Catholic liberal arts education in the Truth possible for the students. Paul is helping educate the future leaders of our nation and Church through the Sponsor a Student program, as well as through sponsoring classroom hours of instruction at the college. Thanks to Paul’s support, students thrive in the classroom as they grow to know the Word Made Flesh, and are prepared to spread the Faith to others. “I’m thrilled to see more and more young people choose Christendom,” shares Paul. “I believe the College will only continue to grow in popularity among these young men and women as the need for this type of institution grows more apparent.” Helping students receive a Christendom education gives Paul hope. Through sponsoring students and course hours, Paul is allowing students to learn the Truth, free from secular ideology. He is witnessing young students attending Christendom not only for the benefit of their own education but also to become faithful, contributing citizens in today’s secular society. “With its familial atmosphere, strong academics, and loyalty to the Magisterium, Christendom certainly stands out,” says Paul. “I believe Christendom College and its students are integral to setting our nation and the culture back on track, and I want to be a part of that.”

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LEADING A

Generation T O S AV E T H E N E X T

How Senior Elizabeth Eller Has Made a National Impact in the Pro-Life Movement B Y J O HA N N A BUR KE

Pro-life activist and student body president

Elizabeth Eller is an ardent soldier in the battle to defend life. With the firm conviction that her generation has the power to bring an end to abortion, Eller has devoted her time and talents to protecting unborn babies, assisting mothers, and leading her peers toward greater fervor for the pro-life cause. From sidewalk counseling to prayer initiatives, Eller does not just agree with the pro-life stance, she lives it. Eller’s dedication to protecting vulnerable lives made her the perfect candidate to represent the young face of the pro-life movement at the 2021 March for Life virtual rally. With tens of thousands tuning in, Eller delivered her address alongside famous pro-life speakers, such as Tim Tebow and Lila Rose. Her message was clear—the time to bravely rise up against abortion is now, and the younger generation has a crucial role to play in turning the tide toward life.

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“To my fellow young people—a third of our generation is missing because they were not deemed worthy of their very own lives. With this in mind, I implore you—do everything you can to give a voice to those who don’t have their own,” Eller stated in her address. “We can and will be the generation that sees the end of abortion if we take responsibility and defend the unborn. Millions of lives depend on our actions.” Acting upon this conviction, Eller has taken it upon herself to change hearts and save lives. As president of Christendom’s pro-life club Shield of Roses, Eller has spent her Saturday mornings praying outside a local abortion clinic with her classmates. Through this club, Eller also trained to become a sidewalk counselor, valiantly interceding for life at the most crucial moment. “While sidewalk counseling with my fellow students at Christendom College, I experienced firsthand how young women just like me are lied to and abused by the abortion industry,” Eller shared in her address. “Women deserve better than abortion, and so do their babies.”

“We can and will be the generation that sees the end of abortion if we take responsibility and defend the unborn. Millions of lives depend on our actions.” Not only has participating in Shield of Roses given Eller the chance to advocate for life through sidewalk counseling, it has also made her keenly aware of the power of prayer in the fight against abortion. “I went and prayed for the unborn every single Saturday morning [with Shield of Roses], even when it was inconvenient.

Eller leading the rosary for Shield of Roses—Christendom's pro-life club, which prays outside a local abortion clinic on Saturday mornings.

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This consistency helped me understand how essential unceasing prayer is in the fight against abortion. Prayer truly is our most powerful weapon,” Eller shared During the summer of 2019, Eller devoted herself to prayer and fasting by participating in a cross-country pilgrimage with Crossroads Pro-Life. Over the course of 12 weeks, she and 13 other young adults traveled on foot from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., offering up their long days and sufferings for an end to abortion. On this journey, Eller and her fellow pilgrims bore witness to the culture of life through presenting at conferences and churches, praying at abortion clinics, and interacting with those they met along the way. “This experience changed my life and solidified my commitment to never stop standing up for the unborn,” Eller shared. Upon returning from the Crossroads pilgrimage, Eller began interventional counseling with an organization in her local community called Hope4Life, which stations mobile pregnancy resource centers near abortion clinics. In addition to providing free ultrasounds and medical services, Hope4Life volunteers connect women with the resources and support they need to choose life. By seeing their baby on an ultrasound, women encounter the humanity of the life within them, inspiring them to give their child a chance. Eller (left) celebrating the completion of her cross-country pilgrimage at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.

