Instaurare | Summer 2022

summer 2022

The MAGA ZINE of CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE

PLACING CHRIST at the

CENTER CARDINAL SARAH & CO M M E N C E M E N T 2022

T H E C H R I S T E N D O M G R E E N H O U S E: R E S P O N D I N G TO A C U LT U R E I N C R I S I S G R A D U AT E S E M B A R K O N C A R E E R S I N L AW | G I V I N G D AY C E L E B R AT E S F I V E Y E A R S

VOLUME 30 | NUMBER 2 | SUMMER 2022 Published three times yearly by the Christendom College Marketing Office.

Editor & Design Director: Niall O’Donnell Assistant Editor: Zach Smith Design Assistant and Illustrator: Julie Wells Photos: Julie Wells, Niall O’Donnell, Zach Smith, Gwyneth Sawicki, Sarah Jackson, Megan Meehan Contributors: Zach Smith, Julie Wells, Vince Criste, Maria Bonvissuto, James Bergida, Ben Reinhard Christendom College 134 Christendom Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-2900 | www.christendom.edu Copyright © 2022. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from INSTAUR ARE , the official magazine of Christendom College (christendom.edu).” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. INSTAUR ARE magazine (pronounced “in-sta-rar-ay”) receives its name from the Latin in the college’s motto, “Instaurare Omnia in Christo” or “To Restore All Things in Christ.”

Christendom College does not discriminate against any applicant or student on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Mr. Gregory Bodoh ’94 Mr. Martin R. Boles Mr. Robert Crnkovich (Treasurer) Mr. Timothy Halisky ’01 Mr. Julian Heron Mrs. Karla Hester ’99 Mr. Richard Hough Dr. Timothy T. O’Donnell (ex officio) Mr. Stephen O’Keefe ’93 (Chairman) Mr. Gary Schuberg Mr. Mark Swartzberg Mrs. Michele Velasco ’90 (Vice Chairman) Mr. Thomas C. West Jr. Ms. Luanne D. Zurlo (Secretary)

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

ON THE COVER Cardinal Sarah delivers his commencement address to the Class of 2022.

In sid e Th is Is su e Commencement 2022

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Cardinal Sarah joined graduates and their families for the momentous occasion.

The Christendom Greenhouse

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How the college is protecting opportunities for growth through its curriculum and campus life.

A Few Good Men

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Recent graduates embark an a journey to “restore all things in Christ” through careers in law.

From Germany to America

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From growing up in post-World War II Germany to renewing the Church and the culture.

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From the President

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Chapel Update

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News in Brief

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Photo Album

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Giving Day Celebrates Its Five-Year Anniversary

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In the Classroom

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Classmates: Alumni News

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Omnia in Christo: Eliot & Lewis: Rivals Turned Friends

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A Vibrant Vision for an Educational Apostolate A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Timothy O’Donnell (right) with members of the 1989-90 Student Activities Council.

Our 45th anniversary year begins “This vision continues to draw men and women from around the country and the world to deepen their knowledge and their love of the faith.”

this upcoming academic year. It is wonderful to reflect on all that has happened since those early days when our founder, Dr. Warren Carroll, and a brave, small group of professors began this great educational apostolate.

In 1977, we had 26 students, no accreditation, very little in the way of a campus and very few resources. But we still have what we started with—a vibrant vision for an educational apostolate that is centered on the truth and the power of a Catholic liberal arts education.

We were and are committed to a community life built around the rhythm of the Church and the beauty of her teaching. This includes immersing ourselves in the riches of the sacramental life and the moral formation that flows from it.

Intellectual rigor, festivity, charity on campus— and beyond our walls—the beauty of the Mass and the mercy of the confessional. All these things mark God’s gift to our college. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to serve Him. This vision continues to draw men and women from around the country and the world to deepen their knowledge and their love of the faith. No

matter where we have been or where we go in the future, with your support, our commitment to this life-changing yet humble vision will continue to animate our work here.

To commemorate this milestone of 45 years, the college will hold a special academic convocation on September 17 that will kick off our celebration. We will honor: Dr. John Haas of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Dr. John Bruchalski of the Tepeyac Family Center, Leonardo de Filipis of Saint Luke Productions, and Dr. Marianne Mount, President of Catholic Distance University.

Of course, the crowning of our 45th anniversary year will be the dedication of the new Christ the King Chapel on April 15, 2023. Francis Cardinal Arinze will preside, and Arlington Diocese’s Bishop Michael Burbidge will perform the consecration.

Thank you again for all your gracious support for the vital work of Christendom College. Together we are accomplishing great things for Christ, His Church, and our nation. I wish you a peaceful summer and the fullness of our Lord’s blessings.

Praise be Jesus Christ,

Christ the King Chapel U

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Left: His eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah donned the new vestments for the first time as he celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass during Commencement Weekend. On his left is Deacon Ed Peitler and on his right is alumnus Deacon Andrew Clark ’14. Right-Top: A closer look at the intricate detail of the Chi Rho embellishment. Right-Lower: The Carmelite sisters shared this image from the early stages in laying out the vestment patterns.

In April of 2017, an alumna who joined

the Carmelites in Buffalo, New York, contacted the Rev. Stephen McGraw, the head chaplain at that time, and explained that her community wanted to volunteer to make vestments for the opening Mass in the new Christ the King Chapel. Shortly after, she reached out and asked that we visit an online store that sells liturgical fabrics and trims and order the fabric, which would be sent directly to the monastery and slated for vestments for both priest and deacon. The fabric is a woven brocade of metallic white and gold. The chasuble has an embroidered Chi Rho—the ancient symbol for Christ. The nuns completed and shipped the vestments in time for Robert Cardinal Sarah’s celebration of the Baccalaureate Mass for the 2022 Commencement.

Mother Teresa, Prioress of Carmel in Buffalo, New York, recently shared in an email: “We are absolutely delighted that Dr. O’Donnell was pleased with them, and especially that Cardinal Sarah was the first to wear them. May God be praised! The vestments were sewn as a hidden labor of love, made with much prayer and gratitude for the wonderful blessing that Christendom College is to the Church. Please be assured of our fervent daily prayers for all the faculty, students, and alumni of the college. May Our Lady protect you and obtain every grace and blessing for you from the Heart of her Divine Son.” The College continues prayers of thanksgiving for our generous donors who have answered God’s call to help us in the construction of this long-anticipated chapel for the community.

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Christ the King Chapel

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pict u r e s of pr og r e ss

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Aerial view shot of the new Chapel taken with a drone.

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Alumna Michele Velasco ’91, member of the college board of directors, smiles for a photo with her husband, MJ, in front of a blueprint of the thurible for the new chapel during a recent trip to Spain.

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Installation of the restored stained-glass windows from the current chapel began in June including St. Patrick, which is now set in a new border and canopy to match the other windows.

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Work has begun on the sanctuary framing. Installation of the High Altar is finally complete, and the Altar of Sacrifice is to be installed soon. The installation of the marble Divine Mercy and Crucifixion side shrines will begin this summer.

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Artisans from Beyer Studio install the window of Our Lady’s Assumption.

