quinas A C s o a l Thomas Aquinas College Newsletter m l e o g h e T Fall 2016 C 1 al 7 if 19 Volume 44, Issue 4 ornia - “You Have Come to a Great Place” Bishop Robert Barron Welcomes Freshmen at Convocation 2016 homas Aquinas College marked the beginning of comed its newest tutors: Blaise Blain, Vincent DeMeo, Tits 46th academic year on August 22, and on hand Joseph Haggarty, and Drew Rosato. With Fr. Paul lead- to greet the 102 new freshmen was the College’s newly ing them, the four scholars made the Profession of Faith installed regional bishop, the Most Rev. Robert Barron. and Oath of Fidelity, as do all new Catholic members of “It is my privilege to welcome the incoming Freshman the College’s teaching faculty. Dr. McLean then formally Class at Thomas Aquinas College, one of the premier welcomed the freshmen in his Matriculation Address, liberal arts colleges in the country and the pride and joy in which he stressed the importance of natural science of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region,” His Excellency in the College’s classical curriculum, so as “to satisfy remarked. “You have come to a great place — and to a the wonder that is essential to our human nature” and pivotal moment in your lives. For the next four years, you to become better acquainted “with its place among the will have the opportunity to immerse yourselves in the other disciplines.” (See page 2.) best minds that the Western World has produced: Plato, President McLean then introduced Bishop Bar- Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Thomas ron, noting that His Excellency discovered the works of Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Dante, Newton, Lincoln, and Ein- St. Thomas Aquinas during his freshman year in high stein — among many others.” (See page 9.) school, and this discovery ultimately inspired him to Convocation Day began with a morning Mass of the devote his life to God as a priest. “This is one of the very Holy Spirit in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Cha- reasons for the College’s existence — for the minds and pel, at which Bishop Barron served as the principal cele- souls of young people to be transformed by the truth, brant and homilist. His Excellency, clad in red vestments, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has been now entrusted especially as it finds its most complete explication in was joined at the altar by the College’s four chaplains: to us,” he said. “That is why you are here at an institution the writings of the Angelic Doctor,” said Dr. McLean. Rev. Paul Raftery, O.P.; Rev. Cornelius M. Buckley, S.J.; like this, so that you can learn this lively conversation, so “Bishop Barron understands well the vital importance of Rev. David Gonzalez, O. Praem.; and Rev. Robert Mar- as to enter into it for our time.” (See page 3.) the work you are about to undertake here at the College, czewski. Following the clergy as they processed into the After the Mass, students, faculty, and staff convened and the power this unique education will give you to help Chapel were members of the College’s Board of Gover- in St. Joseph Commons for the Matriculation ceremony. transform our culture.” nors and faculty, dressed in academic regalia. There, members of the Class of 2020 — who hail from In his own remarks to members of the Class of 2020, The founder of the Word on Fire media ministry and 5 countries and 30 states — officially began their tenure the Bishop encouraged the freshmen as they commenced the host of its award-winning Catholicism documentary as students when Director of Admissions Jon Daly called “a study of the great minds of the West.” For the next four series, Bishop Baron delivered a homily in which he lik- their names. Each approached the dais, greeting Presi- years, he told them, “you will set aside mere practicality, ened the development of Christian doctrine to a cen- dent Michael F. McLean and Bishop Barron, and then clothe yourselves in regal gowns, and become partici- turies-long dialogue, directed by the Holy Spirit. “This signed the College’s registry. pants, however humble, in the most stimulating conver- great conversation, this great unfolding of truth under In addition to the new students, the College wel- sation of all.” A Special Intercessor and Patron College Celebrates Canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta hen His Holiness Pope Francis were in place to assure the Albanian nun’s in St. Bernardine of Siena Library. On Wcanonized St. Teresa of Calcutta safety, she seemed unaware of it all, focus- the morning of her canonization, how- on September 4, the occasion was met ing instead on the 22 graduates of the ever, it