November 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Dear Friends,
We have come to what may end up being the last Grapevine. It has been around for around ten years, but it's time has now come. With all theother methods of communication (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs, Email, etc.), it appears that the need for an alumni online newsletter is not there.
From 2002-2005, when I first created the online version of The Grapevine and edited it, we used to have loads of submissions. In fact, even though we had maybe 600 less alumni than we do right now at that time, we were able to publish The Grapevine on a monthly basis....and it was always full to the brim with news and stories and other exciting tidbits of information. For the past year or so, we have published The Grapevine every two months, but the input and updates from the alumni have still been lacking.
So, let's turn our attention to other forms of social communication.
Christendom College's facebook page is full of lots of information and loads of pictures. It can be viewed by anyone, even if they do not have a Facebook account.https://www.facebook.com/christendomcollege. There is even an alumni-only facebook group to join, if you want. Also, there is a Christendom Alumni Crusader LinkedIn group if that is something you are interested in getting involved with. And the college's Twitter account is available too. And lastly, if you are not already part of the alumni email group, I welcome you to join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ccalumni
As the months move on, we may, once again, reconsider publishing The Grapevine (maybe on a quarterly basis) or perhaps we will add alumni news/updates to the Instaurare. We will see what happens. It's been a great 10 years! Bye bye!
- Tom McFadden, Director of Admissions, Marketing, & Alumni Relations (tmcfadden@christendom.edu).
P.S. As we are now in this month of November, please remember to pray for all the faithful departed, especially those who have been involved with Christendom College, including faculty, staff, alumni, and Board members. If you know of others who should be on this list, please let me know.
Faculty Fr. Edward Berbusse, SJ Staff Mrs. Betty Seelbach Board of Directors Dr. Walter Stuart |
Alumni Mr. Tim Christofili
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Get your Christendom GEAR Here.
Before Instaurare, there was the Christendom College Report. These little pieces of history are great to read to get insights into Christendom College and its origins. Enjoy!
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Name: Maria Reilander
Graduation Year: 2004
Major: History
Minor: Theology
Grad school? If so, where and what degree? Masters in Theological Studies at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Washington, D.C.
Current Occupation/Job Title: Senior Development Officer and Adjunct Professor at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, Barry's Bay, Ontario. www.seatofwisdom.org
Past jobs held: (I've been at OLSWA since my graduation from the JPII--going on 7 years!)
Why did you choose to go into this field?: I value Catholic Higher Education. Our Lady Seat of Wisdom is the only post-secondary Catholic liberal arts school in Canada where all the professors make an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium. I am happy to work in Development at OLSWA and promote this important mission. Also, here at OLSWA I am able to share with my theology students what I was blessed to receive from my studies at the John Paul II Institute.
How has your Christendom College education/experience helped you in your
profession?: Christendom College gave me a great appreciation for Catholic Higher education, the liberal arts, and a Catholic culture on a university campus. I am happy to be able promote these goods here in Canada at OLSWA. Also, the critical thinking and communication skills (especially writing) I developed at Christendom have been very helpful in my current position. My Christendom education was also a great preparation for my studies at the John Paul II Institute.
What are you doing in your professional life to "restore all things in Christ.": Teaching the Theology of the Body to college students at OLSWA, working at Canada's only post-secondary liberal arts school that is completely faithful to the Magisterium.
What do you miss most about Christendom?: The chapel, the people
Homecoming 2012 Draws Hundreds - Reunion Events Big Hit
Christendom College celebrated Homecoming Weekend over Columbus Day Weekend, with over 250 alumni taking part in all of the many activities.
On Friday, the Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Golf Tournament took place at Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Course in Front Royal, Va., where the foursome of Howie Walsh, Tommy Salmon, Max Hess, and Paul Heisler walked away as victors. The 2012 recipients of the Thomas S. Vander Woude Athlete-Scholar Scholarship were announced at the awards banquet – Christendom freshmen Patrick Audino and Jeremy Minick. The tournament raised a record $20,000 with 110 golfers and 40 sponsors.
On Friday night, the Christendom alumni played the students in basketball in Crusader Gymnasium. Following the narrow victory of the alumni men over the Crusaders, over 125 alumni and senior students spent the rest of the evening in St. Kilian’s Café, enjoying camaraderie, snacks, and drinks.
On Saturday, 13 members of the class of 2002 (along with some of their spouses and faculty and staff members), enjoyed a catered reunion luncheon in the Chester-Belloc room of the Regina Coeli Hall. Later that evening, the Classes of 1992 and 1982 held private reunion events on campus, where a number of alumni who had not been to campus in a while made appearances. Approximately 250 alumni took part in the main event of the weekend celebrations, the Warren H. Carroll Alumni Reception, which was held in the Chapel Crypt from 6pm-12am. Many walked over to the Homecoming Dance, held in the St. Lawrence Commons, to listen to the music of the live swing band orchestra, Yesterday.
Next year’s Homecoming Weekend is scheduled for October 11-13.
Below is a picture of the Class of 2002 Reunion Luncheon.
Next year’s Homecoming Weekend is scheduled for October 5-7 and will feature a 20 year reunion for the Class of 1993 and a 10 year reunion luncheon for the Class of 2003, as well as many more events for all the alumni. (More Homecoming Pictures can be seen HERE.)
On Sunday October 7th, Noreen Daly, Christendom Class of 2011, accepted the marriage proposal of Spencer Barrs, University of Dallas 2008, Institute of World Politics Class of 2013 earning a M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs. Currently, Noreen is working as a paralegal in Front Royal, VA and Spencer has started his new position with a defense contractor in Herndon, VA. They hope to be married in Northern Virginia at their parish, St. Rita's, by pastor Fr. Gee in July 2013.
