Catholic Education Strong ‘Foundation’ for Psychologist

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A psychologist who currently works at a veteran’s hospital says that he received a strong “foundation” and “confidence” in his “beliefs and values” through faithful Catholic education.

Dr. Patrick McNeely attended Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, for three years—before the college had received its current degree-granting status. He wrapped up his undergraduate degree at Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., and went on to earn his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Divine Mercy University in Arlington, Va.

Dr. McNeely highly recommends the Catholic liberal arts at the undergraduate level—such as the education provided at Newman Guide colleges—for those who want to be a psychologist.

“While an undergraduate degree in psychology is helpful in some ways, you are going to learn all of that in graduate school,” explained Dr. McNeely. Having a “more rounded understanding of the person that comes from studying philosophy, theology, history, and literature” can help with a “more complete understanding the human person,” he continued.

CNS: Can you tell us about some highlights from your time at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom?

Dr. Patrick McNeely: I would say there were quite a few highlights from my time there. In my first year, I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried out for the school play. While it was definitely not something I had done before, I really enjoyed doing it, and it remains one of the highlights of my first year.

Community-life-wise, I really liked how OLSWC was set up with “dorms” being houses. I think that style really helped to build community at the school. Having a house feel, with common areas and shared kitchens/living rooms/dining rooms, helped to pull students (myself included) out of their cliques and learn to live with and get to know others whom they might not have engaged with as much in a more traditional dorm. OLSWC also put a heavy emphasis on building and fostering community life, which I think was incredibly important and formative for my time there. Whether it was celebrating as a school for different holidays or feast days or having “House Nights,” we were able to really get to know each other in a way that likely would not have happened without the intentional fostering of community that OLSWC emphasized.

Academically, I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much all the classes I took at OLSWC. The teachers were engaging (in and out of classes) and incredibly knowledgeable, and the discussions that took place after classes were a blast. I really enjoyed the philosophy and literature classes that I took. Victorian Literature is probably the class that I look back on and remember the most as being a highlight of my time there. When it comes to “not-top-10” highlights, I would say that putting on ice skates for the first time in 15 years, trying to play hockey, and crashing into the boards in order to stop would have to take the cake. After three years, I finally learned how to stop while on skates without having to ram into the boards.

The McNeely Family

CNS: How did your education help prepare you for your doctoral studies at Divine Mercy University?

Dr. Patrick McNeely: I think it prepared me in three main ways. First, in a very practical way, Divine Mercy University (DMU) has a unique approach to the study of psychology in that they integrate philosophy, theology, and psychology. My time at OLSWC studying the core classes of philosophy and theology helped me to have a much better understanding of the material discussed in class.

Second, I really do believe that the community formation that I received at OLSWC has helped me in the field of psychology. College can often be a time where you go and create new friends, and those are the people that you spend all your time with for the next several years. I think this is especially true of some of the bigger universities where it is virtually impossible to know everyone, and so we stick to our cliques of like-minded/interested people. At OLSWC, the combination of the smaller community and the college’s intentional fostering of community really helped me with my clinical work at DMU. While it seems like an odd thing to say, learning to meet people who are different than you and who don’t have similar interests/beliefs/etc. can be difficult, especially in college. But OLSWC really helped me to learn to branch out and get to know people more, even people I didn’t agree with on most things. I’m not sure if I’m being fully clear on that, but I guess it boils down to OLSWC fostering of social/communal aspects of students helped me to feel more comfortable sitting with clients.

Third, OLSWC’s academics were rigorous and challenging, and I really believe that they helped to prepare me for the difficulty of graduate school. While graduate school is a different kind of difficult, having had the experience of challenging academics in undergraduate school made that transition to graduate academics a little less challenging.

Overall, for those wanting to do graduate studies in psychology, I would highly recommend a liberal arts education. While an undergraduate degree in psychology is helpful in some ways, you are going to learn all of that in graduate school. However, having a more rounded understanding of the human person that comes from studying philosophy, theology, history, literature, etc. can really help to integrate the various psychological theories into a more complete understanding.

CNS: How is your faithful Catholic education influencing your work as a psychologist at a Veteran’s Affairs hospital?

Dr. Patrick McNeely: I think it has helped a lot. I’m not sure that I could draw a straight line from one thing to another, but I have definitely noticed how my view of life has been formed by my education. One specific way that I have noticed the academic influence is from the literature classes that I took while at OLSWC… how the novels and writings from some of the great literary writers of history have given me insight into the human condition and experiences.

