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May 12, 2001, Christendom College conferred 37 Bachelor of Arts, one Associate
of Arts, and six Master of Arts degrees on its graduating class of 2001.
Commencement weekend at Christendom College began with a Baccalaureate
Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Renato Martino, Permanent Observer of the
Holy See Mission to the United Nations, on Friday, May 11.
Archbishop Martino has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See
since July 1, 1962, serving at the Apostolic Nunciatures in Nicaragua,
Philippines, Lebanon, Canada, and Brazil. From 1970 to 1975, he was called
back to the Vatican where he was Head of the Department for International
Organizations at the Secretariat of State. After the establishment of
Relations with the Republic of Singapore on June 24, 1981, he was appointed
first Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Singapore. His term of office in Bangkok
ended on Dec. 3, 1986, when he was appointed Permanent Observer of the
Holy see to the United Nations Organization, succeeding Archbishop Giovanni
Cheli. Archbishop Martino is the third Holy See's Permanent Observer,
after Archbishop Cheli and Monsignor Alberto Giovannetti.
During his homily, His Excellency, exhorted the graduating class of 2001
to witness to Christ in the world. "You came [to Christendom College]
to be formed and educated, and to build upon the foundations which your
parents and families have given you. You will now leave this place to
assume a new role in the society....No matter what you do from this day
forward, however, the one task that must transcend all others is your
witness to Christ in the world."
He continued by saying that he saw the Class of 2001 of Christendom College
as a  "band
of young men and women who are passionate, zealous, faithful, compassionate,
forgiving, loving, and trusting disciples of Christ, who must not worry
about being "politically correct," and who must never apologize for believing
in Jesus Christ."
Following the Baccalaureate Mass, Archbishop Martino joined the graduating
seniors and their parents for an exquisite dinner in St. Lawrence Commons,
prepared by the uncomparable Chef Ron. During the meal, Senior Class President,
Tim Halisky of FL, made a toast in honor of Christendom's faculty. Dr.
Robert Rice, VP for Academic Affairs, countered with his own toast to
the graduating seniors saying that "typically each graduating class has
a distinctive character, but the Class of 2001 is different. There is
no one distinctive character to this class, rather, each individual is
a character in himself."
On Saturday afternoon, during the Graduation ceremony held in Crusader
Gymnasium, Dr. Timothy O'Donnell, Christendom President, bestowed an Honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters on His Excellency for his courageous resistance
to the globalization of the culture of death and his courageous and tireless
defense of the unborn children of the world.
"It is my honor and pleasure to be with you today to receive this Doctoral
Degree from Christendom College. I am especially pleased to be an "honorary
member" of the Class of 2001.
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As the Vatican's Ambassador to the United Nations, I am actively engaged
in promoting what we know to be true about the inestimable value of the
human person created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in
Jesus Christ," he began.
"The centrality of the human person must be the philosophical basis for
any negotiations among Governments and civil society when considering
the issues that affect the human family. Otherwise, States and society
alike risk overshadowing the human person with economic, political, military,
or social interests, and ultimately reducing the notion of the person
altogether.
"As you might imagine, however, being a voice of truth, the Church is
not always accepted or welcomed. Talk of such things as the dignity of
the human person, respect for human life, and the important role of parents
and the family is society is not greeted with open arms by a society that
has embraced a culture of death."
Archbishop Martino concluded by reflecting on his experience working at
the UN. "Throughout my tenure at the UN, I have seen how the international
community recognizes that the Church not only preaches this message in
diplomatic circles, but that it puts it into practice each and every day
through the Church's vast network of institutions and apostolates which
directly serve the human person. As I look out at the Class of 2001 of
Christendom College, I feel a renewed sense of prides, knowing that what
the Holy See says at the United Nations is lived out daily at this Catholic
College. This place, and all of you, are tangible examples of the Church's
dedication to serving the human person."
Salutatorian, Gwen Adams from Indiana, addressed her fellow classmates
by quoting the great Catholic mind Friedrich Wilhelmsen, saying that while
at Christendom "we became 'rebels against a society that has denied its
God, has insulted His Holy church, that has ignored His mother. A society
that has outlawed Him and in so doing has outlawed that band of men who
raise aloft the banner of His sacred kingship.' We must fight with the
virtues of faith, charity, and hope. Nothing will win this world to Christ,
neither our words nor deeds, so much as our example of our love for one
another. Let us band together to evangelize the world back to Christ,
to build a Catholic culture and a Catholic society."