“Getting to be in the room when a mother sees her baby on the ultrasound machine for the first time is an incredible experience that confirms how important our work is. I have talked to several women in the parking lot who have changed their minds and chosen life because of our presence.

“Getting to be in the room when a mother sees her baby on the ultrasound machine for the first time is an incredible experience that confirms how important our work is,” Eller shared. “I have talked to several women in the parking lot who have changed their minds and chosen life because of our presence.” One such instance was over Eller’s Christmas break. While volunteering with Hope4Life, Eller helped a young mother choose life right before her appointment at the abortion clinic. “I could tell that she was afraid as soon as she started talking to me,” Eller shared. “I asked if she was pregnant and congratulated her when she said yes. I told her about her baby and how he or she already had a heartbeat and was very much alive.” As they were talking, the Hope4Life unit pulled into the parking lot, and the young woman agreed to receive an ultrasound. “She was so excited when I told her that she could see her baby right then and there,” Eller said, “whereas the abortion clinic would not actually show her the ultrasound. She decided to skip her appointment at the abortion clinic and left excited, having chosen to keep her baby.” SPRING 2021

From active intervention to prayer and sacrifice, Eller is fighting for life on every level. Her experience and dedication made Eller a fitting representative for young people at the March for Life virtual rally. “Giving a speech at the March for Life rally was an amazing experience. Knowing that hundreds of thousands of people would watch the virtual rally and that I was one of the speakers among such heroic advocates for life was such an honor,” Eller shared. “Being able to represent my generation as a source of hope for the pro-life cause on such a large scale is something I never imagined myself doing, but it was certainly a humbling experience.” With graduation on the horizon, Eller took time for reflection and prayer to discern how God wanted her to continue her pro-life work. She plans to continue sidewalk counseling and also feels called to build the pro-life movement by investing her energies in Christendom College. Eller will be joining the college as a donor relations assistant, working to spread the good news about Christendom and supporting its students—the future leaders of the pro-life movement. “Get out to an abortion clinic and get involved,” is Eller’s advice to her peers. “As young people, we have the huge advantage of being approachable to young mothers in need of help. Changing hearts and minds is what will change the

Eller recording her address for the 2021 March for Life Virtual Rally

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culture, and prayer and presence at abortion clinics is the easiest way to change hearts and minds.” Eller’s story is a call to action and a stirring reminder of the responsibility each of us holds in defending life at every stage. “Complacency just isn’t an option if we really do believe that thousands of innocent children are being murdered every day right outside our doors,” Eller shared. “God has blessed us as Catholics with knowledge of the truth about abortion, and I believe that this knowledge comes with responsibility to share the objective truth and expose the intolerable lies of the abortion industry.” In a time when it is difficult to hope, Eller’s testimony is an inspiration to take heart, keep faith, and continue standing up for innocent lives. Her message to young people is especially compelling—it is in the hands of the younger generation to save the next. With leaders like Eller mobilizing and uplifting young people, the culture of life can and will triumph.

WATCH HER MARCH FOR LIFE ADDRESS AT

youtu.be/yTHVsCLiwNU

Christendom unites for life on campus Christendom was set to lead the 2021

Eller leads the rosary during the rosary procession.