Another way that my education has helped is by providing me with a strong foundation and confidence in my beliefs and values. While there can definitely be times when those get challenged or shook from listening to stories and traumas that others have experienced, my education provided me with knowledge about a lot of the questions that come up as well as guidance on where to look to find the answers.

Finally, I think that the community formation that OLSWC provided has really been important in my work. Through my years there, I learned about the importance of being a part of a community and how crucial that can be for flourishing in work and home life.

CNS: Anything else you’d like to add?

Dr. Patrick McNeely: I think I would just say that OLSWC is a unique place. While it does not offer some things that other colleges do (sports teams, large campus, etc.), it does make up for those in different areas. On top of that, the cost to attend (when compared to other Catholic colleges) is much more budget friendly. I very much value my time there, and I am well aware that, if it were not for attending OLSWC (and returning for a 2nd and then 3rd year), I would not be in the place I am today. While there are still many ways for me to learn and grow, I believe that I am in a much better place than I would have been if I had not received the formation and guidance from the faculty, staff, and fellow students at OLSWC.

Second Annual ‘Newman Guide Virtual College Fair’ Invites High School Students, Parents, Educators

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CNS is grateful for the sponsorship of the St. Robert Bellarmine Fund.

High school students, their parents, and Catholic educators are invited to register now for The Cardinal Newman Society’s Newman Guide Virtual College Fair, which will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. “Live” sessions will run from 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. ET, as well as 7:00 p.m.—9:00 pm ET. Registration is free and available now but is required to attend the event.

The Cardinal Newman Society is grateful to the St. Robert Bellarmine Fund, which offers annual scholarships of $8,000, renewable for four years, to ten students who are attending a Newman Guide college, Kolbe Academy, a Catholic classical homeschool program, and Hallow, a Catholic prayer app, for their sponsorship of the Virtual Newman Guide College Fair. The first 1,000 registrants to the Newman Guide Virtual College Fair will receive a free 3-month trial subscription to the Hallow app, and three registrants will be randomly selected for a free year of Hallow. 

CNS is grateful for the sponsorship of Kolbe Academy.

Last year, The Cardinal Newman Society held its first Virtual College Fair, with great success. “I enjoyed the virtual college fair—thank you for this opportunity! I liked how I could easily chat with people from different colleges about my questions, see info and videos from the college on each college’s section, and attend presentations,” one student said.

CNS is grateful for the sponsorship of the Hallow app.

Overall, a follow-up survey showed that among those who took the survey, 93 percent of participants said they would consider attending or encourage someone else to attend a Newman Guide Virtual College Fair.

This year, students, parents, and educators will have the opportunity to visit the virtual booths of the colleges recognized in The Newman Guide, “chat” with admissions representatives, learn about unique scholarship opportunities, and attend “live” presentations.

The “live” presentations include:

10:30 am ET: “How to Make a Good Campus Visit” with Tom McFadden, Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success at Christendom College in Front Royal, Va.;

11:30 am ET: “Preparing for a STEM and Other Careers at a Faithful Catholic College” with representatives from several Newman Guide colleges;

7:00 pm ET: “‘Newman Center’ or Newman Guide College?” with Patrick Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society; and

8:00 pm ET: “You’re Not Choosing a College – You’re Choosing a Formation” with Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford, Newman Guide college graduates who found Jesus Christ in a powerful way during college.

Homeschooled students, parents, high school classes, and educators are invited to log-in for the daytime session, as well as the evening session of the Newman Guide Virtual College Fair. Catholic families are encouraged to spread the word about the virtual event with friends and family, as well as their local Catholic high school and parish youth group.

 

Catholic College Graduate Helps Women Understand ‘God-Given Dignity’

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A graduate of a faithful Catholic college relies on the formation she received to help educate other Catholic women on the nature and dignity God has given them.

Laura (Billeci) Zambrana serves as Director of Content for Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women), which is an international apostolate founded in 2003 that reaches more than 40,000 women across the globe.

“I know I was created for a purpose and that I have my mission—to love God and make Him known—first in my vocation to marriage and family life, and then let this overflow into my work on the Endow team and with our faithful hardworking generous hosts around the world,” explains Zambrana, who graduated from Thomas Aquinas College (TAC), which is recognized in The Newman Guide, in 2009.

