Published three times yearly by the Communications and Marketing Office.
Editor & Design Director: Niall O’Donnell
Assistant Editor: Zach Smith
Design Assistant and Illustrator: Julie Wells
Publications Coordinator: Lianna Youngman
Photos: Paul Aguilar, Agnes Blum, Thomas Cole, Julia Dejak, Aron Forthofer, Andrew McFadden, Niall O’Donnell, Christiana Pascoe, Hailey Sergent, Julie Wells, Mo Woltering
Contributors: Andrew Beer, Vince Criste, Richard Hanley, Thomas Stanford, Jacob Stevens, Zach Smith, Kathleen Sullivan, Julie Wells, Lianna Youngman
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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.”
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BOARD OF
Mr.
Mr.
(Treasurer)
O’Keefe ’93 (Chairman)
Mr. Gary Schuberg
Mr.
Mrs. Michele Velasco ’90 (Vice Chairman)
Mr. Thomas C. West Jr. ADVISORS
ON THE COVER
George A. Harne, Ph.D., gives his first address after receiving the Presidential Chain of Office during the installation ceremony on August 25, 2024.
inside this issue
1ST IN THE NATION
For the first time in program history, Christendom’s women’s soccer team was ranked #1 in the nation by the USCAA in October for their outstanding performance.
CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE
Launch of Liturgical Institute
The Christendom Graduate School of Theology announces the launch of a new liturgical institute dedicated to the beauty of liturgy.
Christendom welcomes its fourth president, George A. Harne, Ph.D., to continue the legacy and mission of Christendom.
Father’s Love at Christmas
Christendom professor Dr. Kathleen Sullivan examines fatherly love through the character of Matthew in Anne of Green Gables.
20 Years of the Christendom Library
Christendom celebrates the impact of St. John the Evangelist Library over the past 20 years.
Launch of Natural Science Major
Christendom announces the historic launch of the new natural science major for students.
Enduring Impact
Dr. Ray Henkel is interviewed about his decision to participate in Christendom’s Legacy Challenge.
a note from the PRESIDENT
GEORGE A. HARNE, PH.D.
“ It will be essential to Christendom’s future that we constantly recall with gratitude those who came before, listening to the words of the founders and those that followed. ”
Warmest Greetings in this Adventide. Throughout this season, our family prays the following Collect daily, and I’d like to share it with you:
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead; we may rise to the life immortal.
This rich Collect unites beautifully the first coming of Our Lord with the longed-for second coming, calling us each—in response to grace—to a twofold action: we are both to “cast away the works of darkness” while also putting on “the armour of light.” And it sets in sharp contrast the humility of Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem with His return “in glorious majesty.” At the heart of this Collect we find three dynamic pairs: God’s gift of grace and our active responses, the act of rejection and the act of “putting on,” and the contrast between Christ’s humility and his future majesty.
In a similar way, we as a College live within contrasts also. As students and professors, we are primarily “the Church at Study,” called to a life devoted to the pursuit of Wisdom that is supported by prayer and liturgy, while at the same time actively engaging in the riches of the college’s social life, animated by feasting, friendship, and spirited adventure. Similarly, while we continually turn our minds toward the highest things in the studies that constitute our liberal education, our students know that in a relatively short time, they will be called to apply their newfound wisdom to the particulars of this world and take up their charge—which is the mission of the college—to “restore all things in Christ.”
As I meditate on these contrasts of the season, my mind also turns to the blessings that our family has enjoyed as we have become part of the Christendom College community.
What a joy it has been for Debbie, our children, and me to be at Christendom for this, our first semester. Every day I am reminded of the extraordinary institution that God has brought into being through the college’s founders and those good stewards who followed. Every day I am reminded of the high mission to which we have been called. The O’Donnells have been extremely generous in sharing their time and wisdom as we take up our new roles. Our children are making new friends as the collegiate community has warmly welcomed us.
This time of year is particularly important for us personally. First, Advent has always been our family’s favorite season of the liturgical year. And second, Christ the King Sunday, which falls just before the beginning of Advent, marks the anniversary of our entry into the Catholic Church.
This entry and its date tie us closely to the mission of Christendom and its history. Our founding president, Dr. Warren Carroll, was himself a convert, and our beautiful new chapel—the capstone of Dr. O’Donnell’s presidency—is named in honor of “Christ the King.”
During the installation earlier this fall, I outlined three aspects of this period of transition, and I recall them now, asking that you pray for our College as we continue to meditate on these themes. The first theme is “gratitude.” It will be essential to Christendom’s future that we constantly recall with gratitude those who came before, listening to the words of the founders and those that followed. Every step we take must be in continuity—even when it is a new development—with what came before.
The second theme is “fidelity.” Christendom has never been afraid to stand alone for the sake of what is true, what is good, and what is beautiful. But we also know at the deepest level that our fidelity is not primarily defensive. Rather, the fidelity we seek to embody is dynamic and generative. And it is this form of fidelity that we meditate upon, seeking—as is appropriate to this Adventide—a rebirth of Christendom’s mission for our own age.
And this leads to our third theme. How can Christendom, as we approach our fiftieth anniversary, animate “a Catholic intellectual and spiritual renaissance in America for the next fifty years?” How can we wisely receive, cultivate, extend, and hand on the Catholic intellectual tradition? And if we are to succeed in restoring all things in Christ for the next half century, how can we most prudently cultivate undergraduates through our curriculum, mentoring, teaching, and rich Catholic culture so that they are prepared for what God is calling them to do next?
In conclusion, please allow me to thank you for the blessings you bestow on Christendom College each day through your prayers, generosity, and support. Please know that you are in our prayers. And thank you personally for the words and gestures of welcome that you have communicated to our family over these last six months. We are deeply blessed and will forever be grateful. Please pray that we will be wise stewards as we look forward to the coming of Christ our King.
Adoration of the Shepherds by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
NEWS in BRIEF
ALUMNAE LAUNCH TRIVIUM
A group of Christendom alumnae have launched a new print and digital magazine, Trivium Magazine, aimed at providing Catholics with beautiful writing, art, and photography. The publication, founded by Rachel Gerring ’18, Emily (Bailey) DeVos ’18, Mikaela Bailey ’20, and Maria Gerring ’22, seeks to “reclaim truth at the crossroads of modern life,” with the first two issues of the magazine now available. For more information or to subscribe to Trivium Magazine, visit their website at www. triviummagazine.com.
SUMMER CONSORTIUM SUCCESS
ALUMNI RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONS
Alumni Fr. Paul Kucharski ’01, Fr. Philip Gilbert ’15, Fr. Matthew Kane ’17, Fr. Joseph Duffy ’19, and Fr. Nate Tapsak ’19 were all ordained to the priesthood this summer, raising the total number of Christendom alumni priests to 109. In addition to this momentous news, alumna Sr. Maria Julia of the Eucharist (Becky Derks ’18) made her first profession of vows with the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary. Sr. Maria Julia is Christendom’s fifty-third alumna sister, devoting her life to prayer, penance, and fulfilling the college’s mission of “restoring all things in Christ.”