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Christ the King and angel statue casts by sculptor Oscar Belinchón. Once completed, the bronze statue of Christ the King will occupy a column at the center of the new Piazza in front of the chapel, and the angel statue is one of the adoring angels that will stand at the front of the Chapel.

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The Lamb of God: detail from the high altar.

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New window: St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

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Sculptor Edwin Gonzales gives a tour of his workspace to college benefactor MJ Velasco.

A special thanks to Michele and MJ Velasco for sharing photos from their trip to Cordoba, Spain, where they had the privilege to see the artists at work on materials for the new chapel.

UPDATE

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NEWS

in

BRIEF

OVER 100 ALUMNI PRIESTS

Fr. John (Thomas) Francis ’09 was ordained to the priesthood in May—a momentous occasion for his family, for the Church, and for his alma mater, Christendom College. With his ordination, Christendom now has over 100 alumni priests in its nearly 45year history, with these courageous men impacting countless lives across the world for the better. The college reached the 100-priest milestone back in October, when Fr. John McFadden, O.S.B. ’13 was ordained to the priesthood at Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey (pictured left). In addition to Fr. Francis and Fr. McFadden, two more alumni were ordained as priests this summer: Fr. Dominic Winter ’18 and Fr. Philip Briggs ’13, raising the total number of alumni priests to 103.

NEW MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP

Christendom College has launched a new Military Service Scholarship for eligible students from military families. Following the announcement that any school that accepts GI Bill funds must meet the requirements for and participate in federal student aid programs under Title IV, Christendom made the decision to find a new, creative way to ensure that military families’ service would still be recognized without tying the college to federal funding. Christendom reached out to several loyal donors for assistance, and, thanks to their generosity, the college was able to establish a new Military Service Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year that will cover 100% of the cost of tuition ($28,500) for eligible students.

ABBY JOHNSON INSPIRES STUDENTS

Pro-life advocate Abby Johnson, author of the best-selling book Unplanned, delivered an address at Christendom College on Monday, March 28, encouraging the college’s students to take an even greater role in the pro-life movement during this critical moment in America’s history. Johnson spoke directly about the Jackson v. Dobbs case during her address, touching upon what could happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned this year and also on what Christendom students can do to help change the world post-graduation.

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RUGBY TAKES 2ND AT NATIONALS Christendom’s rugby team took second in a hard-fought National Championship game in New Orleans on May 29, falling in the final to New Mexico Tech 26-10. The title game came after three full days of tournament play that wowed rugby fans and announcers alike, as Christendom powered their way through their opponents to reach their second rugby 7s National Championship final. Photo Credit: NCR/Mina Sisley.

POPULARITY SURGE: THE BEST WEEK EVER

Christendom’s Best Week Ever high school summer program has filled up at the fastest pace in the history of the program, with every slot for all five weeks now reserved for this summer. The record demand—a testament to the increasing popularity of the program in today’s culture—comes on the heels of the Admissions Office also announcing that a waiting list was implemented for admittance in the fall of 2022 at Christendom. Catholic families are eager to find a college where students can learn the Truth, live the Faith, and thrive as Catholics and are pursuing Christendom more than ever.

ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA

His Imperial and Royal Highness Eduard Habsburg delivered an address at Christendom College in May, encouraging students to fully live out their Catholic Faith in the public square. During his talk, Archduke Eduard, who is Hungary’s Ambassador to the Holy See, shared examples from his own life on the importance of being a recognizable Catholic, telling students that they should “always be ready to give a testimony of hope.”

RELIC OF JOHN PAUL II

Christendom College hosted a relic of Pope St. John Paul II on June 13 as it travels on pilgrimage across the U.S., giving the campus community the opportunity to venerate the great saint. The relic, a vial of the late pontiff’s blood, was brought to Christendom by the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The visit marked the second time that this vial of the late pontiff’s blood has been brought to Christendom, following a visit in 2015.

Subscribe to our weekly email update CHRISTENDOM NOW at christendom.edu/now or scan the code.

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PLACING CHRIST at the

CENTER CARDINAL SARAH JOINS THE CLASS OF 2022 FOR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES B Y Z AC H S M I T H

Commencement is often a time

for celebration, for looking back, and for looking forward. For the Class of 2022, the reminders of all they experienced to get to this moment were reiterated throughout Commencement Weekend. From a global pandemic, a divisive national election, and the ongoing threat of war in Europe, the Class of 2022 was formed during an extraordinary time in history. Such times call for great courage. Even more so, such times call for placing Christ at the center of everything—a recurring theme that ran through all of the college’s 43rd Commencement.

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Top: Graduates capture the moment prior to processing to the chapel. Middle: Cardinal Sarah greets members of the Class of 2022.

Lower: College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell toasts the parents of the graduates.

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The weekend began on Friday, May 13—the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Patroness of Christendom College. Blessed with beautiful weather, graduates processed into Christ the King Chapel for the Baccalaureate Mass, joined by internationally renowned theologian and author Robert Cardinal Sarah and the Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge. During his homily, Cardinal Sarah gave a reflection on Our Lady of Fatima, in honor of her feast day. Comparing 1917 to 2022, Cardinal Sarah contended that the situation today is much graver but provided ways to fight back against the encroaching darkness.

“At Fatima, Mary shows us the weapons: pray and do penance,” said Cardinal Sarah. “The reason is clear. Prayer turns us away from a self-centered and unbridled individualism and back to God … In the silence of prayer, we obtain peace—peace in the world and peace in our souls, especially by praying the Rosary as a weapon for these battles, both physical wars and internal struggles. Dear brothers and sisters: let us never forget that this Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated on May 13, the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. Let us allow the final command of Jesus to us, His parting gift to us, His last words to sink deeply into our hearts and bring us great joy: ‘Behold, your mother.’”

Following the Mass, graduates and their families traveled to the nearby Shenandoah Valley Golf Club, which overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround Christendom, for cocktails and dinner. Some parents met the faculty and staff they had heard so much about for the first time, while soonto-be graduates celebrated with each other on their final night as Christendom students. In special remarks made to begin the night, Bishop Burbidge offered his blessing and thanked the college for what it is doing for the Church.

“Christendom is a gem and a great treasure for the Church,” said Bishop Burbidge.

Toasts punctuated the rest of the evening, with College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Executive Vice President Mark Rohlena, Senior Class President Nick Scanlon, and Student Body President Nate Scanlon all raising their glasses to Christendom and those who helped make the graduation possible.

The next morning, the Class of 2022 gathered again to make their way to St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium. Processing with Cardinal Sarah, they walked one last time as students across the campus where they had grown in knowledge and faith, ready to fulfill the purpose of their education—to graduate and begin the next stage of their lifelong journey to “restore all things in Christ.”

Left: Philosophy professor Mark Wunsch (left) chats with the Cole family. Top-Right: Cardinal Sarah converses with parents during the reception on Friday.

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I’M VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE A DEGREE FROM SUCH A COLLEGE.

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Left: College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell presents the honorary doctorate to Cardinal Sarah. Right-Top: Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge makes remarks at the baccalaureate dinner. Right-Lower: Valedictorian Mary Clare Young addresses her class.

