March 5, 2019

Mass held, Blessed Sacrament reserved at Northfield’s Thomas Aquinas College

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

NORTHFIELD – On March 3, the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in the new tabernacle at the historic 110-year-old Sage Chapel on the Northfield campus of Thomas Aquinas College, New England.

More than 200 people attended the special 1:30 p.m. Mass which was concelebrated by Father Thomas Kocik of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass.; Father Charles DiMascola, retired, former pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Turners Falls; and Deacon Randy O’Neill of St. John the XXIII Parish of the Diocese of Manchester, N.H.

The Northfield campus of the Santa Paula, California-based Thomas Aquinas College is preparing to welcome students in August. The college took over ownership of the former Northfield Mount Herman School in May 2017.

The National Christian Foundation donated much of the 500,000-square-foot campus, including 22 buildings, to the college as a gift. 

To become fully accredited and operational, Thomas Aquinas had to get approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and have the school’s own accreditation extended in New England by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College University Commission.

“This event today is a celebration of that accomplishment and an opportunity to thank God for the blessings he’s bestowed upon this Northfield effort,” said Michael F. McLean, president of Thomas Aquinas College. “Of course, now that we’ve reserved the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, our Lord is really and truly present here on campus. It’s a great step for us and I think is a further sign that this is in God’s providential plan that we come to Northfield.”

“I was here a few weeks ago and I just felt like there was an absence. We needed the real presence here on campus,” said Thomas Kaiser, the college’s associate dean, who recently moved from California to Northfield with his wife. “So, it’s just really a blessing to have the Blessed Sacrament here and the chapel being used on a weekly basis. We will be coming in here to pray every day.”

Kaiser and his wife both were members of the college’s first graduating class in 1971. He added that seven faculty members will be joining him over the summer.

McLean was pleased with the turnout at the Mass which included alumni, faculty, administrative members, and friends of the Catholic college.

“I think the attendance today is a sign that we’re successful and that people are really rallying behind this project and really want to see this campus come back to life with young people as a Catholic, Christian educational institution,” said McLean.

The Mass included an all-female choir, comprised of former Aquinas alumni, who sang many of the hymns and songs in Latin, which is taught to students for two years as part of the curriculum. McLean praised former Northfield alumni for rebuilding and renovating the chapel over the years which, he said, has been the focal point for “many important events of spiritual significance” that have occurred on campus.

“It’s great gift for us to have a chapel here that we can convert to a Catholic Church. I think it’s one of the real attractions for students and faculty to come here, knowing they have a place to worship as Catholics,” McLean added.

Many of the newer items in Sage Chapel were donated by the Diocese of Springfield, with Bishop Rozanski’s approval, including the tabernacle, altar, holy water fonts, a crucifix and icon of Mary. A first-class relic of St. Thomas Aquinas also was installed in the main altar, symbolizing the strong connection between the Santa Paula and Northfield campuses.

McLean said he is grateful to Bishop Rozanski for his enthusiasm and support throughout the entire accreditation process.

After Mass, refreshments were offered for all attendees at Merrill-Keep Hall, which will be converted into one of the residence buildings for women.

Beginning March 9, Masses will be held at Sage Chapel every Saturday at 9 a.m., followed by refreshments and a campus tour. The college is still seeking to appoint a full-time chaplain this summer and looks to utilize priests in the area for Masses and special events.

Thomas Aquinas College offers students a four-year classical curriculum that spans the major arts and science, with a focus on the “Great Books,” the original works of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization in the major disciplines: mathematics, natural science, literature, philosophy and theology.

This summer, the college will offer a Great Books program to rising high school seniors on the Northfield campus, from July 28-Aug. 10. Interested students can apply online at thomasaquinas.edu/SPapply.
For those who wish to visit the campus for a tour, students may contact the admissions office at admissions@thomasaquinas.edu or call 1-800-634-9797.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-TV22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.