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June 8, 2004
St. John the Evangelist Library to be Dedicated on October 9

Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, will bless and dedicate Christendom's new 40,000 sq. ft. St. John the Evangelist Library on October 9, 2004.

The library was designed with Pope John Paul II's monumental work, Fides et Ratio, in mind. In fact, the opening line of that encyclical,

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.

will be inscribed above the entry way into the library. Additionally, an original work of art, a bust of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, will be displayed at the end of the main hallway, visible for all to see upon entering the building.

As a matter of interest, Christendom intends to dedicate a portion of the Library to the memory of a great Catholic soldier, statesman and gentleman - the late Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters who served on Christendom's Board of Advisors for over 20 years and who left a substantial portion of his library to the college.

Current plans for the event include a Mass of Thanksgiving, a Blessing of the Library and Papal Bust, catered food and beverages in the Library, and the performance of an original orchestra piece, composed and directed by Christendom's own Dr. Kurt Poterack. The piece will be dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, the patron of the library. Other guests to be invited for the event are U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican James Nicholson, U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, U.S. Senator George Allen, Representative Frank Wolf, and President and Mrs. George W. Bush.

More information on this celebratory event will be available in the future.
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