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A little rain did not stop the Class of 2022 from doing the traditional hat toss.

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WHY DO WE CELEBRATE WHAT WE DO TODAY? BECAUSE WE ARE CELEBRATING NOTHING LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OF COMING TO KNOW AND BEFRIEND GOD.

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Once inside St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium, salutatorian Michael Twohig welcomed the hundreds of guests present to this year’s commencement exercises, inspiring all with a stirring defense of the liberal arts and the many gifts provided by studying it at Christendom.

“All of us here, whether we realize it or not, have been given the tremendous grace to live, pray, and study here at Christendom,” said Twohig. “Our eyes have been opened through our education, and our friendships and our prayers to a vision of the world that few people are privileged to perceive, that of a world created and sustained by a loving God, imbued with meaning and being brought to a final glorious end. Let us all be grateful to have had the chance to cultivate this vision over these past four years. Why do we celebrate what we do today? Because we are celebrating nothing less than four years of coming to know and befriend God.” Following his address, O’Donnell awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters to Cardinal Sarah. To begin his commencement address, Cardinal Sarah praised Christendom for putting Christ at its center.

“I’m very honored to receive a degree from such a college,” said Cardinal Sarah. “Christendom: the name of a Catholic college that places Christ at its center, with the distinct mission to restore all things in Christ and to rebuild Christendom so that our culture may be inspired again by Jesus Christ and what He left us … Graduates, you leave here today from Christendom as confident and courageous disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ, having been equipped with a solid Catholic formation in an extraordinary time. Thank you to the parents, benefactors, faculty and staff of the college who have made your formation possible.”

In his address, Cardinal Sarah spoke on the extraordinary time in history that the Class of 2022 lived through, during which moral relativism and the eliminating of God from view have become more widespread than ever. The situation at hand makes colleges like Christendom crucially important, according to Cardinal Sarah, and he encouraged the Class of 2022 to welcome the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph into every aspect of their lives, relying on them as they rise to the challenges that lie ahead.

“Every university exists to form its students for the challenges that they will face. For a Catholic college like Christendom, that means having the courage to adhere to the Faith of the Church, even if that contradicts the modern world,” said Cardinal Sarah. “By recognizing the responsibilities to which we are called and by taking the important time to deliberate, especially in

Top: Mark LaRochelle embraces a fellow member of the Class of 2022 following the hat toss.

Middle: Michael Twohig delivers the salutatory address.

Bottom: Director of Alumni Relations Vince Criste presents the Student Achievement Award to George Schuberg.

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Left: Graduates celebrate during the procession to the ceremonies. Right-Top: Maria Cook with her family. Right-Lower: Nicholas Foeckler with his family, including his mother, Dr. Aileen Foeckler, Christendom College professor of natural science.

silence, and to respond to the challenges ahead with practical wisdom, we will fulfill our vocations and reveal to the world the beautiful constellation of values that God shapes within each one of us in order to restore all things in Christ and so to rebuild Christendom.”

After the address, Director of Donor and Alumni Relations Vince Criste presented the Student Achievement Award to George Schuberg for his dedication to the community. Schuberg “exemplified the true spirit of Christian charity in his relationships with his fellow students and faculty” during his four years at the college, serving the community as head sacristan, a Best Week Ever high school summer program counselor, a resident assistant, and president of the Shield of Roses pro-life club.

Following the delivering of degrees, valedictorian Mary Clare Young provided the farewell address for the Class of 2022. Young encouraged her class to remain strong as they leave Christendom, striving daily to imitate the holiness they witnessed as students.

“If we leave this campus with the resolve to imitate the holiness we witnessed daily, then our days were well spent. If we leave this campus with the humble realization that we still have more to learn, then our days were well spent,” said Young. “My fellow graduates of the Class of 2022, be strong. Let us be strong in our faith together. Though we be in different places tomorrow night, we always will be spiritually united in Our Lord and Our 14

Lady. Let us turn to the examples of those who have fought the good fight before us. Be strong with the strength of God and remember that He always has more to teach and to show us. Be strong today and always, in the grace, peace, and love of Jesus Christ, Our King. To Him be glory and honor forever and ever.”

Closing the ceremonies on Saturday, College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell delivered his charge to the graduates, encouraging them to be men and women of great courage in the days ahead, making sure to follow Christ and proclaim Him joyfully wherever they go.

The past few years have indeed been a tumultuous time in history—one that the Class of 2022 will never forget. Looking ahead, there are many challenges on the horizon, perhaps ones even greater than have been faced since 2020. And yet, armed with the education they received at Christendom, their friendships, and most of all the Catholic Faith, the Class of 2022 can look forward confidently that they have been prepared for exactly this moment in time.

Be strong. Take courage. Place Christ at the center of everything. These themes ran through all of Christendom’s 43rd Commencement, but they are not meant only for the Class of 2022. They are meant for all who follow Christ—as Cardinal Sarah said, we are called to “restore all things in Christ and to rebuild Christendom so that our culture may be inspired again

by Jesus Christ and what He left us.”

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BE STRONG WITH THE STRENGTH OF GOD AND REMEMBER THAT HE ALWAYS HAS MORE TO TEACH AND TO SHOW US.

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Left-Top: Annie McGraw with her family. Left Lower: Twenty-one legacy graduates (children of alumni of the college). Right: Scanlon brothers, Nicholas and Nathaniel, celebrate and wave as they process to St. Louis the Crusader Gymnasium.

Above: Cardinal Sarah with the ninety-seven members of the Class of 2022, Noah Arevalo, Susan Attar, Nicholas Barren, Bridget Bennett, Pablo Boada Forero, Luke Borrajo, Veronica Byers, Michael Ciskanik, Benedict Clark, Harry Cole, Maria Cook, Justin Corman, Caleb Crandall, Gregory Cravetz, Anthony Criste, Kateri Criste, Liam Cunningham, John Curran, Megan Dano, John Dean, Cecilia Delaney, Kevin Dow, Daniel Duca, Thomas Dunphy, Thomas Egan, Lily Ehart, Alinemary English, Adelaide Enyeart, Kelly Erwin, Julia Eschbach, Clare Fay, Adam Ferrero, Aidan Fletcher, Anna Fletcher, Nicholas Foeckler, Patrick Fouse, Isabel Freeman, Lucy Gay, Maria Gerring, Erin Ginter, Erik Gossin, Benedict Guza, Ana Hambric, Michael Hans, Elizabeth Hardt, Meredith Hazinski, Maureen Hebert, Caleb Heffern, Anne Heisler, Maxwell Henrie, Brian Hicks, Johnmarie Hofbauer, Caroline Howerton, Lucia Janaro, Lilliana Johnson, Andrew Jones, Owen Kennedy, Edmund Kopeck, Ashlianna Kreiner, Hannah Kristine, Lucie Lagarde, John Lane, Mark LaRochelle, Daniel Llera, Elisa Lonnecker, Michael Marra, Laura Matthys, Ann McGraw, Michael McGuire, Daniel Mead, Brianna Morabito, Dominic Mosley, Rose Norris, Patrick Nugent, Amy Nutt, Michaella Ottolini, Santiago Pardo Gasque, Michael Rego, Antonia Rivera-Flynn, Luis Romero, Nathaniel Scanlon, Nicholas Scanlon, Francis Scarchilli, Matthew Scarince, George Schuberg, Ian Simon, Bernadette Smith, Cora Snyder, John Snyder, Marion Spiering, Henry Summers, Roc Swiniarski, Michael Twohig, Julia Urankar, Anthony Van Alstine, Clare Wilson, and Mary Clare Young.

