Instaurare | Winter 2016 by Christendom College

Instaurare The Christendom College Quarterly Magazine

WINTER 2016

forHope

The Second Generation of a Christendom Family Enjoys Four Siblings Simultaneously Enrolled

Fighting for Life in Philadelphia | Catholic Businessmen Find Hope for the Future A Call to Greatness: Campaign Update | From iPod to Christendom

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VOLUME 24 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2016 Published quarterly by the Christendom College Marketing Office. Executive Editor: Tom McFadden Managing Editor & Design/Layout: Niall O’Donnell Photos: Zachary Smith, Niall O’Donnell, Sarah Ziegler, Mary Katherine Mooney, Bridget Gaffney, Tamlyn Sheng Contributors: Zachary Smith, Mary Schneider, Ksenia Koltusky, Vince Criste Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 800.877.5456 | christendom.edu Copyright © 2016. 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

Donna Fitzpatrick Bethell, Chair Douglas Dewey, Vice Chair John Cecconi, Treasurer Robert Scrivener ’81, Secretary Eugene D’Agostino Martin Boles Richard Esposito Richard R. Hough III Timothy O’Donnell, ex ofﬁcio Stephen O’Keefe ’93 Vincenzo La Ruffa Mary Beth Riordan Mark Swartzberg Thomas West Luanne Zurlo

Mary Ellen Bork Bernadette Casey-Smith Robert Crnkovich Philip Crotty John DeMatteo Robert P. George Daniel Gorman Joan Janaro Katherine McAvoy 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 Eugene Zurlo

ON THE COVER

The Cook siblings at Christendom. L–R: Tim (senior), Theresa (freshman), Anna (sophomore), and John Paul (junior). See story on page 24.

Want more news from Christendom? SIGN UP FOR OUR CHRISTENDOM NOW EMAIL NEWSLETTER christendom.edu/now

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“[Christendom College is] where something new can happen, not just in the lives of students, but for our society as a whole.” – R. R. RENO First Things, December 2016 First Things magazine editor Dr. Rusty Reno launched Christendom College’s Major Speakers Program on October 3, delivering a lecture titled “Christianity in Public Life.”

Inside This Issue 24

Reasons for Hope The second generation of a Christendom family enjoys four siblings simultaneously enrolled as a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and a senior.

Fighting for Life in Philadelphia Alumnae fighting in the City of Brotherly Love to show that unborn lives matter.

From iPod to Christendom A simple hand-me-down gift that sent one man on a journey that deepened his faith and enabled him to achieve his dreams.

From the President

Liberal Arts in Action: Corporate Leaders

News in Brief

Announcing Christendom Media

In the Classroom: Modern American Drama

A Professor, an Alumna, and a Poet

A Call to Greatness: Campaign Update

Photos: From The Chronicler

Catholic Businessmen Find Hope for Future

Spreading the Good News of Christendom

Freshmen Athletes: Striving for Greatness

Classmates: Alumni News

Homecoming 2016

Omnia in Christo: The American New Critics

WINTER 2016

Really Seeing One Another FROM THE DESK OF COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. TIMOTHY O’DONNELL We are always being told that we must look forward to the future with hope. As Christians, we know there is something right about this, but, in today’s situation, I would submit to you that we cannot look forward with hope unless we ﬁrst look backward. As Pope St. John Paul II said, “A people ignorant of its past has no future.” We need to overcome what Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have called a massive amnesia in our contemporary world. Christmas is a great time to reawaken a “deep memory.”

“Each one of us is a unique creation born of God, loved by God, and reflecting, in some small way, His beauty and glory.”

As we prayerfully reflect upon God becoming man, we need to recognize in each and every one of us our unique dignity as human persons. In our world, the dignity of the human person is very much under attack today in the media, in education, and politics, as evidenced in abortion, euthanasia, widespread pornography, the attacks on marriage and family, and now gender confusion. Yet despite the attacks and confusion, each of us has been given great gifts from our Creator. We have an intellect with which we can see and grasp the Truth. We have a will which can move us to appropriate the Good. And at the core of our being, we have a heart with which we can love and respond to the call of Beauty. In the beauty of Celtic manuscripts and stone carvings, the human face is the predominant feature. The human face is a thing of beauty and reflects, in many ways, God’s goodness and beauty. Each one of us is a unique creation born of God, loved by God, and reflecting, in some small way, His beauty and glory. We need to spend less time on our smartphones, iPads, and computers and once again begin to look at one another. Let’s recall the fact that we have never met a mere mortal. Each person has an immortal soul and an eternal destiny. This Christmas, let us be thankful for the birth of that little Child who brings us the light of faith! We need to look and see, really see one another. We need to look at the beauty of God’s creation all around us. Let us recognize again that the light of faith allows us to see the vast horizon set before us. It opens us to reality and transcendence. Each one of us was made to see, to hear, and to love, that we might praise!

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The birth of Christ in Bethlehem reminds us that every child is a gift. Father Mark Byrne, SOLT, the chaplain of our St. Columcille Institute in Ireland, related an incident in France when a government inspector in an officious suit and tie came to visit a L’Arche community with some hostility and cynicism. He encountered there a young boy with Down syndrome. Typically in Europe, 90 percent of children with Down syndrome are aborted. The official asked him, “What do you do?” And the boy responded, “I pray.” The official responded with a smile: “Oh! What do you ask for?” The boy responded, “Nothing.” “Well, what do you do when you pray?” He responded, “I listen.” To which the gentleman asked, “Oh! Does God speak to you?” “Yes.” “What does he say to you?” The boy responded, “He always says the same thing!” “What’s that?” And with a radiant smile that little boy responded, “You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!” By our common sharing in this educational apostolate, we are all called to greatness, to become leaders for our troubled yet beautiful world, and to help our wounded brothers and sisters. For as one Catholic writer observed: “There is only one tragedy in life, and that is not to be a saint!” I would like to thank each and every one of you for all of your love and support for the work of our common educational apostolate. This Christmas, as we gather with our families and loved ones, let us give thanks to our God, who became a little Child in order to bring us to share in the heavenly joy of that love first manifested in that stable in Bethlehem. A merry Christmas and joyful New Year to each and every one of you! Sincerely in the Heart of the Infant King,

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 corporate leaders, our alumni are using their liberal arts training to find success for themselves and the employees they serve as they live out their entrepreneurial vocation.

Tim Halisky ’01 Major: History President, RLA Mid-Atlantic

“As the president of a dynamic, fast-growing enterprise, I ﬁnd that my role as a business leader has been shaped by the liberal arts education I received at Christendom College. I was a history major, and my inspiration for leadership is drawn from Dr. Carroll’s heroic characters – Charles Martel, Queen Isabel of Spain, Pope Saint John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and many others. The courage these leaders exhibited in their lives has encouraged my vision for a business that leads by example. On an additional note, over the past 15 years, having hired multiple Christendom alumni, I am continually impressed by their diverse knowledge base, ability to think critically, and high ethical standards. I will continue to seek out graduates of Christendom, as I believe they are uniquely prepared for the business world.”

“The liberal arts education I received at Christendom gave me the critical thinking and writing skills I needed to thrive. Whether it was in the private sector as a lobbyist for the Charles Schwab Corporation, an aide to a United States senator in Washington, D.C., or now as the president of a company in Memphis, my Christendom education differentiated me from my colleagues. It gave me the necessary tools to compete with some of the best and brightest people from larger and more elite universities. My Christendom education has been put to the test and hasn’t failed me yet.”

Gregory Polley ’00 Major: History President, Frase Protection, Inc.

WINTER 2016

N E WS

BRIE F Dispelling Myths Prolific author and philosopher Dr. Christopher Kaczor delivered a lecture to the Christendom community on November 14, speaking on “The Seven Biggest Myths About the Catholic Church.” The lecture, which was given as a part of the college’s Major Speakers Program, touched on issues ranging from the Church’s views on same-sex marriage to contraception, providing students with strong defenses for the Faith to utilize in the public square. “It is really wonderful to be here,” Kaczor said. “I’ve known many people who have studied here, and I’ve always been impressed by the students, the alumni, and the faculty. It’s one of the best colleges in the entire country, and it is with great gratitude that I stand with you today.”

Marshner.Christendom.edu

New Bishop

The lifework of pioneer Catholic activist, apologist, and scholar Dr. William H. Marshner is now available online, with the launch of The Marshner Collected Works Online website. Marshner, an analytic Thomist and a founding faculty member of Christendom College, is regarded as one of today’s foremost theologians. The website preserves the Marshner legacy for posterity, and will help students and scholars discover why Marshner is regarded as a pioneer of the Catholic Renaissance in the United States and a profound theological thinker.

