Holy Father Honors Thomistic Institute Speakers with Ratzinger Prize In a ceremony in the Vatican on October 20, 2012, Fr. Brian E. Daley, S.J., and Dr. Rémi Brague, were honored with the prestigious Ratzinger Prize for Theology by Pope Benedict XVI. Both scholars have been featured speakers at the PFIC’s Thomistic Circles. Dr. Brague, a married layman, is professor emeritus of medieval Arabic Philosophy at the Sorbonne in Paris, and is professor of philosophy of religion at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. In 2010, he presented “Is a Secular Society Possible?”, in which he raised concerns about the long-term viability of a society that chooses to define itself as secular, and commented on the social relevance of religious belief.
2012, he presented a paper on “Unpacking the Chalcedonian Formula: from Studied Ambiguity to Saving Mystery,” as part of the Thomistic Institute’s conference on Chalcedonian Christianity. In awarding the 2012 prize, the Holy Father said, “Scholars such as Fr. Daley and
who, through an enlightened faith and life bring God close and credible to the people of today...Working in the Lord’s vineyard, where he calls us, so that the men and women of our time may discover and rediscover the true ‘art of living’: this was another great passion of the Second Vatican Council and one which increasingly forms part of the commitment to the new evangelization.”
“This is what we need...people whose intellect is illuminated by God’s light, so that they may also speak to the minds and hearts of others.” - Pope Benedict XVI
Jesuit Father Daley is the Catherine F. Huisking Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. In early October
Prof. Brague are exemplary figures for the transmission of a knowledge that combines science and wisdom, scientific rigor and a passion for man, so that one may discover the ‘art of living’. And this is a feature of people
The Holy Father personally awarded the Prize in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. The Prize is funded by the Ratzinger Foundation, which is itself funded by private donations and sales of Benedict XVI’s books. The Prize also funds scholarships for students around the world.
The PFIC is proud to be associated with scholars of the highest caliber. We congratulate Fr. Daley and Dr. Brague on this exceptional honor.
George Cervantes, PFIC Assistant Director for Advancement Last July saw the addition of Mr. George Cervantes to the staff of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in the Office of Advancement. Mr. Cervantes has been raising funds for the Church for the last 13 years. Before coming to the PFIC Mr. Cervantes worked at The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, where he met Rev. Steven Boguslawski, O.P. as well as Most Rev. J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P. and Rev. Joseph Fox, O.P. A California native, who lived for a time in Texas, Mr. Cervantes came to Washington, D.C. to study at Georgetown University and never left. As he puts it, “I figured that I’d put in four years on the East Coast before heading back west, but I ended up liking D.C., and have lived here ever since.” It was his work with databases that first brought Mr. Cervantes into the world of fundraising. In his time at The Pope John Paul II Cultural
Center, he managed the databases and the direct mail program. Since arriving last summer, Mr. Cervantes has used his skills to scale up the PFIC’s own direct mail program. This is his first time working for a school, but the challenge of acclimating to this new environment has helped him to appreciate the need to share with others the importance of providing a Thomistic education. While most people associate advancement with fundraising, it’s more than that. Building awareness and support for the institution and forming relationships is a broader scope of the Office’s work. As such, Mr. Cervantes manages the PFIC’s social network presence, promoting upcoming events and the work of the PFIC faculty and students. Most recently, he oversaw the Third Annual Dominican Spring Gala (see page 6). When asked if he enjoys his new job, Mr. Cervantes does not hesitate: “Absolutely! It’s
great to be a part of something which is of such service to the Dominican Order, and in a larger sense, to the Church.” He wants to build on the already strong relationship between the PFIC and its supporters. He says, “The number of donors is pretty modest, but they’re extremely generous.” One of his goals is to improve communication with non-Dominican alumni, who might not hear about what’s going on here ‘through the grapevine.’ When he is not behind a desk, Mr. Cervantes is a singer with a special interest in sacred music from the Renaissance. He is a member of the Suspicious Cheese Lords, a group of singers named for a humorous mistranslation of Suscipe, quaeso Domine. They had the distinction of singing for Pope Benedict XVI during his 2008 visit to Washington, D.C.
We love to hear from our alumni! Please send your news, publications, appointments, and honors to George Cervantes, Assistant Director for Advancement, at advance@dhs.edu or (202) 495-3828.
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