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P H OTO A L B U M }

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1. Students visited DC to pray and rally for the unborn in front of the Supreme Court in the midst of the Court’s new rulings regarding Roe v. Wade.

2. The Crusaders rallied to pull off a comeback victory over Allegany College of Maryland in one of their final games of the baseball season, defeating the Trojans 9-8 at home.

3. Students traveled to our nation’s capital and toured various museums this spring, including the National Gallery of Art. 4. College Republicans hosted Virginia State Senator Mark Obenshain.

5. Students venerate Christ the King Chapel’s Relic of the True Cross.

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6. Freshman Luca Vitale performs at the annual chamber ensemble concert.

7. The Christendom Players brought down the house for the spring musical “The Music Man,” directed by Elizabeth Foeckler ’12 and Annie Sullivan ’20.

8. Seniors Kateri Criste and Annie McGraw pose for a photo at the annual senior class party hosted by the Student Activities Council.

9. Spring Formal 2022 was held at Fox Meadow Barn.

10. Students, faculty, and staff pray together at the biannual Megashield event hosted by the student club Shield of Roses, which prayerfully protests and provides sidewalk counseling at a Planned Parenthood in northern Virginia every Saturday.

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11. Graduates and their families enjoyed this year’s graduation dance. Pictured: senior Anthony Criste with his younger sister, Gemma.

12. Senior athlete Owen Kennedy presents a signed rugby jersey that was worn in the National Championship game to Athletics Director Patrick Quest on behalf of the team at the annual Sports Banquet.

13. Students were recognized for their achievements at the Annual Student Awards Lunch, including Henry Summers who was recognized for his exceptional philosophy thesis by Dr. Douglas Flippen.

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14. Junior Mary Eidem enjoys a gondola ride while on a trip to Venice during her Semester in Rome this spring.

15. History professor Dr. Christopher Shannon presented a series of original songs based on traditional Irish melodies with lyrics that reflect his research on the post-World War II Irish American Catholic experience.

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green THE CHRISTENDOM

RESPONDING TO A

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house

CULTURE IN CRISIS

BY JULIE WELLS

CHRISTENDOM’S EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH CAN THRIVE summer 2022

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A popular university in Louisville,

A greenhouse is a shelter, but only to a point. It filters out those elements which harm development in order to ser ve tr ue growth.

Plants that thrive in a greenhouse are never meant to remain there.

or of The olog y

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s es rof Ma P t ry St anford, Adjunc

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Kentucky, is referred to by the locals as a “Catholic” university.

But what exactly does that mean? In 2004, that same institution advertised a major speaker event: Starhawk, a witch, was coming to address the students in the auditorium. This woman’s achievements have made her a prominent voice in the areas of paganism, witchcraft, modern earth-based spirituality, and ecofeminism.

What makes a college institution Catholic? Is it the name?

Is it the history of the location? Is it the courses offered?

In the past few decades, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish a Catholic college from any other private college.

Another well-known university on the East Coast, commonly referred to as the oldest Catholic institution of higher studies in the United States, has gradually lost its rich Catholic identity.

Students now set up tables in the quad, sharing pro-choice pamphlets with passersby on their way to class. Signs such as “Feminists for Choice” are not uncommon at these booths.

A distorted idea of “freedom of expression” has become a core value of many colleges today. It is not uncommon to read news headlines about student-led rallies in support of anti-Catholic beliefs on campuses that claim the Catholic name. Attacks on churches, statues of saints, and God-fearing professors who speak the truth are becoming state news. The evil one is seeking to drive out any mention of the faith on campuses nationwide.

Authentic Catholicism and any varying belief from the modern ungodly narrative is now seen as a threat.

It is evident, then, that the focus has shifted from an observance of objective truth to mere personal opinion, often driven solely by one’s emotions. An institution founded on the capricious nature of one’s feelings certainly cannot withstand the looming battle before us.

Christendom College’s courageous founder, Dr. Warren H. Carroll, saw this corruption and chaos becoming the norm. He saw faithful colleges and universities abandoning tried and true approaches for immoral novelty. He knew that something had to be done. Since its birth in 1977, Christendom has provided a kind of greenhouse where the goods of a liberal education can be pursued in a full way, virtues can be cultivated, and the spiritual life fostered.

This analogy comparing Christendom to a greenhouse was recently referenced by Mary Stanford, adjunct professor of theology at the college.

“The image of an intentional Catholic community as a ‘greenhouse’ was suggested to me by my friend, author Regina Doman,” explains Stanford. “I thought this image provided a response to the critique that a place such as Christendom is a kind of ‘bubble,’ shielding naive students from reality, and ready to pop after graduation when they are thrust back into the world. The bubble analogy fails to account for the growth that is happening here. A greenhouse is a shelter, but only to a point. It filters out those elements which harm development in order to serve true growth. Plants that thrive in a greenhouse are never meant to remain there. They are intended to enhance the world beyond the greenhouse once they have developed. The greenhouse creates the conditions for their thriving, conditions which are not immediately available in the environment beyond them.”

Stanford explains further: “When speaking of Christendom as a greenhouse, I would use the word ‘protect’ in a very specific way. In providing an integrated curriculum, a rich sacramental life, a challenging code of conduct conducive to virtue and student activities which emphasize community and festivity, Christendom protects opportunities for growth. What is often lost in our culture is the truth that the word ‘grow’ is not a transitive verb; I cannot ‘grow something.’ I can create the conditions for something to develop, I can cultivate and promote its wellbeing, but ultimately, what ‘grows’ is a natural development from within. If a student is to thrive here, he or she must choose to embrace these

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opportunities freely—that is to say, ‘from within.’ Parents need to understand that Christendom is not a replacement for their child’s virtue, nor a substitute for his or her freedom. But it will provide opportunities for an honest search for truth and for the chance to foster real and lasting friendships.”

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Christendom’s mission of fers students tr uth and clarity that they desperately want as they are star ting out into their adult lives.

sid en t fo r Stu dent Affairs

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re eP c i V Amanda Graf,

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These favorable conditions for growth are what set Christendom apart from other modern colleges. Rarely will one find a private school where the faculty take an oath to the Magisterium. Rather than accept federal funding, Christendom relies on the support from generous donors, making it possible to operate apart from agendas that flow from government entanglement and which compromise the integrity of good institutions.

In addition, all morning classes end by 11:20 a.m. each weekday allowing students, faculty, and staff to gather for daily Mass and a community lunch. Multiple opportunities for daily Mass and sacraments make the ready flow of God’s grace possible for the students, faculty, and staff. In this way, Christendom College emphasizes for each student the importance of their spiritual needs for the success of their academic and social lives.