Christendom College is pleased to welcome Bishop Michael F. Burbidge to the college’s home diocese of Arlington, Va.

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“I am delighted to hear of the appointment of Bishop Michael Burbidge to the Diocese of Arlington,” says college president Dr. Timothy O’Donnell. “He will be an outstanding successor to Bishop Paul Loverde, who has done so much for our diocese. I welcome Bishop Burbidge with joy and am thankful to Pope Francis for sending to us another outstanding shepherd who is truly ‘a priest after His Own Heart.’”

Bishop Burbidge was formally installed on December 6, 2016.

Campus Enhancements

Scholarship Price Match

Alumnus & 20th Century Fox Christendom alumnus Ben Hatke is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. His acclaimed Zita the Spacegirl trilogy will be turned into a feature film by 20th Century Fox Animation. Hatke, who recently won the prestigious Eisner Award for his children’s book Little Robot, earned his history degree from Christendom in 2000.

The college recently launched the Scholarship Price Match Program (SPMP), a new means of making its time-tested, Catholic liberal arts education more affordable for students interested in attending Christendom. Designed to match the bottom-line cost of attending another institution of higher learning, the SPMP helps remove other colleges’ academic scholarship and aid offers as an obstacle to attendance, helping students keep Christendom as their first choice for college. Visit christendom.edu/scholarship for more information.

The freshly renovated St. Lawrence Commons was unveiled to the college community in August. Complete with a new stateof-the-art serving area, the best possible soundproofing available, a new speaker system, and more, the Commons now provides students, faculty, staff, and visitors with an improved, beautiful location to enjoy fresh meals and deep conversations.

Socrates & Education Dr. Molly Flynn, associate professor of philosophy at Assumption College, gave a lecture titled “Socratism as a Vocation” this fall. The lecture was sponsored by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and the college’s department of political science and economics. Flynn offered Socrates and his method of education as a model for dealing with many of the challenges facing higher education today.

St. Clare Hall, the new women’s residence hall, is near completion and ready to open for the Spring 2017 semester. The hall, which was built thanks to the generosity of Christendom’s benefactors, features suite-style rooms and will house 100 women.

WINTER 2016

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Fighting for Life in Philadelphia

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Alumnae on the Front Lines in the Battle against the Tragedy of Abortion

hiladelphia—the city of brotherly love. It’s the city made famous by the movie Rocky—a home of underdogs, of the undying belief that one person can overcome the odds and make a difference. And it’s the perfect place for two alumni fighting for the pro-life cause—one baby at a time—in the inner city. Despite the swell of public opinion against them, they are showing the city that unborn lives matter and that, in the words of Christendom College founder Dr. Warren H. Carroll, “one man can make a difference.” Alumna Edel Finnegan has been on this path since graduating from the college in 1991. She volunteered at a pregnancy care center in Northern Virginia for a time after graduation, and soon after became the director of A Woman’s Choice Center in Falls Church, Va. She fought for life in one of the biggest abortion locations in the country before returning to Philadelphia to become the executive director of the Pro Life Union in 2006, taking over for John Stanton — the father of two other Christendom College alumni and a hero in the pro-life movement.

them in the city as well. One of the more tangible expressions is the Guiding Star Ministries maternity home, which houses mothers and their children and supports them as they make the choice for life.

In her position, Finnegan has been able to make waves for the women of the city, opening up a 24-hour help line for pregnant mothers, and making more options available for

“Through the generosity of so many people, who support both the Pro-Life Union and Guiding Star, I’ve been able to be involved full time in efforts to defend the sanctity of

When asked why she is so committed to the pro-life movement, Finnegan responded that the destruction of human life through abortion is a great tragedy, and one that must be ended if the true meaning of human dignity is to return to our culture.

WINTER 2016

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Edel Finnegan ’91 (left) awards Robert O’Hara (center), executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, with the Pro-Life Union’s Defender of Life Award at its annual Stand Up for Life banquet.

life,” says Finnegan. “The struggle to restore the sanctity of life so that we can once again live in gratitude for the gift of life, aware of our dignity as children of God, is very much a spiritual battle. It is important to fight for laws that will once again protect the right to life of the unborn, and be bold in working to change minds and transform hearts. The impact that is made might never be known in this world, but, if it pleases God, in the next we will see beautifully the lives and souls saved.” Her desire to become involved in such a heart-wrenching yet incredible mission was strengthened during her time at Christendom, where the classes, the professors, and the spiritual life prepared her to fight for life in some of the nation’s darkest places. “I laugh at how often the philosophy and moral theology classes I struggled with at school have helped in this work,” says Finnegan. “I’ve referred back to Mr. O’Herron’s doctrine class more times than I can count, and I’m so very grateful for the gift of faith, which was nurtured by my parents and grew at Christendom.” While Finnegan is doing her part to make the alternatives possible, alumna Faith Leopold is fighting the same battle inside one of those alternatives: the Philadelphia Women’s Center, which was originally funded by Finnegan’s Pro-Life Union. A 2014 graduate, she was an avid supporter of the pro-life cause during college, and served as a missionary in Brazil immediately after graduation. Upon returning to

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It is important to fight for laws that will once again protect the right to life of the unborn, and be bold in working to change minds and transform hearts. The impact that is made might never be known in this world, but, if it pleases God, in the next we will see beautifully the lives and souls saved.

”

the States, she joined the Philadelphia Women’s Center as a counselor, helping to give women an alternative to abortion at the most personal level possible. “We are able to bring them hope by helping our clients visualize a future that has a set plan, wherein their obstacles have been overcome through planning and preparation,” says Leopold. “We get to know our clients and figure out the obstacles that are pressuring them to abort, and advocate for them to eliminate these obstacles. We ask our clients questions about their beliefs and give them time to process and explore the moral ramifications of the thoughts they are already thinking. The most important aspect is speaking in a kind, professional tone and asking questions in a neutral and inquisitive way. We always treat our clients with love, respect, and mercy, and try our best to empathize with where they are coming from. Most importantly, we pray throughout the day.” The daily experience can be an incredibly emotional one, but Leopold’s education at Christendom helped give her a foundation that makes everything easier, particularly thanks to her studies in philosophy. “Christendom’s incredible philosophy program definitely makes my job a lot easier,” she says. “Most of my counseling consists in helping my clients come to basic logical conclusions, such as ‘I really want to understand where you are coming from with your beliefs. You had said that you feel this might be murder, and you said that you usually feel murder is wrong. How do you feel doing something that

NEW EVANGELIZATION IN IRELAND

Faith Leopold ’14

you personally feel is wrong?’ It works well. In 2015, The Legacy of Life Foundation, of which our center is a part of, set our new record, with 386 women, who were actively seeking abortion, choosing life.” As Leopold moves forward in her life, she plans on moving from counseling into fundraising, so she can continue to support organizations such as the Philadelphia Women’s Center, and help others come to fruition, allowing the pro-life movement to flourish in Philadelphia and other cities in the future. Across the nation, the majority of abortions occur in major U.S. cities. In the case of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is in one of the four top counties in the state where abortions occur. This city needs help, and Finnegan and Leopold are providing that help. They may be the underdogs in this ongoing fight, but with their determination, they have the chance to truly save people, and make this world a better place as a result.

“The New Evangelization is taking root in the picturesque country setting of Donegal — a beautiful part of northwest Ireland where local traditions and Irish culture remain vibrant,” Brian Fraga writes about Christendom’s St. Columcille Institute in Legatus Magazine. “With a commanding view of the Atlantic Ocean, the bay, beaches and windswept hills, a small group of American and Irish college students gather at Ards Friary for three weeks every summer to learn how Catholicism shaped the soul of Ireland — and how they have a role to play in revitalizing the Christian roots of Western Civilization.” Read the full article at christendom.edu/legatus.

PRAYING FOR OUR LOVED ONES The College community prayed for all those enrolled in the annual All Souls Novena November 2–10. More than 500 enrollments from alumni and benefactors, containing the names of thousands of deceased loved ones, were submitted. The enrolled names remained on the altar for the entire month of November. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May these souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

EXCLUSIVE VIEW OF ROME Benefactors and friends enjoyed a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi during the Year of Mercy in October. Led by Dr. and Mrs. Timothy O’Donnell, attendees enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime experience as they discovered the treasures of the Eternal City and the home of St. Francis. Trips to Ireland, Rome, Greece, and Spain are being planned for the college’s upcoming 40th anniversary. Contact Brenda Seelbach (brenda.seelbach@christendom.edu) for more information. WINTER 2016

FROM iPOD TO How the Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media Changed a Life

hile working at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, graduate school alumnus Adam Arehart would be seen with his Discman, listening to music. This outdated device was noticed by his co-workers, and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before one of them offered him an old iPod.