James and Laura Zambrana, and their children Peter, Jane, Brigid and Helen. James is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and Laura is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College, both of which are recognized in The Newman Guide.

“TAC prepared me for my role at Endow as I navigate which topics to cover, how they should be covered, and most importantly how to curate the material such that the discussion is the focus and the fruit of the experience,” says Zambrana. Endow offers studies on Mulieris Dignitatem (St. John Paul II’s letter on the dignity and vocation of women); on the writings of female saints such as St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Hildegard and St. Edith Stein; and other writings of the Church like Catholic Social Teaching, St. John Paul II’s Letter on the Rosary and his Letter on the Christian Meaning of Suffering.

“We want to make the truth beautiful and interesting,” Zambrana continued. “How do we help women on their journey? Not everyone had an education at TAC or a faithful college and all women deserve to know their dignity. We focus on making the riches of our inheritance accessible.”

Going back to when Zambrana was deciding on which college to attend, she explained, “I was a naturally dissatisfied student with textbooks at age 14… When I heard about this school that had no textbooks, it intrigued me.” Zambrana attended the TAC summer program, and it was there that she was able to meet “people like me who also wanted to know the answers the hows and the whys. I became excited to learn after attending the summer program.”

Zambrana says that education, prayer, and friendship are what she values most from attending TAC. “TAC opened my eyes to new horizons. Study for study’s sake, for my humanity, to feed my soul. I am a better wife, mother, friend, and employee because of this unique course of study.”

“I had never experienced the unity of faith and life until I went to TAC. Things like being surrounded by students who make it a point to pray every day, didn’t eat meat on Fridays, and the seamlessness of my teachers and my friends going to class and then to Mass” made a deep impact on her life.

Zambrana also described the “amount of spontaneity and fun that arises at a place where you are all studying for studying sake and praying because that was what we were created to do… a wholeness and not studying just to get a job. The fun and comradery builds bonds of friendship to last a lifetime.”

Now in her work with Endow, “we call women together to study the documents of the Church and the lives of the saints. It is text-based like TAC. The text is the teacher—not the Endow host. The commentary is on the text. It is so similar to my undergraduate experience.”

“Questions for the discussion are an important part of the study guide,” she continued. “The friendships that emerge from Endow hinge on these questions, which are based on the text in the same way that TAC tutors were there to ask the deeper questions.”

Zambrana wants Catholic women across the globe to get a taste of what she experienced during her undergraduate years, through her work with Endow. “We really want to create a culture where women are reclaiming the time for study, prayer, and friendship.”

Publisher of Newman Guide Releases 2023-24 Edition of College Search Handbook

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The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) is thrilled to release the 2023-24 edition of My Future, My Faith, a full-color, 40-page handbook to help Catholic families navigate the search for faithful Catholic colleges. It includes advice on how to make a good campus visit, how to pay for college, and so much more!

First published in 2012, My Future, My Faith is a helpful companion to The Newman Guide online, where families can find full profiles on all the colleges and schools recommended by The Cardinal Newman Society for their fidelity and strong Catholic formation.

Featured on the cover of this year’s My Future, My Faith are joyful students from Holy Spirit Academy in Monticello, Minn., an outstanding Catholic high school recognized in The Newman Guide.

My Future, My Faith makes the case for a truly Catholic education that is faithful to Catholic doctrine, morals, and practices in all that it does, integrates the insights of Catholic teaching in every discipline, and forms young adults in virtue and Catholic living. The handbook also features the Catholic colleges that generously sponsored printing and distribution.

This year, 50,000 copies of My Future, My Faith will be provided free of charge to Catholic high school students at schools recognized by The Cardinal Newman Society for strong Catholic identity, at events hosted by Catholic speaker Jason Evert on the virtue of chastity, and in dioceses and youth groups across the country.

Last year, CNS released a 7-minute video version of My Future, My Faith, which can be found online here. A trailer version of the video has received more than 40,000 plays on social media.

Catholic families are encouraged to share a pdf version, e-book version, or hard copy (with limited copies remaining) of My Future, My Faith. All versions can be accessed or requested here: https://cardinalnewmansociety.org/my-future-my-faith-magazine/

 

Conservative Leader Prepared at Faithful Catholic College

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“When you look at society today, it is a direct result of secularism being taught as a religion,” says L. Brent Bozell III, who is founder and president of the Media Research Center, the largest media watchdog organization in the United States.