“We want to proactively provide students with opportunities to grow in virtue,” says Amanda Graf, Vice President for Student Affairs. “Our men’s and women’s formation series bring in speakers to address relevant topics such as chastity, friendship, and prayer. Our Stronghold groups provide students with an opportunity for peer-led support and accountability. Various clubs and service opportunities allow students to practice works of mercy and serve as leaders in areas like the pro-life movement. Christendom students have many opportunities for personal and spiritual growth while they’re on campus. And of course, we have a robust liturgical life that is at the heart of everything we do on campus.”

Christendom’s small size helps to foster a family feel. The community is closely knit, and the professors are genuinely interested in the success of their students. In addition to being readily available in the classroom, the professors also make themselves fully accessible to students during their designated office hours. Students have enjoyed lively discussions with their

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Students who are seeking to be challenged so they can grow to be the men and women they know God made them to be are attracted to this mission because it is an oppor tunity to be formed and readied for a greater mission.

professors in these settings, as well as during lunch in the St. Lawrence Commons and at evening activities hosted by the Student Activities Council. Wholesome activities are hosted on campus to encourage the building and strengthening of our community. These activities are designed to uplift students, making it possible for them to form lasting friendships with their professors and peers.

“I think Christendom’s mission offers students truth and clarity that they desperately want as they are starting out into their adult lives,” states Graf. “We have high academic standards and expectations for behavior and how those in our community live. Students who are seeking to be challenged so they can grow to be the men and women they know God made them to be are attracted to this mission because it is an opportunity to be formed and readied for a greater mission.”

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To learn more about Christendom College’s rich community life, visit christendom.edu/campus-life.

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A FEW GOOD MEN Recent Graduates Head to Law School

BY ZACH SMITH

“The times are never so bad but that a good man can live in them.”

These words of St. Thomas More echo

as loudly today as they did five centuries ago. Right now, across the country, debates rage over perhaps the defining legal issue of the past sixty years: abortion. Such a time that would produce even the question of whether an unborn child is worth saving is a troubling one. In such a dark moment, when not even the most innocent in society are protected, men and women are needed who are willing to make the decisions that will determine whether truth and justice will prevail.

St. Thomas More provides an example for how one should live out the Catholic Faith in the public square. Now, recent graduates Pablo Boada ’22 and Justin Corman ’22 are looking to follow that example this fall as they head off to law school, beginning their journeys toward careers in law and politics— journeys they are beginning with full-tuition scholarships at their respective schools. Together, they are aiming to impact society for the better during this critical time in the history of the nation.

“While at Christendom, I gained a more in-depth appreciation for the legacy and influence of St. Thomas More and how his jurisprudence background assisted him in serving his king and his faith,” says Boada. “I was provided with a role model to aspire after with regard to pursuing a legal career that will both serve my countrymen and give glory to God.” Boada hails from Texas, where he will return to begin his law studies this fall. For years now, Boada has felt a calling to either study law or join a political think tank. It was during his studies at Christendom, specifically in political science and

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“The education I received at Christendom is quite literally priceless to me.

I hope that students and alumni realize what a real gift it is to have this kind of Catholic formation, because I can tell you from experience that it is rare indeed.”

Justin Corman ’22

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economics professor Rafael Madan’s “Jurisprudence and the Catholic Lawyer” class during his junior year, that he discovered the beauty of law and the importance of Catholic lawyers. From then on, he knew he had a calling to join the legal field.

Wanting to become a lawyer is easier said than done, however. The process toward getting into law school began with Boada taking on an intense LSAT preparation, along with research into law schools and practice areas. Once he narrowed down his choices, he applied and was admitted to all four schools he applied to: the University of Texas, University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University.

Based on his undergraduate grades and his stellar LSAT score, he was granted the Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence at Baylor, giving him a full ride to pursue his vocation.

Boada’s journey first began when he was inspired by St. Thomas More in the classroom. Now, thanks to his preparation from Christendom, he will continue that journey toward becoming a force for good in the country.

“I believe I am well prepared academically through my rigorous studies, which have prepared me to think critically and present analytical arguments,” says Boada, who majored in political science and economics at Christendom with a minor in history. “Most importantly, my formation as a man in the development of virtue and the establishment of faithbased relationships with my peers and my professors will be an invaluable aid for after college where I hope to fulfill my calling for holiness as a Catholic advocate for justice and truth.”

Like Boada, Corman also felt inspired by St. Thomas More but from an even younger age. Corman’s father went to law school and then into politics—a journey he wanted to replicate as well. First, however, he wanted to receive the strong intellectual and spiritual formation necessary to effect real change in the world.

“In four years, I learned more at Christendom than I had learned in my whole life,” says Corman, who double-majored in philosophy and classical and early Christian studies. “The education I received at Christendom is quite literally priceless to me. I hope that students and alumni realize what a real gift it is to have this kind of Catholic formation, because I can tell you from experience that it is rare indeed. I encourage everyone to appreciate the inherent value of this kind of an education and to go out into the world to do something with that formation.”

For Corman, that meant going off to law school and following in his father’s footsteps. With the help of the college’s faculty and Director of Career and Professional Development Kristin Stephens, Corman completed his graduate school application and submitted it to his top choice: Ave Maria School of Law. About three weeks later, he was floored at the response back: acceptance, plus a full-tuition scholarship.

“I guess they thought my application was pretty good,” says Corman humbly.

Corman will spend the next few years studying hard for his doctorate of jurisprudence, after which he plans on returning to Virginia to get involved either in politics or begin practicing international law. In the case of Boada, he is still determining what area of law he wants to enter, but ultimately hopes to fulfill his calling for holiness as a Catholic advocate for justice and truth regardless of what area he pursues. In the future, however, he does have his eyes set on a major position: eventually becoming a federal judge.

Important issues, like the pro-life cause, need powerful defenders in the judiciary. For the first time in decades, as the country awaits the news on the Supreme Court’s decision in the Jackson v. Dobbs case that could reverse Roe v. Wade, the legal tide is finally turning toward a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution and hopefully toward a defense of natural law principles. For that to continue, however, well-trained, faithful Catholic law advocates are needed.

Boada and Corman are not alone in this fight—right now, other alumni are currently studying for law degrees, including Aidan Wenzel ’17 and Jensen Hoernig ’18 at George Mason University, Grace Mooney ’17 at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and Katherine Williams Wiegand ’18 at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Together, they all join a long line of alumni who are already at work defending Catholic moral principles at the legal level, whether as attorneys, paralegals, or as policy advisors for United States representatives.

Christendom College founder Dr. Warren H. Carroll famously said, “one man can make a difference.” Christendom’s Class of 2022 is sending two men ready to make a difference, as Boada and Corman strive to make a stand for truth and justice in the public square, like St. Thomas More before them.

The times are desperate for good men and women—the Class of 2022 is answering that call.

“While at Christendom, I gained a more in-depth appreciation for the legacy and influence of St. Thomas More and how his jurisprudence background assisted him in serving his king and his faith.”

