From the Desk of the President
President Thomas E. Dillon
(Fall 2000 Newsletter)
[Index
of Past Articles by President Dillon]
 I
never anticipated, when assuming this office, that I would
be engaged in international work on behalf of the College.
Yet the past few months alone offer a surprising glimpse of
the scope of the educational endeavor here at Thomas Aquinas
College.
In May, I was honored to speak to a group of university presidents
in Yucatan, Mexico, on the subject of Catholic formation at
Catholic universities. The conference, entitled, “International
Forum About Values: Philosophy and Education,” featured
participation by presidents, administrators, and professors
from five Catholic universities in Mexico governed by the
Legionaries of Christ.
They gathered to reflect on how to best implement the very
positive understanding of Catholic education in Pope John
Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae.
I was pleased to offer some insights on our experience at
Thomas Aquinas College which, in our view, stands as a model
for that implementation.
Then in September it was our pleasure to host two university
professors from Australia, Dr. James Power and Dr. Karl Schmud,
who came to observe our institution for the purpose of establishing
a similar college in their native land. It was most inspiring
to see the dedication of these gentlemen. We pray for their
success.
Finally, also in September, I was privileged to attend the
Jubilee of the University in Rome. The unprecedented event
brought together nine Nobel Prize winners, 300 college and
university presidents, 1,500 speakers, and more than 10,000
university professors. Fifty-three different congresses were
held throughout Italy, Lebanon, and the Holy Land, addressing
such diverse subjects as bioethics, medicine, Biblical studies,
science, and architecture.
I attended two conferences. The first one was addressed to
college and university presidents regarding the renewal of
Catholic higher education; the other, entitled, “Paideia
and Humanitas,” addressed the importance of serving the
human person in all dimensions. Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau,
S.J., Secretary of the Congregation for Education, gave the
opening address. Archbishop Pittau had served most recently
as the president of the Pontifical Gregorian University in
Rome.
My wife, Terri, and I had the opportunity to renew acquaintances
with Archbishop Pittau a couple of days after the event. In
our visit with him, he lauded Thomas Aquinas College’s
educational program and underscored the importance of returning
to first principles.
Pope John Paul II closed the Universities’ Jubilee with
Mass in St. Peter’s Square. He had convened this Jubilee
to promote a “new humanism,” that is, a concern
for the human person and the truth and goodness centered in
Christ. He emphasized this theme in closing it. (See his homily,
reprinted on this page.)
During that trip, I met many people who have come to know
of the unique mission of Thomas Aquinas College and who praise
it for all the good it is doing and who see it as a beacon
of hope in higher education. What impact can we expect to
see Thomas Aquinas College have on the world by the next Jubilee?
I have no idea; but with the grace of God I expect it will
be great indeed.
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Fall 2000
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