Class Valedictorian, Therese Sayler from North Dakota, began her address
with "Do not be Afraid," one of the Pope's favorite sayings.
 Addressing
the capacity crowd of 500, Miss Sayler continued by explaining that although
graduation day is a turning point in the lives of those graduating, Christendom
College has been preparing its graduates for the task of "becoming saints
and leading others to Christ."
Although not an easy mission, it is the same type of mission that the
Apostles were given by Christ. "But, we do not need to be afraid, because
what God demands of us in these areas is not success, but effort," she
said. "The salvation of a soul and the conversion of a sinner can only
be effected by God. He accomplishes this through our striving. So, we
are only asked to do what we can do: unite our efforts with the grace
of God in the work of saving our souls, and the souls of others.
"God has not abandoned us. He has left us a shepherd on earth, the Holy
Father. Pope John Paul II truly lives out the message, "Do not be afraid,"
as he prays and works ceaselessly to bring the Faith to people around
the world. Following his example of fearless trust, this graduating class
can go forward with enthusiasm to win souls for Christ," Miss Sayler concluded.
Steven Weidenkopf, after receiving his Master of Arts in Theological Studies,
delivered the Notre Dame Graduate School Farewell Address. His talk focused
on the faithful education that he received, especially in relation to
the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
Weidenkopf related that the Pope has often reflected on the fact that
"the Council documents have lost nothing of their value or brilliance.
They need to be read correctly, to be widely known and taken to heart
as important and normative texts of the Magisterium, within the Church's
Tradition."
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"I firmly believe that each of us has a unique role to play in the economy
of salvation. None of us came to Christendom College by accident –
we have been chosen to go forth and spread the truth of Christ, especially
the truth concerning the Second Vatican Council. The Council that stressed
the universal call to holiness; that centered the study of ecclesiology
on the reality of communion and taught that the Church is "one complex
reality which coalesces from a divine and human element;" the Council
that approached the unbelieving modern world with joy and hope in Christ
Jesus, who is "The Way, the Truth and the Life." The Council that will
serve, in the words of our Holy Father, as the 'compass from which to
take our bearings in the century now beginning'," he concluded. (See the
condensed version of his talk on the right)
Dori Rutherford, President of the Christendom College Alumni Association,
awarded Paul Kucharski of CA with the Student Achievement Award in recognition
of his extraordinary enthusiasm and participation in College events throughout
his four years at Christendom.
The 37 undergraduates who received B.A. degrees include: Gwendolen M.
Adams, Andrew L. Antonio, Jonathan L. Avery, Clair M. Bailey, Kathryn
E. Bailey, Anita K. Shunk, Sr. Martha Corona, PCI, Mary E. Cummo, Danielle
Dalley, David B. Farinholt, Andrew J. Fier, Angela T. Formolo, Timothy
R. Halisky, Anna F. Hepler, Catherine M. Hinkell, Lisa R. Kirchner, Ronald
L. Klassen, Paul L. Kucharski, Louis J. Kugel, Nicholas P. Marmalejo,
John P. Meng, Phillip J. Menke, Joshua P. Petersen, Alicia M. Podlinsek,
Meg L. Coleman, Joseph M. Salazar, Theresa M. Sayler, Denver T. Schafer,
Daniel C. Schneible, Leah T. Slinger, Albert A. Starkus, Benjamin J. Suer,
Jill M. Watson, Shaun P. Whittington, Hugh O. Wingate, Amy K. Wright,
Gabriel M. Young.
One Associate of Arts degree was conferred on Julie D. Fox.
The following six graduate students received a Master of Arts in Theological
Studies from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College: Susan
Klamann, Nancy Lee, Rev. Christopher Pollard, Kathryn Sperrazzo, Steven
Weidenkopf, and Thomas West, Jr. Nancy Lee and Fr. Pollard will also receive
the Advanced Apostolic Catechetical Diploma from NDGS.
At the conclusion of the Commencement Exercises, Archbishop Martino graciously
granted the Papal Blessing to all those present. "I have been given the
authority to grant the Papal Blessing a couple of times a year. I would
like to use this faculty today at Christendom," he said.
Following Commencement, the graduates, their families, and guests were
treated to a beautifully reception in St. Lawrence Commons, catered by
Chef Ron Steckman and his kitchen staff.
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