Pablo Boada ’22

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Children play in debris of houses destroyed in the second world war in Leipzig, Germany, 1945.

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He

lga F

allis

F ROM GE R M A N Y T O A M E R IC A Leaving a Legacy to Renew the Church and the Culture

BY M ARIA BONVISSUTO

He lg a Fallis wa s b orn i n p os t- W o r l d

about Christendom, the more impressed she was with its mission.

War II Germany. She remembers playing as a small child in the She started telling friends at her parish to send their children to rubble left over from the war, but even more vivid in her memory Christendom—only to discover that they already had students is the beauty of Germany as it was rebuilt and grew economically at the college! after the war. To rebuild a country—like renewing the Church As Helga began to consider her legacy, she resolved to make a and the culture—one must believe in the future of young people lasting gift to Christendom—in particular to its students, whom and their capacity to restore the beauty and heritage that has she sees as a source of hope for the future. To achieve her goal, been destroyed.

Helga completed an annuity with Christendom to provide inGrowing up in a family of musicians, music and beauty were come and left the residual of her estate to the college in her will. central to Helga’s life. When she was thirteen, Helga was invited “I want as many young people as possible to have the opto sing in the Philharmonic Choir of Cologne, which provided portunity to study in an environment like Christendom, receive her with a solid musical education over the next five years. After a liberal arts education, and then go out and evangelize the rest graduating from high school, she went on to continue her musical of the world,” she explains. studies at a conservatory in Cologne.

Helga has enjoyed visiting Christendom’s campus and beAs Helga worked hard to pay her way through the consercoming more involved in the life of the college community. “I’m vatory in Cologne, she was introduced to the business just in awe of the whole thing,” she remarks about “one can see world. Ultimately, she decided to leave the conservatory Christendom. “It’s so beautiful in every way—the beauty and to pursue business instead of music as her professional people, the buildings, the landscape, not to mention the Faith bevocation. After working at the 1972 Olympic Games the new Christ the King Chapel.” At Christendom, ing renewed in Munich, Helga started her own typesetting and one can see beauty and the Faith being renewed in in the world” graphic arts business. It was in Munich that she met the world—from the steeples of the new Christ the Hugh Fallis, a Texan who worked for Radio Free Europe. In King Chapel to the work of hundreds of alumni in every sphere 1976, she moved to the United States where she married Hugh, of society. her husband of 27 years.

Helga is not shy about sharing with her friends what a wonWhen Helga was deciding what kind of legacy she wanted derful opportunity giving to Christendom is. “I couldn’t think of to leave, the answer quickly became obvious. She had seen for a better thing to do with my money than to support Christenherself how Christendom College was forming faithful young dom College,” she says. “As far as investments are concerned,” Catholic leaders who have the capacity to restore the family and she continues, “I think it’s the greatest thing on planet Earth.” the culture, and she wanted to be a part of that work. As vicious Helga says she often tries to convince others to do just what she attacks on the heritage of Western culture and the Catholic Faith did. She sees it as the ultimate “win-win situation.” continue, Christendom is working to turn the tide and evangelize Helga is happy that giving to Christendom through an others through a renewal of young people and the family. annuity and her will is both a financially sound move and a Helga learned about Christendom through a variety of wonderful opportunity to help provide an enriching Catholic sources. She watched Dr. O’Donnell’s EWTN series about Rome’s liberal arts education for students—not just now, but for many hidden churches. Helga also started receiving “Principles” in the years into the future. Her support is helping to renew the family mail, and she loved reading the articles. The more she learned and the Catholic Church amidst the rubble of cultural decay.

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CELEBRATING & RECONNECTING GIVING DAY CELEBRATES ITS FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY The fifth annual Christendom College

Giving Day took place on April 26, 2022, and included 809 donors among the Christendom family. Alumni, parents, students, and others came together to raise $137,476 in support of The Carroll Fund.

Each year, the college community joins together to celebrate and reconnect with each other through our mutual love and support for Christendom. Unique to this year, however, was the special emphasis on honoring Christendom chaplains and alumni priests. Several former chaplains and alumni priests participated by sharing messages of thanksgiving for their time and formation at the college. Alumna Julie Wells ’15 joined in the fun by creating several drawings of Christendom priests to celebrate their contributions to our community (featured right).

Although the last five Giving Days have employed various strategies, alumni participation has been the main focus, not dollars raised. On the first Giving Day in 2018, primarily

$137,476 RAISED

MONTHLY 494 ALUMNI DONORS

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alumni supported The Carroll Fund. However, in the next couple years, alumni were joined by many other members of the Christendom family, including parents, students, faculty and staff members, as well as others. For the last several Giving Days, the college has seen a great rise in the number of alumni and others choosing to make monthly recurring gifts to The Carroll Fund.

Thanks to the momentum behind Giving Day, as well other initiatives, alumni giving has seen a significant increase over the past several years. In the 2017-2018 academic year, a total of $403,345 was given by alumni. In the 2021-2022 academic year, alumni generously gifted the college a total of $876,106, which includes gifts to The Carroll Fund, as well as several other initiatives such as the college’s Zero Federal Funding campaign, the Sacred Arts Project, the chapel piazza project, the rugby team tournament expenses fund, and the Michael Echaniz Memorial Scholarship fund.

809 DONORS PARTICIPATED US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

34% ALUMNI GIVING RATE

(N AT I O N A L AV E R AG E : 8 %)

Members of the 2022 Philanthropy Board.

The Class of 2022 boasts a 70% participation rate with 68 of the 97 graduates joining their fellow alumni in giving back to their alma mater.

S O CI A L M ED I A F U N F R O M G I V I N G DAY 202 2

Illustrations by Julie Wells, Class of 2015

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In the Classroom HIGHLIGHTING A COURSE FROM OUR RICH CURRICULUM

P O L I T I C A L S C I E N C E A N D ECO N O M I C S 494: E A R LY- C H R I S T I A N S O C I A L T H O U G H T

BY JAMES BERGIDA, DPHIL

Archbishop Pecci (the future Pope Leo XIII) aids the poor in Perugia.

Christendom College’s core curriculum

includes a course on Catholic Social Doctrine (PSAE 202), which opens with Pope Leo XIII’s landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891). While that document launched a body of Magisterial statements on social issues, the Church has been addressing such issues from its earliest centuries when persecutions and doctrinal controversies often dominated the stage. Indeed, early Christianity saw fierce debate and authentic definitions regarding Christ’s humanity and divinity as well as regarding the persons of the Most Holy Trinity.

The Early Church Fathers were also deeply concerned with social issues, many of which remain with us today.

At Christendom, my upper-level course on Early-Christian Social Thought functions as a prequel to our core course on Catholic Social Doctrine. Pope Benedict XVI writes in his 2009 encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, that “social doctrine is built on the foundation handed on by the Apostles to the Fathers of the Church, and then received and further explored by the great Christian doctors.”

