quinas A C s o a l Thomas Aquinas College Newsletter m l e o g h e T Spring 2010 C 1 al 7 if 19 Volume 38, Issue 2 ornia - A Summons to Service Dr. Michael F. McLean Inaugurated as Fourth President of Thomas Aquinas College ore than 650 faculty, staff, students, alumni, Next, the College’s two surviving former presi- and friends of Thomas Aquinas College dents, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur and Mr. Peter L. gatheredM in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity DeLuca, who were standing at the lectern in the Chapel on Saturday, February 13, as the College sanctuary, called forth Dr. McLean from among inaugurated Dr. Michael F. McLean as its fourth the faculty seated in the Chapel’s front pews. This president. act of summoning a presidential successor signified To ask for God’s blessing and to thank Him for Thomas Aquinas College’s unique requirement that the abundant graces He has poured out on the Col- its president be drawn not from outside the College lege, the day began with a Mass of the Holy Spirit. but from the senior teaching faculty — that is, edu- The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger cators who have dedicated their professional lives Mahony, served as the principal celebrant and hom- to the service of the College and its mission. ilist, joined at the altar by the Most Rev. Thomas J. The calling forth also bore witness to the conti- Curry, regional auxiliary bishop, and some 20 con- nuity of purpose that has united the College’s presi- celebrating priests robed in red vestments. dents through nearly four decades. The absence of After the Mass and a short break, during which the College’s second president, Dr. Dillon, was at the Blessed Sacrament was reposed to the Chapel’s sacristy, the guests returned for this moment palpable. Yet the presence of his loving family, seated in the nave of the the Installation Ceremony. Leading the way were representatives of more than a dozen Chapel that he labored to bring into existence, provided a consoling reminder of Dr. colleges, universities, and educational organizations; a procession of the College’s fac- Dillon’s vital role in both the past and future of Thomas Aquinas College. ulty; and members of the Board of Governors. This diverse assemblage of educators — wearing the colorful regalia of their respective alma maters — personified Dr. McLean’s Assuming the Office description of the event as “an occasion to celebrate the aspirations and achievements hen Dr. McLean arrived in the sanctuary, Mr. R. James Wensley, chairman of the of Thomas Aquinas College and to honor all of those who devote themselves to the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors, invested him with the Chain of cause of Catholic liberal education.” Office,W the silver livery collar worn by the College’s presidents at academic functions. “You are charged this day,” Mr. Wensley declared, “with sustaining the life, directing the Calling Forth a New President affairs, and upholding the integrity of Thomas Aquinas College.” he ceremony opened with an invocation from College Chaplain Rev. Cornelius As his first act after being invested as president, Dr. McLean took the Oath of Fidel- Buckley, S.J., and words of welcome from Dr. Brian T. Kelly, the College’s new ity and made the Profession of Faith. He then delivered his inaugural response. “Help- dean.T Following were public greetings from officials representing four academic insti- ing our students acquire the intellectual and moral virtues, increasing their knowledge tutions with which the College has an especially profound relationship: St. Mary’s Col- and love of God, and fitting them for lives of service … is the work of Thomas Aquinas lege of California, where all four Thomas Aquinas College presidents received their College,” the new president proclaimed. undergraduate education; the University of Notre Dame, where late president Dr. “Of the importance of this work there can More on the Inauguration Thomas E. Dillon, Dr. McLean, and numerous graduates and tutors did their doctoral be no doubt, especially in a world where of Michael F. McLean work; St. John’s College, which served as an exemplar for the College’s classical curricu- so many have abandoned the pursuit of Dr. McLean’s Inaugural Address ................p. 2 lum; and the Catholic University of America, where many of the College’s alumni and truth … a world very much in need of the tutors have pursued graduate studies. light and love of Christ.” Other speeches, photos .............................pp. 6-7 Alumni Update Dr. John R. Mortensen (’97) Awarded Prize of the Pontifical Academies ince His Holiness Pope John Paul II first introduced torate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of the the Prize of the Pontifical Academies in 1997, only Holy Cross. fiveS scholars worldwide have received the honor. Of As a Pontifical Academies Prize