Current Students

With nearly half of the student body traveling during Easter Vacation, the campus of Thomas Aquinas College grows quiet over Holy Week. After the final classes on Wednesday afternoon, the classrooms go dark. For a brief time, the work, the studies, the myriad activities that dominate campus life cease. Thoughts and hearts turn to Our Lord, His sacrifice, and His ultimate triumph. The Paschal Triduum — from the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper to Saturday’s Easter Vigil — is a solemn time of prayer on campus:

On Sunday, Chrysostomos, a student choir directed by Theresa Donnelly (’17), performed its spring concert in St. Bernardine of Siena Library:

Below is the program for the concert:

Ego Sum Resurrectio (Donnelly)
Miserere Mei, Deus (Byrd)
In Monte Oliveti (Ingegneri)
Sitientes (Victoria)

I Love My Love (arr. Holst)

Tell Me Where Fancy is Bred (Harris)

Nessun Doma (Puccini, arr. Chini)

In a longstanding tradition, the younger classes at Thomas Aquinas College take turns each spring bidding farewell to the soon-to-be-departing seniors.

On Saturday evening the freshmen had their opportunity, hosting an “Alice in Wonderland” themed dance for the Class of 2017 in St. Joseph Commons. The evening began with comedic entertainment and then proceeded with feasting and swing-dancing.

Inspired by a classic scene from Chariots of Fire — in which Harold Abrahams successfully completes Cambridge University’s Trinity Great Court Run before the King’s Gate Clock strikes 12 — the students of Thomas Aquinas College staged their own, now-annual quad run this past weekend.

In February the College requested prayers for Teresa Johnston, the then-13-year-old sister of TAC junior Misha (’18). Teresa was then in critical condition and comatose after being struck by a falling tree, but has had a tremendous recovery.

The Orange County Register reports:

At lunch today in St. Joseph Commons, members of the Thomas Aquinas College community warmly welcomed to campus Dr. and Mrs. John Onyekuru, parents of soon-to-be-graduating senior Nnadozie:

Inspired by the work they do maintaining the gardens on campus, the women who work on Thomas Aquinas College’s grounds crew took a trip on Saturday to Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. An internationally renowned botanical collection, the gardens boasts more than 3,000 roses and are home to North America’s largest camellia collection.

On Sunday, April 2, Thomas Aquinas College students performed in the second of this year’s two informal concerts — “Schubertiades” — in St. Bernardine of Siena Library.

Below is the program from the concert:

Pie Jesu, by Andrew Lloyd Weber
Performed by Anastasia Terreri (’18) and Vincent Terreri (’20)
Accompanied by Gwyneth McNiff (’20)

Sonata in C minor, Op. 13, by L. van Beethoven
I. Grave – Allegro molto e con brio
Performed by Elizabeth Gallagher (’18)

To succeed Dr. Brian T. Kelly as dean of Thomas Aquinas College, President Michael F. McLean has appointed an alumnus and 15-year member of the teaching faculty, Dr. John J. Goyette.

The brief video below features the Franciscan Way of the Cross, as read by Thomas Aquinas College students, accompanied by Chrysostomos, a student choral group. It includes beautiful photography of the College’s Via Dolorosa on the California campus’ lower drive —14 scenes that vividly depict Our Lord’s Passion and death.