Alumni in Religious Education Field to Mentor Students at “Life on Tap”

Alumni Joan Watson, Deacon Sabatino Carnazzo, and James Blankenship, all successful alumni in the fields of faith formation and religious education, will reveal the secrets to their success on Tuesday, April 5, in the latest “Life on Tap” networking event. Held at 7:30 p.m. in Christendom’s St. Kilian’s Café, the alumni will give some insights and reflections on their career fields, and will be available for networking with students before and after the event. Refreshments will be provided, and all are invited to attend.

Christendom’s “Life on Tap” events, hosted by the college’s career and leadership development office, give students the unique opportunity to learn how their liberal arts education can prepare them for any vocational calling after graduation, no matter how complex, by bringing back successful alumni from a variety of different fields to give talks and mentor students.

The college’s rigorous Catholic, liberal arts education has helped many alumni find great success in the fields of faith formation and religious education after graduation. After earning her B.A. in history from Christendom in 2006, Joan Watson earned her M.A. in theological studies from Franciscan University. She then joined Aquinas College as the assistant director of catechetics, after which she assumed the role of director of adult formation for the Diocese of Nashville, along with being a member of the National Advisory Council for the USCCB.

Deacon Sabatino Carnazzo earned his B.A. in theology from Christendom in 2004, and his M.A. in systematic theology in 2008 from the college’s graduate school. In 2009, Deacon Sabatino founded the Institute of Catholic Culture, a non-profit Catholic adult faith formation organization dedicated to the Church’s call for a new evangelization, and has since served as its Executive Director. Ordained to the diaconate in 2011, he also serves as the Director of Faith Formation for the Greek Catholic Diocese of Newton, Massachusetts.

After graduating from Christendom in 2005 with a B.A. in philosophy, James Blankenship initially worked as the VP of Operations for Priority Legal Services, Inc., managing a legal service company that provided services in Northern Virginia. After nearly five years there, Blankenship became the coordinator of religious education at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, Va., moving to the position of director of religious education in 2013. Blankenship is now the director of religious education at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Purcellville, Va., helping over 1,500 families grow closer to the Faith each year.

Students, alumni, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend this, and all, “Life on Tap” networking events. Due to its popularity, all are encouraged to arrive early as well.

For more information on “Life on Tap,” please visit here.