Cardinal Trujillo Gives Commencement Address

Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 5/23/02)

Commencement weekend at Christendom College began with a Baccalaureate Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family in Rome, on Friday, May 17. On Saturday, May 18, Christendom conferred 53 Bachelor of Arts degrees on its graduating class of 2002.

Cardinal Trujillo is a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Born in Villahermosa, Colombia, in 1935, he was ordained a priest in 1960, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bogota in 1972, appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Medellin from 1979 to 1991, and was elected Cardinal in the Consistory in February 1983.

During his homily, Cardinal Trujillo told the graduates to not be afraid to speak to today’s world about the Risen Christ. We must profess him with joy that is ever new, with pride and decisiveness, like the Apostles and the martyrs, he said.

"Ideologies pass, cultures pass, but Jesus lives for ever. The Risen Christ is the center and foundation of everything, the one Lord. Dear students, in this prestigious college you acquire knowledge about the different sciences. And you, distinguished professors, you strive with enthusiasm to transmit the increasingly sophisticated knowledge about the world to your students. But never forget that at the center of all human life there is always the living Jesus. Without Him, the meaning of human existence cannot be understood," said Cardinal Trujillo.

During the graduation ceremony held in Crusader Gymnasium, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Christendom president, bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on Cardinal Trujillo.

In accepting the honor, Cardinal Trujillo said, "the objective of your college, instaurare omnia in Christo, to restore all things in Christ, is laudable."

My dear young people of the class of 2002: the great risk for humanity today is to lose its human identity, its human heart. Christendom College has offered you a great treasure, a truth about man, values to which you will bear witness in the world. And so give witness, with courage and pride, to the reason for your hope," said Cardinal Trujillo.

"In a word, the heart of humanity, its test and general direction is reflected in the family. Its identity and dignity converge in its attitudes regarding life and, in particular, life which begins at conception. The most terrible kind of poverty for children is to not have a good family and real love. The Church is deeply engaged in the battle for human dignity and real freedom, a freedom linked to the truth," he concluded.

Raymond Hain of Delaware spoke of his gratitude to Christendom in his Salutatory Address.
"Of all my thoughts and feelings today, gratitude is foremost: gratitude for our Church’s profound treasury of culture, liturgy, and sacred music that is fostered here; gratitude for you, our professors, who pour out so much of your lives for us students; and most of all, gratitude for you, our parents, to whom we owe everything and without whom we would be nothing. Thank you, all of you," he said.

Hain said that he has come to the realization that what motivates Christendom professors, parents, and priests is love; the love of truth and goodness.

"By God’s mercy, in Heaven we will fully realize how completely our gratitude must extend, especially towards all of you here today who have given us so much," he said.

Class Valedictorian Jennie Kacsir, of California, addressed the audience by reflecting on Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, in which the Holy Father, in the words of Christ to St. Peter, exhorts all the faithful to Duc in altum (Put out into the deep!)

Kacsir told her peers that as they prepare to "put out into the deep" in a new way, they must not forget the further injunction of Our Lord — "lower your nets for the catch" and impart to others the fruit of their labor. "We are being sent out of the heart of Christendom to bring the reign of Christ to the world, to bring to others the fruits of our academic, social and spiritual life in whatever sphere God calls us," she said.

Kacsir said that the Class of 2002 can fulfill the purpose of their education only through surrendering their intellects and wills in love to Wisdom Incarnate. "How can we bring the light of truth to the world and work to transform our secular culture into a new Christendom unless our hearts first of all are under the reign of Christ our King?" she asked.

"Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Divine Wisdom, may we graduates of 2002 continue the work we have begun at Christendom. As we set out to begin this new stage of our lives, let us renew our surrender to the Heart of Jesus, that, impelled by His charity, we may allow the word of Christ in all its fullness to pass through us to those we are called to serve; to do our part, however small, to restore all things in Christ, the King of all hearts," Kacsir said.

Gregory Polley, president of the Christendom College Alumni Association, awarded Therese Peters of California the Student Achievement Award in recognition of her extraordinary enthusiasm and participation in College events throughout her four years at Christendom.

The 53 undergraduates who received bachelor’s degrees are: Helen Alexander, Catherine Almeter, Elizabeth Almeter, Guy Amisano, Gerard Anthony, Sarah Aronhime, Jesse Batha, Maria Bissex, Vivian Bradshaw, Robert Brown, Kathleen Byrne, Laura Byrne, Ryan Callaghan, Jeffrey Carr, Timothy Coffey, Matthew Cronkhite, Matthew Dittert, Meghan Bratt Doran, Alicia Joy Dugas, Dominique Flippen, Maria Gaetano, Alyssa Gray, Raymond Hain, Joseph Hans, Kristina Hayles;

Donald Higby, Mary Elizabeth Hundt, Marc-Pierre Jansen, Jennie Kacsir, Kathleen Kosten, Kathryn Krieger, Robyn Lee, Pearse Marschner, Katherine McMahon, Katherine Mirus, Joseph Mitchell, Therese Peters, Michael Reese, Katherine Runge, Mark Schwerdt, Sherry Spring, Kristin Starcher, Patrick Storey, Mark Streiff, Catherine Sullivan, Maryann Sullivan, Natalie Johnson Tillotson, Paul Tillotson, Anne Turner, Christopher Vander Woude, Harold Welch, Peter Whelan and Christine Wright.

Following Commencement, the graduates, their families, and guests celebrated at a reception in St. Lawrence Commons, catered by Christendom College Chef Ron Steckman and the kitchen staff.

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