Sept. 23, 2023, was a rainy fall night, but that did not dampen the spirits of more than 530 members of the Catholic Studies community who gathered to celebrate 30 years of exploring the impact of the Incarnation on human thought and culture.
The evening began with a beautiful Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Hebda and more than 20 members of the clergy. A dinner and program followed to mark three decades of this first-of-its-kind program at the University of St. Thomas. One of its earliest visionaries, Bishop Arthur Kennedy, was honored with a Priest-Scholar Award; Dr. Liz Lev, art historian and Catholic Studies faculty in Rome, shared the beauty of our Catholic identity in art in Rome; Alessandro Marchetti ’12 served as the emcee and reminded attendees why it is important to give to Catholic Studies; and President Rob Vischer underscored the importance of Catholic Studies at St. Thomas for the past 30 years. It was an extraordinary time to give thanks and to support and sustain this transformative program for those who follow.
“My message here tonight is simple. I want to thank you on behalf of the hundreds of St. Thomas students, alumni, staff and faculty who did not major in Catholic Studies, who do not hold Catholic Studies degrees, who do not work for Catholic Studies, who never taught a Catholic Studies course, but who nevertheless have been deeply blessed by your presence on our campus for the past 30 years,” President Rob Vischer said. “It is easy for me to extend that word of gratitude because I count myself among those who have been deeply blessed.”
Alessandro Marchetti ‘12The academic formation of our students
in their pursuit of truth across disciplines
is what drives this program. From there,
human formation, Catholic community,
and dynamic change flow.”
Archbishop Bernard HebdaThere is something special here ... Our
archdiocese couldn’t do what we’re doing
without alumni from Catholic Studies.”
This story is featured in the winter 2024 issue of Lumen.
