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Cardinal Ratzinger to Chair Christendom College's 25th Anniversary Honorary Dinner Committee

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has graciously agreed to serve as the Chairman of the Honorary Dinner Committee for Christendom College's 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner on September 14, 2002, at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

In a letter to Dr. Timothy T. O'Donnell, President of Christendom College, His Eminence wrote, "I am well aware of the distinguished record of Christendom College over these past twenty-five years, and of the outstanding contribution which it has made to Catholic life in the United States of America. For this reason, I am particularly honoured by your kind invitation and am happy to accept your invitation [to serve as Chairman of the Honorary Dinner Committee], and in so doing to associate myself with such a fine Catholic institution of higher learning....I offer my best wishes for a successful 25th Anniversary celebration and my prayers that Christendom College will enjoy many more years of service in the education and formation of young people."

In 1977, when Dr. Warren Carroll and a few of his associates founded Christendom College, authentic Catholic higher education was under attack and seemed to be on the brink of extinction. With but five faculty, twenty-six students, borrowed facilities, and a mere $50,000 in the bank, Christendom College began its long, and frequently difficult, journey to restore Catholic higher education to its rightful place and become one of the top Catholic liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Today, Christendom is a permanent and solid college, with undergraduate and graduate programs enrolling 500 students. It maintains two campuses, manages a modest endowment of nearly $5 million, and enjoys an excellent academic reputation, as well as an impeccable reputation for fidelity to the Holy Catholic Church.

In September 2002, Christendom will joyfully celebrate its 25th Anniversary of providing an authentic Catholic liberal arts education. As part of the celebrations, Jan Cardinal Schotte, Secretary General to the World Synod of Bishops, and US Ambassador to the Vatican, James Nicholson, will join Christendom College over the weekend of September 13-15, 2002, taking part in a number of planned festivities, including Christendom's Silver Anniversary Dinner/Dance at The Ritz-Carlton on September 14, 2002 – Christendom's actual 25th Anniversary date.

Cardinal Schotte took part in Christendom's 20th Anniversary celebrations back in 1997. He is pictured here with Dr. Warrenn Carroll, Founder and First President of Christendom (left), Mrs. Cathy O'Donnell, and Dr. Timothy O'Donnell, President of Christendom College.

Joining Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the Honorary Dinner Committee are Cardinals J. Francis Stafford, Edward Egan, Anthony Bevilacqua, and Archbishops Renato Martino, Gabriel Montalvo, Charles Chaput, Justin Rigali, Edwin O'Brien, John Donoghue, John Myers, and Elden Curtiss. Additionally, Bishops Thomas Welsh, Paul Loverde, Kevin Manning, Jerzy Mazur, Fabian Bruskewitz, James Timlin, William Curlin, Thomas Doran, Robert Carlson, and Fathers Benedict Groeschel, C.J. McCloskey, George Rutler, and Robert Sirico have all shown their support for the work of Christendom College by joining the Honorary Dinner Committee.

Mother Assumpta Long, Patrick Buchanan, Mary Ellen Bork, Cal Thomas, Deal Hudson, L. Brent Bozell, III, Dr. Janet Smith, Dr. Charles Rice, Dr. Peter Kreeft, Dr. James Hitchcock, Dr. John Haas, Dr. Scott Hahn, William F. Buckley, Jr., Hon. Henry J. Hyde, Hon. Jeane Kirkpatrick, Hon. Rick Santorum, Hon. Chris Smith, Hon. Thomas Melady, Curtis Martin, George Weigel, Patrick Madrid, Howard Walsh, Seamus Hasson, and Jeff Cavins have also honored Christendom by agreeing to membership on the Honorary Dinner Committee.
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