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In Early-Christian Social Thought, students discover that foundation. The course underscores the durability and development of the Church’s thinking on issues from poverty to capital punishment, from warfare to private property, and from abortion to religious freedom. The course draws on the greatest of the Eastern and Western Church Fathers, including Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, Basil of Caesarea, and John Chrysostom.

It highlights how faith and reason have guided the Church on social issues from its beginning. The Fathers of the Church—through their reflection on Sacred Scripture, fidelity to Tradition, and use of Classical philosophy—provide a framework for drawing on faith and reason in addressing social issues.

The Early Church is foundational for our understanding of Christ and the Trinity. It is also foundational for the Church’s social doctrine, even today.

SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO CL ASSMATES@CHRISTENDOM.EDU

CLASSMATES YOUR PAPER & INK ALUMNI SOCIAL NETWORK

1980s

1990s

Fr. Mark Wenzinger, O.S.B., ’81, and Margaret (née Healy) Pickard ’84 pause for a photo op at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in VA Beach, VA. Fr. Wenzinger is now assigned to St. Gregory’s parish, thereby doubling the alumni population at that parish. 1 Maryellen (née Reninger) York ’87 and her husband, Edward, bought a condo and moved to Florida last year. Maryellen painted a 2’ x 4’ image of the Divine Mercy, which was displayed at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Deerfield Beach, FL, her new parish. 2

Teresa Fedoryka ’91, David and Elizabeth (née Rice) Wallace ’05, and Peter and Claire (née Kosten) Romanchuk ’15 have been immensely blessed to work together in the growth of Ss. Joachim and Anna Ukrainian Catholic Church in Front Royal, VA. Peter refurbished an iconostasis for the Church; David and Peter lend their voices for the glory of God as cantors and lectors; and Teresa, Elizabeth, and Claire have worked together to grow community activities, beautify the church, and make soup. 3

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Patrick ’93 and Amy (née Guettler) Zuberbueler ’94 were the recipients of the Lumen Gentium award given out annually by the Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas, His Excellency Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S. to members of his parishes who volunteer. In addition, Amy is the Director of the International Ward Center for Music Studies at Catholic University of America. 4

Tony Bodoh ’97, President and CEO of Tony Bodoh International, LLC, has published his fourth business book, The Rarest Advantage, in April 2022. The Rarest Advantage is a guide for c-suites and strategic Account Managers who strive to achieve exponential growth by co-creating value with their key customers. The book has been featured on multiple best seller and hot new release lists on Amazon. 5

2000s Julie (née Asam) Monette ’00 and her husband, Stephen, are blessed with 6 children: Christopher Stephen, Peter Giorgio Joseph, Philip John Henry, Lily Chiara Luce, Sebastian Benjamin, Charles Edward (see photo), and two in heaven due to miscarriage. They request prayers for Christopher (chronic pain) and for Stephen (degenerative disc disease). 6

Ben ’00 and Anna (née Bertolini) Hatke ’03 are joyful to announce the birth of baby Petra Luna Hatke, their sixth daughter, born at home November 19, 2021, in the middle of a lunar eclipse (hence the middle name). 7 Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony ’02 has recently written a book with a clinical psychologist Dr. Sabine Heisman to help navigate the loss of a child through miscarriage/ stillbirth. The book is called: The Deacon and the Doctor: A Prescription for Navigating Child Loss. If you know of anyone who is hurting from the experience of miscarriage or would like to help someone who has experienced a miscarriage, this is an honest and informative resource. The book can be found on Amazon or ordered directly from En Route Books and Media. 8 Bryan Hadro ’04 and wife, Caitlin, welcomed their third child—Damian Thomas—in March 2022. Born 9 pounds, 4 ounces, everyone’s loving having the little-big guy around. 9

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Caitlin (née Turner) Marchand ’06 and her husband, Lt. Col. Michael Marchand, were pleased to host many family members including Allana (née Marchand) Hoops ’04 for a week of family milestones as their son, Michael Augustine, received the sacrament of confirmation with his aunt/godmother as sponsor, and Mike assumed command of the 80th Operational Support Squadron. They ask for prayers for wisdom and courage for Michael in this new leadership position. 10 Joseph N. and Jennifer L. (née Poston) Mazzara ’08 welcomed their sixth child, Aurelia Rosita Elaine Mazzara, in November 2021. In 2019, Joseph left active duty in the Marines and since then served in the Trump administration as the Trump campaign’s inhouse counsel supervising litigation. He also served as a clerk for Judges Brantley Starr, Stephen Alexander Vaden, and Edith H. Jones. This fall, Joseph starts work in the Texas Attorney General’s office as an Assistant Solicitor General. As for Jennifer, in December 2019, King’s College London awarded her a PhD, and she is in the final stages of edits with her publisher for her book on Marine officer training in the interwar period (1920s-30s).

She has already begun work on her next book, which examines the intersection of law and war in occupied New Orleans. Jennifer also homeschools their six kids and does donor research for Belmont Abbey. 11 Kieran DuFrain ’09, Kevin Kuplack ’19, Caitlin Bowers ’09, Lauren (née Thrasher) DuFrain ’10 (all alumni in Northern Idaho) gathered together in Coeur d’Alene on May 7 for a mini-reunion/Kentucky Derby Party.

In true Christendom fashion, the evening was capped off with the singing of traditional Irish music. 12 Deacon John T. Francis, CSJ ’09 was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Orange, NJ. 13

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Joe Long ’12 and his wife, Rachel, were blessed with their third child, Helen, on January 23, 2022. Joe and John Henry Willson ’19 started “BroHaul Demolition Contractors,” a general contracting company in Charlottesville, VA, in August of 2021. 14 Deacon Philip Briggs ’13 was ordained to the priesthood alongside seven of his brother transitional deacons on June 4 for the Diocese of Arlington at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.

Fr. Briggs concluded his six years of formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and will be assigned to St. Philip’s Parish in Falls Church, VA. Please continue to pray for him as he begins his ministry as a priest of Jesus Christ. 15 Fr. John McFadden, O.S.B., ’13, who was ordained the college’s 100th alumnus priest in October 2021, returned to campus to offer a First Mass in the Chapel on May 22. He was assisted by Deacon Andrew Clark ’14 and Deacon Phil Briggs ’13. 16 Seminarian Andrew Clark ’14 (along with seven others) was ordained to the transitional diaconate by the Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, VA, on Saturday April 23, 2022. 17 Melody (née Wood) Grubaugh ’15 and her husband Connor welcomed their first child, Lucy Evangeline, on February 25, 2022. She was baptized at the Oxford Oratory on March 13. 18 Katie Brizek ’15 graduated in May 2021 with an MA in Theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. She spent the 21-22 academic year as a Postgraduate Fellow for the Thomistic Institute and the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. In the fall, Brizek will begin a PhD in History at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she will study intellectual and religious history, and she hopes to write her dissertation on the modernization of the American Church. 19