March for Life before it was moved to virtual format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of unrest in the nation’s capital. Resolved to unite in prayer despite altered plans, the college organized on-campus events for the day of the march. After morning Mass, students tuned in for the virtual Rally for Life, which included Elizabeth Eller’s address and many other inspiring speakers. Following the livestream, students, faculty, and staff gathered for a rosary procession around campus, which ended in front of the college’s Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, where flowers were laid in honor of the lives lost to abortion. Immediately after the procession, a Holy Hour for Life was held in the chapel, followed by Eucharistic Adoration continuing until midnight. Christendom College will lead the March for Life in Washington, D.C., in 2022, the fifth time the college will have the honor of carrying the leading banner.

Roses placed at the Fatima shrine in honor of the lives lost to abortion.

In place of attending the March for Life in D.C., students, faculty, and staff participated in a rosary procession on campus.

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S E N D YO U R S U B M I S S I O N S TO C L A S S M AT E S @ C H R I S T E N D O M . E D U

CLASSMATES YO U R PA P E R & I N K A L U M N I S O C I A L N E T WO R K

1980s

1990s

Mary Anne (née Murray) O’Hare ’85 sold the family house in 2020 and moved with her youngest son, Kilian, and her two cats to Fort Collins, Colorado. (The rest of the family stayed back in Virginia for work/school purposes and will join her in 2022.) She continues to advocate options for the disabled community, and hopes to start a private program for adults with intellectual disabilities. She can be reached at o.rabbits@gmail.com 1

Fr. Charles Bak, MSA ’91 is assigned to Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he teaches (on-campus) History of Western Civilization and Church History. Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM ’91 would like to thank all of the Christendom alumni who contributed to the stained glass window in honor of his brother, Matthew Shane Cameron ’93. The new window is next to the altar of St. Joseph in Our Lady of the Caves Church in Horse Cave, Kentucky. Fr. Ben states:

“If you’re ever visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, please stop by to see the window. We’re the closest church to the national park.” 2 Ed and Joanne (née Fields) Portzer ’98 are happy to announce the birth of their son. Daniel Joseph Portzer was born February 24, 2021, at 4:22 a.m., weighing 8 lb. 10 oz. and 20.5 inches long! Despite a difficult delivery both Mama and baby are doing well. 3 Fr. Michael Ruddick ’98 enjoyed a pig roast on the grounds of his country parish, St. Michael’s, in Ontario, Canada. 4 Peter ’99 and Heather (née Tansey) ’03 Jensen are happy to announce that

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their fifth child, Luke Edward, was born October 17, 2020. He is currently no.1 in the power rankings. 5

2000s John Issigonis ’01 and his wife, Sandy, along with their children, Anastasia, Avery, and Alexa, would like to announce the birth of Aidan Patrick Issigonis, born July 14, 2020. 6 David and Elizabeth (née Rice) Wallace ’05 welcomed their seventh child, Phoebe Joy Sophia, into the world in November 2020. 7 Patrick Quest ’08 and his wife, Kelsey, would like to announce the birth of John William “Liam” Quest, born on February 2, 2021, around 11 p.m. He weighed in at 8lbs 9oz and was 22 ¼ inches long. Kelsey and Liam are doing well, thanks be to God. Rand Lee Brown II ’08 has transitioned from the Marine Corps after 10plus years of service and is transitioning into defense contracting. Rand has a master’s degree in military history from

Norwich University (2016). In addition, Rand writes and lectures in his spare time on medieval military history, and has been published in various publications including the Marine Corps Gazette, Medievalists. net, and Medieval Warfare Magazine.

2010-15 Dennis Toscano ’10 and his wife, Catherine, would like to announce the birth of their firstborn, Antonino Bonifacio Toscano, who was born on December 18, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. Dennis teaches classics at St. Louis Priory School, where he is also the chair of modern and classical languages, and Catherine is a data analyst for CCA Global Partners. They have been living in St. Louis for the past five years. 8 Peter and Mary (née Harrington) Norris ’11 moved with their daughter, Mairi, to Dayton, Ohio, in August 2020. Peter's assignment is being a full-time student working toward his master's degree through the Air Force. Mary is keeping busy with motherhood and hoping to get involved with local theater as soon as possible. Joe Townsend ’11, John Fioramonti ’14, and John Paul Heisler ’17 will be ordained priests for the Diocese of Arlington in June 2021. Please keep our deacons and soon-to-be-priests in your prayers. Luke Tillotson ’13 and his wife, Mary, welcomed their daughter Julia in September 2020. 9 Matthew and Susannah (née Kelly) Cavanaugh ’13 welcomed baby num11