Christendom welcomed Robert Cardinal Sarah, George Weigel, Patrick Madrid, and other distinguished guests for its annual Summer Consortium event, focused on the theme of “Preserving the Legacy of Pope St. John Paul II.” Featuring talks from Cardinal Sarah, Weigel, Dr. Joseph Arias, Dr. Daniel McInerny, and Dr. Owen Vyner, the event provided a rich intellectual and spiritual journey for participants as they discussed how Pope St. John Paul II’s legacy continues to shape the world today. You can listen to all the presentations on Apple and Spotify podcasts.
RECORD BEST WEEK EVER
Christendom welcomed a record number of students for its Best Week Ever high school summer program (BWE), with a total of 329 rising high school seniors participating in five week-long sessions this summer. Immersing students in the college’s intellectual life, spiritual life, and Catholic culture, the Best Week Ever transformed many lives this year, giving high school students the unique experience of learning the truth, living the faith, and thriving with other like-minded young Catholics.
DR. KEVIN ROBERTS SPEAKS TO PARENTS
Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation and proud parent of a Christendom College student, gave a stirring address at Christendom’s Homeschool Visit Day on October 12, addressing the importance of a liberal arts education and its role in shaping future Catholic leaders. The Heritage Foundation recently ranked Christendom as a “top choice” for students interested in an intellectually rigorous and well-rounded campus environment. You can listen to Roberts’ address on Apple and Spotify Podcasts.
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Christendom College’s Patrick Quest has been named the USCAA’s Garth Pleasant Athletic Director of the Year. Quest, who has served as Christendom’s athletic director for nearly a decade, earned the honors after helping lead Christendom Athletics to a historic year, which included a National Championship, multiple National Championship tournament berths, and over 50 student-athletes earning Academic All-American honors.
A llowing the g ift of J esus ’ P erson to s hine f orth
INSTITUTE FOR LITURGICAL FORMATION LAUNCHES
BY JULIE WELLS
“WHY DO SOME PEOPLE LEAVE JESUS WHEN HE IS GIVING THE MOST precious gift of eternal life? Why do some of the baptized turn away from the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist? Does our biblical, catechetical, and liturgical formation allow the gift of Jesus’ person to shine forth clearly? Does our Eucharistic celebration manifest Jesus’ presence, or does it obscure the presence of Jesus? Do Mass-goers manifest the presence of Christ through their witness of life, charity, and mission? Do our parish communities provide an experience of Jesus’ closeness and caring? Are our families still the primary teachers and transmitters of the faith?”
These were the closing words from Cardinal Luis Tagle at the Eucharistic Congress this past July when he emphasized a tremendous need in the Church today.
Members and friends of Christendom’s Graduate School of Theology took these words to heart, discerning how they could answer this great need. This fall, the Graduate School announced the Institute for Liturgical Formation, set to launch in the summer of 2025. The purpose of the Institute is to educate soundly and train those responsible for liturgical preparation and execution so that they can more effectively serve the Church’s mission to worship God.
Christopher Carstens, Director of the Office of Sacred Worship in the Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Editor of Adoremus Bulletin, and co-founder of the Institute, was especially struck by Tagle’s pointed questions about the liturgy, particularly the Mass.
“Christendom’s new program responds to these valid questions,” Carstens notes. “But even beyond the Eucharistic Revival, the liturgy continues to be at the heart of the Church’s life—and among the most loved, debated, and misunderstood aspects of the faith. Our goal for the Institute is to assist priests and liturgical leaders in celebrating the liturgy beautifully and
reverently after the mind of the Church and to help lead all the baptized deeper into the mystery of Christ present in the Mass, sacraments, and other liturgies.”
When asked what inspired the launch of the Institute, Dr. R.J. Matava, Dean of the Graduate School, highlighted the school’s desire to build up and strengthen the life of the Church.
“We see the Church’s primary mission as to evangelize and catechize people and to worship God,” says Matava. “Our school was founded to support the first of these, and the second is integrally related to it. While it falls primarily to bishops and priests to improve the liturgical life of the Church from a
ministerial standpoint, a lot of this effort depends on proper liturgical catechesis—not only for the ordained but for the laity as well. Our institution’s motto is Instaurare Omnia in Christo . The renewal of the liturgy is at the heart of Christ’s cosmic work of renewing the created order, and so it is central to our institutional mission.”
Beginning this year, the Graduate School will offer four summer courses focusing on the liturgy. Participation in the Institute will also provide students with opportunities for liturgical preparation and participation, fostering a rich communal life on campus for attendants. The Institute will significantly benefit those with diocesan and parish-level jobs in liturgical preparation and execution, as well as priests, religious, and lay people interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of the Church’s liturgy.
The Institute is defined by its fidelity to the Magisterium and its commitment to the authentic renewal of the Sacred Liturgy—a task yet to be fully realized. The courses and requirements are intellectually rigorous yet not academically narrow, characterized by its rites-based, practical orientation. Accordingly, courses will be taught with close attention to actual liturgical texts. This practical formation will also be integrated with a doctrinally rich and theoretically unified foundation, taught primarily from the perspective and methodology of St. Thomas Aquinas, animated by Sacred Scripture, and fortified by the Graduate School’s robust core curriculum. Spirituality will be emphasized throughout the entire curriculum. The Institute will take a lived, experiential approach to liturgical training. Students will fulfill their concentration requirements in person during the summer, worship in common, witness sound and beautiful liturgy, and be involved in liturgical preparation during their residence at the Institute. Beauty in all of its expressions—especially visual and musical—will permeate the culture of the Institute.
“Pope Benedict once claimed that it was sacred art and sacred persons—saints—that were the most moving arguments for the faith,” says Carstens. “Likewise, we want the Institute for Liturgical Formation to promote beauty and sanctity, unto the glory of God.”
Please keep the Graduate School in your prayers as they embark on this vital initiative.
“Pope Benedict once claimed that it was sacred art and sacred persons—saints—that were the most moving arguments for the faith. Likewise, we want the Institute for Liturgical Formation to promote beauty and sanctity, unto the glory of God.”
THE next CHAPTER
CHAPTER BEGINS
THE INSTALLATION OF GEORGE A. HARNE, PH.D., AS CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE’S FOURTH PRESIDENT
BY ZACH SMITH
George A. Harne, Ph.D. (left), is joined by President Emeritus Dr. Timothy O’Donnell and the entire faculty as they make the Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium.
After over three decades, Christendom turned a page this past August with the installation of George A. Harne, Ph.D., as president. The beginning of this next chapter had been long awaited, following President Emeritus Dr. Timothy O’Donnell’s announcement of his intent to retire in the spring of 2023. Turning the page, though, is no simple thing.
Each chapter of an institution brings with it not only the hopes of a community but also the weight of legacy. Dr. George Harne is only the fourth president in the history of Christendom, following college founder Dr. Warren Carroll (1977-1985), Dr. Damian Fedoryka (1985-1992), and Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, who served as the college’s third president from 1992 to 2024.
Their legacy looms large over the college and her alumni, raising the question: how do you forge a new path forward while also honoring all that has come before? Dr. Harne answered this question during his installation ceremony—only the third in the history of the college—pointing a bold way forward for Christendom that will seek to carry the mission of the college’s founders into the next fifty years and beyond.
