Archive Posts
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Silver Jubilee: CSMA 25th Anniversary
Faith and MissionThe Catholic Studies MA program (CSMA) is celebrating 25 years of amazing growth, both in terms of the program’s scope and number of students. Recent college graduates, mid-career folks, and retirees find their way to this transformative program through a variety of paths, but in the program they all find a new depth of integration of their learning with their faith and all of life. Under the leadership of Dr. Mary Reichardt, the first program director, CSMA…
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Silver Jubilee: Bernardi Campus Turns Twenty-Five
Faith and MissionCatholic Studies was still in its earliest years on the St. Paul campus when the first group of students spent a semester in Rome. But the accommodations were temporary and not conducive to community life. Thanks to a gift from the Bernardi family, St. Thomas purchased a 20,000-square-foot home from a group of Spanish nuns and renovated the interior. In 2000, Catholic Studies students moved into the Bernardi Campus,… -
Silver Jubilee: 25th Anniversary of Guadalupe’s Scholars
Faith and MissionFor the past 25 years, Catholic Studies has been home to the Guadalupe’s Scholars Program where faithful student leaders are invited to engage the Catholic intellectual tradition in the context of the growing Hispanic Church in America. Beginning with just one student in 2000, there are now 49 Guadalupe’s Scholars in this program built upon four pillars: rigorous academics, strong community, faith… -
One Cup at a Time
Faith and MissionWhen you drive by Karol Coffee Co. in St. Paul’s Como neighborhood, you might want to stop and check it out, even if you have already had your cup for the day. Its freshly painted facade and welcoming interior signal that someone has breathed new life into this old building. That “someone” is a married couple with deep Catholic Studies roots. Megan (Hastings) ’13 and Nate Whipple ’25 CSMA were married in 2020 when Megan was studying… -
The Emery and Karen Koenig Legacy Society in Catholic Studies
Faith and MissionSince its founding in 1993, the work of Catholic Studies has been sustained by the prayers, encouragement, strategic advice, and generosity of our donors. In every way, Emery and Karen Koenig have participated in this work. For the past 20 years, the Koenigs have made Catholic Studies one of their philanthropic priorities through annual giving as well as with a generous planned gift. Emery served as chair of the Advisory Board for nine years and… -
VIDEO AND PHOTOS: Christmas Tree Lighting
Faith and MissionAs the early dusk darkened the Twin Cities Dec. 1, the University of St. Thomas community gathered inside the Anderson Student Center to witness the 29th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. With a message of beauty and hope accompanied by performances by Cadenza and The Summit Singers, the spirit of the season entered the hearts… -
Friendships Flourish in Interfaith Spaces
Diversity, Equity and InclusionA nearly filled room at the University of St. Thomas buzzed with conversation as three students sat at a long table in the front. They took turns sharing similarities about the importance of religious diversity at a university rooted in Catholic social teaching. Their only difference was their faith. One was Catholic, one Jewish and… -
Hans Gustafson Pens Chapter in Book on Belonging at Catholic Universities
Professional NotesHans Gustafson, PhD, director of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and senior adjunct professor of theology, published the chapter “Engaging Religious Diversity: Radical Hospitality in Catholic Universities for the Common Public Good” in Beneath the Roar and Tumult: Promoting Radical Hospitality and Belonging in College Classrooms (Liturgical Press, 2025). Building on this work, Gustafson delivered the invited… -
Tommie Experts: Building Bridges with the Orthodox Church
Tommie ExpertsThe year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of a momentous event in the history of Christianity: the Council of Nicaea. In the year 325, Emperor Constantine invited over 300 bishops from around the Roman Empire to attend a church council in a small town called Nicaea in western Asia Minor—known today as Iznik in the… -
Tales from the Archives: The Grotto
Quotes from the QuadAmid the hustle and bustle of campus, it is sometimes difficult to find a quiet spot to pause and reflect. But tucked near the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library on the south campus, the Grotto provides a peaceful retreat. This space traces its roots to the mid-1910s when a group of seminarians at The Saint Paul…