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CHRISTENDOM “I almost didn’t take it,” said Arehart, who was going through a reversion to the Catholic Faith. “I thought it would be just another unnecessary distraction.” He did take it, though, and the little piece of technology launched his life in a totally new direction. “Shortly after receiving the iPod, I found iTunes and started searching for Catholic lectures or Catholic theology or Catholic speakers,” Arehart said. “This led me to look into iTunes U, wherein I found many good resources which had a more scholarly bent. Obviously, some were better than others.”

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There was a stunning continuity among all that I heard on the channel. All speakers seemed to do a great service to the Church through their work and research.

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Arehart discovered that many, in fact, were “downright heterodox.” He realized that he needed to seek out speakers that he knew were orthodox in their teaching and their intentions, trustworthy, faithful, and truly in love with Catholicism. His search led him to Christendom College’s Major Speaker Series.

“There, I found many of my favorite theologians and philosophers—and many more whom I had never heard of before—speaking on behalf of the Church,” he said. “All of these speakers in one way or another had championed the cause of Christendom—its values and its integrity as an institution. There was a stunning continuity among all that I heard on the channel. All speakers seemed to do a great service to the Church through their work and research.”

Arehart with his family at the 2016 Graduate School Commencement.

WINTER 2016

Over time, Arehart became convinced that Christendom College was more than an institution of higher education. He knew that Christendom College was on a mission, and he wanted to be a part of that mission. Arehart recalled that after his reversion to the Catholic faith, he could not get enough of what the Church taught. He read widely and voraciously, soon realizing that his appetite for the Truth was not going to dissipate. He decided to take advantage of his GI Bill and pursue a master’s degree in theology. He tried a local Catholic university in Philadelphia, but soon discovered that while rigorous, it was Catholic only in name. Leaving there, he enrolled in classes at his local seminary, which while orthodox, lacked the academic rigor for which he was looking. “It had become clear to me that I needed an education experience that could offer me both a firm foundation in solidly orthodox Catholic theology and an academically rigorous curriculum,” Arehart said. “Christendom College stood out as uniquely suited to fulfill both of these needs.” Arehart enrolled in Christendom’s Graduate Online Program, where he felt “embraced and led.” “Even being up in Philadelphia, I had an amazing sense of being part of a thriving and joyful community,” he said.

“Each professor that I had, all the way up to the dean of the Graduate School, welcomed, encouraged, and guided me throughout my whole experience as a student there.” Beyond the community, Arehart discovered a program that was rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium. “The coursework was challenging and clear-sighted, and it has equipped me with the ability to discern the will of God in everyday life as a husband, father, and layman, as well as His will for our Church today,” he said. Arehart received his master of arts diploma from Christendom College in July 2016 and shortly thereafter was offered a job at St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station, Texas. There, he joined a team that supports the spiritual development of over 13,000+ college students at Texas A&M. “After 11 years of working in highly technical and specialized fields, I thought that I had pretty much pigeonholed my potential into being adequate only in a mechanical or production-oriented position,” he said. “Over the years, I had become more and more resigned to the idea that I would never be given the chance to work in any other field—let alone ministry or work in any pastoral setting. Christendom College opened a door for me into campus ministry.”

Announcing Christendom Media The college is proud to announce the launch of Christendom Media at media.christendom.edu. This new website will be a clearinghouse for all lectures and other public educational content from the college. It will feature audio and video content from the Major Speakers Program, the Thomas Aquinas Lecture Series, Summer Conferences, and other programs. Included in the site is a digital archive of the college’s Faith & Reason Journal, which ran from 1975 to 2003. The journal sought to create an educated Catholic laity—a laity in love with all that is Good, Beautiful, and True. The journal mission lives on today through the Faith & Reason Lecture Series, which is also available on the site. Discover quality Catholic educational content and deepen the understanding of your Faith and of the world around you. Download, listen, watch, and read at media.christendom.edu.

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In the Classroom HIGHLIGHTING A COURSE FROM OUR RICH CURRICULUM

ENGL 490 MODERN AMERICAN DRAMA This course covers seven classic 20th-century dramas: Our Town by Thornton Wilder; Death of a Salesman and The Crucible by Arthur Miller; Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill; A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams; Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose; and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Students enjoy discovering that many of the plays that are domestic dramas deal with families not so very different from their own (in certain respects) and present extraordinarily unique and creative characters that they find fascinating—if not always easy to identify with. The Christendom Players performed Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” this November.

FROM THE PROFESSOR DR. PATRICK KEATS While many of these plays present a somewhat bleak outlook at times, nearly all of them contain redemptive characters and other hopeful elements. There is, for example, the incredibly tough, resilient, and loving figure of Mama in A Raisin in the Sun, a marvelous portrait of a lower middle-class black family in 1950s Chicago. Mama’s constant religious faith— in particular—enables the family to ultimately rise above all obstacles. Twelve Angry Men, aside from being one of the few plays that might actually make a person want to be assigned to jury duty, gives one a sense of hope in the diversity of the American people and their ability to work together to bring about the common good. 20th-century American drama is clearly a genre in which Americans, whether of a literary bent or not, can take pride. Perhaps no other country has produced so many outstanding contributions to the theater during that same period.

WINTER 2016

A Professor, an Alumna, and a Poet BRINGING THE FAITH TO YORK, ENGLAND

David Jones, Human Being (1931) [a self-portrait] © Trustees of the David Jones Estate

he University of York is a bastion of research in the United Kingdom. In today’s secular culture, it is not the first place one would expect to find a conference designed to bring the Catholic faith to the center stage. Nevertheless, that conference occurred this past summer, all thanks to a Christendom alumna, a Christendom history professor, and a certain 20th-century poet and painter: David Jones. The journey of bringing the Faith to York began in 2007 in one of Christendom College’s classrooms, as history professor Dr. Adam Schwartz taught an upper-level course titled “The Catholic Literary Revival.” During the course, Schwartz, the author of the acclaimed work The Third Spring, spoke at length about the aforementioned David Jones, a figure perhaps not well known in some academic circles, but whose literary influence contributed to the rise of hope and optimism in England following the First World War.

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Jones, a native of London, fought in the trenches in World War I, an experience that crucially shaped his imagination. He discovered his other source of inspiration in the Catholic Faith in the 1920s, leading to paintings and writings directly tied into the traditions of the Church, perhaps most explicitly seen in his 1952 work The Anathemata, which traces the course of Western culture using the Mass as a framework.

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Dr. Schwartz was an enormously inspiring professor, and my conversations with him particularly helped me to see that I wanted to study literature more in depth.

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Left: The conference at the University of York. Top-Right: Svendsen introduces Schwartz. BottomRight: Adam Schwartz delivering “Getting Into History”: The Great War and David Jones’ Memory.

Schwartz’s knowledge and passion for Jones’ work was palpable in his class, causing a profound impact on one of his students, Anna Svendsen. After graduating, Svendsen carried the memory of Jones with her to places that neither she nor Schwartz could have anticipated at the time, carrying on the mission of Christendom “to restore all things in Christ” as a result. “Dr. Schwartz was an enormously inspiring professor, and my conversations with him particularly helped me to see that I wanted to study literature more in depth,” says Svendsen. “After Christendom, I did a specialized UK masters in modern and contemporary literature and culture at the University of York. At York, I rediscovered David Jones and fell in love with his book-length poem about his experience in the First World War called In Parenthesis, which sees the horror of war not with the despair of his contemporaries but in light of history and ‘myth’ in the sense beloved by Tolkien and Lewis, especially the ‘true myth’ of the Passion.” The rediscovery of Jones inspired Svendsen to bring her love of the Catholic painter and poet to an even wider audience— her secular one at York. In the midst of preparing for the start of her third year of Ph.D. studies at the university, Svendsen began the process of organizing a major international conference on Jones, driven by the desire to make his work better known. With the aid of Schwartz back in the United States, Svendsen contacted speakers, scholars, and artists, discovering a great interest in rekindling the public conversation on Jones in academic circles.

