With its tenth record enrollment in as many years, Christendom College began its twenty-seventh academic year on August 24 with an opening Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated by His Excellency Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington.
Ten years ago, Christendom's enrollment was a mere 140 students. Today, with the 120 new students being added to the returning ones, the College's undergraduate student body is now at a remarkable 370. Additionally, Christendom's Notre Dame Graduate School, located in Alexandria, VA, reports enrollment of over 130 students this semester. Included in the 120 new faces on campus are a number of children of alumni (Monica Briggs, Thomas Hambleton, Clare O'Reilly, and Bryan Scrivener), as well as approximately 30 siblings of current students.
Also, a large number of last year's High School Summer Program attendees are now freshman, renewing old friendships and happy to be back in the Shenandoah Valley attending Christendom. Still in the glow of having graduated its largest class in twenty-five years in the presence of graduation speakers Senator Rick Santorum and Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, the Christendom community looks eagerly toward some of the more noteworthy upcoming events and challenges during the 2003-04 academic year.
Christendom's Semester in Rome program is changing venues this semester. Throughout the last academic year, the juniors studying abroad were housed in a hotel, located minutes from Vatican City. Now, still in an idyllic location, the Christendom in Rome students will be residing at the Casa la Salle, owned and operated by the Lasallian Christian Brothers. With larger rooms, and more ample space for studying and recreating, the second year of the Semester Abroad Program is guaranteed to be much more enjoyable and meaningful for the students. At the end of September, representatives from over thirty different religious orders will descend on Christendom's Front Royal campus to take part in the ever-popular Vocations Day. Christendom has helped over 50 men and 35 women find their vocations to the priesthood or religious life and looks forward with great joy to the others who will also join in the Lord's harvest.
On October 2 “in response to Pope John Paul II's request for special celebrations during this Year of the Rosary” the entire Christendom College community will embark on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Mother Seton shrine. Beginning on Oct. 6 with Fr. Joseph Koterski, SJ, the College's Major Speakers Program looks to be one of the best yet. Throughout the remainder of the year, Dr. John Haas, H.W. Crocker, Dr. Regis Martin, and Peggy Noonan will also present lectures at the College.
Although the lectures are primarily for Christendom's students and faculty, the public is always cordially invited to attend. Also in October, College President Dr. Timothy O'Donnell will lead a pilgrimage to Rome. While in Rome, the pilgrims will be present at the beatification of Mother Teresa on Oct. 19, and at the 25th Anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II to the Chair of Peter as well as the closing of the Year of the Rosary on Oct. 16. And in the spring semester, for the twenty-eighth time, on January 22, Christendom will cancel classes and charter buses so that the entire student body, along with many faculty and staff, may attend the March for Life in Washington, DC.
And looking forward to graduation, the college again hopes to have the largest graduating class, with 82 seniors expected to go out into the world and restore all things in Christ. During graduation, Christendom will honor Miss Nellie Gray with the College's Pro Deo et Patria Medal for Distinguished Service to God and Country.
And finally, possibly with the most anticipation, the College eagerly awaits the dedication of its new 40,000 sq. ft. St. John the Evangelist Library, to be held on September 14, 2004.
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