ber four, Benedict James Matthew, in November 2020. Susannah completed the certification process and is now a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner for the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. 10 Philip Briggs ’13 will be ordained a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Arlington on April 10, 2021. Please keep him and all our seminarians in your prayers. Dom and Katie (née McCoy) Gergen ’14 were blessed with the arrival of Boniface Michael on November 27, 2020. Cyprian and Caeli are loving their new little brother Bo. 11 Melody Wood ’15 and Connor Grubaugh were married in Nevada City, California, on July 25, 2020. Fr. Steven Wood ’13 concelebrated the liturgy, and also in attendance were Maria Bonvissuto ’15, Margaux Killackey ’15, Jessica Schmitz ’15, Sarah Gannon ’15, and Philip Gilbert ’15. Melody and Connor met as graduate students at the University of Notre Dame. The couple resides in Oxford, UK, as Connor reads for a DPhil in politics at Oriel College and Melody continues her PhD through Notre Dame. 12

2016-19

and they currently live in their hometown of Simi Valley, California. They will be moving to New York City sometime this summer, where Patrick works (remotely now) as a software engineer at Bloomberg and Madeline hopes to find work in the teaching or charity sector. 14 Joseph Cummings ’18 and Hannah Brezinsky ’17 were married on October 17, 2020, at Christ the King Chapel. 15 Johnny Echaniz and Maggie Adams ’19 were married on January 2, 2021. 16 Luke and Jane (née Adams) Maschue ’18 welcomed their second child and first daughter, Evangeline Charlotte, on January 5, 2021. Big brother Jude is delighted with his baby sister. 17 Krista Kosar ’19 graduated in December 2019 with a master's degree in library and information science and a certificate in archives and cultural heritage resources and services from Dominican University. 18 John Henry ’19 and Cecilia (née Fallon) Willson ’20 were married October 10, 2020, in Syracuse, New York. They are now living in Staunton, Virginia, and are happily awaiting the arrival of their first baby in July 2021. 19

2020+

Michael ’17 and Corinne (née Kavanagh) Urban ’16 welcomed a baby boy, Michael Robert Urban III, on February 7, 2021. 13 Madeline Gomez ’17 graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2020 with a master’s in theological studies. She married Patrick Stevenson on October 3, 2020, in Camarillo, California,

Compiled by Vince Criste ’98, director of alumni and donor relations. 20

Michael and Anna (née Solitario) Urankar ’20 are the proud parents of Charlotte Anne Urankar, born February 15, 2021, and baptized February 20 2021. 20

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O C TO B E R 1 - 3 , C H R I S T E N D O M A L U M N I . C O M

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

Omnia in Christo R e ve lation of Interi ori t y :

Th e Ep i sto la r y Pre s enc e in Jane Austen’s Pr id e a nd Pre judi ce BY KATHLEEN SULLIVAN, PHD

In a novel where all male

conversations occur only in the company of women, a lengthy letter from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet gives an extraordinary prominence to his voice. Why did Jane Austen use a letter, a popular narrative device of an earlier era, at such a moment in Pride and Prejudice? Samuel Richardson, a dominant epistolary novelist of the 18th century, promoted the epistolary novel convention to draw his audiences closer to the protagonist’s inner conflicts, for letters conveyed moment-to-moment introspective reflections and descriptions. Letters were, according to critic Ian Watt, “a short-cut . . . to the heart” (Watt 195). The 18th century epistolary novel found a ready and willing audience until the early 19th century, when the novel-of-letters genre fell in popularity. Since changes in the economic, social, and political structure of England’s 19th century society effected a change in the novel form, letters which had previously served as a method for representing dramatic expressions of sentiment took on another role: they became useful for representing the ordinary thoughts, impressions, and concerns of everyday life. In the Victorian era especially, many nineteenth-century authors did not utilize letters’ function to present subjective, sentimental expressions; instead, authors emphasized letters as objects that catalyze action, shaping the plot and causing changes to letter-readers’ lives. A shift occurred from expression to interpretation. The epistolary presence was no longer the primary method, or even needed, for characters to express their interior lives. By functioning instead as vehicles to convey information, letters primarily became mere plot devices. Yet Jane Austen, a devotee of Richardson’s epistolary novels, never abandoned the letter’s original intimate, confessional nature in her narratives. Although letters in Pride and Prejudice do function as devices to instigate plot action,

