At Christendom, students, faculty, and staff view benefactors as part of the Crusader family. Even donors who have never stepped foot on campus make a difference by enabling the college to teach the faith and form the next generation of Catholic leaders. Since the college does not take Federal funding – one of only a handful of colleges to take this stand – the donations given to the college to meet its budgetary and building needs are essential and much appreciated by everyone at the college.
In addition to praying for donors daily at the 11:30 Mass, students, faculty, and staff regularly pray for benefactors by name during the monthly all-night adoration event, which begins with a community-wide holy hour, referred to as Laudamus Te,, which are held on first Fridays. Before Laudamus Te begins, students pick up a holy hour card with the name of a benefactor on it, and they offer that holy hour for the individual benefactor, and pray for their intentions. After the formal holy hour concludes, there is adoration throughout the night, in which students keep vigil with our Lord, and continue to pray for benefactors.
This semester alone, the community has offered 452 holy hours for donors, with many more to be offered at this coming First Friday. This immense outpouring of prayer indicates the community’s deep appreciation for those who support Christendom financially.
“The holy hour program is one of the most satisfying aspects of my alumni and donor relations position,” stated Vince Criste. “Benefactors love and greatly appreciate a personal holy hour prayed by a student, faculty or staff member and have told us so in letters, emails, and personal conversations. Holy hours prayed for another are a unique and spiritually rich gift that shows that our college community lives its motto to ‘restore all things in Christ.’”