Helen Alvaré, professor of law at George Mason
University School of Law in Arlington, received the Catholic
Distance University’s Founders Award Nov. 21 at the Westin
Arlington Gateway Hotel.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, chairman of CDU’s board of
trustees, was the celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass.
CDU President Marianne Evans Mount said that since CDU, which
recently moved its headquarters to Charles Town, W.Va., is a
digital university, the annual gala is the one night of the
year “where we meet our students face to face.”
Mount said there are 55 graduates this year, including one
from Budapest, Hungary, and another currently incarcerated.
Mount said she believes that CDU is the only digital Catholic
university in the world.
A digital university doesn’t have brick, mortar or ivy, she
said, but rather, CDU’s campus is visible on a computer
screen.
“Each (CDU) graduate is transformed into a new person, eager
to share the beauty of the faith,” she said.
Mount said that CDU graduates take on leadership positions in
their dioceses, promote a Christian way of life and reflect
the joy of married life.
“This is the yeast of a CDU education,” she said. “We are a
small institution, with a large mission.”
Father Thomas P. Ferguson, pastor of Good Shepherd Church in
Alexandria, accepted the Bishop Thomas J. Welsh Parish Award
from Susan Malone, a member of CDU’s board of trustees.
After accepting the Founders Award from Bishop Loverde and
Mount, Alvare reflected on her personal journey from Cornell
Law School through receiving a doctoral degree from Catholic
University in Washington.
In addition to teaching law, Alvaré is a prolific
author and writer on matters concerning marriage, parenting,
non-marital households and the First Amendment religion
clauses. In addition to her books, she is a regular
contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, the
Huffington Post and USA Today.
“It is possible to fall in love again with your faith, with
the church,” Alvare told the crowd. “Rationality and kindness
leave an impression. Over time, it pays dividends.”
CDU approaches the challenges facing the church today “with a
bring-it-on mentality,” she said.
Mount then presented Bishop Loverde with a special gift to
celebrate the golden jubilee of his ordination to the
priesthood. John McCabe, a member of CDU’s board of trustees
and a gifted artist, sketched a portrait of the bishop
alongside CDU former headquarters.
Bishop Loverde credited Bishop Welsh and Mount with having
the original vision to establish CDU in 1983.
CDU communicates the Gospel in ways that people can connect
with, he said. “My heart rejoices with gratitude for all of
you.”
Find out more
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