Br. Linus Mary Martz, O.P. (’18), will be ordained to the priesthood this week on June 5 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. A Dominican friar, Br. Martz will become Christendom College’s 110th alumnus priest upon his ordination.
Br. Martz studied philosophy at Christendom, where he served as valedictorian of his class and helped found the Crusader Chamber Orchestra. He was first drawn to the Dominican Order after learning about its rich history and meeting friars both in nearby Washington, D.C., and during his time studying abroad in Rome with Christendom. His college experience — particularly the close-knit community and the accessibility of the professors — had a significant impact on his decision to pursue religious life, with Br. Martz entering the Order of Preachers soon after graduating in 2018.
Since then, Br. Martz has been preparing diligently for the priesthood. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate last year and had the special opportunity to serve as deacon at the first profession of his classmate, Sr. Maria Julia of the Eucharist (Becky Derks ’18), with the Dominicans this past August.
Over the past nearly 50 years, Christendom has been blessed with many religious vocations among its alumni. While the college was founded to form lay leaders who would go on to impact all areas of society, its faithful Catholic liberal arts education has also helped numerous students discern religious vocations.
In total, Christendom alumni include 109 priests, 52 sisters, 5 brothers, 2 transitional deacons, 1 permanent deacon, 2 consecrated virgins, and 10 men currently studying for the priesthood. Additionally, the college has seen 613 alumna-to-alumnus marriages.