After years of studying Jones and months of preparation, Svendsen opened the conference, titled “David Jones: Dialogues with the Past,” at the University of York this past July, welcoming guests from all across the world for the special event. Held over the course of three days, the conference featured keynote speakers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the latter in the person of Svendsen’s beloved history professor, Dr. Adam Schwartz. Between the keynote talks and the presentation of papers on Jones, Svendsen orchestrated a true multimedia celebration of Jones, including two art exhibitions, a screening of lost David Jones interviews, and a performance of Opus Anglicanum’s 2015 commissioned musical sequence, “David Jones: July 1916, ‘The Battle of Mametz Wood’ from In Parenthesis.” Each of the events, together, worked to bring the work of David Jones back into the academic conversation for the 21st century, resulting in a conference that received great acclaim and had an impact on all who attended. Restoring hope into the culture means affecting every corner of it—even the most secular parts of it. The work of David Jones helped a country through the terrible aftermath of the Great War. Thanks to Svendsen, Schwartz, and others, his work has the chance to help not just England but the world, planting seeds at the University of York that will produce great fruit in the years to come.

WINTER 2016

THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

A Call to Greatness |

U P D A T E The college is boldly moving forward in faith with a $40 million comprehensive campaign that will be completed in 2018 to mark its 40th anniversary.

$13.5 Million CHRIST THE KING PROJECT

$13.5 Million ENDOWMENT FUND

campaign.christendom.edu

Campaign Progress $ 3 1 ,1 7 9, 9 0 5 o f $ 4 0 M I L L I O N rais e d 78%

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$13 Million ANNUAL FUND

Historic Bells

THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

Four newly refurbished bells will be housed in the new Christ the King Chapel. They were acquired from the Archdiocese of New York, and were originally housed in the now-demolished St. Ann's Catholic Church. Since 1870, St. Ann’s had stood at 110–120 E.12th St. between Fourth and Third Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. In 2003, despite objections by parishioners and preservationists, who petitioned the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for landmark status to no avail, the church was torn down. A developer bought the property in 2005 and built a dormitory for New York University on the site. Today, the façade of the church is all that remains, standing awkwardly in front of the St. Ann’s facade 26-story dormitory. Despite the loss of their church, the people of New York and former parishioners of St. Ann’s can take pride in the fact that the music of the bells will live on in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

A Call to Greatness |

Chr ist the Kin g C h a pe l

For information about Christ the King Chapel dedication opportunities, including stained glass, windows, altars, and bells, please contact Paul Jalsevac at 540-551-9171 or pjalsevac@christendom.edu or visit campaign.christendom.edu.

Advancement Ofﬁce Expands to Ensure High Level of Service The college has launched a new program to improve its service to its generous benefactors. With 20 years of advancement experience, John Ciskanik is now serving Christendom supporters as executive director of the new Office of Planned Giving. Stepping in as the new vice president for advancement is former Director of Development Paul Jalsevac. The college also recently hired Adam Wilson and Susie Twetten as its director of annual giving and associate philanthropy

officer, respectively. Together, the two new hires expand and strengthen the college’s advancement team. “These two new hires bring our advancement team to full strength, and put us in a strong position to continue our fundraising growth this year,” said Jalsevac. “Adam and Susie are integral parts of a growth plan to ensure that we provide the highest level of service to our faithful supporters. I couldn’t be more delighted to have them as part of our team during this crucial time at the college.”

Above: L-R, John Ciskanik, Paul Jalsevac. Below: L-R, Adam Wilson, Susie Twetten.

WINTER 2016 17 SPRING 2016

A Call to Greatness |

THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

ANONYMITY THAT LIFTS HEARTS $2 Million Grant Strengthens Christendomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Role as a Center For Sacred Music

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T A Call to Greatness |

Two anonymous benefactors experienced the choir this past spring and were mesmerized by the talent and beauty giving praise to God during one of the college community’s celebrations of the Stations of the Cross. The benefactors heard a polyphonic choir, accompanied by a traditional organ, along with hundreds of young Catholic voices filling Christ the King Chapel on a Friday night in Lent. It was enough to move them to obtain a generous $2 million grant through a private foundation that will enhance the experience and study of reverent liturgical music on campus. As the centerpiece of this initiative, the grant will fund the construction of a traditional, custom-designed pipe organ that will be a beautiful fixture in the new Christ the King Chapel. The benefactors particularly wanted to enable Christendom to train future parish organists. With the rise in the use of guitars and pianos and less traditional music at Mass, there has been a decline of church organists, a phenomenon noted by such professional organizations as the American Guild of Organists. The grant will also enable Christendom to train a new generation of future parish organists. To this end, funds from the grant will also be used to establish an organist certificate track, which would require two years of organ lessons, an internship in a parish, and the passing of the Service Playing Certificate exam of the American Guild of Organists, among other requirements. Although shorter and more practical

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The centerpiece of this initiative, the grant will fund the construction of a traditional, custom-designed pipe organ that will be a beautiful fixture in the new Christ the King Chapel.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

n a traditionally built church, the music of the choir seems to come from nowhere. It surrounds the congregation, almost like a chorus of invisible angels. The choir enjoys a certain amount of anonymity during the liturgy as they lift our hearts and minds with music sung from above and behind. For two anonymous benefactors, a desire to humbly serve the Church and to lift the hearts and minds of their fellow men motivated them to make a transformative gift.

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in nature, it may be integrated with the currently offered liturgical music minor, increasing the minor requirements by just three credits. The grant will make it possible for students to benefit from the new programs by establishing an endowment that will fund up to three $5,000 scholarships for student organists who will be selected via audition. Choral scholarships will also be offered for students in the college’s Liturgical Music Minor. The skilled musicians to emerge from Christendom will certainly join the ranks of the many other alumni who are already active in their parishes working to bring the beauty that they experienced in Christ the King Chapel to the liturgical life in America. Their anonymous voices—like these anonymous benefactors—are bringing hope to the world.

WINTER 2016 19 SPRING 2016

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FROM

The Chronicler {christendom.edu/chronicler}

At the summit of Hawksbill Mountain, alumni priests Fr. Joseph Mary Brown ’85 and Fr. Matthew Rensch ’11 offer Mass for students, faculty, and staff.

Students enjoy a trip to nearby Kings Dominion amusement park.

Senior Hannah Gordon enjoys the annual Oktoberfest festivities.

Senior Andrew Ford makes a big play during the annual Upper vs. Under football game.

Student talent shone at this year’s St. Cecilia’s Night.

2016 Lady Crusader Volleyball.

2016 Crusader Cross Country.

Bubble soccer fun during the Upper vs. Under halftime.

2016 Lady Crusader Soccer.

10. 2016 Crusader Soccer. 11. The Christendom Players amazed audiences with their performance of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. 12. Fr. John Heisler ’95 speaks to students following one of the college community’s “Laudamus Te” Holy Hours. 14

13. Students network with alumni at Crusader Career Day, which provided panels of alumni from a variety of different fields, who spoke on how students can find success with their liberal arts degrees after graduation. 14. Junior Semester in Rome: Why not Segway through the ancient city? 15. Junior Semester in Rome: Students at the temple of Minerva in Assisi. 16. Junior Semester in Rome: Juniors enjoy their view from their classroom’s balcony.

Christendom College’s The Chronicler is an online publication appearing weekly on Fridays throughout the academic year. Written and photographed by students, The Chronicler provides a glimpse into life as a student at Christendom. Find out more and sign up to be notiﬁed when a new issue appears at christendom.edu/chronicler.

For more pics, follow us on Instagram!

@christendomcollege

WINTER 2016

Tim Busch

Dr. James Sheehan

Gellert Dornay

Students of High

Caliber & Commitment Catholic Businessmen Find Hope for Future

ollege students generally do not impress many business leaders anymore. Research has shown this increasingly to be the case as we move into 2017 and beyond. When employers do find a college student who possesses leadership skills and a thirst for knowledge, it comes as a revelation. For top Catholic businessmen Gellert Dornay, Tim Busch, and Dr. James Sheehan, visiting Christendom College this fall proved not only to be a revelation: it turned out to be a revival of their hope for the future of today’s youth. For years, Christendom’s career and leadership development office has been assisting students in their pursuit of career success by helping them meet and network with successful figures through its “Life on Tap” speaker series—something that is essential to breaking into the professional world after graduation. This year, the college continued that tradition by welcoming Dornay, Busch, and Sheehan to campus. The hope of these speakers upon coming to campus was to simply give some helpful career tips and inspire those students who came to their talks to be better Catholic businessmen and women. They came away from their talks with so much more, however. “As Newman and others have suggested, the heart of the educational experience is really to pursue a better understanding of the reality God has presented us,” said

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Dornay. “Christendom is truly creating that opportunity. It’s not too common to find college kids interested or even aware of the many and complex economic and political considerations of our day. That is not the case with Christendom’s student body. It’s clear that Christendom is creating an environment for the students to develop a great love of learning, and that they are being given the tools to maximize their positive contribution to the future of our society.” For Dornay, who spent a year at Christendom in the 1990s, the experience was not only a homecoming — it was a renewal. The president and CEO of Axia Home Loans in Seattle, Dornay spoke on the need for students to be truly Catholic in their careers later in life, and was impressed with each student’s thirst for the Truth.