winner, Dr. those, only two have come from North America — and Mortensen joins a select group that includes fellow both are alumni of Thomas Aquinas College. Thomas Aquinas College graduate Pia de Solenni (’93). At a January 27 conference of the Pontifical Acad- In 2001, Dr. de Solenni was the first-ever recipient of the emy of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Pontifical Theologi- honor for her study of various feminist theories in light cal Academy, His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, of St. Thomas’ anthropology and theology. S.D.B., Secretary of the Vatican Secretariat of State, pre- sented this prestigious award to Dr. John R. Mortensen, L’Osservatore Romano Signs of the New Springtime a graduate of the Thomas Aquinas College Class of 1997. Dr. Mortensen describes his work as beginning with pon receiving the award, Dr. Mortensen gave a The following day, the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, His “taking a very small part of the question of analogy in brief speech in which he extolled the resurgence Holiness Pope Benedict XVI granted an audience to the Aquinas: Does Aquinas treat analogy as a thing of logic ofU Thomistic scholarship, evident at Thomas Aquinas Pontifical Academies in the Sala Clementina, which Dr. or a thing of metaphysics? Is Thomas talking about the College as well as at the various new colleges following Mortensen and his family were invited to attend. After analogy of being or the analogy of names?” The research, its lead, including Wyoming Catholic. “At the end of the the Holy Father delivered an address about St. Thomas, he adds, consisted of “going through all of the texts 20th century, John Paul II promised a new springtime he greeted the Mortensens and blessed their four chil- where St. Thomas uses the word ‘analogy’ and analyz- would visit the Church,” Dr. Mortensen said. “The effects dren. ing them to show that most of the time he uses the word of this springtime are increasingly visible in the United to speak about the analogy of names.” From there, the States, in many new schools that aim to teach faithful Significant Contribution to Religious Studies dissertation examines “how we think about God using Catholic theology and philosophy. It is a mark of the ccording to the Vatican, “the Prize of the Pontifical analogy; how God can be somehow first in the mind as new springtime that students and researchers are drawn Academies is awarded periodically to a person — a well as first in reality. ” to return to the original writings of St. Thomas Aquinas youngA artist or academic — or an institution whose re- An associate professor of theology and philoso- in order to lay a solid foundation for their work.” search, work, or activity contributes significantly to the phy at Wyoming Catholic College, Dr. Mortensen was Dr. Mortensen is using his Pontifical Academies development of religious studies, Christian humanism, previously an assistant professor at the International Prize stipend to take a one-semester leave of absence and its artistic expressions.” In Dr. Mortensen’s case, he Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria. For five years, from Wyoming Catholic College, during which he is received the honor “in recognition of his outstanding he taught philosophy and theology at the ITI, during working on a second doctorate, this one in theology from work” on his doctoral dissertation, Understanding St. which time he also served as director of finance and then the University of Freiburg, on the mystery of “caused Thomas on Analogy. as vice president of administration. He earned his doc- freedom.” He will resume teaching in the fall. To Celebrate the Mission of Thomas Aquinas College The Inaugural Address of President Michael F. McLean ardinal Mahony, Bishop Curry, books, the books which best enable us Reverend Fathers, members of to address the difficult questions we all theC College community, representa- must confront, the books which speak tives of academic institutions, dear to our deepest yearnings, touch our family and friends: most profound tribulations, and cel- I am filled with gratitude as I, with ebrate our greatest joys. my wife, Lynda, as my helpmate, as- Finally, classes here typically in- sume the office of president of Thom- volve lively conversation and serious as Aquinas College. I am grateful to the engagement with the thoughts of oth- faculty and to the Board of Governors ers, helping our students acquire the for their confidence in me and for the intellectual and moral virtues, increas- careful and deliberate way in which the ing their knowledge and love of God, presidential selection process was con- and fitting them for lives of service to ducted. I am grateful to the Board, fac- Church, country, and community, no ulty, staff, students, alumni, and friends matter what vocations or professions of the College for their expressions of they choose to pursue.