The installation ceremony, held on August 25, marked the formal beginning of Dr. Harne’s presidency following his appointment in July of 2024, with the college’s entire staff, faculty,
student body, and the college’s Board of Directors in attendance to welcome Dr. Harne and show their support for his leadership.
The historic day began with a solemn Mass in Christ the King Chapel, celebrated by the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington. During his homily, Bishop Burbidge noted the start of this new chapter for Christendom, congratulating Dr. Harne and offering his continued prayers in the years to come.
“This is a very joyful and historic day in the life of Christendom College,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Dr. Harne is not here by some sort of chance or coincidence. After a prayerful search and discernment, we can be assured that this is God’s plan, for him, for his family, and for this college. We thank you, Dr. Harne, for your ‘yes.’ For your yes to God’s call, no doubt rooted in your trust in His divine plan.”
Following the Mass, the installation ceremony commenced with a formal charge to the president from Stephen O’Keefe, Chairman of the college’s Board of Directors. In his introductory remarks, O’Keefe underscored the significance of the moment, reflecting on the college’s mission and history.
“When Dr. Warren Carroll founded Christendom and became its first president, he was the president of just 26 students,” said O’Keefe. “Catholic education, by and large, was in turmoil… Dr. Carroll faced conflict but he persevered and Christendom grew. Later, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell became its third president, greatly expanding our borders and our capabilities. We sit in the height of his accomplishment. Now, we come to the installation of our fourth president, Dr. George Harne, on whom we will lay the charge to ‘restore all things in Christ.’”
O’Keefe then charged Dr. Harne to lead the college, asking him to reflect on Dr. Carroll’s famous phrase, “one man can make a difference.”
“There will be trials and there will be victories,” said O’Keefe. “I commit to you, Dr. Harne, my prayers and my support in your journey. Remember Dr. Carroll’s words and you will succeed as he did: ‘Our hope is in the name of the Lord. This enterprise is for His glory and His glory alone.’ One man can make a difference, Dr. Harne. Make a difference.”
Following O’Keefe’s remarks, Christendom’s longest-tenured president, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, rose from his pew. The congregation watched as he crossed in front of the High Altar, picked up the Presidential Chain of Office, and gently lowered it over Dr. George Harne’s head. In this moment, the next chapter of the college symbolically began.
“ I believe that Christendom College can and must, by God’s grace, become the animating source of a new Catholic intellectual and spiritual renaissance in America for the next fifty years. Today, with God’s help, let us begin.”
1. A close-up image of the Presidential Chain of Office. 2. Bishop Michael Burbidge blesses the Presidential Chain of Office. 3 . VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Kevin Tracy opens the installation ceremony. 4. The procession of all faculty members into the chapel at the beginning of the Mass. 5. Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Stephen O’Keefe, Dr. George Harne, and his wife, Debbie Harne, stand before the congregation just before the transferral of off ice.
6. Processing to Christ the King Chapel. 7. Dr. Harne smiles for a photo with Bishop Michael Burbidge. 8. Dr. Harne with his wife, Debbie, and their five children. 9. Mrs. Anne Carroll (wife of Christendom’s late founder Dr. Warren Carroll), Dr. Mary Kay Clark (Director Emeritus of Seton Home Study School), Dr. Onalee McGraw (founding board member of the college), and Dr. Eleanor Kelly (Director of the Teacher Formation program at the college) attend the reception in honor of the new president. 10. Dr. and Mrs. Harne smile for a photo with founding faculty member Mr. Ray O’Herron and Mrs. Anne Carroll.
“ May the receiving of this chain of office be a reminder of the wind and fire that were signs of the gifts of the Holy Spirit who descended on the Apostles and disciples at Pentecost.”
Following the taking of the Oath of Office, Dr. Harne led the college’s faculty in reciting the Oath of Fidelity to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church. Christendom’s president and entire faculty have made this oath every year since the college’s founding, promising to uphold the truths of the Catholic Faith both in and outside the classroom.
To close the installation ceremony, Dr. Harne then delivered his installation address. He began by emphasizing his commitment to Christendom’s founding vision, thanking all that came before who have made the college what it is today.
“Today, we honor and renew our commitment to Christendom’s founding and those who made the heroic sacrifices both to found Christendom College and bring her to this point today,” said Dr. Harne. “I think of the college’s great founding president, Dr. Warren Carroll, the five founding faculty, the five trustees, the founding staff, the founding students, the early friends of the college and those souls hidden from the written record who gave from their substance to lay the college’s foundation. And I also think of and honor the presidents who followed—President Damien Fedoryka, President Timothy O’Donnell—their wives and children, and all of the faculty, students, parents, trustees, benefactors, staff, and alumni, who have given sacrificially over these many years. And we recall that all of this history, everything that Christendom is today, is the work of Grace. Today is a day of gratitude.”
To conclude his address, Dr. Harne spoke passionately about his vision for the college’s future, calling on all involved in the
college to venture forth boldly in the years ahead.
“Because Christendom College has been faithful for these almost-fifty years, we are in a position to bring to bear the great wisdom of our tradition to points of crisis in our Church and in our world,” said Dr. Harne. “We can, inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, engage in acts of intellectual charity that go far beyond the borders of our campus. We can and must take Christendom, with its spiritual and intellectual treasures, to the world if we hope to restore all things in Christ. As much as we may desire continuity and safety, for the sake of souls, we must venture forth boldly…I believe that Christendom College can and must, by God’s grace, become the animating source of a new Catholic intellectual and spiritual renaissance in America for the next fifty years. Today, with God’s help, let us begin.”
Christendom College was founded in 1977 to form lay men and women who would go out into every area of society and transform it for the better. Now, nearly fifty years later, the college is in a better position than ever to go out and accomplish that very goal. Dr. George Harne’s installation marks the start of a new era for Christendom—one that will seek to honor all that has come before, while also turning the page and pushing the college forward in bold and exciting ways.
As the college prepares for its fiftieth anniversary in just two more years, the next chapter of Christendom must now begin. With the turning of that page, the hard, joy-filled work of generations past will continue on, united now, more than ever, in the mission of “restoring all things in Christ.”
An excerpt taken from the Prayer Over the Chain of Office, recited by Bishop Burbidge at the ceremony.
A Father’s Love
MATTHEW’S CHRISTMAS GIFT IN ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
BY DR. KATHLEEN SULLIVAN, PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
A lady shopkeeper is not as menacing as a hungry lion in his den, but Matthew Cuthbert would rather face the lion. Shy, sixty-year-old farmer Matthew is a quiet character in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s book Anne of Green Gables, but like the quiet carpenter St. Joseph, Matthew’s presence makes a powerful impact on those around him. To the friendless orphan girl Anne Shirley he offers protection, to her love-starved heart he provides a haven of peace, and to her wildly imaginative fancies, he offers a steadfast foundation, guiding her to choose the good. A man of few words, Matthew’s patient love for Anne reveals a father who is humble in offering his strength to protect her, tender in showing his desire to provide for her, and gentle in his guidance when correcting her wrongs. In so doing, Matthew’s fatherly love reveals our Heavenly Father’s own love in protecting us, providing for us, and being eternally patient with us as we strive for holiness.