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It’s clear that Christendom is creating an environment for the students to develop a great love of learning, and that they are being given the tools to maximize their positive contribution to the future of our society.

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Dr. James Sheehan, the founder of multiple hospitals in Ireland, the inventor of the artificial knee replacement system, a creative leader, and faitful Catholic, walked away with the same impressions and more. While he had previously spoken to students during Christendom’s St. Columcille Institute in Ireland, he was not prepared for the awe he was going to experience on Christendom’s Front Royal campus, from both the environment and the student body. “My wife, Rosemary, and I were awestruck with the campus, initially with the layout and the beautiful environment available to the students,” said Sheehan. “However, the lasting impression was the caliber and commitment of the students that we met. Never have we visited a campus that came to a halt at 11:30 a.m. each day so both the faculty and students could partake at the Sacrifice of the Eucharist. The genuine profession of their Faith left a huge impression on us. The interaction with the faculty, where they dined with the students and entered into discussion, was a unique experience and a portrayal of the Christian unity that existed between all present on campus. We sat in on a number of classes, and the diligence and interaction of the students at class was again most

impressive. I will always remember a philosophy class on friendship, and have since quoted many times the different forms of friendship discussed in it.” Finding a college where each of the students cared about their education and strove to live out their calling to “restore all things in Christ” was truly refreshing for Sheehan, who traveled from Ireland to speak with the students and spend time on campus. For both his talk and Dornay’s, students filled the room to the rafters, eager to listen to their words of wisdom — another feature that impressed the two men. That same eagerness was paid to Tim Busch upon his arrival to campus. Founder of The Busch Firm and the Napa Institute, Busch has a keen interest in Catholic higher education and encounters many such students in his travels. During his talk, he gave the students a lot of encouragement as they consider their vocational callings post-graduation. “In the American world of business, Catholic social doctrine is critical,” Busch told the students. “The younger generation, the ‘millenials,’ are given an opportunity that is unlike any throughout history. They have the freedom to market ideas and provide products or services that allow people to improve their lives more effectively than ever before.” Christendom allows students not only to experience an authentic Catholic liberal arts education, but also to meet and learn from some of the greatest Catholic minds in the world. Thanks to the college’s education and vibrant Catholic environment, students can impact these great minds as well — restoring hope not only in themselves, but in each person who encounters someone formed by the Christendom educational experience.

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senior

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freshman

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sophomore

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COOK Family

The Cooks, L–R: Tim, Theresa, Anna, and John Paul.

inding an authentically Catholic college is not easy. But if one thinks it is a difficult task today, imagine what it was like for parents in the 1970s — an era defined by the rejection of Humanae Vitae and subsequent embracing of contraception along with the infamous Land O’ Lakes manifesto, which divorced the Catholic university from the life of faith and set in motion a deplorable decline in the Catholic identity of American institutions of higher education. The thirst for an education true to the Magisterium brought the Lucas family of Naples, Fla., to an unlikely place at that time: a small college in the Shenandoah Valley. Thirty years later, the next generation of that family—the Cooks—are following that same legacy, providing reasons for hope by enabling bright young minds to encounter the Truth.

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Reasonsfor

Hope

The Second Generation of a Christendom Family Enjoys Four Siblings Simultaneously Enrolled

In the late 1960s, the swath of Catholic colleges across the nation were still reeling from the effects of the infamous Land O’ Lakes conference, which pushed many colleges in an increasingly secular direction. As authentically Catholic colleges quickly became fewer, Margaret Seidl of Green Bay, Wis., made a life changing discovery when she attended a conference where well-known historian Dr. Warren H. Carroll was speaking. During his talk, Carroll mentioned his desire to start a Catholic college true to the Magisterium — a vision that inspired Seidl and caused her to call her daughter, Marilyn Lucas, and tell her to keep her eyes open for this place, should it ever come to fruition.

“The Catholic Church in South Florida in the 1970s was in a state of change and confusion,” said Lucas. “Although our children were enrolled in the local Catholic elementary school, we could see a more secular trend in the Catholic Faith being taught to our children. At that same time, having established The Right to Life Council in Naples after Roe v. Wade, I was traveling all over to meet with many pro-life leaders. There already were many discussing the loss of faith of many college graduates at that time. Because my husband and I felt very strongly that our most important obligation to our children in life was to help them get to heaven, we knew instinctively that they would attend Christendom College.”

Nearly a decade later, the Lucas family opened up an issue of the Catholic newspaper The Wanderer, and discovered an advertisement for the school Carroll had spoken so hopefully of — Christendom College, now located in the Shenandoah Valley.

In 1988, it was finally the Lucases’ youngest daughter’s chance to attend Christendom, following in the footsteps of her two older siblings, and Jill could not have been more excited. “I had attended a very large public high school, and when I visited Christendom, I was completely overjoyed to meet so

WINTER 2016

“ Tim and Jill ’92 Cook

many people with the same values, where the Catholic faith was not merely accepted, but encouraged and nourished on a daily basis. It was a way of life,” said Jill (Lucas) Cook ’92. Fast-forward to the 2000s, and Tim and Jill Cook found themselves with the same thoughts as Jill’s mother had in the 1980s. Their desire for a proper, Catholic education for their seven children led them to send each of their children initially to Seton School in Manassas, Va. — a high school founded by Anne Carroll, wife of Christendom founder Dr. Warren Carroll. With college on the horizon, the Cook family had to pray and hope as they encouraged all of their children to attend Jill’s alma mater. “As parents, when the idea of paying for a college education was staring us in the face, we knew that this would be one of the biggest and most important investments we would ever make for our children,” said Jill. “I knew, from my experience at Christendom, that this was the one college where the tuition is exponentially fruitful, most especially with regard to a well-rounded formation to prepare students for all aspects of life, and the most important being that of the faith.” Today, the Cooks have achieved a first for Christendom. Not only do they have four children currently enrolled at the college, they have a child in each class — freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. The belief of the Cooks in Christendom and its positive effect on their children and the culture at large permeates every class at the college as a

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As parents, when the idea of paying for a college education was staring us in the face, we knew that this would be one of the biggest and most important investments we would ever make for our children. I knew, from my experience at Christendom, that this was the one college where the tuition is exponentially fruitful.

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result, making their legacy that much more potent. For their part, the four Cook children are loving the experience so far, and are grateful to their parents for their direction, advice, and support, all of which have enabled them to attend Christendom. “I’ve been blessed with an amazing family and a rock-solid Catholic education. I know that I have a strong foundation with good principles that I can take with me into whatever field I enter after I graduate,” says Timothy Cook, who is set to become the first Cook to graduate from Christendom this coming spring. “With the tools Christendom has given me, I will be able to swim against the choppy waters of the world, with the mission ‘to restore all things in Christ.’” Timothy’s sister, Anna, currently a sophomore, seconds Timothy’s thoughts on Christendom. With the tools she has been given, she hopes to become a certified physical therapist and join a medical mission in a Third World country after graduation.

“I’ve always had a passion for working with and helping people, particularly physically and mentally disabled people,” says Anna. “Christendom has helped me to recognize the beauty of helping others and putting others before myself. The education here gives the grounding in knowledge necessary to fight for my beliefs and to be a witness of Faith to others. By joining a medical mission, I can live out my passion while also having the opportunity to bring Christ to others who don’t have the Faith.”

“Their lives and the lives of our grandchildren have been faith-filled and fulfilling, and we can’t thank Dr. Carroll, Christendom College, and their teachers enough for enriching all of our lives with the beautiful truths of our Catholic Faith,” Marylin said. “We already have had two of our grandchildren graduate from Christendom, have five of them attending now, and will have five more attend in the future. Thank you, God, for Dr. Carroll and Christendom College!”

For John Paul Cook, the education has proven to be a natural extension of the education he previously received at Seton School, deepening his knowledge and the truth and giving him the confidence to defend the Faith in the public square. “Before coming to Christendom,” says John Paul, “I knew for the most part what was true and what was not, but when confronted by someone who wanted to argue, I could not defend my position at all, because I didn’t really know the reasons for the things I believed. Christendom taught me how to reason quickly, simply through participation in classes. Now I have found—especially in this past election— that I can quickly come up with and convey reasons why I stand for what I do.” The fourth Cook, Theresa, is only just finishing her first semester at Christendom, and yet she is experiencing the same things as her three siblings, growing deeper in her knowledge and drawing that much closer to realizing her passion: working in the pro-life movement. “Every class that I am taking this semester teaches me more about the faith in many different aspects that I would never have discovered anywhere else,” says Theresa. “The professors not only present to us the faith as it is, but they help us to prepare for defending it in our future lives. My one wish has always been to be a significant part of the pro-life movement. The culture of abortion that has taken over our country is the ultimate form of disrespect for the human person, and joining the fight against this would not only help restore Christ in others, but also in myself.”