Jacob ’16 and Stacie (née Wimmer) Hiserman ’17 are happy to welcome into their family their second child, Felix Alexander, born on April 14, 2022. 20 Monica Burke ’17 and Philip Jeffery were married on May 21, 2022, in Danville, Pennsylvania. 21 Matthew and Morgan (née Witt) Trojacek ’18, welcomed their second daughter, Rose, on November 17, 2021. 22 Baron ’18 and Gemma (née McMahon) Buckner ’19 welcomed a baby girl, Cora Lee Buckner, on March 29th, 2022. 23 Laura Cermak ’19 and her fiancé Danny Kumar celebrated their betrothal service in London on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19. Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, presided at the Rosary Shrine, using the traditional prayers and blessing of the engagement ring. The couple joined friends and family afterward for a reception. Laura and Danny will be married June 11, 2022, at St. John the Beloved in McLean, VA. 24 Milanna Fritz ’19 graduated this spring with a Master of Theological Studies degree from the University of Notre Dame (UND) and will begin her PhD in Medieval Studies at UND this coming August 2022. 25 Shane ’19 and Mary (née Arnold) McCrum ’18 were married on August 8, 2021, at St. Elizabeth’s in Colonial Beach, VA, where they now reside. 26

Ian ’20 and Gemma (née Youngman) Sheedy ’19 welcomed their new baby, Jonah Daniel, on April 26, 2022. 27 MaryRita (née Gies) Trzybinski ’20 was married to her high school sweetheart, Conor Trzybinski, on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, VA, where they live and work. MaryRita works as an academic counselor for Seton Home Study School, and Conor works as an entry level software developer for Virtual Service Operations (VSO). 28 Marcus and Mary Catherine (née Anderson) Hynfield ’21, welcomed their first baby, Mara Alise, on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19, 2022). She was baptized at the Canons Regular in Charles Town, WV, in the Extraordinary Form on April 30. 29 Joseph and Julia (née Patterson) Halecky ’21 married back in August 2021 and now live in a spacious apartment in Pennsylvania where Joseph is employed as a State Farm agent. The Haleckys are excited to announce that they are expecting their first child.

Kadi Martin and Dario Spinelli ’21 were engaged November 6, 2021. 30 Julia Brezinsky and John Jakubisin ’21, were engaged on March 5, 2022. 31 Christiana Fedoryka and Stephen Pascoe ’21 were engaged on May 3, 2022. 32 Aidan Fletcher and Anna (née LLobet) Fletcher ’22 entered into the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony on January 15, 2022, surrounded by their incredible friends and family. Four months later, they discovered that they are expecting their first little one. “Bebe Fletch” is due in early December 2022. 33 Ashlianna Kreiner ’22 married Isaac Thompson on May 28, 2022. 34

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Reprinted with permission of the Catholic Herald, catholicherald.com.

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Reprinted with permission of the Catholic Herald, catholicherald.com.

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O C TO B E R 7-8 , 2022

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OMNIA

IN

C H R I S TO

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.

Eliot & Lewis: R ivals Turned Friends

BY DR. BEN REINHARD

The standard account of C.S.

Lewis’s relationship with T.S. Eliot is by now very well known, and scholarly discussions of the relationship tend to conform to a fairly predictable pattern. The young Lewis, it is regularly recognized, resented Eliot’s modernist poetry and literary celebrity; as he matured, he came to see the common ground they shared and forsook his former hostility. Scholars do, it must be admitted, differ as to when and why he abandoned his crusade against Eliot: Lewis’s conversion to Christianity (Hooper), his viewing of Murder in the Cathedral (Sayer), the death of Charles Williams (Green and Hooper), and the meeting of the two at the bishop’s Commission to Revise the Psalter (Brown) have all been suggested as significant events. It is all but universally agreed, however, that the two were friends, with all former differences forgotten, by the time of Lewis’s death.

Two reminiscences written in the year following Lewis’s death, however, give us reason to doubt these optimistic accounts of rivalsturned-friends. The first piece of evidence comes in a largely ungenerous and self-serving memorial published by the American journalist—and former Lewis pupil—George Bailey.

In “My Oxford Tutor—C.S. Lewis,” Bailey curries favor with his audience by describing in unflattering detail his famous teacher, pointing out the defects in his mannerisms, his appearance, and his method of teaching.

In the midst of all this, Bailey suggests that Lewis’s own failure as a poet inspired his dislike of Eliot. “He did write poetry in his youth, but little of it came to light. [...] He clearly fancied himself as a poet and left no doubt that he considered the poet the supreme example of creative genius in human kind. It was perhaps envy on this score that lay at the base of his dislike of T.S. Eliot” (38). Some months after publication, a copy of Bailey’s article made its way into the hands of J.R.R. Tolkien, whose reaction in defense of his old friend was entirely 36

T.S. Eliot

predictable. In a letter to Anne Barrett, Tolkien condemns the pettiness of Bailey and dismisses as “a grotesque calumny” the suggestion that Lewis’s distaste for Eliot was rooted in envy.

“After all,” he added, “it is possible to dislike Eliot with some intensity even if one has no aspirations to poetic laurels oneself ” (Tolkien, Letters 350, #261).

Taken together, these two accounts are remarkable for what they say—and, just as importantly, what they do not say. From Bailey’s account, it seems that Lewis’s aversion to Eliot was sufficiently pronounced to be detected by Bailey while a student at Oxford in the late 1940s, and creditable enough that Bailey’s 1964 audience was willing to accept it as a given. Even more importantly, Tolkien does not deny that Lewis disliked Eliot (indeed, he admits that Lewis might have disliked him “with some intensity”)—only that the dislike was rooted in poetic envy.

These two accounts encourage us to revisit the standard narrative promulgated by Hooper and others; when we do, we discover that Lewis’s hostility toward Eliot was no passing phenomenon. In fact, a wide-ranging dislike of Eliot—the poet, the critic, and (on occasion) the man—was one of the defining elements of Lewis’s literary-critical career; pointed criticism of Eliot appears in nearly every scholarly work Lewis wrote and runs through much of his fiction, poetry, and unpublished writing as well. But though Lewis’s dislike of Eliot was constant, it was not static, and in his shifting critiques of Eliot we can trace the development of Lewis’s imagination and thought.

C.S. Lewis

Despite the abundant evidence of Lewis’s enduring antipathy toward Eliot and the importance of this for understanding Lewis’s literary career, critics have persisted in treating the two as representatives of the same larger movement. Perhaps this is justifiable in the end, however. Whatever their differences in the field of poetics and literary theory, Lewis and Eliot were linked by their Creed and Confession, and had much in common in their politics, social criticism, and approach to modernity.

As Lewis himself admitted in the Preface to Paradise Lost, “I agree with him about matters of such moment that all literary questions are, in comparison, trivial” (Preface 9). What united the two men was sufficient to set them apart from the dominant spirit of the 20th century— and still more the dominant spirit of the 21st.

The passage of time has eroded the once-sharp differences between them, and—though it is instructive to recognize the differences—it is perhaps only natural that we should treat them together. What Eliot describes in Little Gidding has in fact come to pass: These men, and those who opposed them And those whom they opposed Accept the constitution of silence And are folded in a single party.

The affirmations of Lewis and the negations of Eliot have, we may hope, led their authors to the same end, where the fire and the rose are one.

Ben Reinhard, PhD, is the author of a new verse translation of Beowulf published by Cluny Media.

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