Matthew’s fatherly love reveals our Heavenly Father’s own love in protecting us, providing for us, and being eternally patient with us as we strive for holiness. “
The story begins with Matthew and his sister Marilla having decided, one Christmas, to adopt a young boy to help Matthew on their Prince Edward Island farm; yet a miscommunication led to a meeting that would change their lives forever. Arriving at the train station to pick up the boy, Matthew discovers that the orphanage sent a girl instead. Painfully shy Matthew seeks protection from doing “that which was harder for him than bearding a lion in its den—walk up to a girl—a strange girl—an orphan girl—and demand of her why she wasn’t a boy.”1 Yet as soon as they meet, Matthew forgets about himself in recognizing that she is the one in need of protection. The red-haired eleven-year-old brightly tells him: “I suppose you are Mr. Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables? … I had made up my mind that if you didn’t come for me to-night I’d go down the track to that big wild cherry-tree at the bend, and climb up into it to stay all night. I wouldn’t be a bit afraid, and it would be lovely to sleep in a wild cherry-tree all white with bloom in the moonshine, don’t you think?” (11-12). Even though she seems quite eager to spend the night in a cherry
tree, Matthew knows he cannot leave her alone and abandoned. Matthew’s response is one of fatherly protection: he offers to carry her bag and leads her to the carriage to take her home. Despite knowing of Marilla’s disapproval and despite the fear of sharing a carriage ride with a strange girl, Matthew sets aside his own desires to act for the good of hers.
On the carriage ride, he accepts and validates her just as she is. Anne’s questions stream forth in a dizzying fashion: Does the blossoming cherry tree make Mr. Cuthbert think of “a bride all in white with a lovely misty veil?” (13); “what does make the roads red?” (14); has he “ever imagined what it would be like to be divinely beautiful?” (17). Would he rather be “divinely beautiful, dazzlingly clever, or angelically good?” (17). Although Matthew “felt as he had once felt in his rash youth when another boy had enticed him on the merry-go-round at a picnic” (17), he marvels at Anne’s imagination and does not stop her exuberance; instead, Matthew offers her a quiet and protective shelter of paternal attention on the carriage ride to Green Gables.
Shuffled among foster homes and orphanages for ten years, Anne had endured the abuse of neglect, intoxicated adults, and
1Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, (New York: Bantam Books, 1998), 11. All \future citations will be given parenthetically by page number.
indifference. Treated as less than a servant in these places, Anne believes that she is only loveable if she is useful or beautiful; she is also wary of exhausting others with her talk. Yet Matthew offers Anne a protective haven when he replies to her anxiety: “Oh, you can talk as much as you like. I don’t mind” (16). His fatherly care for her on the carriage ride continues when he faces Marilla’s displeasure. His stern sister insists that they return Anne to the orphanage since she would be of no good to them. Yet Matthew “unexpectedly” and boldly claims, “We might be some good to her” (29). Matthew’s newly-awakened fatherly love protects Anne not only from the physical danger of neglectful orphanages and sleeping in cherry trees, but more essentially, from the spiritual danger of finding herself abandoned as an unloved orphan once again.
As the days and years go by, Matthew’s protective love continues to be a stronghold for Anne when facing Marilla’s strictness, when rising above a neighbor’s rude remarks, when handling a crisis in school, or when needing comfort in moments of suffering. In all these occasions, Matthew provides a few wise words or a gentle smile to let Anne know she has the strength within herself to manage the myriad challenges of life, all the while quietly offering his own strength to share in both her sorrows and joys.
In addition to offering her protection for body and soul, Matthew’s fatherly love provides for Anne. One year, two weeks before Christmas, Matthew happens upon Anne hosting a group of her classmates practicing a skit to be performed in their upcoming Christmas concert, with all the girls “laughing and chattering gaily. They did not see Matthew, who shrank bashfully back into the shadows” (195). As Matthew watches the bright animation of his Anne among her school friends, he “became conscious that there was something about her different from her mates. And what worried Matthew was that the difference impressed him as being something that should not exist. … [After two hours] of hard reflection Matthew arrived at a solution of his problem. Anne was not dressed like the other girls!” (195-6). Anne does not need a dress, especially one with extravagantly puffed sleeves, nor has she asked for one
in over a year. In her first days at Green Gables, Anne had tried to convince Marilla that prettier dresses would help her behave better, since it “is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable” (231), but Anne had long since given up such requests. Deciding to give Anne a dress for Christmas, wanting to provide for her materially, but also to provide for her emotionally, by satisfying her beauty-loving soul, Matthew braves a lion’s den —in this case a shop run by a woman—to show his love for Anne.
Although Matthew cherishes time spent with Anne, he still dreads talking to women, young or old. His courage in facing the brisk questions of the dynamic lady shopkeeper is admirable, yet he cannot bring himself to form the right words. A haltering request for “any —well now, say, any garden rakes?” comes forth from Matthew to his regret and to the lady clerk’s surprise at this odd man buying a garden rake in December (197). Two more humiliating and unsuccessful attempts to speak the words “I want to buy a dress with puffed sleeves” cause Matthew to leave the store in an embarrassment of suffering, carrying a heavy burden of hayseed, twenty pounds of brown sugar, and failure—for he left without the Christmas dress. Yet as St. Paul reminded the Romans, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:3-4). Matthew suffers, endures, and proves his true character of a father providing for his child in hopeful love. He tries again, this time successfully enlisting the help of his neighbor Mrs. Rachel Lynde who assures him that Matthew’s gift will be ready for Anne on Christmas. Mrs. Lynde’s own amusement mirrors readers’ when she wonders at Matthew’s desire to give Anne a beautiful dress: “To think of Matthew taking notice of it! That man is waking up after being asleep for over sixty years” (200). By dying to himself through loving Anne, Matthew’s heart has not only become more awake, but stronger in protecting and providing for the good of his beloved child, willing her good even beyond his own.
Matthew loves with a patient heart, steadily guiding Anne through her imaginative errors and grounding her to choose what is true and good. When Anne’s immersive play-acting of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shalott” leads to her almost
“ Matthew taught Anne that she is loveable simply because she is Anne, not because she is useful, beautiful, or accomplished. Anne treasures that spiritual truth beyond all other gifts. Matthew’s love meets her where she is and walks with her, all the while encouraging her to grow.
”
drowning in a river due to the leaky boat that she was floating in as she recited the poem, Marilla has impatient words of reprimand for Anne’s romantic foolishness. Yet Matthew “who had been sitting mutely in his corner, laid a hand on Anne’s shoulder when Marilla had gone out. ‘Don’t give up all your romance, Anne,’ he whispered shyly, ‘a little of it is a good thing—not too much, of course—but keep a little of it, Anne, keep a little of it’” (228). His gentle advice demonstrates a father’s love in correcting and counseling his child. By encouraging Anne to moderate her romantic view of the world, Matthew does not ask Anne to change who she is, but to grow more deeply in love with the good of the world and people as they are. He modeled that love ever since the first carriage ride to Green Gables. Matthew teaches Anne that she is loveable simply because she is Anne, not because she is useful, beautiful, or accomplished. Anne treasures that spiritual truth beyond all other gifts. Matthew’s love meets her where she is and walks with her, all the while encouraging her to grow. Truly, his fatherly love is a treasure worthy to store in heaven.
