Christendom College President Dr. Timothy O’Donnell welcomed students back to campus for the spring 2023 semester with his opening address on Monday, January 16, encouraging them to draw strength and inspiration from the life of the late Pope Benedict XVI.
“Let us all draw strength from the faith of Pope Benedict,” said O’Donnell. “My hope for this semester is that we enter this new year with a childlike wonder and enthusiasm. My fellow faculty members, what a privileged path we have set before us that we can teach here fully and freely. My fellow staff members, what wondrous things we can do now in service to others. My dear students, you can actually enter in and study the highest things here. You can be noble. You can come to know deeply who you are and what God expects you to do. Let us do that together, and together we’re going to have a great semester.”
In his address, O’Donnell reflected on the life of the recently deceased Pope Benedict XVI, who shared a close relationship to the college. O’Donnell especially highlighted Pope Benedict’s 2008 address to Catholic college presidents at the Catholic University of America, where he stated that education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. O’Donnell called on the college community to take Pope Benedict’s words to heart, particularly during this forty-fifth anniversary year.
In his address, O’Donnell reflected on the life of the recently deceased Pope Benedict XVI, who shared a close relationship to the college. Here, Dr. O’Donnell presents Pope Benedict with a spiritual bouquet from the Christendom community.
“Pope Benedict said that a university’s Catholic identity is not found in just the number of Catholic students,” said O’Donnell. “Rather, the Catholic identity of a school is really a question of conviction. Do we really believe? Are we ready to commit our entire self, intellect, will, mind, and heart to God? Do we accept the truth Christ reveals? Is the faith tangible in our universities and schools? Is the faith given fervent expression liturgically and sacramentally? I submit, as a challenge for all of us this forty-fifth year, to really take these words to heart.”
Before delivering his address, O’Donnell made important announcements for the spring semester, including a new record spring enrollment of 522 students. In a higher education landscape where many colleges and universities have been unable to achieve their recruitment goals, Christendom is continuing to receive enormous interest.
Thanks to the hard work of the college’s Admissions Team, student enrollment has increased by 40% since 2013, with a record number of applications already submitted for the fall of 2023. The Admissions Office is already anticipating a long waiting list again for the fall, encouraging interested students to apply as soon possible for admittance.
In addition to this news, O’Donnell also announced updates on the construction of the college’s new Christ the King Chapel. The college’s original Stations of the Cross from the current chapel have been removed to be renewed, restored, and installed in the new chapel, with over a dozen more stained-glass windows expected to be installed this month as well. The wood floors are nearly complete, with decorative woodwork beginning soon on the confessionals. At the end of this month, the new, exquisite organ will also be installed, with tuning of the pipes beginning soon after.
O’Donnell announced that the new chapel will be dedicated over the weekend of April 14-16, with three days of celebrations planned to commemorate this historic moment for the college.
O’Donnell further announced the exciting news that the new chapel will be dedicated over the weekend of April 14-16, with three days of celebrations planned to commemorate this historic moment for the college. The weekend will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 14, followed by a blessing of the new Piazza of Christ the King that evening from Francis Cardinal Arinze. He will also lead Solemn Vespers in the chapel, followed by a special VIP reception.
On Saturday, the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington will dedicate the new chapel, with Cardinal Arinze presiding over the Mass of Dedication. Following the Mass, the college will host its forty-fifth anniversary gala in a large tent nearby, with a forty-fifth anniversary fireworks display commemorating the special occasion. The Mass of Dedication and the gala will be invite-only to host and thank the many benefactors who supported the construction of the chapel, but the Mass will also be broadcast live on EWTN for all those who would like to watch it.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, the first Mass for the entire Christendom community will be celebrated in the chapel, with Cardinal Arinze celebrating the Mass. That evening, another reception will be held for students, faculty, and staff, closing the weekend with one final celebration.
O’Donnell also announced one new hire for the spring semester, with recent alumna Zoe Frisch returning to serve as the college’s new Academic Success Coach, bolstering the college’s academic support services. The college’s Career and Professional Development Department will also host several events this spring, including Life on Tap alumni networking events, life skills workshops, visits from a variety of religious orders, and more.
For more information on the Christ the King Chapel project, visit chapel.christendom.edu.