The Christendom community has been blessed with many families that have sent multiple children to the college since its founding. Another family foursome currently enrolled is the Ford family (pictured above), L–R: Teresa (sophomore), Liz (senior), Elena (freshman), and Andrew (senior).

Farewell to Founding Faculty Member Founding faculty member Dr. Kristin Burns (center) is pictured below at her celebratory retirement dinner with two fellow founding faculty members: Dr. William Marshner (left) and Mr. Raymund O’Herron (right).

The Cooks have invested in the vision of founder Warren Carroll, who believed that one man can make a difference. The Lucas family prayed that such a day might come when they began their search for a place like Christendom College, and, 40 years later, they could not be happier with the fruits that have been produced by their family’s participation in Carroll’s vision.

WINTER 2016

SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF

CHRISTENDOM ACROSS THE NATION

hristendom College’s enrollment has grown 23 percent since fall 2012, setting it apart from most colleges in the nation, where enrollments are either declining or remaining ﬂat. Students from around the country are eager to participate in Christendom’s authentic Catholic liberal arts program, and this is primarily due to the tremendous efforts of the Admissions Office and its finely tuned recruitment program. Many Christendom families have been helpful with the task of spreading the good news of the college by adopting their local parishes, schools, youth groups, or homeschooling co-ops. Some have represented the college at college fairs or conferences, while others have hosted “Christendom 101”

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(formerly called “Meet Christendom”) events at their homes. All of these activities have greatly assisted the Admissions Office and have been instrumental in the college’s ability to buck the trend and grow its enrollment steadily each year. The Gaspersons in North Carolina, the Wagners and Carneys in Illinois, the Dostaliks in Texas, the Dusseaults in Georgia, the Matts in Minnesota, the Shengs in Washington, and the Posts in Pennsylvania are a number of the families who hosted “Christendom 101” events at their homes in recent months, inviting friends to their homes to hear presentations about Christendom from Admissions Office personnel. Another prime way in which families find out about the transformative power of a Christendom educational experience is through the Admissions Office sending representatives to speak at private schools across the

nation. In recent years, the number of students choosing Christendom who come from a private school educational background is on the rise. Traditionally, Christendom has been attracting a large percentage of homeschooled students, but now, due to the Admissions Office’s travel program, more and more schools are hearing the good news of Christendom and choosing to learn more. Admissions Director Sam Phillips and his team have been visiting scores of high schools across the nation over the past three years. He is finding that many of the counselors and the students at these school are unaware of Christendom College, yet, by the time the admissions representative leaves their school, there is an openness to Christendom’s “Dare to be Great” message that challenges the students to shun mediocrity and embrace their call to greatness. The percentage of private schooled students in the freshman class has grown by 8 percent since fall 2014, with large numbers of students coming from a variety of highly ranked schools. This fall, the college saw near-record numbers of students coming from D.C. area schools, such as Seton School, Holy Family Academy, Oakcrest School, and John Paul the Great. St. Gregory’s Academy in Pennsylvania, St. Mary’s Ryken in Maryland, and The Willows in Illinois were among the other schools that sent their students to Christendom this fall. “We have been working hard to get the word out that Christendom is offering the best education possible,” says Phillips. “We know that the students at these high-quality prep schools are eager to continue on with a rigorous education, and we are glad that we are able to show them that they can strive for excellence and achieve success with a Christendom degree.” Many of these students began their interest in Christendom when a college representative visited their school and gave a presentation. Then, many of them then took advantage of the Experience Christendom Summer Program, where they were given an inside look into what it would be like to actually attend Christendom—and that sealed the deal for many of them. “I had heard of Christendom and dismissed it. Actually, many times Christendom was mentioned to me and it was

Admissions Director Sam Phillips speaks to students at Bishop Lynch School in Dallas, Texas.

put aside,” says Hannah Eshelman, who attends a private school in Virginia. “Until one day, in my email, a counselor told our grade that we could attend a camp there for free if we wrote an essay saying why we wanted to go. What did I have to lose? I wrote the essay and got in. After truly the best week ever, I gained everything. I cannot wait to apply in the fall and maybe get to spend four years there. I think Christendom is a place anyone would be lucky to call home.” The Admissions Office is increasing its enrollment goals for the next number of years, trying to grow 2 percent each year until the college hits its final goal of 550 students (450 of whom will reside on campus). “This is definitely an achievable task,” says Vice President for Enrollment Tom McFadden. “But we certainly can use the assistance of our alumni and friends to help us get the word out about Christendom, which Pope St. John Paul II said ‘is doing a great work for the Church.’”

Alumni and friends: Help spread the word about Christendom. If you are interested in adopting your local parish, school, or group, or hosting a “Christendom 101” event at your home, contact the Admissions Office today at admissions@christendom.edu or 540.636.2900.

WINTER 2016

Striving for Greatness

by Ksenia Koltusky ’17

The Freshmen Athletic Experience

or athletes, there is no greater rush than playing a game well. It makes the early morning practices, the hill sprints, and the sore muscles all have a purpose. There is something about playing on a team that really brings out the best in people. When you look at the scoreboard and know—whatever the end result is—that you have played your hardest, it all makes sense. This is everything you have worked for—it’s the reason you pushed through all those tough practices. However, there is a huge difference between playing in high school and playing on a college varsity team. Only the best players are recruited for big-name schools, and most of those players are stuck on the bench for their entire freshman year. At Christendom, one of the best things about the college’s manageable size is that students are not only able to get a rigorous Catholic liberal arts education, but can play sports competitively—even as freshmen.

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James Foeckler had an impressive high school soccer career, entering his freshman year at Christendom as one of the winners of the Thomas. S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholarship. “Playing at Christendom is a lot of fun. It’s a lot of work, but we’ve had a really successful season despite having 12 freshmen on the team,” said Foeckler. “At bigger schools, it’s a lot harder to play as a freshman, but at Christendom, especially with Coach Gutierrez, being on the soccer team really draws out the best in the players.” He quickly became one of the best players on the team, placing high in the national standings for assists, goals scored, and overall points for the season. On the cross-country track, the men’s and women’s teams sent runners to the USCAA Nationals competition. And the team is only in its second year of existence. One of the six runners to compete in Nationals was a freshman, Sarah Papp. “My teammates are some of the most determined and kind people I’ve had the chance to meet, and their dedication helped me to become more focused as well,” said Papp, who

Freshmen athletes are able to jump into fall sports. Above, L–R: Tom Herlihy (cross country), James Foeckler (soccer), Jon Messing (rugby), Kate Santschi (soccer), Michaela Pennefather (volleyball), and Sarah Papp (cross country).

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It’s amazing to be around a group of solid Catholic guys working together to beat teams that should be able to easily beat us. I am so happy that I can actually play, and really contribute, even as a freshman. probably would not have been able to run competitively as a freshman had she attended another college. Freshman and high school football star Jon Messing is quickly becoming a real threat on the rugby team—despite never having played the sport before. “The transition from football to rugby was a bit different from what I had expected,” said Messing, “but the team itself is awesome. It’s amazing to be around a group of solid Catholic guys working together to beat teams that should be able to easily beat us. I am so happy that I can actually play, and really contribute, even as a freshman.” Messing has adapted extremely well. He was part of the squad that dramatically tied with Duke University in the first

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game of the year, coming back from behind with only two minutes left in the game, and defeated William & Mary and the University of Richmond. These students highlight a common experience for Christendom athletes. Unlike at most schools, Christendom freshmen have the chance to make a name for themselves from day one when they set foot on campus. The college’s size allows freshmen the unique opportunity to excel in their academic, social, and spiritual pursuits, while competing at a high-level in their athletic pursuits—regardless of their experience—and pushes them to strive for greatness and become the best athletes they can be.

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Send your submissions to classmates@christendom.edu.

