“GOD AND STUDENT AT TAC”
National Review Celebrates 50 Years of Thomas Aquinas College

By Jack Fowler

Fifty years defines a golden anniversary, and a long time. And speaking of time …

Early on a splendid September morning, in a stately brick building on the New England campus of Thomas Aquinas College (affectionately known by its acronym, “TAC”), sunshine pours through room 109’s massive windows, lighting up a gathering of students — not a bleary eye in the lot — who are doing just that: speaking of time.

Actually, they’re discussing it. Under the soft-touch guidance of tutor (one finds no “professors” here) Josef Froula, the assembled scholars cheerfully and respectfully (the etiquette is “Mr.” and “Miss,” plus surnames) mix dialogue with reading aloud from their textbook, first published in 350 b.c.: Aristotle’s Physics.

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CHANGES IN CHAPLAINCY
College Bids Farewell to Fr. Buckley, Hello to Fr. Chung & Fr. Viego

At the start of the academic year, members of the student body, faculty, and staff of Thomas Aquinas College, California, gathered for a farewell luncheon in honor of Rev. Cornelius M. Buckley, S.J. After nearly 17 years of on-campus service, Fr. Buckley left the College in September for the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California — the culmination of nearly six decades in the priesthood — and the community embraced the occasion to thank him, to express its gratitude, and to reminisce.

Succeeding Fr. Buckley in California is Rev. John Mary Chung, a native of South Korea, a convert to the Faith, and a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. “Thomas Aquinas College is a very rare place where truth, goodness, and beauty easily lead one to seek a life of holiness,” he says. “My hope is that, through the sacraments, preaching, and individual spiritual direction, I can help the community grow in virtue and have an even deeper communion with Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

Meanwhile, with the continued growth of the College’s three-year-old New England campus, the College sought the aid of an additional priest to support Head Chaplain Rev. Greg Markey. Filling that role will be Rev. Carlos Viego, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark. “I accepted the chaplaincy at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, because the Catholic cultural mission of the College is also my own,” says Fr. Viego. “True education, culture, and civilization have their source and perfection in the Person of Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, and in the historical reality of our Catholic culture.”

FAITH IN ACTION
Highlights from the College’s Alumni Blog

PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS
Chaplains to Offer 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. “We first came up with the idea for the Christmas Novena six 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 become an annual tradition.”
 
Each person enrolled in the Novena will receive 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 this Advent and Christmas.”

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