Peter Jensen '99 and Heather Tansey '03 were married by Fr. Tony Stephens '99 (who learned the Tridentine Mass for the occasion) on September 22, 2012, in Bethlehem, PA. Alumni Josh Petersen, Paul Kucharski, Robyn Lee, Alyssa Lombardi and Joelle Jansen were in the bridal party and many other alumni were in attendance. It was a lovely time.
Christendom alumni Kathleen McCloskey (Class of '11) and Peter McNeely (class of '12) were married June 2nd, 2012 in Front Royal, VA. The Ceremony was celebrated by the Groom's brother, Fr. Matthew McNeely at Christ the King Chapel at Christendom College.
Lillian Rose (Lilly) Coffey was born eight weeks early, on September 21st, the eve of the social event of the year. Tim and Leah Coffey were packed and ready to fly to Philadelphia to go to Peter and Heather's wedding (mentioned above) the next morning. To say the least, they were upset to miss the big event, and yet very thankful they didn't have a baby in Philly. They'd are thankful to the Christendom community for all of the prayers and support. They know it was due to all the prayers that little Lillian only spent a few weeks in the NICU (pic below).
Mary Harrington (below, second from the left) is keeping busy as usual, but not even her crazy work schedule could keep her from flying back home and standing up in her best friend's wedding in September. Mary was also able to see her sister, Colleen, and parents, Dan and Marguerite (another Christendom grad - on the left) at the wedding.
Joe and Emily (Griswold) Sparks, '07, welcomed their third child last month on October 8. Jeannette Rose was born safe and healthy, weighing 8 lbs, 4 oz. She joins her two older brothers, Joseph (age 2 1/2, in the photo holding Jeannette) and Gabriel (18 months).
Daniel and Sarah (Ford) Delaney ('07) welcomed their second daughter, Molly Catherine, on September 24th. They are all enjoying the newest addition to the family, especially her big sister Lucy.
Sr. Agnes Mary (Amy Quartararo)'s professed her final vows on September 14, 2012, in Hawthorne, NY. Sr. Agnes Mary is with the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Alumni Heidi Kalian, Kathleen Rock, Maria Reilander, Mary Rose (Lombard) Verret (with son Andre), Lydia (Thigpen) Borja (with daughter Sophia). Also, former chaplain Fr. Anthony Mastroeni was there.
Anita Crane '93 has been busy writing articles:
Part 1: America’s salvation depends on Catholics http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/americas-salvation-depends-on-catholics/
Part 2: Did Catholics forget about Obama’s record? http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/did-catholics-forget-about-obamas-record/
Obama's Violent Agenda Hits Home http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/obamas-violent-agenda-hits-home/
Name: Ben Scrivener
Hometown and year at Christendom: Davidsonville, MD. Junior Year.
Parents names: Robert '81 and Anne Marie (Galloway) '85 Scrivener
How influencial were your parents in your decision to attend Christendom? The decision to come to Christendom was definitely influenced by my parents, as well as my four older brothers who all graduated from Christendom. Why stop tradition?
What do you think is the biggest change at Christendom from what you hear of the old days? The biggest change I believe would be the physical plant of the entire campus. The addition of the new chapel, and the addition of the new library are two major buildings that have change this campus. (In reality, Walter and Mr. O'Herron are still here, so what has really changed?)
Are there any advantages of being a "legacy" student (i.e. an alumni child)? Being a “legacy child” has its advantages in knowing what to expect from the school, knowing some of the long-term faculty and staff members, but could also have its disadvantages in trying to start your own reputation for your children.
Have you had any of the same teachers as your parents? Well, obviously Mr. O'Herron, but other than that I don't believe so.
Do you have any favorite stories that they used to tell about their days at Christendom? I have many favorites stories, many that I was sworn to secrecy by my parents. But one of my favorite stories my Dad told me was when he did one of Christendom's first airport runs back in the day, he picked up a handful of freshmen and dropped them off at the old chicken farm that used to be on Dismal Hollow Road.
Fatima Shrine Gets Extreme Makeover
In the Summer of 1975, a week long “Family Institute” at the AFL-CIO owned property in Front Royal was held. Approximately 50 people attended – many of whom became the first families and supporters of Christendom College. Mrs. Anne Carroll, Dr. Carroll’s wife, organized educational and playful activities for the children during the day and the parents attended the lectures by Dr. Carroll, Dr. William Marshner, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus, and others. The families stayed in the Quad, ate in the Regina Coeli building, and attended lectures and Mass in what is now St. Kilian’s Café.
The “Family Institute” was held, again in Front Royal, in the summer of 1976, with most of the same families attending. It was at this summer program in 1976 that Dr. Carroll announced his intention to found a Catholic college. As the last event of the week-long Institute, everyone took part in an outside rosary procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. Dr. Carroll told the group that the intention of that rosary that night was that they would find a site for Christendom College. Under the circumstances this seemed like a pipe dream to the group, but Dr. Carroll’s faith and sincerity were so powerful, everyone was compelled to go along with it.
Christendom ended up buying the property in 1979, and has held Our Lady of Fatima up as its founding patroness ever since. A number of years ago, the Fatima Shrine that welcomed visitors to campus in front of the old chapel, now the Thomas Aquinas Hall, had to be moved due to traffic flow and the master plan design. It is now still near the entrace to campus, on the left side, near the faculty/staff parking lot, and is quite accessible to all. It recently got enhanced with some nice stonework, some landscaping, lighting, and candles. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