CLASSMATES Your Paper & Ink Alumni Social Network

1980s

Brenda (Davis) O’Reilly ’82, Sr. Eileen Tickner, FMA ’82, and Joan (Longua) Philbin ’83 joined the Salesian Community for a walk through the Holy Doors in D.C. {PHOTO} Sr. Mary Anne Zuberbueler ’89 celebrated her silver anniversary as a Dominican sister in Nashville on July 3, 2016. Her mother and her brothers and their families joined her for the occasion. Fr. Matthew Zuberbueler ’92, her brother, was the homilist for the Mass of Thanksgiving. Other alumni present included Michelle (Guettler) Castellan ’88, Amy (Guettler) Zuberbueler ’94, Jennie (Guettler) Zuberbueler ’97, Fr. Tom VanderWoude ’88, Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM ’91, and Fr. David Wilton, CPM ’89.

1990s

Tom and Amanda (Farinholt) McFadden ’90 welcomed Regina Benedicta Faustina on October 10. She is their 11th child, and eighth daughter. She became the sixth of their children to be baptized by Fr. Seamus O’Kielty on October 22.

Patricia (Fahey) Brower ’97 runs a photography business as well as fashion shows and modeling for kids of all backgrounds. Through her business, she provides many children the opportunity to model in a very family-centered business. Her husband is a director for Thermo Fisher Scientific in the Scanning Electron Microscopes division. Christopher Young ’97 and his wife, Sara, welcomed their fifth child, Jude Miguel, on May 19. Jude joins older siblings Stella (8), Isaac (6), Ethan (4), and Mari (2). Chris continues to practice law in Southern California, and recently passed the California Bar exam to become a certified specialist in estate, trust, and probate law. Anastasia (Kay) Desmond ’99 earned a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bowling Green State University. She worked for a brief stint in the Arlington, Va., San Bernardino, Calif., and Toledo, Ohio, dioceses teaching elementary school. She later met and married her husband, Michael Desmond, a graduate of the former St. Ignatius Institute based out of the University of San Francisco. Together, the Desmonds have four daughters: Michaela, Madeline, Meaghan, and Maura. They reside in Bowling Green, a small college town in northwest Ohio where the Desmond children attend Catholic school. Anastasia currently works as Career Counselor at Notre Dame Academy, a premiere all girls Catholic High School which is based in Toledo. Her husband works as a Regional Sales Manager for a Packaging and Supply Vendor based out of Tiffin. Mary (McFadden) Brand ’98 and her husband, Jonathan, had a baby on July 21, 2016: Maria Madeleine. She joins her siblings, Michael, Caroline, Jack and David.

2000s Elisabeth (Boever) Gideon ‘00 and her husband, Joshua, welcomed their seventh child, Matthew Rupert on March 26, 2016. Matthew’s proud siblings are Ruth, John, Isabel, Stephen, George, and Joshua.

Theresa Fer ’03 married Major Stephen Lebo, USMC, on July 30, 2016, in Frederick, Md. Shortly after the wedding, the couple moved to Seoul, South Korea, where they will be stationed for the next two years.

Fr. Hezekias (Sabatino) Carnazzo ’04 was ordained a priest on Sunday, May 1, 2016. He was ordained by bishop Nicholas J. Samra for service in the Melkite Diocese of Newton, Mass., whose territory extends to the entire U.S. He was then given an assignment at St. George Melkite Catholic Church in Sacramento, Calif. He and his wife Linda (Antunes) ’04 and their 5 children are excited to be closer to the Carnazzo side of the family and the beautiful California weather.

IN OUR PRAYERS: Mass is offered for the alumni on Sundays and all First Fridays. Remember that you can have Masses said for special intentions or friends and family! Contact Vince Criste for more info at vince.criste@christendom.edu.

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Katrina (Ruminski) Lauzon ‘05, her husband Michael, and their 6-year-old daughter, Rosalind, just celebrated their one-year anniversary of residing in Ottawa, Ontario. Katrina and Mike both enjoy their respective work attached to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and Rosalind loves living in Canada and becoming very fluent in French. Some of the highlights of the last year have been skating on the Rideau Canal, touring the Tulip Festival, and meeting the President. If any alumni would like to get in touch, feel free to send an email to katrina.s.lauzon@gmail.com.

Andy McDonald ’05 and his wife, Mindy, are pleased to announce the birth of their ninth child, and only second daughter, Lucy Marie Therese, on September 8. Her 7 seven older brother are quite smitten. Her older sister, Evelyn, is ecstatic and has become quite the “mother” to her new sister.

Adam ’07 and Therese (Oligny) Wilson ’08 had their first girl, after four boys, born in April this year: Clara Elizabeth Marie.

Thérèse Elizabeth Dodge ‘06 made her perpetual profession to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Florence on September 2.

Kelly Fogarty ’06 is engaged to Chris Whelan and getting married in June 2017.

Matt King and Anne-Marie Jensen ’05 got married September 3 at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, NYC, followed by a backyard shindig. They were blessed to have so many Christendom friends in attendance. They are living happily ever after in Spotsylvania, Va.

Fighter pilot Leo Moore ’05 is happy to be home from his recent deployment to the Middle East. Jeff and Jacinta (Whittaker) Whiting ’05 welcomed their second child, Christopher Brian Whiting, on November 4, 2016.

Joan Watson ’06 just finished leading a pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, where she happened to run into Dr. and Mrs. O’Donnell. As director of adult formation for the diocese of Nashville, it was her first pilgrimage group. The next trip to Rome is already in the works, as well as a possible trip to the Holy Land. The Rome semester with Christendom changed her life, and she’s eager to help the adults of Nashville experience everything the Eternal City has to offer.

Emma (Fritcher) Kenney ’07 and her husband, Andrew, joyfully welcomed the newest addition to their family. Michael Edward Kenney was born September 28, 2016, to the delight of brothers Leo Francis, 4, and Charles Joseph, 2. The Kenneys live in the North Texas (DFW area), where Andrew has recently taken up the position of Music Director and Organist at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewisville. Ian Robert and Erin McCafferty ’08 are happily engaged to be married.

Michael ’07 and Beth (Fettes) ’09 Collins welcomed their third child, Benjamin Andrew, on August 24, 2016. Ben is their most “chill” baby to date, and his siblings, Annie and Hugh, are gradually adjusting to no longer having the undivided attention of at least one parent. Michael and Beth are learning the tactics of “zone defense” as opposed to their previous game plan of “man-on-man.” Beth’s mother has been living with them since July 2015, which has been a tremendous blessing for all. They are still living in Front Royal, but in August, Michael started a new job in IT at DLT Solutions, located in Herndon, Va.

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WINTER 2016

2010s Brian Gallagher ’10 published a spy thriller this year, under the pen name B.B. Gallagher, called Project Sparta. The book is available for sale on Amazon and Kindle. Project Sparta now has 90 ratings on Goodreads with an average of 4.64 stars out of 5. An e-book promotion brought it up to the #1 free espionage book on Kindle. He is currently working on the sequel, Project Apollo. Find out more at facebook.com/bbgallagher. Sarah (Marchand) Salmon ’10 and her husband, Ben, welcomed Francesca Marie on July 27, 2016. She is a very busy girl and keeps mom and dad on their toes.

Scarlett McGovern was born on July 9 to John and Celia (Gossin) McGovern ’12. Pictured with her grandma, Laura (Smith) Gossin ’87. Lizzie (Crnkovich) ‘12 and Adam Richard ’13 (MA) welcomed their first son, Louis Augustine Clovis, into the world this past February. They also moved to Ventura, Calif., over the summer. Natalie Jacqueline Niedzwiecki was born September 10, 2016, to J.P. Niedzwiecki ’12 and Lauren (Vickers) Niedzwiecki ’14. She was 7 lbs. 6 oz. at birth, and is a healthy and happy baby.

This summer, Melody Wood ’15 was accepted into the Claremont Institute’s Publius Fellowship. This Fellowship brings together a selective group of promising young conservatives (past fellows include U.S. Senator Tom Cotton and New York Times columnist Ross Douthat) to study the distinctive moral and political principles of the American constitutional order. In a twoweek program, including over forty intensive daily seminars and relaxed evening symposia, Publius Fellows discuss political philosophy and American government with distinguished scholars. Melody currently works at the Heritage Foundation as a research assistant in the DeVos Center for Religious and Civil Society. Rebekah (Skiba) Miller’11 and Zachary were married on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Homecoming 2016 was extra special for Mary Harrington ’11 as she was joined by her mom, Marguerite (O’ Connor) Harrington ’81. This was Marguerite’s first homecoming since her graduation. Jeremiah and Katie (Erwin) Ii ’10 welcomed their third little girl, Emma, in September.

Class of 2006 10-Year Reunion.

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Sarah Halbur ’13 married Moises Barraza on May 24, 2015, Pentecost Sunday. They welcomed their first son, Moises José-Gabriel on March 19, 2016, the Feast of St. Joseph.