was briefly moved into Our Lady with joy and celebration on the campus Class of 1982 and the message she wished of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, where, of Thomas Aquinas College, some 6,000 to deliver to them. after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, Head Chaplain miles away. Noting, as she often did, that the pov- Rev. Paul Raftery, O.P., bestowed on it a The College has long maintained a erty afflicting the U.S. is not material, special blessing. special devotion to this widely beloved but spiritual, in nature, St. Teresa urged That afternoon in St. Joseph Com- saint, who served as its Commencement students to be generous with their abun- mons the College showed a video of St. Speaker in 1982. “When Mother Teresa dant spiritual gifts. “Your parents, your Teresa’s 1982 Commencement Address, visited us nearly 35 years ago, there was lit- relations, your friends, even the whole as well as a video of her remarks at the tle doubt that we were in the presence of a world, is expecting that you be … the 1994 National Prayer Breakfast, during future saint,” reflects President Michael F. light that Jesus said: ‘I am the light that which she gave an eloquent defense of the McLean. “What a blessing it is that we can you must light; I am the truth you must unborn — “the poorest of the poor” in an now call upon Saint Teresa of Calcutta as speak; I am the joy that you must share; otherwise prosperous nation. a special intercessor and patron.” I am the life that you must lead; I am the In the following days the College pre- “She was just so full of joy,” observes love that you must love.’ Go with that — sented to all of its students and employees A Blessed Visit Director of College Relations Anne S. the joy of loving.” Later in the day she also Miraculous Medals that had been blessed While touring the United States in Forsyth. “I remember holding her hand took questions at an on-campus press and placed on St. Teresa’s tomb. These 1982, St. Teresa visited just three college just briefly. Her hands were very cold but conference. (Videos of both St. Teresa’s third-class relics were the gift of an alumna campuses: Harvard University, George- they were very expressive — lined and Commencement Address and press con- of the College, Sr. Marcella, M.C. (Maggie town University, and — at the request of smooth at the same time.” ference are available at thomasaquinas. Isaacson ’86), who knew and worked with her friend Servant of God John Hardon, While delivering her Commencement edu/st-teresa.) St. Teresa as a member of her religious S.J. — Thomas Aquinas College. In addi- Address, St. Teresa never stopped finger- “It was a singular privilege to have order, the Missionaries of Charity. tion to giving that year’s Commencement ing the Rosary beads that she held on among us this ‘Saint of the Gutters,’” “We rejoice at the canonization of Address, she, like Fr. Hardon before her, the podium. Flanked by College faculty recalls Dr. McLean. “The warmth of St. Teresa of Calcutta,” says Dr. McLean. received the College’s highest honor, the and members of the Board of Governors, her smile touched the hearts of all who “We pray that the Church’s new saint will Saint Thomas Aquinas Medallion. She she wore only her simple white and blue encountered her.” intercede for the College and its many spent the night in the Doheny Hacienda, sari and a plain gray sweater (against the friends in all their needs.” where it was discovered, upon her depar- “cool” — by Indian standards — South- Celebrating the Canonization St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us! ture, that her bed had been untouched; ern California day). Though extreme A bronze bust of St. Teresa, commem- presumably she had slept on the floor. security measures, weeks in the planning, orating her visit, is prominently displayed From the Desk of the President Admiration for the Beauty, Order, and Simplicity of God’s Handiwork Note: Dr. Michael F. McLean presented the astronomy, moreover, is a reaction to Ptol- refuted central claims of the Catholic following address at Matriculation 2016. emy and cannot be understood without faith, or otherwise rendered our belief in some grasp of the Ptolemaic system. To them unreasonable. Well-educated Cath- elcome to our incoming fresh- make a long story short, natural science is olics should not be subject to this danger. Wmen and to all of our returning worth pursuing even if it does not contain “A specific part of a Catholic university’s students. the fullness of truth or the certitude of the task,” said Pope St. John Paul II in Ex I will begin with a quotation from the strictly demonstrative sciences.