Christendom College celebrated its forty-fifth commencement on May 11, awarding one hundred and twenty-five undergraduate degrees to the Class of 2024. Professor Tracey Rowland, the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology for the University of Notre Dame Australia, delivered this year’s Commencement Address and was given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, while Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military Services was awarded the college’s Pro Deo et Patria Award for Service to God and Country.
Professor Tracey Rowland, the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology for the University of Notre Dame Australia, delivered this year’s Commencement Address and was given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Rowland began her Commencement Address by praising the graduates for choosing to undertake the great adventure of a Christendom education, rather than be limited by the secular worldview found throughout much of the world today.
“Since you are now graduates of Christendom College, this means that you are not the kind of people whose cultural horizons are limited by whatever is fashionable in Hollywood,” said Rowland. “You will understand that a Catholic culture is built upon truth and goodness and beauty, not woke ideology, virtue signaling, self-promotion, or narcissistic glamor. The late Father Benedict Groeschel argued that each of us tends to have a primary attraction to one of the three transcendental properties of being. For some people, it is truth, for others, goodness, and for others, beauty. We should aspire to be interested in all three.”
Rowland spoke at length about the issues currently facing the world, comparing them to those found in the Fifth Century. Rather than be discouraged by the darkness, Rowland claimed that graduates have been well equipped to not only make a difference in today’s world but be well prepared for life in the next as well.
“When I asked myself the question, why did Christ not complete the defeat of Lucifer on the cross, why did He leave us with a certain amount of fighting still to be done? The only answer I can give is that He wants us to enjoy friendship with Him in heaven, and this would not be possible if we had not played at least a small role in the battle,” said Rowland. “I think that Christ is allowing us to do some of the mopping up work so that when we meet Him in Heaven, we can meet as fellow veterans…So, my final piece of advice is to hold firm to the faith of Christian centuries. Don’t be intimidated and make lots of friends along the way. They will be standing with you shoulder to shoulder in the battles that lie ahead.”
Before Rowland’s Commencement Address, Archbishop Broglio delivered remarks to the Class of 2024 as well, encouraging them to go out and restore the world in Christ.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of the Military Services was awarded the college’s Pro Deo et Patria Award for Service to God and Country.
“You have heard the sound of the great classics, the unchangeable moral virtues, and the Gospel mandate,” said Archbishop Broglio. “You have worshiped in a magnificent church. Reassure us about the future. Do not waste time whining about the state of the world. Go out and make a difference. You have the keys to greatness. You have been taught how to think…The world is waiting for you. Congratulations and God bless you always.”
On Friday, May 10, the college was also honored to have the Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge join the graduates for the Graduation Dinner. During his address, Bishop Burbidge especially praised College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, who is retiring from the college presidency at the end of June after over 30 years of service.
The Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge joined the graduates for the Graduation Dinner.
“Dr. O’Donnell, thank you for your many years of service to this college,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Your reputation in the Church in the United States is very well known. Upon arriving here in the Diocese of Arlington, I knew immediately what a treasure this diocese has in Christendom College. Dr. O’Donnell, you have built upon this tremendous foundation given to you, and you have brought this college to where we are today, and we have a bright and promising future because of you. We will honor you by building upon the great work you have done here.”
On Saturday, O’Donnell closed this year’s Commencement Ceremonies with his final charge ever to a graduating class. O’Donnell encouraged the graduates to not give into the relativism that pervades the world today, but instead to “waste their lives” for Christ in the years ahead.
College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell was honored during this year’s Commencement Ceremonies for his over 30 years of service to the college.
“My charge to you this day as you go forth from us here at Christendom College is to have the courage and the vision to waste your life,” said O’Donnell. “Waste your life for the sake of those God will place in your life. Waste your life, for He came that we may have life and have it to the full. If you lose your life for Him and with His grace, if you lose your life and waste it, you will come to know who you are and what God expects you to be. And that, my dear students, is happiness in this life and that’s also happiness in the next life. So, my dear students, please know that our hearts and our prayers will be with you as you go forth from us today. And I encourage you once more: waste your life. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever.”
One hundred and twenty-five bachelor of arts degrees were awarded to the members of the Class of 2024, tying a college record.
One hundred and twenty-five bachelor of arts degrees were awarded to the members of the Class of 2024 — tying a college record — including: Isabel Abernathy, Anthony Accurso, Audrey Altmanshofer, Rebecca Anderson, Nathaniel Andres, Dominic Asan, Michael Belleville, Peter Boyne, Patrick Brezinsky, Joseph Burns, Bayley Byers, Alejandra Carlo, Patricia Carlo, Ambrose Cavalier, Mark Cermak, Halyna Charba, Anne Chavez, Dominic Clark, Samia Clerico, Amelia Coleman, Grace Collins, William Connor, Mary Coyne, Christian Dauchess, Madeline Davis, Jonathan De Los Reyes, Peter Dean, Doris Dewey, Dominic Di Falco, Roarke Dooney, Zachariah Durgin, Theresa Dwane, Laurel Eckenrode, Mary Eidem, Peter Ethridge, Alexander Evans, Amanda Evans, Kevin Farley, Margaret Fleischer, Maria Francis, Amelie Garnand, Madeline Gecosky, Rachel Grande, Elaine Gunthorpe, Morgan Harrison, Erin Hatley, Andrew Heisler, Sarah Hicks, Mary Anne Holler, Mary Clare Jamieson, Elizabeth Jensen, Michael Katreeb, Elizabeth Kaufman, Maria Kelly, John Kennedy, Georgius Korban, Samuel Kristine, Elizabeth Kuss, Keaton Leach, Benjamin Leiching, John Paul Luvera, Joanne Marra, Karla Arellano, Christopher Mathias, Mary Mattus, Alexander McDonald, Cecilia McFadden, Travis McFaden, Catherine McLaughlin, Andrew Mead, Megan Meehan, Madalyn Messier, Katharine Michael, Anna Milinovich, Peter Miller, Aidan Moorehouse, Sarah Morales, Monica Nachtegall, Margaret Nussio, Aidan Oakley, Daniel O’Hara, Philip O’Herron, Megan Okula, Gabrielle Olmstead, Veronica Pegis, Rita Penny, Rachel Piazza, Joseph Piroch, Clara Raabe, Giovanni Riguera-Petta, Christina Rodriguez, Mary Russo, Nicholas Schau, Samuel Schirra, Catherine Schmidt, Clare Sebestyen, Paul Sheedy, Laura Sigler, Maria Simon, Stephen Simpson, Elizabeth Speer, Liliana Speier, Anna Stachyra, Anna Staggenborg, Viginia Stahl, Anna Stein, Thomas Sullivan, Mary Swerda, Regina Swope, Kathleen Thomas, Gabriella Trause, John Paul Vander Woude, Faustina Whittaker, Anna Williams, Clare Williams, Peter Williams, Margaret Williamson, Andrew Willson, Nicholas Wilson, Hugh Wingate, Julia Wojtkun, William Wolfe III, Faith Woods, Samuel Wright, and Thomas Yee.
The college also awarded one Associate of Arts degree to Amelia Howell.
To view this year’s Salutatory Address, click here.
To view this year’s Valedictory Address, click here.
To view this year’s Pro Deo et Patria Award Remarks, click here.
To view this year’s Commencement Address, click here.
To view this year’s Charge to the Graduates, click here.
To view this year’s Student Achievement Award, click here.
All photos from Commencement 2024 are available for download here.