Thus, when Matthew is unexpectedly called to his heavenly home at the end of five brief but full years with Anne as his beloved daughter, his treasured love remains. The day before he dies, Anne had gone with Matthew to bring the cows in for the evening. They enjoyed a leisurely walk of gentle companionship; the “woods were all gloried through with sunset and the warm splendor of it streamed down through the hill gaps in the west. Matthew walked slowly with bent head; Anne, tall and erect, suited her springing step to his” (291). In noting his slowness, Anne mourned that she had not been a boy, someone more useful to lighten Matthew’s load on the farm. Yet Matthew tenderly replied: “Well now, I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne
… Just mind you that—rather than a dozen boys,” calling her “my girl” and smiling his quiet, shy smile (292). These words remain with Anne, giving her a spiritual reassurance even in the misery of mourning the loss of Matthew. As her friend Mrs. Allen reminds Anne: “When Matthew was here, he liked to hear you laugh and he liked to know that you found pleasure in the pleasant things around you. … He is just away now; and he likes to know it just the same” (297). Matthew’s gift of a steadfast and patient love endures beyond his own life, keeping Anne’s heart at peace in knowing she is eternally loved.
With his patient, protective love that provides for Anne emotionally, physically, and spiritually, Matthew serves as a model, like St. Joseph, of the foster father who reveals our Heavenly Father. In showing an abandoned orphan girl that she is treasured and wanted, in gently guiding her to a more grounded approach to her imaginative world, and even in modeling the perseverance of finding the perfect Christmas gift, Matthew’s love transforms Anne, forever. Ultimately, Matthew’s love reveals our Heavenly Father’s gift of His beloved Son at Christmas, which transformed us all and the world, for all time. Matthew Cuthbert, a quiet, shy farmer on Prince Edward Island, proves St. Paul’s words true that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. … Love never fails. … faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13: 7-8, 13).
Kathleen Sullivan, Ph.D., is a professor of English language and literature at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. She earned her M.A. in English from the University of Dallas and her Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. Her scholarly work focuses on both Jane Austen and 19th century British Literature.
In the Classroom
HIGHLIGHTING A COURSE FROM OUR RICH CURRICULUM
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 319: LITERARY CRITICISM
BY DR. THOMAS STANFORD
A Course required of every English Language and Literature major at Christendom College, ENGL 319: Literary Criticism seeks to develop the student’s knowledge of the essential ideas and trends in the history of literary theory and criticism from classical antiquity to the present day. Although such a broad survey is ambitious, this course is critical in preparing students for the tangle of scholarly approaches to literature which they will encounter in their research for papers in upper-level elective courses, as well as for the thesis project. The Literary Criticism course enables students to proceed prudently and confidently in their research, as the course arms the student with an understanding of the philosophical and ideological premises of a diverse array of schools of literary criticism.
Through guided engagement with—and evaluation of—a survey of major texts representing the most significant critical methodologies and aesthetic philosophies in the Western
tradition, the students gain fluency in the history of ideas about literature. Writers studied include Plato, Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, Philip Sidney, Kant, Wordsworth, Shelley, Arnold, Nietzsche, T. S. Eliot, C. S. Lewis, Karl Marx, Ferdinand De Saussure, Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, Terry Eagleton, Stephen Greenblatt, Northrop Frye, and Elaine Showalter, among others. Special consideration is given to the Catholic perspective on the nature and purpose of art, as developed in the ideas of St. Basil the Great, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dante, St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Flannery O’Connor, and G. K. Chesterton. In order better to comprehend and meaningfully to critique contemporary critical methodologies, students read Shakespeare’s Hamlet , as well as applications of Marxist, New Historicist, Feminist, Deconstructionist, and Archetypal critical methodologies to Shakespeare’s play.
Hamlet Sees the Ghost of his Father, Eugene Delacroix.
WHERE FAITH MEETS
20 YEARS OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST LIBRARY
BY LIANNA YOUNGMAN
For the past 20 years, nestled in our sylvan campus, with a wide, beautiful view of the serene Shenandoah River, St. John the Evangelist Library has quietly established itself as the backbone of Christendom’s campus. A beloved refuge for those late-night paper writers who find inspiration in the stillness of the night, for whispered study sessions that foster collaboration among peers, and for thesis researchers delving deep into their academic pursuits, the library has become an integral part of the daily routine for many students. As Christendom College takes a moment to celebrate the 20th anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Library, the entire Christendom community reflects on the profound impact that one building has had on both the academic and community life of the college.
MEETS REASON
St. John the Evangelist Library was completed in 2004, a significant milestone born out of the pressing necessity for more space to accommodate a growing academic community. Prior to the construction of the St. John the Evangelist Library, all of Christendom’s books were housed—filled to bursting—within the confines of St. John Paul the Great Student Center.
“The original Christendom College library consisted of the libraries of the founders,” says Associate Librarian Stephen Pilon. “They donated books from their own collections to start the library. From the very beginning, the library was invested in by the faculty.”
Approaching the cusp of the 21st century, it was becoming increasingly clear that the building simply could not accommodate the rapid growth of the college. The idea to construct a new library would be a massive endeavor, and it was not a decision made lightly or hastily. Library Director Andrew Armstrong, along with Pilon, took the planning process very seriously. They embarked on an extensive journey that involved touring numerous libraries, exhaustively researching various cataloging systems, and drawing up logistical plans that were meticulously crafted and then revised multiple times to ensure thorough consideration of all aspects. Armstrong and Pilon were instrumental in this intricate process, working with Dr. Robert Rice and many other dedicated individuals to draft a comprehensive plan for the ideal Christendom library, one that would serve the needs of students and faculty alike and enhance the academic environment while adhering to the mission of the college. Finally, after countless hours of research and planning, the fruit of the research in all its complexities became a stack of paper, a physical plan.
great gift occurred when an anonymous donor stepped forward and expressed a desire that the library be beautiful. The donor then generously contributed all the cherry and walnut wood that elevates the beauty of the library. The exact spot of the library on campus was chosen by the college, a spot amidst the Christendom Trails fondly called “Angel’s Rest.” The students at the time were able to see the beautiful structure rise before their eyes and feel that they were truly a part of campus being changed forever.
The finished library was dedicated on October 9, 2004. For the next 20 years, the building would oversee the academic journeys of over a thousand students. Though the students become alumni in the crucial steps to the podium to receive their diploma, it is in the quiet nooks of the library that the students learn the discipline, the work ethic, and the habits that will prepare them for the world beyond.
“It was almost a dream, head-in-the-clouds paper for what we would love to have at Christendom,” says Pilon. As the vision gained momentum, architects were brought in to transform those ideas on paper into blueprints, and the project started. The dream was becoming a reality.
As with any development project, there were a number of both setbacks and blessings in the long process of construction. One
The value of the building is palpable. Upon entering the rotunda, the library exudes a peaceful sense of comfortable academia. Students make camp with stacks of papers and books, surrounded by the wisdom of the ages. The clack of keyboards, the low murmur of voices, the general hush of study and concentration rise into the high ceilings—and the students work late into the night under the arched ceiling of the library, from which hangs a beautiful crucifix funded by Rice and his wife, Mary Alice. Not only a refuge for the academic life, but for the past 20 years, the library has also been a rich center of community for the students. From the study spaces on the ground floor to the student-run Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop downstairs, the opportunities to interact with the larger student body are constantly present. Every student, from freshman to senior, knows the library is the place to go not only for study but also for a shared community in which they can grow in their identity as Catholic students. It is a place in which they come to see more clearly the greatness to which they are being called and discover the tools to fulfill that calling.
