may never see, we ourselves must still suffer. Our Lord can help us carry our cross, but we must still bear it. Like St. Paul we may complete in our own lives and bodies what is lacking in the inflictions of Christ. We could ask for no greater honor.” He noted that the world rejected Christ and so they also can expect to be rejected by the world.
Dr. Jude Dougherty received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters and delivered the Commencement Address. what used to be called ‘Christendom.’ It is not by accident that you are graduating today from Christendom College. Over the past four years you have worked within a curriculum that reflects a distinctive culture, one that finds its roots in Jerusalem, Athens, and medieval Paris. “Given the disintegration of traditional western culture, those of you who are steeped in the faith will find your primary identity not as citizens of a cosmopolitan West, but as sons and daughters of a Church whose history, out of a sense of piety toward the inherited, you are obliged to master,” he concluded. Marie Antunes, Alumni Affairs Director, then awarded John Mercandetti of Maryland the Student Achievement Award in recognition of his tireless, cheerful, and humble work on the Student Activities Council. Following this presentation, Valedictorian James Tillman of West Virginia related the challenges that he and his classmates would face in the next part of their life. “While we can expect God to bring our actions to fruition, in His time and in a way we
Marie Antunes presented the Student Achievement Award to John Mercandetti.
“If we too are not a sign of contradiction, then we do not deserve to rise with Him,” he said. “But if we suffer with Him as soldiers of Christ, if we take up our cross and follow Him with the martyrs, crusaders, priests, monks, and all the soldiers of the One True King, we too may cry, ‘Viva Cristo Rey!’” Closing the ceremonies, President O’Donnell delivered his charge to the graduates. He spoke of the class’ deep regard for the Sacrament of Confession and encouraged them to share Christ’s message of mercy to the world.
Six of the graduates are children of alumni (l to r): Joseph Vicinanzo, Liz McShurley, Andrew Briggs, Ginny Norris, Thomas Francis, and Monica Horiuchi. Jackson, Lori Janeski, Trevor Karas, Hannah Kelly, Anthony Klosterman, Kathryn Kujawski, Jackson Kulick, Catharine Leopold, Elizabeth Matz, Johnny Mavretich, John McCloskey, Monica McCord, Alex McCullough, Maura McMahon, Elizabeth McShurley, Elizabeth Menard, John Mercandetti, Marion Miner, Michael Mruk, Marie Mullen, Courtney Nelson, Virginia Norris, Dubh O’Donnell, Jennifer O’Neill, Monica Pacheco, Chris Pelczar, Thomas Polak, Bridget Randolph, Dean Reineking, Joan Robinson, Hilary Schafer, Brittany Scheidler, Alison Schuberg, Brendan Sheridan, Lissa Small, Emily Smith, Peter Smith, John Snyder, Gabriel Storck, Andrew Tatum, James Tillman, Laura Tillotson, Joseph Vicinanzo, Mairin Vieira, Megan Weber, Jeremy Whitcomb, Lucia Whittaker, Mary Wilkins, Ross Windsor, and Nikolaas Zylstra.
“As you go through life there will be many opportunities to bring Christ and bear Christ’s forgiveness,” he said. “In this year of St. Paul the Apostle, be reconciled to God, be His ambassadors, be His witnesses, let His peace reign in your hearts. You have freely received, now give and radiate that merciful love, and forgiveness to everyone that God puts in your life. Forty-eight members of the Do that, and as St. Paul says, class graduated with honors ‘you will shine like stars in the (GPA above 3.25). Included heavens’ in the midst of this in this class were six children generation. You will, in your Class of 2009 Valedictorian of alumni and 30 siblings of own life and in the lives of ev- James Tillman. other Christendom alumni. eryone you meet, help to restore all things in One of the men from this class plans on enChrist,” O’Donnell ended his charge. tering a seminary, while one of the women will join the Nashville Dominicans, and othThe 93 Bachelor of Arts degrees were conferred ers will be attending graduate schools, inon Nicholas Akhurst, Matthew Anderson, cluding William and Mary Law School and Kristy Beer, Benedict Behe, James Bergida, Jo- The Catholic University of America’s School sepha Bertolini, Caitlin Bowers, Matthew Bow- of Philosophy. At least two of the graduates man, Emma Boyle, Clare Bratt, James Braun, will be going to nursing school while three Andrew Briggs, Paul Brunner, Edward Burns, others have joined the Fellowship of Catholic Heather Calio, Mary Kate Cameron, Andy University Students. Cole, Andrea Cook, Tim Curran, Grant Dahl, Céline Dalimata, Peter Donohue, Mary Doran, Rev. Pavone’s homily and all of the addresses Kieran DuFrain, Jon Fehrenbacher, Francis Fein- from Commencement may be downloaded gold, Beth Fettes, Rachel Fogarty, Tom Francis, at Christendom on iTunes U and additional Elizabeth Fraser, Sarah Fritcher, Lindsay Gal- pictures from the weekend may be found on lagher, Dane Gardner, Cynthia Gilday, Francis Christendom’s website under the “News & Ginski, Laura Gripshover, Maria Gutschke, Re- Events” tab. becca Harris, John Hepler, Traci Heuser, Abigail Hill, Monica Horiuchi, Benjamin Hough, Tara See pages 8-9 for more on Graduation.
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