|
|
|
THOMAS FIRE
College Survives Historic Blaze,
Faces New Needs
That the largest December wildfire to strike California in recorded history bears the name “Thomas” is a testament to just how close its flames came to Thomas Aquinas College.
The fire began on the last Monday of the fall semester, December 4, just as students were leaving dinner in St. Joseph Commons and upperclassmen were preparing for the evening’s seminars. The initial outbreak occurred about a half-mile south of campus, around 6:28 p.m. The flames, driven by the easterly Santa Ana winds, spread quickly. Given the fire’s proximity to campus, authorities dubbed it “Thomas.”
Alert to the danger, College officials immediately evacuated the campus. The flames arrived a few hours later. “The fires pushed right up to the edges of our access road,” observes President Michael F. McLean.
Total costs of the fire to the College have yet to be determined, but promise to be substantial. “We have had to rent generators and hire additional security,” says Dr. McLean. “We also need to replace all the food in our freezers and refrigerators, and we will need to remove many large, old trees that were badly damaged across the campus.”
Now that Thomas Aquinas College begins the process of recovering from the Thomas Fire, officials find themselves facing new and unknown expenses. “We are mindful that dealing with the fire and its effects will impose a significant burden on our budget,” says Dr. McLean. “So we ask all of our friends to consider supporting the College with a gift to our Annual Fund. We thank you all, in advance, for your kindness and generosity.”
Full story with photos 
Support the College in its hour of need!
|
|
December 4: Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel with Thomas Fire in the background
December 6: Smoke fills the sky behind St. Augustine Hall
December 9: Cleanup begins amid the smoke and ash.
|
|
|
PROVIDING CATHOLIC ANSWERS
Alumni Experts Engage in On-Air Evangelization
Over the course of the fall, three graduates of Thomas Aquinas College have appeared on the Catholic Answers Live radio program, answering callers’ questions about the Church and its teachings:
• On September 18, Dr. Michael Augros (’92), a tutor at the College, was the guest for a program entitled Your Immortal Soul, in which he answered questions related to his newly released book, The Immortal in You: How Human Nature Is More Than Science Can Say.
• Dr. Pia de Solenni (’93), Chancellor for the Diocese of Orange, California, appeared on the October 20 episode, The Role of Catholic Women in the World, for which she addressed topics ranging from romance to work and motherhood.
• Rev. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem. (’94), professor of philosophy at St. Michael’s Abbey, was the show’s guest for its November 6 episode, Situational Ethics, which covered such subjects as “white lies,” addressing difficult moral truths within the context of family, and the perennial question about whether it is ethically permissible to lie to the hypothetical Nazis at your door.
|
|
Dr. Michael
Augros (’92)
 |
Dr. Pia
de Solenni (’93)
 |
Rev. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem. (’94)
|
|
A 26-YEAR-OLD IN EVERY CLASS
“For all that it took to get me here, this must be where God wants me ...”
It was freshman Shelby Heaton who first made the discovery, a gradual realization that dawned over the course of several conversations with fellow Thomas Aquinas College students. “Wait, we have four 26-year-olds here,” she thought, “one in each class!”
The College has a long history of “second-time freshmen,” students who enroll at an age older than most of their peers, usually after attending college or even graduate school elsewhere. Yet it just so happens that, this fall, four of them — a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and a senior — were all 26 years old. All came to the College later than most, but each for his or her unique reasons.
Continue reading
|
|
Shelby Heaton (’21), Graham Crawley (’20), Benjamin Whalen (’19), and Siobhan Heekin-Canedy (’18)
|
|
|
.
|
FAITH IN ACTION
Highlights from the College’s Alumni Blog
• The photo to the right, from a recent story in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Angelus magazine, features a group of Los Angeles priests and seminarians leading a Eucharistic procession down Hollywood Boulevard for the First World Day of the Poor. Carrying the cross is David Allen (’10), a graduate of the College and a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Mr. Allen is one of four alumni studying for the priesthood in L.A., along with Michael Masteller (’13), Paul Collins (’14), and Edward Seeley (’16). May God bless them!
• The recently released annual report of Oakcrest School — a Catholic school for girls, grades 6-12, in McLean, Virginia — features a profile of a new member of the school’s English faculty: Dr. Kathleen Sullivan (’06). “Oakcrest’s newest English teacher, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, is already beloved for her infectious enthusiasm, warm concern for her students, and taste in polka-dot dresses,” the profile begins. “She tries to pass on what she learned about writing concisely and logically from her TAC professors. … But more fundamentally, she wants to instill girls with a confidence that they can write.”
• The Cardinal Newman Society has assembled an impressive collection of Catholic leaders to write for Journal, its online publication aimed at promoting excellence in Catholic schooling. Among the luminaries are two Thomas Aquinas College alumni: Sean Fitzpatrick (’02) and Michael Van Hecke (’86). The headmaster of Gregory the Great Academy in Elmhurst, Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick writes about once a week, with recent columns touching on such topics as the importance of play, education and imagination, and the “dangers” inherent in education. Mr. Van Hecke — the headmaster of St. Augustine Academy in Ventura, California, and president and founder of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education — focuses mostly on trends in Catholic schooling, both good and bad, at home and abroad.
Faith in Action blog
|
|
David Allen (’10) leads a Eucharistic procession down Hollywood Boulevard.
Dr. Kathleen Sullivan (’06)
Sean Fitzpatrick (’02)
Michael Van Hecke (’86) |
|
|
|
LAST CALL!
Enroll in College’s Christmas Novena of Masses
Beginning on December 16, and ending on Christmas Eve, the chaplains of Thomas Aquinas College will offer the College’s Annual Christmas Novena of Masses in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. “We first came up with the idea for the Christmas Novena three years ago, as a way for the College’s friends to pray for their loved ones and their intentions,” says President Michael F. McLean. “The idea was so well-received that the Novena has quickly become an annual tradition.”
During Advent each person enrolled in the Novena receives a beautiful, personalized card from the College. On the front, the card features a nighttime photo of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, framed by a seasonal green border. Inside, it informs recipients of their inclusion in the Novena, as well as the name of their sponsors. The cost for each card, which includes shipping and handling, is $5.
More than just a Christmas greeting, the Novena card brings the promises of nine Holy Masses and the prayers of the students, faculty, chaplains, and staff of Thomas Aquinas College. “This is a wonderful way for our friends to include their loved ones in the spiritual life of the College,” says Dr. McLean. “We invite everyone to enroll, and hope all of our friends will join us in praying for the entire College community.”
Enrollments must be completed by 5:00 p.m.(PT) on Friday, December 15.
Only one day left — enroll now!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