For the main library staff that has been with the library since its construction, Armstrong, Pilon, Acquisitions
Opposite Center: Eagle, inspired by the Book of Kells, located at the top of the inside dome in the library rotunda. Top: St. John the Evangelist design plans. Bottom Left: Cardinal Edwin O’Brien blesses the library during the dedication ceremony on October 9th, 2004. Bottom Right: Groundbreaking Ceremony with Founder Dr. Warren Carroll (right).
Assistant Mickey Krebs, and Cataloging Associate Roberta Peer, the library has been a labor of love—both a love for the Catholic intellectual life and also what the library symbolizes for the greater community.
“The labor and the love that has gone into this library, as well as the generosity that made it happen should be noted,” says Krebs. “It’s very Catholic. It’s Catholic in the way of charity and giving and community.”
As the library celebrates its 20th birthday, the building will continue to stand firm in the principles that inspired its construction so long ago. Of course, while technological innovations have changed and expanded the library’s offerings, the core of the library will remain timeless.
“While electronic resources are advantageous, we will always have physical books,” says Armstrong. “We understand the importance of physical books and the memories associated with each one.”
Here students can study from the same books hundreds of previous alumni have studied from, with many donated from the founders themselves. The library’s most cherished literary treasures are carefully preserved in the Rare Books Room—a dedicated space that showcases invaluable works, including rare editions by notable authors of the Catholic Literary Revival such as G.K. Chesterton, Evelyn Waugh, and Hilaire Belloc, alongside the collection’s oldest artifact: a Latin text dating to 1502. The power of the physical book in a physical library is profound. Seeing the
works of the Rare Books Room, some books hundreds of years old, serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring influence of the liberal arts. It also serves as a reminder of the generosity of the patrons who have donated and continue to donate books every year. Pilon estimates that the library’s collection of physical books has grown from 30,000 to 100,000 books in the past 20 years, with thousands of books still donated each year. These generous donations not only build the library’s collection, but also grow the personal libraries of the students through the used bookstore. Dozens of alumni have gone on to library-related fields because of the love of the work they gained from spending so much time in the Christendom library.
The college’s mission, articulated through founder Dr. Warren Carroll’s call to “Restore all things in Christ,” is evident not only in its aesthetic and academic pursuits but also in the vibrant community that has united both to bring the library to fruition and partake in its ongoing benefits. After two decades of nurturing the research, writings, and connections of Christendom students, the St. John the Evangelist Library stands as the beating heart of campus intellectual life. As the academic anchor, it not only safeguards the evolution of wisdom-seeking minds but also preserves thousands of alumni theses, all while transforming students into scholars ready to shape the future. In essence, this library isn’t just a building—it’s the very foundation of Christendom’s academic legacy.
EXPLORING THE WONDERS
CREATION OF
CHRISTENDOM LAUNCHES NATURAL SCIENCE MAJOR
BY ZACH SMITH
From the very beginning of Christendom College, the natural sciences have been a part of the college’s curriculum, helping students understand the methods and principles proper to the natural order. The college took a leap forward in those offerings this past spring, expanding the existing natural sciences curriculum into a natural science major, designed to help prepare students to pursue careers in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, or other related fields, as well as education.
“This new major will deepen the understanding of our students, providing them with the opportunity to study the sciences within the context of our Catholic liberal arts curriculum, ultimately helping prepare our students for various career paths, including medicine and nursing,” says Dr. Miriam Byers, chairman of the department.
The college has been expanding its natural science offerings in recent years, offering many of the prerequisites students need for further education in medicine following graduation. The new major’s curriculum builds on those offerings, including foundational courses such as General Chemistry, Biology with Lab, and Physics. Advanced electives cover a variety of scientific disciplines, ensuring students receive a well-rounded education. The program is uniquely structured to integrate scientific knowledge with philosophical and ethical considerations, a hallmark of Christendom’s educational approach.
“Our natural science degree is unique compared to those of other schools,” says Byers. “At Christendom, students will be able to study the natural sciences and understand the relationship of the subject matter to the rest of human knowledge. The requirements for the major will be similarly rigorous, but students will be learning within Christendom’s liberal arts curriculum, providing them with a greater understanding of the natural sciences.”
The natural science major will be particularly beneficial for those intending to pursue careers in medicine or nursing, with the curriculum providing many of the necessary courses required for medical school and other healthcare-related graduate programs.
Many students have gone on to successful medical careers following graduation from Christendom, becoming nurses, surgeons, doctors, therapists, and more. By integrating a solid science education with Christendom’s core curriculum, students will now be even more well-prepared to excel in medical careers, where ethical and philosophical considerations are increasingly important.
When Christendom was first founded, the intent was to form lay men and women who would go out into every area of society and restore it in Christ. Now, thanks to the introduction of the natural science major, Christendom’s graduates will be better prepared to fulfill this key aspect of the college’s mission.
PHOTO ALBUM
1. While touring the city, Juniors in Rome gather for a photo with Christendom Professor and Vatican communications expert SeànPatrick Lovett.
2. The first annual Majors Expo was held this fall in Old Chapel Hall, encouraging students to ask questions and learn more about each major in order to discern which one is right for them.
3. Patrick Madrid with Relevant Radio recorded live from Christendom’s campus when he visited this past July for the Summer Consortium.
4. Men’s soccer had a great season under coaches Mark LaRochelle ’22 and Daniel Duca ’22, earning a ranking as high as #6 in the USCAA.
5. Students shared their musical talents at the annual Senior Benefit Concert, raising money for the 2025 senior class gift.
6. Volleyball had a great season with a young team and have a lot to look forward to in the future. Guided by first-year head coach Michaela Pennefather ’19, they were ranked as high as #9 in the USCAA.
7. Rugby had a good season under 9th-year head coach James Conrad, with a ranking as high as #11 in DIII of the NCR.
8. Theresa Hambleton (#19) joined the class of 2028 this year, becoming the first third-generation student to enroll at Christendom.
9. Fr. Ben Cameron ’91 led a Eucharistic Mission on campus this past semester to help students encounter Christ in a deeper way. Here he is shown hosting a bonfire for the ladies on campus.
10. Students, faculty, and staff participated in a candlelit Rosary Procession in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
11. Alumni working in the field of political writing returned to speak at Life on Tap, sharing their experiences and answering questions from interested students.
12. Dr. Eric Jenislawski led a Bavarian choir at the annual Oktoberfest, joined by Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Rice.
13. Professor Mike Brown, Dr. John Cuddeback, and his wife, Sofia Cuddeback, hosted a barn dance for students and their families during Parents & Family Weekend, teaching simple steps for everyone to feel comfortable on the dance floor.
14. Christopher Carstens, Director of the Office of Sacred Worship in the Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Editor of Adoremus Bulletin, and co-founder of the Institute for Liturgical Formation, visited campus and presented a lecture entitled “Three Ingredients for a Beautiful Liturgy.”
