Christendom College began its forty-fifth anniversary year by welcoming a record-setting student body to campus over the weekend of August 19-21. In his opening address to begin the academic year, College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell announced this historic news and called on these students to strive in and outside the classroom to become saints.
“In this day and age, you are doing something heroic and something that is noble by pursuing this education,” said O’Donnell. “You are pursuing an arduous good that is designed with one purpose in mind: to help you to become free Catholic men and women of character. Ours is an education that seeks to consecrate the intellect and the will, and therefore the heart, to Jesus Christ. My dear students: study hard, pray hard, grow in your friendships, grow in virtue, and stay close to Him. Remember, as one great writer once said, the only real tragedy in life is not to become a saint. If we all strive together in all those areas, then we will have a great forty-fifth anniversary year.”
There are a total of 544 students enrolled this fall, with 388 returning students and 156 new students. Of the 156 new students, 143 are first-time freshmen, 7 are transfer students, and 6 are former students who chose to re-enroll at the college.
This year’s freshman class was one of the most competitive in the college’s history, with an average SAT score of 1270 and an average CLT score of 89. Hailing from 32 U.S. States, as well as from the United Kingdom, the class includes multiple high school valedictorians, a Cardinal Newman Society Essay Contest-winner, five National Merit Scholarship winners, and 80% of the class on academic scholarships.
In another new record for the college, 74% of the class attended the college’s Best Week Ever high school summer program — a testament to the impact of the program and to the efforts of the college’s Admissions Office. The team worked harder than ever this year to meet the ever-increasing demand for the college’s authentically Catholic liberal arts education, with the college even having to implement a waiting list for the second year in a row.
This increase in demand bucks the national enrollment trend at colleges and universities across the country, which have overall seen a sharp decline in enrollment over the past few years. During that time, Christendom has not only met its enrollment goal but surpassed it, ultimately leading to the largest enrollment in college history this year.
The Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the college community to begin the 2022-23 academic year.
The student body officially began the 2022-23 academic year this past Sunday morning, with the Diocese of Arlington’s Bishop Michael Burbidge celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the college community. During the Mass, the entire college’s faculty made an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in the presence of the bishop, as they have done every year since the college’s founding. Following the Mass, Bishop Burbidge thanked the community for inspiring him daily with their witness.
“Thank you for your gracious welcome,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Whenever I come onto your campus, I feel like I’m at home. I always leave here inspired and uplifted because this is a sacred place where learning takes place, ever faithful to our Church and our rich tradition. I am so inspired by you, my young friends, by your witness and your desire to grow by learning truth and wisdom so that you can be the ones bringing this Truth and faith to others. That is what, God willing, we are preparing you for. Know of my prayers for you.”
During his address to the student body, O’Donnell shared that the college had another strong year of fundraising, despite numerous challenges brought about due to the nation’s economy. In total, the college raised over $4 million for the annual fund, which helps pay for financial aid for students, from approximately 4,000 generous donors. In addition, the college received its largest gift in its history from the late Dr. John Ward, who gave the college over $5 million in his will for the college’s endowment, helping Christendom continue to not rely on any federal funding.
During the Mass, the entire college’s faculty made an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in the presence of the bishop, as they have done every year since the college’s founding.
O’Donnell further announced the college’s plans for its forty-fifth anniversary year. On September 17, the college will hold a special academic convocation where four esteemed guests, Dr. John Haas of the Catholic Bioethics Center, Dr. Marianne Mount of Catholic Distance University, Leonardo De Filipis of Saint Luke Productions, and Dr. John Bruchalski of the Tepeyac Center, will be honored for their incredible fidelity to the Catholic Church. Following the Convocation, there will be a special forty-fifth anniversary fireworks display.
From October 7-9, the college will welcome alumni back for a special forty-fifth anniversary Homecoming Weekend, with reunions planned for the classes of 1982, 1992, 2002, and 2012. In addition, a special forty-fifth anniversary Warren H. Carroll Alumni Dinner and Dance will be held for all alumni on Saturday evening, with a fireworks display planned for that evening as well.
Finally, the college will dedicate its new Christ the King Chapel on April 15, the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. A special celebration will be held that evening for the benefactors of the college, with the first Mass celebrated for the community the next day on Divine Mercy Sunday.
O’Donnell also announced other news during his address, including new additions to the college’s faculty and staff (read more here).
Significant improvements were made to campus buildings as well over the summer, including the addition of new offices and a conference room to the Madonna Hall tower, the refurbishment of St. Benedict and St. Columba men’s residence halls, and the resurfacing of the college’s tennis courts.
In exciting news, the college will also be launching new men’s and women’s crew teams soon, with the athletics department currently recruiting student-athletes and generous benefactors investing in the program, including for boats.
To conclude, O’Donnell announced that the college will be sending 37 students to Rome for the college’s Semester in Rome this fall, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year.