RECENT NEWS

From Tuesday, August 19th, through Sunday, August 24th, 16 new seminarians experienced life here at TC, presented in a nutshell. Orientation 2014 and the year-opening celebrations offered a chockfull schedule: prayer, relaxation, and getting to know the people at TC and the beautiful campus at CUA as well as some of the memorable sites in the area. The Mass and dinner celebration at week’s end was a joyful beginning of a new academic and formation year for all at Theological College.

Sixteen Theological College graduates were ordained priests recently in a dozen dioceses across the country. TC’s staff and formators congratulate them and their bishops and rejoice in union with their Catholic University professors and advisors for their fruitful time of education and growth in Washington, DC.

Following their three brothers from the Diocese of Spokane ordained to the transitional deaconate in February, 15 more Theological College seminarians have made the passage from the lay to the clerical state this summer, publicly professing their promises to obedience, celibacy, and prayer during this most solemn rite celebrated with TC seminarians in 10 different dioceses across the country.

Theological College warmly congratulates Bishop Michael Olson (TC Basselin Class of 1989) on his appointment as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, and Bishop Mitchell Rozanski (TC Class of 1984) on his appointment as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts. Our prayers join them on their new paths of service to the faithful of these dioceses.

Ten Basselin Fellow seminarians have left the halls of Theological College with new distinction as graduates of Catholic University’s august School of Philosophy. While the three Bachelor’s of Philosophy graduates will return to TC and CUA in the Fall for their master’s-level licentiate, the five Ph.L. Spring semester graduates and two Ph.L. Summer semester graduates will move on to other universities where their various dioceses have sent them to continue their theological studies before ordination.

On May 2nd, the last day of classes for the 2013-14 academic year, Theological College hosted its annual year-end Mass and dinner party. Formation faculty and TC staff celebrated with the seminarians in gratitude for the fruits of a productive year drawing to a close, and for all the as-yet unknown blessings in the year to come.

As part of the celebrations surrounding the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, in April Theological College loaned two recently completed portraits of the pontiffs to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to be displayed into September. The two portraits are the work of Fr. Peter Gray, P.S.S., a Sulpician priest and artist. The paintings serve as the central point of the Basilica’s exhibition honoring the lives and pontificates of the two Popes. The portraits have been used for holy cards issued by Theological College commemorating the canonizations.

A lively and curious group of seminarians embarked on a pilgrimage to Southern Maryland to visit three historic churches in this area that hosted one of the country’s first Catholic colonies in the 17th century. One of the pilgrims, Colin Davis, reports enthusiastically, “In sum, the day was one of stupendous weather and steeped in American Catholic history, imbued with a good measure of community spirit among the seminarians and two priests on pilgrimage. A fine outing, indeed!”

The Spring House Party is always a good time to unwind before the hectic period of final exams. The steak cook-off, corn hole tournament, poker tournament, and homemade sangria were the highlights of this year’s event. The Community Life Committee teamed up with the Hispanic Affairs Committee to put together this year’s celebration.

The Student Government Association at Theological College meets every month during the academic year, in the presence of the rector or his delegate, to report on community happenings, to collaborate on how the community might better engage in the activities of formations, to address outstanding concerns, and to discuss budgetary issues.