15. St. Columcille Institute students gathered for a photo as they explored Grianán of Aileach in Inishowen, County Donegal.
enduring impact
LEGACY CHALLENGE INSPIRES CATHOLIC SCIENTIST
BY JACOB STEVENS
St. Albert the Great by Karl Ballenberger.
Christendom College is an institution where faith and reason thrive. A Christendom education is one that is “grounded in natural and revealed truth,” as the college’s mission statement asserts. As an institution that takes zero federal funding, Christendom’s faithful Catholic education is only made possible through the support of generous benefactors. One such benefactor, Dr. Ray Henkel, is helping to expand the college’s new natural science program through the Legacy Challenge.
The Legacy Challenge multiplies the effect of estate gifts by matching 10% of the value of the future gift with an immediate gift to Christendom student financial aid. Henkel has included Christendom in his estate to support the natural science program while, through the Legacy Challenge, enabling five additional students to attend Christendom College today.
Originally from New York City, Henkel has had a lifelong fascination with God’s Creation. He was introduced to physics in high school, and then majored in the field in college. Henkel would go on to earn a Ph.D. in physics as well. In his professional career, Henkel worked as a geophysicist for various oil companies for 25 years. Throughout his career and into retirement, Henkel has maintained an interest in the sciences, especially in physics and geology. An avid outdoorsman and hunter, Henkel now lives in Colorado.
Henkel, a lifelong scientist and faithful Catholic, wanted to support a college that was consistently and thoroughly Catholic. Seeing the secularization of higher education in recent decades, Henkel determined to find a college that “really believes in religious education.”
Henkel found out about Christendom when trying to find a college that preserves religious values while still providing an excellent education. Christendom’s zero federal funding policy made it stand out from other colleges.
When asked about what makes Christendom unique, Henkel says, “Christendom really popped out to me because the college takes no money from the government.” When Henkel found out Christendom was adding the natural science major, Christendom became his philanthropic priority.
Henkel sees Christendom as a place where the study of both natural and revealed truth thrive. Recently, the college expanded its curriculum with the addition of a natural science major, providing students with a comprehensive education in the core areas of physical science while maintaining the college’s Catholic liberal arts core curriculum. Henkel has assisted Christendom in establishing the Albertus Magnus Endowment, named after the patron saint of the natural sciences, St. Albert the Great, to fund the natural science program. By marking his estate gift for the Albertus Magnus Endowment, Henkel’s personal passion for God’s creation aligns with the college’s need.
Henkel was ultimately inspired to include Christendom in his estate when he found out about the college’s Legacy Challenge. By matching a future estate gift with a gift today, the impact of Henkel’s estate commitment is enhanced. “The match opportunity motivated me to significantly increase what I can do for Christendom now,” Henkel says. Since Christendom is a relatively new college compared to many older institutions, funding an endowment through an estate gift ensures that Christendom can endure for years to come.
“Through the study of natural science, we develop a greater appreciation for God’s universe, and I want to preserve this for future generations.”
When asked what he would tell others who have either included Christendom in their estate plans or are considering it, Henkel wants to encourage them to make Christendom part of their legacy.
“I want to make sure that Christendom is a part of my legacy and endures after I pass away. I made this gift so that Christendom can endure for years to come.”
Read more about Christendom College’s Legacy Challenge by scanning the code or visiting giving.christendom.edu/legacy.
Dr. Ray Henkel
CLASSMATES YOUR PAPER & INK ALUMNI
1980s & 1990s
Dr. Gloria Falcao Dodd ’87 was elected the president of the Mariological Society of America in May. She has given papers, interviews, and presentations to the National Catholic Register, EWTN, Japan Evangelii Network, and Radio Maria. Michael Hichborn ’ 99, Christendom Professor David Owen, and others completed an expedition of Mt. Ararat on August 5, 2024. That afternoon, the Feast of Our Lady of Snows, they constructed an altar out of snow for the first Catholic Mass ever said atop Mt. Ararat. 1
A group of alumni and faculty met in August for a Mass in memory of Catherine Burch ’84, who passed away on May 26, 2024. 2
Mrs. Laura (née Spooner) ’81 and Capt. James Patrick Guerrero are delighted
to announce the marriage of their son
Samuel Ignatius Guerrero and Louisa Marie (née McFadden) ’25 on June 6, 2024. 3
2000s
Alyssa Lombardi ’03 married Samuel Blase at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 10, 2024. 4
Anne Delisle ’03 was elected as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in March, and then selected by the Michigan Delegation as the Chair of Delegation. 5
Mary (née Hack) Sheiko ’05 is in Year 3 (of 4) of obtaining her licentiate in homeopathy as a remote student at the Centre for Homeopathic Education in London. Learn more at www.MarySheikoHomeopathy.com.
SOCIAL NETWORK
Trish (née Metzger) Gallagher ’05 started Nazareth Catholic Academy, a homeschool hybrid Co-Op in the diocese of Springfield, Illinois, with Montessori, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and a Liberal Arts elementary curriculum. Logo by Tim Judge. 6
Kathryn (née Kujawski) ’09 and Craig Baltrinic welcomed Helena Rose Baltrinic on June 11, 2024. 7
2010–15
Teresa Cory ’15 accepted a position at The George Washington University as the new Assistant Registrar for the Transfer Credit team.
Sarah (née Marchand) ’ 10 and Ben Salmon welcomed Chiara Genevieve on June 4, 2024. She joins three adoring older sisters: Francesca, Zoe, and Naomi. 8
Julie Wells ’15 illustrated her tenth children’s book entitled A Little Extra Jayne, published by Jumelle Press and now available for purchase. 9
Dennis ’ 10 and Catherine Toscano welcomed their second child, Giorgio Giovanni Battista on January 24, 2023. 10
Lucy (née Briggs) ’15 and Brian McCrum ’ 14 welcomed their fourth child, Daniel Grant Michael McCrum, on September 6, 2024. Danny was baptized on September 28, 2024. 11
2016–19
Rachel Gerring ’18, Emily (née Bailey) DeVos ’18, Mikaela Bailey ’20, and Maria Gerring ’22 have started Trivium Magazine, a Catholic quarterly print and digital magazine dedicated to “reclaiming truth at the crossroads of modern life.” Learn more at triviummagazine.com. 12
Christine (née Schmidt) ’19 and Thomas Anderson were married at St. John the Baptist Historic Chapel in April 2023. They are expecting their first little one in October 2024. 13
Sydney (née Dominguez) ’18 and John Madigan welcomed John Emmett on September 26, 2024. Jorge Dominguez ’20 stood as godfather. Sydney recently joined Pacific Legal Foundation’s litigation team in August. 14
Sr. Maria Julia of the Eucharist, O.P. (Becky Derks, ’18), made her first profession with the Dominican Nuns of Our Lady of the Rosary Monastery in Summit, NJ. Br. Linus Mary Martz ’18 assisted at the Mass, and the profession was attended by many Christendom alumni. 15
Elisabeth (née Roberts) ’16 and Peter Gaetano ’17 welcomed Peter Gaetano on April 6, 2024. 16
Gemma (née Youngman) ’19 and Ian Sheedy ’20 welcomed Thomas Andrew on July 29, 2024. 17
2020’s
Brianna (née Morabito) and Michael Hans, both ’22, were married on May 18, 2024. 18
Stephen Simpson ’24 and Lilliana Johnson ’22 were engaged on July 14, 2024. 19
Gwyneth (née Sawicki) and Gerard Adams, both ’23, were married on July 6, 2024 at St. Peter’s in Omaha, Nebraska. 20
Anna (née LLobet) and Aidan Fletcher, both ’22 , welcomed Raphael James Chrysostom Fletcher on July 25, 2024. He is very loved, especially by his big sister Rosemary. 21
Leah (née Dickens) ’24 and Anthony Suess ’21 welcomed Charlotte on April 6, 2024. Charlotte was baptized on May 26, 2024. 22
Catherine (née Taraba) and James Raes, both ’24, welcomed Philomena Mary-Ann on May 11, 2024, and tuned in to their class graduating just hours after. 23
Theresa (née Crnkovich) ’20 and Jadon Lippincott were married on September 13, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. 24
Caroline (née Connell) and Matteo Stocco, both ’23, were married on April 6, 2024, at the St. John the Baptist Adoration Chapel in Front Royal, Virginia. 25
Mary Grace (née Bright) and Ambrose Rucker, both ’21, welcomed their first child, Isaac Michael Rucker, in April 2024. 26
Stephanie (née Rogers) and Daniel Buehler, both ’21, welcomed Mallory Fay Buehler on August 15, 2024. 27
Sarah (née Jackson) ’24 and Brian Hicks ’22 welcomed Mariella Louise on September 8, 2024. 28
Katie (née Svoboda) ’23 and Henry Summers ’22 welcomed John Henry Philip Summers on September 3, 2024. 29
Peter Williams and Audrey Altmanshofer, both ’24, were engaged on May 11, 2024. 30
Frank Scarchilli ’22 and Gianna Coffey ’23 were engaged on June 16, 2024. 31
Gracie (née Clark) and Josh Forbes, both ’23, welcomed Athanasius Daniel Forbes on August 14, 2024. 32
Fiona Briggs ’23 and Thomas Sullivan ’24 were engaged on April 27, 2024. They will be married at Christ the King Chapel in May 2025.
Harry Cole ’22 and Therese Cruz ’23 were engaged on September 28 in San Diego, California.
Christiana (née Fedoryka) and Stephen Pascoe, both ’21, welcomed their first child, Gabriel Alexander Maria, on July 19, 2024. 33
Elizabeth Ciresi ’25, the daughter of Becky (née McCarthy) Ciresi ’91 and Sal Ciresi (NDGS ’98), received the habit of the Benedictines of Mary on September 26, 2024. She took the name Sister Oriana in honor of Our Lady, Dawn of the Sun of Justice. 34
Compiled by the Alumni Relations Office.
Requiescat in Pace
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Rev. Peter Y. Williams ’82
Brianna (Cerny) Tappe ’17
Gerard DesRochers, Jr. ’83
Held October 4-6, the Homecoming 2024 festivities began on First Friday with a holy hour followed by the Reminisce Social. Comprised of four alumni and college founding member Ray O’Herron, this panel shared humorous and impactful stories about the college in its earliest days. On Saturday, the alumni relations office hosted several events including a special all 80’s/90’s luncheon with new president Dr. George Harne, Family Fun Day, and a new wine tasting event. That evening, under the beautiful outdoor statue of Our Lady, Queen of Christendom, the college celebrated the reunion classes of ’84, ’94, ’04, and ’14 as well as the 20th anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Library.
2025 October 3-5, 2025 Special reunion celebrations for the classes of 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015!
See more pics on Flickr.
OMNIA IN CHRISTO
PLATO’S RHETORIC OF LOVE
BY DR. ANDREW BEER
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.
Plato’s dialogue phaedrus explores the connection between rhetoric (the ancient art of speaking persuasively) and our experience of love. According to the dialogue, falling in love is a kind of madness. It is a madness bestowed benevolently by the gods. Indeed, as Socrates maintains, divine madness is the source of man’s greatest blessings.
To understand the connection between love, madness, and rhetoric, it helps to know about the historical context in which Plato wrote. The politics of his day, not unlike our own, often devolved into a contest between bitter rivals for domination over each other. A class of itinerant professional teachers—known as the Sophists—traversed the Greek world providing lessons, for a substantial fee, to all who yearned after political prowess.
One such teacher, named Gorgias, promised to equip his students with the means of enslaving their fellow citizens—but not by means of physical violence. The accomplished speaker, instead, would exert his will merely through persuasive speeches delivered to massive political gatherings. Such gatherings, according to Gorgias, were arenas of combat. Gorgias, and men like him, conceived of politics as a kind of bloodsport in which only the strongest survived. To learn the art of rhetoric
was to acquire a martial art. It was to become ready for war.
This is why the kind of rhetoric practiced by Socrates and upheld by Plato was revolutionary. The best way to understand what they proposed in place of Gorgias’ martial rhetoric is to consider the Greek word they used to describe it: therapeia which means service or loving care. It is formed from the word therápōn, which means anyone who attends upon another—thus an attendant or also a servant, or even a slave. So Gorgias, on his side, teaches the art of enslaving. Socrates and Plato, on theirs, would have us learn to become the servant of all.
This is where love comes in. For whenever we engage in the practice of persuasion or the art of argument, we proceed with an implicit understanding of what we and our interlocutors are as human beings. From the Gorgianic point of view, the several participants in public argument are engaged in a zero-sum contest for reputation and public standing. For Socrates and Plato, any instance of conversation is an opportunity to soar upwards, lifted on the wings of love, to the contemplation of ultimate reality.
The genuine speaker is the authentic lover, or vice versa. He (or she) is one over whom the
transporting beauty of another human person washes and stimulates the growth of the soul’s wings. The beauty of the beloved is transporting. It enraptures the lover. In the words of one scholar, it produces “a feeling of being led ineluctably by something beyond oneself that at the same time reflects the truest part of oneself.”
The true art of speaking is the cooperation of lovers, not the combat of enemies. It is not enslavement. It is a mutual service that passes by turns between lover and beloved—at every exchange rendering each both more worthy of and more willing to return the other’s love. It is the noblest form of friendship. By their love, each friend becomes a more perfect realization of what he was always intended to be.
Loving rhetoric—the rhetoric practiced by the true lover—is an irruption of divine abundance into the impoverished affairs of man. Into a world warped by sin rushes all the freshness of supernatural renewal. The lover alone holds the power to rebuild what is broken.
Andrew Beer, Ph.D., is a professor of Classical and Early Christian Studies at Christendom College.
The Legacy Challenge is a unique opportunity to multiply your impact. Join hundreds of other Christendom supporters in making a gift in your will or other estate plans, and a generous benefactor will match 10% of the value of your intended future gift* with a current gift to student financial aid
Participate in the Christendom College Legacy Challenge and defend the future of Catholic education, while helping to generate current funds to keep Christendom College free from all federal funding.
Contact gift planning coordinator Jacob R. Stevens at 540-551-9259 or jacob.stevens@christendom.edu for more information on how to magnify the value of your future donation with an immediate gift to support students today.
*The cap on matching funds is $25,000.
I want as many young people as possible to have the opportunity to study in an environment like Christendom, receive a