especially that of the recipients’ interpretation of the writer, they are also crucial narrative spaces for the letter-writer to reveal his motivations, emotions, and reflections—particularly from the male protagonist, Mr. Darcy. Scholars of Pride and Prejudice invariably comment on Darcy’s rhetorical prowess in his famous letter to Elizabeth Bennet when defending his actions after she refuses his marriage proposal; yet Darcy’s letter is more than a masterpiece in rhetoric. In his desire to justify himself, Darcy reveals, perhaps unconsciously, his interiority—the suffering, pain, love, and compassion he feels for family, friends, and Elizabeth. In giving the letter to Elizabeth personally while she is out on a solitary walk, Darcy protects Elizabeth’s reputation, since it was improper for an unmarried man to send an unmarried woman a letter through the mail unless the couple were engaged (Spacks 237). This concern for her is echoed in the letter’s opening line—“Be not alarmed, Madam” (Austen 129)—for although wounded pride is present, Darcy pays deference to Elizabeth’s distress. Further, when explaining his actions regarding Jane and Bingley, he reveals,“I had often seen Bingley in love before,” proving his motivations are not from pride, but rather from a selfless concern to prevent Bingley from suffering an insincere or mercenary love. Darcy’s interiority is again visible when he writes about his discovery of Wickham’s planned elopement with Darcy’s young sister:

Works Cited: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice (1813). Donald Gray, ed. 3rd Edition. Norton Critical, 2000; Spacks, Patricia Meyer, ed. Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition. Belknap Press, 2010; Watt, Ian. The Rise of the Novel: Studies in Defoe, Richardson and Fielding. University of California Press, 2001.

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“You may imagine what I felt and how I acted” (133). Although he does not intimately detail his tumultuous feelings, Elizabeth must recognize the pain he felt in sharing a sister’s heartache. They are not so different after all. Despite the rational and objective tone of Darcy’s letter, his emotional life is brought vividly before Elizabeth, and it is her recognition of his feelings that prompts Elizabeth to reconsider the truth of his words. Even Darcy’s signature to Elizabeth at the end of the letter promises kindness and love when he writes: “I will only add, God bless you” (134). Elizabeth responds to this expression of emotion when reading the letter, and unable to end her encounter with his interior life, she reads the letter several more times. In so doing, she undergoes an irrevocable change of mind and heart, proclaiming her famous epiphany: “Till this moment, I never knew myself ” (137). Elizabeth recognizes the honest emotions that inspired Darcy’s letter and she is led to understand, to forgive, and later, to love him. Jane Austen uses the 18th century epistolary convention while adapting it to suit her narrative purposes, as proved by Elizabeth’s life-changing response to Darcy’s letter. Far from a bland plot device to convey news in an efficient manner, this letter is a powerful representation of Darcy’s vibrant interior life. Indeed, Austen recognized the power of the epistolary mode when it is intimately connected with the writer’s personhood. As effective catalysts in capturing the subjective perceptions of both writer and letter-reader, leading to hopefully more judicial interpretations, letters are valuable components of any narrative, functioning to activate mind and heart to reshape and redirect individuals and the progress of the novel, serving as a memorable and tangible record of intangible words. Kathleen Sullivan, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of English Language and Literature.

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