Ben Allen ’11 entered Our Lady of The Annunciation Abbey in Clear Creek, OK, on the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27. He joins alumnus Br. John McFadden, OSB, ’13 as a Clear Creek monk.

Sr. Veronica Mary (Sarah Golden) ’12 made first profession of vows on September 17 at the Bethlehem Monastery of Poor Clares in Barhamsville, Va. Dean ’13 and Anna (Van Hecke) ’14 Dewey welcomed their second son, Achilles Sebastian Dewey, on September 4, 2016, weighing 9 lb. 12 oz. Mike Heffernan ’15 married Karolyn Pondo ’15 on July 2, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, Va. Cecily Lowe ’16 lives and works in San Antonio, Texas, with hopes of attending graduate school. In the meantime, she is a contributing author at catholicstand.com/ author/cecily-lowe. Sarah Greydanus ’16 is composing pieces of creative writing and taking first steps toward publication. Her work can be found on her new blog, Gilded Weavings, where she posts poems and short stories. Interested readers are invited to visit gildedweavings.com.

IN MEMORIAM Former longtime basketball coach Gregory Dick passed away on July 18, 2016. He was the college’s first basketball coach and led the team throughout the ’80s and early ’90s. Joseph Francis Schutzman ’86, aged 54, departed peacefully from this world on the morning of November 10, 2016, in his home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Judy, his 12 children: Jozef, Madeline (DuPont), Thomas, Kitty (Cole), Mary Felice (Kromm), William Francesca, Mary Clare, Mary Margaret, Louis, Bruno, and Anastasia Schutzman. Eileen (McCoy) Wittkop ’92, age 49, died without warning and of natural causes on October 5, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Wayne, daughters Ekaterina and Anastasia, and many family members.

Homecoming 2016 was a great success as more than 300 alumni returned “home” for a busy weekend that included reconnecting with classmates and social networking opportunities. Coming on the heels of the September 9 announcement about the new chapel and the “A Call to Greatness” campaign, there was an electric feeling in the air, which culminated in the Saturday night reception.

Alumni Advisory Council 2016 SURVEY Complete your survey today!

surveymonkey.com/r/CCAlumniCouncil Join the 600+ alumni who have already completed this special survey. Postponed due to rain, the annual East vs. West Game was held on November 7. West defeated East, 14–7.

Class of 1986 30-Year Reunion with friends.

Class of 1996 20-Year Reunion.

WINTER 2016

Omnia in Christo Toward a Conservative Aesthetic: The American New Critics

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.

By Thomas W. Stanford III

he American New Critics were cultural conservatives who believed that great imaginative literature—poetry and prose fiction—plays a vital role in society as a means of resisting what Alexis de Tocqueville identified as America’s “lively faith in human perfectibility,” a “faith” which may be associated in the 20th century with various ideological projects, such as progressivism, industrial capitalism, Marxism, and scientific materialism.1

At their extreme, these powerful modern pressures all presuppose and support an objectification of the human person, reducing him to his labor, to his libido, or to a pawn in a cultural power play; they also view all aspects of human life and community as separable and reducible to material measures, statistics, or data. Crucially, the New Critics did not suggest that literature achieved this resistance directly through overt cultural critique nor through explicit statement of any kind, but rather by encouraging a view of the human person as irreducible, as the creature which Aristotle maintained was “one,” a unity consisting both of “matter and form,” rather than merely a unit made up of discrete material parts.2 Consequently, great literature helps sustain a unified, organic view of human life and community. This basic premise of the irreducibility of the person parallels the irreducibility of the poem presupposed and advocated by the New Critics’ methodology. Imaginative literature is, for the New Critics, the most humane mode of knowledge; in his 1940 essay “The Present Function of Criticism,” pioneering New Critic Allen Tate suggests that “the high forms of literature offer us the only complete, and thus the most responsible, versions of our experience,” and that “literature is the complete knowledge of man’s experience, and by knowledge I 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

mean that unique and formed intelligence of the world of which man alone is capable.”3 Thus, the New Criticism sought to conserve a traditional mode of knowledge—a way not just of approaching imaginative literature, but also of appreciating how literature itself helps human persons approach the world—a mode of knowledge which constructs and organizes, rather than dismembers and dominates. Or, as leading New Critic John Crowe Ransom writes in the preface to his book The World’s Body: [True poetry] only wants to realize the world, to see it better . . . . We have elected to know the world through our science, and we know a great deal, but science is only the cognitive department of our animal life, and by it we know the world only as a scheme of abstract contrivances. What we cannot know as scientists is the world which is made of whole and indefeasible objects, and this is the world which poetry recovers for us.4 The New Criticism respects—and seeks to preserve—poetry as a mode of knowledge that acts to counterbalance the narrow “scientific method” underlying the idolization of progress which achieved pre-eminence in the 20th century. It is this “scientific method” which Tate laments as “the temper of our age,”5 while the New Criticism responds with the idea that great poetry reveals the true temper of our humanity. And yet, while the New Criticism may have practical cultural benefits as a finis operantis, or ultimate end or consequence, nevertheless the finis operis, or inner, immediate aim of the methodology must be understood as the elucidation of the work of imaginative literature (or, hereafter, for ease of reference, poem), an elucidation which proceeds from a recognition of the poem first and foremost as a poem, and not as something that exists merely as a product of material (political, historical, or economic) reality. The New Critics advocated that poems were distinguished by being aesthetic objects, and that a criticism must be developed to engage them as aesthetic objects, rather than as material objects, historical documents, philosophical or political statements,

Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, ed. and trans. Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 359. Aristotle, Metaphysics, trans. W.D. Ross, in The Basic Works of Aristotle, ed. Richard McKeon (New York: Random House, 1941), Bk. 8, 1045a. Allen Tate, “The Present Function of Criticism,” in Essays of Four Decades (Chicago: Swallow Press, 1968), 210. John Crowe Ransom, Preface to The World’s Body (Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1938; new material, 1968), x-xi. Tate, “The Present Function of Criticism,” 198.

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John Crowe Ransom

or psychological or personal testimonies. In a sense, the New Critical project sought to free the poem from reality or, better, from the notion that its meaning could be understood only by embedding the poem in a particular temporal or material reality or system of signification which it could in no way transcend. In the face of the attempts by scientific or cultural materialism, and, lately, post-structuralism to reduce the human person to a function of biological, economic, political, or environmental forces, the New Critics basically shared a conservative view of man as a free, self-determining, though limited, creature; perhaps unsurprisingly, they also shared the idea that the poems the human person creates are free and selfdetermining, though limited, creations, insofar as the determination of their meaning depends primarily upon formalistic factors interior to—and ultimately unique to—each poem. Hence, the New Criticism sought to develop and actively to promulgate in education a methodology which would conserve the poem as a creation inherently irreducible to a nexus of materialistic forces, and thus would also conserve the poem as a mode of knowledge naturally suited to the human person, thereby clarifying and strengthening the relationship between poetry and culture. This selection is taken from Stanford’s essay “Toward a Conservative Aesthetic: The American New Critics,” in Literature and the Conservative Ideal, ed. Mark Zunac (New York: Lexington Books, 2016), 63–88. Thomas W. Stanford III, PhD, is chairman of the Department of English Language and Literature at Christendom College. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Dallas, and his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America.

Mark your calendars and prepare to join us in celebrating our 40th anniversary with these exciting European trips. October 2017

SPRING 2018

Fall 2018

JOIN US.

the historical roots of christendom in SPAIN & FATIMA

The history & culture of Ireland

The Ancient & Biblical World of Rome & Greece

All trips led by College President DR. Timothy O’Donnell

DR. O’DONNELL brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep love of the Faith TO THESE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITIES. for more information about these trips, Contact brenda Seelbach at Brenda.seelbach@ christendom.edu, 540.636.2900 ext. 1211

Sen. Rick Santorum

Dr. Scott Hahn

Abp. Salvatore Cordileone

Mary Stanford

Dr. Timothy O’Donnell

Mary Beth Bonacci

c hristen d o m. ed u/c o n f er en c e

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DAR E TO BE GRE AT 134 Christendom Drive Front Royal, VA 22630

Are you ready to answer your call to greatness?

YOU CAN GIVE THE WORLD SOMETHING THAT IT SORELY NEEDS: HOPE.Â

Remember Your Loved Ones in the Christ the King Chapel. There are a limited number of dedication opportunities available for the new Chapel of Christ the King. Your gift will ensure that our students and entire community will be praying for you and your family for generations to come! To learn more, please contact Paul Jalsevac at 540-551-9171 or pjalsevac@christendom.edu or visit campaign.christendom.edu.

A Call to Greatness THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE