Christendom College celebrated its 47th commencement on May 16, awarding 112 Bachelor of Arts degrees to the Class of 2026. Anne Carroll, founder of Seton School, Seton Home Study, and wife of late Christendom College founder Dr. Warren Carroll, delivered this year’s Commencement Address and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Catholic faith, culture, and public life.
Carroll, who has shaped generations of students over her 50-year career in education, reflected on pivotal moments of crisis in Church history during her address, including the reign of King Henry VIII and the landmark Land o’ Lakes Statement of 1967 that directly led to Christendom’s founding. Through these stories, Carroll emphasized that while darkness has repeatedly emerged throughout history, hope has risen in response to it time and time again — proof that one man or one woman can make a difference for the better.
“During all the historical times when the church was beleaguered, ordinary people were keeping the faith, remaining faithful to the Church when the wealthy and the powerful, the influencers, were going in the opposite direction,” said Carroll. “That faithfulness is a different kind of heroism, but in some ways even more important because it is possible for everyone. That is where you come in.”
Carroll, who is the author of the widely read Christ the King, Lord of History, closed her address by turning from the past to the future, offering hope for the future of Christendom and the rest of the Church.
“Though predictions are risky, I will now make one. 110 years after that dark year of 1967, what will we see? Christendom will be preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and God willing, most of you will be here to celebrate it, and some of your descendants will be sitting where you are now,” concluded Carroll. “The college will have faced new and even frightening challenges, but God will certainly provide the graces to surmount them, and those of us who have finished the race will be looking on from Heaven, or maybe Purgatory. and singing with all of you who will be celebrating on Earth.”
Bishop Michael Burbidge returned to campus once again to celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2026.
On Friday, May 15, the college was honored to also welcome Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington back to campus, who celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass and joined graduates for the Graduation Dinner. Bishop Burbidge encouraged the Class of 2026 to take all they have learned at Christendom out into the world, being courageous witnesses for the Faith.
“Please know how proud I am of you. You earned this diploma from a college that excels in rigorous academics, and for you to receive a diploma from this college is a reflection of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice. Do not take this lightly. Be proud of what you have accomplished,” said Bishop Burbidge, “My friends, it will take courage. You have the truth. Wherever God sends you, it will take courage. You will meet opposition and rejection, but the Lord says do not be afraid. Go forth and be the courageous witnesses the Lord asks you to be.”
College President George A. Harne, Ph.D., with his son, Elliot, who graduated during the college’s 2026 Commencement Ceremonies.
On Saturday, College President George A. Harne, Ph.D., concluded the Commencement Ceremonies with his charge to the Christendom graduating class. Dr. Harne urged the graduates to take all they have learned at the college and share it with others, playing their part in the college’s mission to “restore all things in Christ.”
“My charge, graduating Class of 2026, is this,” said Dr. Harne. “Never forget what it means to be human, with all of its metaphysical and eternal implications. Never forget the gifts that you have received from your family and teachers and respond to them with grace and gratitude. And be courageous and heroic in communicating to others the transformative fruits of your own contemplation. Please know that our hearts and our prayers will be with you as you go forth from us today. And may Christ the King bring us all together again, united in the Beatific Vision, to see the love that moves the sun and the other stars.”
112 Bachelor of Arts degrees were awarded to the following graduates: Vincent Altmanshofer, Joseph Anderson, Isabel Marie Auclair, Juliana Beckman, Thérèse Brons, Emma Brox, Paige Byers, Thomas Cahill, Michaela Catabui, Margaret Catalano, Rachel Cermak, Julia Christie, Bernadette Ciresi, Madeleine Clark, James Coffey, Thomas Cole, Mary Corcoran, Chloe Costello, Regina Cousino, Sofia Cummings, Rita Cunningham, Joseph Curran, Ethan Czerwinski, Chase Daugherty, Sarah Davis, Lia DeFelice, Daniel Di Falco, Liam Formisano, Nicholas Garcia, Tess Ginty, Alexander Girata, Maria Gjolberg, Rebecca Hahn, Madeleine Hain, Clare Haller, Alexander Hamernik, John Hand, George Harne, Ethan Harrison, John Healey, Penelope Hepler, John Hill, Anna Hsu, Thomas Humm, Alanna Hyatt, Jessica Johnston, Michaela Johnston, Patricia Jung, Nathaniel Klucinec, Charles Koach, Martin Kopeck, Leo Kouatly, Magdalain Kranz, Madeleine La Fave, Mary Landry, Thomas Layman, Megan Lovar, Beatriz Madan, Niall Maguire, Michael Mensch, Leah Mergener, Michael Messing, Andre Morales, Luke Noble, Benjamin O’Brien, Michael O’Hara, Julian Olmstead, Ian Pilon, Anastasia Piroch, Anthony Pueyo, William Reese, Isabella Rodriguez, Matthew Rodriguez, Luke Roman, Luke Rozmajzl, Felicity Schmidt, Elizabeth Scott, Evan Seelig, Daniel Shea, Mary Kathryn Sheba, Nathaniel Sheedy, Sophie Simpson, Isabella Siwko, Charles Smith, Andrew Stauffer, Amelia Suer, Peter Sullivan, Therese Sullivan, John Taraba, Lewis Thornberry, John Torkelson, Elizabeth Trause, Cody Tucker, Benjamin Tutwiler, Abram Urbanski, Robert Vander Woude, Lydia Ward, Kenton Wassum, Fiona Weichert, Ryan Welch, Lillian Whitfield, Eamon Wick, Lucy Wingate, Mary Wingate, Clare Witter, Charles Wyckoff, Luther Young, Peter Young, Sophia Zamoyta, and Margaret Zuberbueler.
Two Associate of Arts degrees were also awarded to Adrian Farrall and Anna McFadden.
Christendom’s Class of 2026.
To view this year’s Salutatory Address, click here.
To view this year’s Valedictory Address, 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 Baccalaureate Mass Homily, click here.
To view this year’s Commencement Recap, click here.
All photos from Commencement 2026 are available for download here.