“And I think that if everyone were taught in a genuine Catholic school, all of the world’s problems would go away,” Bozell continued.

The Cardinal Newman Society recently caught up with Bozell, who formerly served on the CNS board of directors, to discuss the impact of the education he received at the University of Dallas in Irving, Tex., which is recognized in The Newman Guide for its strong Catholic identity.

“Had it not been for the University of Dallas, I don’t know if I would have been able to pursue my career as I did. The closer you can be to understanding black and white, you are better prepared for life. It’s the secular grey area that can make life very confusing,” said Bozell.

L. Brent Bozell III

CNS: Why did you choose to attend the University of Dallas? What was your experience like? 

Mr. Bozell: It was because of a long family association with Dr. Frederick (“Fritz”) Wilhelmsen, who was the director of theology at the university. He was a family friend, but also an editor at Triumph magazine, which my father started.

CNS: How did your education prepare you for your career and vocation?

Mr. Bozell: Fritz Wilhelmsen’s daughter, Alexandra Wilhelmsen, was my advisor when I declared my history major. I remember her asking me what I intended to do with it. I remember telling her I had no idea, at which point she burst out laughing and told me I would make a fine history major; the point being, unless you’re going to teach it, or write about it, you really can’t apply it, other than giving you a broad cultural understanding of the world.

CNS: How did attending a faithful Catholic college help you grow in your faith? How did it help you grow as a person?

Mr. Bozell: I don’t know that I was the most faithful Catholic in college, but I suspect that’s what 99 percent of Catholics in college would tell you. But you were surrounded by Catholicism at the University of Dallas, and they gave it—along with my family’s structure—great direction as I embarked on my career.

CNS: How has the education you received influenced your work?

Mr. Bozell: Had it not been for the University of Dallas, I don’t know if I would have been able to pursue my career as I did. The closer you can be to understanding black and white, you are better prepared for life. It’s the secular grey area that can make life very confusing.

CNS: From the classes to dorm life to student activities, what had the most impact on you during college?

Mr. Bozell: The friendships I made that I still have to this day. And that’s 50 years later (since I began at the University of Dallas). And that includes my wife—I still have her, too!

CNS: How were you formed mentally, spiritually, and physically by your faithful Catholic college? 

Mr. Bozell: Mentally: the education was second to none; I wish only that I had taken greater advantage of it. Spiritually: Catholicism was not just taught; it was lived, which distinguishes it from most Catholic colleges. Physically, I broke every bone in my body due to bad luck growing up, so that didn’t help!

CNS: Why do you think faithful Catholic education is important? 

Mr. Bozell: When you look at society today, it is a direct result of secularism being taught as a religion. And I think that if everyone were taught in a genuine Catholic school, all of the world’s problems would go away.

CNS: Do you think the liberal arts are valuable? Was studying the liberal arts helpful to you after graduation? 

Mr. Bozell: I think it’s tragic when I hear of colleges cutting them back or cutting them out—they say that “it is not a career path!” The liberal arts may not train you how to use a wrench, but they train you how to use your mind.

CNS: Do you have any special memories from college?

Mr. Bozell: Yes, but I can’t tell you any of them! You know, they would revolve around times spent with fellow students who would become lifelong friends. But also, time spent with professors who were truly iconic—not just at the University of Dallas, but in their fields! You knew in their company that so many of them were genuine Catholic educators both inside and outside of the classroom.

CNS: After studying the liberal arts in college, how did you make the transition to employment?

Mr. Bozell: Well, I went from college directly into the career path I am now; I went directly into politics. My first job was working for a fellow who was a deeply spiritual Catholic, a conservative Catholic.

CNS: What have been some of the most exciting projects to be a part of at your current job?

Mr. Bozell: The Media Research Center is alone in the field of public policy, in that it is the only organization in the entirety of the conservative movement that is focused entirely on what I believe to be the greatest enemy of the conservative movement: the Left within the news media. This has been an exciting time over the last 35 years.

CNS: What advice would you give to students who are navigating the college search? 

Mr. Bozell: Follow the Newman Guide is what I would say! There are Catholic colleges that are Catholic in name only, but a few that live their Catholicism. And Newman Guide colleges are where every Catholic should consider going. This is not to say that only Catholic schools offer a good education; however, when you have a school like the University of Dallas, you can’t go wrong.

CNS: What do you think was key to helping form you into the leader you are today? 

Mr. Bozell: I think, a well-rounded understanding of the world. And also, focusing more on conviction than on consensus.

Celebrating Every Kind of Catholic Education

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Classical schools… Great Books colleges… homeschool programs… trade schools…

What are we to make of the wide and growing variety of Catholic education options?

As Catholic education keeps getting better, The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) believes that we need to celebrate the very best, regardless of form. Exemplary educators deserve to know how much they are appreciated by Catholic families, and others need models to follow. Catholic families should know where to get the best formation. These are all reasons for The Newman Guide.

But is it all “Catholic education”?

Many in the Church today think of Catholic education as the equivalent of parochial schools. And to be sure, parochial schools have held pride of place in the United States for many decades and continue to do so. CNS works extensively to aid parish and diocesan schools and their leaders, whose commitment to fidelity and strong formation is crucial to evangelization in America.

But Catholic education is not a method or institution; it can be served well or poorly by various methods and institutions, just like healthcare or assistance to the poor. Catholic education is an art, a vocation, and a ministry. It cultivates the intellect by the aid of grace and the truth of Catholic doctrine, within an integral human formation that is ordered to full communion with God.

While its mission should remain constant, Catholic education’s response to various family circumstances and student needs has required several methods and school structures including homeschooling, parish schools, monastery schools, boarding schools, trade schools, residential colleges, research universities, online programs, and variations on these. Catholic education simply cannot be limited to any particular method or institution, without unjustly excluding portions of Catholics who were promised formation in the faith as a right of Baptism.

Catholic education also cannot be limited to any age group, as if the opportunity to know God and His creation expires at a certain age. Of course, formation of the mind and character is especially important for young people.

That’s why we are so excited to expand our Newman Guide recognition to include a wide variety of elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and graduate programs—and soon homeschool programs as well. And it’s why CNS eagerly assists and promotes all kinds of educational programs that faithfully serve the Church’s mission of evangelization.

Independent schools

One new and growing segment of Catholic education is independent schools, not affiliated with any parish, religious order, or other Church entity. And the longest-operating independent school is Holy Angels Academy in Louisville, Ky., faithful to Catholic teaching and authority and devoted to the true mission of Catholic education.

In June, marking Holy Angels’ 50th anniversary and more than five decades of independent Catholic schools, CNS President Patrick Reilly and Vice President of Educator Resources and Evaluation, Dr. Denise Donohue, were among the featured speakers at a large celebration in Louisville. Reilly presented a commemorative plaque to Academy headmaster Michael Swearingen and longtime leader Joe Norton announcing to more than 600 educators, parents, and alumni the Academy’s recognition in The Newman Guide. Participants included representatives of other independent schools nationwide and the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education.

Donohue had a dual role at the event, representing both CNS and the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS). Donohue and our senior fellow Dr. Dan Guernsey are both long-time board members of NAPCIS and founding leaders of independent Catholic schools in Texas and Florida, respectively. Donohue addressed the Holy Angels celebration with a message from Dr. Eileen Cubanski, whose leadership of NAPCIS has been instrumental to the growing independent school movement.

Donohue also researched and authored a special report on the importance and history of independent Catholic schools, which is available on the Society’s website. The report is being shared with dioceses, schools, and Catholic media to promote better understanding of their unique contributions to Catholic education.

Historically, Catholic schools have been affiliated with religious orders, parishes, dioceses, and other Church entities. But independent schools arose in the late 1960s and 1970s, when many religious orders abandoned parochial schools and the schools lost focus of their mission. Since then, the Church has embraced lay vocations in teaching and administration, and today more than 97 percent of parochial school employees are laypeople.

Therefore, parents should be applauded for developing new schools when needed to ensure the sound formation of their children in fidelity to the Church. According to NAPCIS, the first known independent school was Holy Innocents Academy in Kinnelon, N.J., founded in 1967 by Dr. William Marra. That school eventually closed, and thus Holy Angels Academy in Louisville—founded in 1973 by a Dominican nun in partnership with Catholic families—is the longest-operating independent school today.

The Academy has a student body of 101 students in grades PreK-12 and used a classical approach even before it gained its current popularity. The school’s motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam (for the greater glory of God), is evident in its religious practices. Students attend daily Mass and recite the Morning Offering, with prayers to St. Michael and their guardian angels.

Today, according to Donohue’s report, there are 82 member schools in NAPCIS, including 20 that joined since 2010. About an equal number of independent schools have been launched but closed their doors due to financial struggles. Starting and maintaining a school without parish support can be difficult, but it’s all the more reason CNS promotes these schools and helps them develop strong policies and protect against ideological threats.

 

 

Teresa Tomeo: Faithful Catholic Parents, Education ‘Key’ to Formation

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Popular Catholic commentator Teresa Tomeo celebrates her Catholic upbringing and education amid heartwarming stories, good laughs and practical tips for raising children in her new book, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie: 10 Things My Feisty Italian-American Mom Taught Me About Living a Godly Life.

Tomeo is a well-known Catholic author, syndicated Catholic radio talk show host, and motivational speaker. The Cardinal Newman Society recently caught up with Tomeo to discuss her new book and the role of Catholic parents and Catholic education in forming young people today.

“I fell away from the faith for many years but my Mom and my Dad, plus a really good Catholic grade school education, planted the seeds,” Tomeo explained.  “When push came to shove, I looked in the mirror and slowly came back to my senses.  I don’t think I could have done that without those seeds being planted by a loving Catholic family and good solid lay and religious teachers.”

CNS: In your new book, you share the wit and wisdom of your Italian-American mom, Rosie, through storytelling and practical advice. What do you hope readers come away with after reading the book?

Teresa Tomeo: That we need to get back to the basics; the Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments, loving one another as Christ and our Catholic faith teaches us.  It’s not all that complicated, except we make it so because we just refuse in this world to put God first.  My mother knew this as did her mother.  It’s common sense but, as I say in the book, that’s something that is not so common anymore.

CNS: Since parents are the first and primary educators of their children, how can Rosie serve as an encouragement to Catholic parents in their role?

Teresa Tomeo: I think she serves as a great reminder to parents to never give up on your children.  I fell away from the faith for many years but my Mom and my Dad, plus a really good Catholic grade school education, planted the seeds.  When push came to shove, I looked in the mirror and slowly came back to my senses.  I don’t think I could have done that without those seeds being planted by a loving Catholic family and good solid lay and religious teachers.

CNS: Your mom provided you with a strong Catholic foundation, including the importance of relying on our Blessed Mother’s intercession, such as when your family escaped unharmed from a gas explosion at your apartment complex. Can you comment on how your mom provided a Catholic witness in both word and example?

Teresa Tomeo: Well she never gave up and she never lost her joy.  She persevered through many a trial and I saw how she grew stronger from those trials and even more importantly I saw how she prayed, went to Mass, and called on the intercession of Our Lady and the saints regularly and she taught me and my sisters to do the same.  We didn’t always listen, at least at first but eventually, her witness made a major difference and still does in my life even though she passed away three years ago.  The phrases in the book, the ten things Mom taught me, were among the most memorable. But she had a lot of other funny but profound sayings as well, so many I could probably write a few volumes worth.

CNS: Another lesson your mom shared with you was “Nevva get too big for those britches” or “humility.” You discuss how social media is one factor contributing to a self-centered society. What are some of the other challenges young Catholics face today?

Teresa Tomeo: Young people are not immune to the epidemic of loneliness as outlined in the special Surgeon General advisory that came out a few weeks ago. And the Surgeon General just released a follow up report to the loneliness advisory raising his great concerns about teens and social media. He says it’s adding to the problems already experienced—so again, families really need to get a handle on media usage. In addition to social media, young people spend far too much time with media in general, which causes them to focus on themselves.  Most importantly church attendance is down overall. That combined with broken families, and families who no longer consider faith or church attendance important, it’s a recipe for disaster.

CNS: How can they grow in humility and virtue?

Teresa Tomeo: Pope Francis spoke about this problem on his recent trip to Hungary telling young people not to be “couch potatoes.” He went on to tell them to aim high and to focus on doing great things for God.  You can’t do this while staring at a phone or laptop. However, young people need to see and hear from and about great witnesses of the faith and to be reminded of so many saints, even their age, such as Blessed Carol Acutis or Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who always looked to Jesus.  They loved life, they had fun, but at the end of the day they had their priorities straight. They need to learn about these and other wonderful examples.  As St, Paul says in Romans 10:17 “faith comes through hearing.” I heard Rosie talk about the Blessed Mother, St. Teresa, and other favorite saints of hers growing up and it eventually made a big difference in my life.  I absolutely love the great cloud of witnesses we have in the ten thousand plus saints in our Church.

CNS: For years, you’ve been a big supporter of The Cardinal Newman Society and faithful Catholic education. Why do you think it’s so important for Catholic parents to seek out faithful Catholic education for their children? What role do you see faithful Catholic schools, homeschool programs & colleges playing in the future of our Church and country? 

Teresa Tomeo: Well again, I credit the solid Catholic education I received for eight years in grade school as key in my formation.  I was growing up in turbulent times back in the late 60’s and 70’s.  But it’s not nearly as turbulent as it is today. We have to be able to know who we are and why we are here.  We have to have a compass and a solid Catholic education is going to help steer one in the right direction.  The religious sisters and lay instructors not only taught us the faith, they taught us the importance of a vocation.  That’s where I discovered my communications vocation.  By the time I was in the third grade, thanks in part to the encouragement of my teachers, I knew that I would be in the communications field.  I didn’t know exactly what that meant at the time but my teachers were the ones who recognized my gift of gab and my interest in writing, and they encouraged me along the way.  I also had a very profound experience when I made my First Holy Communion and that’s what eventually brought me back to the Church.

CNS: Anything else you’d like to add?

Teresa Tomeo: I would just like to end where I began; reminding parents, older siblings, others who work with young people keep planting those seeds.  Keep working hard at looking for good Catholic schools that are true to the faith.  And even if your child does stray, know that you did what the Lord called you to do in terms of bringing them up in the faith to the best of your ability. Keep praying. Keep loving them and keep reminding them when the opportunity arises that God loves them too and that there is always a place for them in your home and God’s house, the Catholic Church. Oh, and as I say throughout the book, a little dose of old fashion Catholic guilt doesn’t hurt either.

National Essay Contest Winner Saw ‘Firsthand’ the ‘Great Riches’ of Faithful Catholic Education

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While many students go off to college and lose their faith and joy, one college-bound student saw how his older siblings’ faith was strengthened and lives were enriched by attending a faithful Catholic college—and now he, too, will be attending a faithful college with a $5,000 scholarship.

Jacob Kristine, a homeschooled student from Pennsylvania, is the winner of The Cardinal Newman Society’s 2023 Essay Scholarship Contest. His $5,000 scholarship will be applied toward his first year at Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., and he is eligible for continuing scholarships from Christendom in subsequent years.

“My siblings have bestowed upon me the great riches of understanding what gifts a truly Catholic college can impart to a young person. I have seen firsthand how this pursuit of Truth leads to a life that is Good and wholesome and sincerely promotes seeking the Creator of Beauty,” explained Kristine in his award-winning essay, which can be read in its entirety here.

“The friendships my siblings forged throughout their four years among like-minded followers of Christ have challenged them to grow in wisdom, remain faithful to God through worship and devotional practices, and encouraged virtuous living without sacrificing fun, laughter, and an abundantly joy-filled life—then and now,” Kristine continued.

The topic for this year’s contest was to reflect on the following question: “The Cardinal Newman Society recently released a 7-minute video on the advantages of choosing a faithful Catholic college. Pick a key point(s) or theme(s) from the video and explain why attending a Newman Guide college will have special value for you.” Essays were judged by how well they demonstrated appreciation for faithful Catholic education, as well as the quality of the writing.

The judges were thoroughly impressed with Kristine’s essay, which emphasized the academic, spiritual, and social life at faithful Catholic colleges. Kristine is the fifth of eight children in his family and has been homeschooled his entire life. Since third grade, he has served as an altar server at his Catholic parish and worked at the church cemetery as a groundskeeper. He has also enjoyed competing in sports, especially cross country and track and field, which he hopes to continue next year at Christendom.

Kristine explained how The Newman Guide and The Cardinal Newman Society’s “Recruit Me” program proved helpful in his college search:

Without the Newman Guide, I am not so sure that my college search would have been as comprehensive and complete as it turned out. The “Recruit Me” program was a fantastic blessing, as it allowed so many colleges to reach out to me and provide information that I could digest and review. I would then turn to the Newman Guide to further enlighten me about the most vital and important aspects of a truly Catholic college education. With your fantastic resources, I was able to confidently find a home for the next four years that would equip me to become the man of God that this world so desperately needs.

The annual contest is open to high school seniors in the United States who participate in the Newman Society’s Recruit Me program and use The Newman Guide in their college search. The innovative Recruit Me program invites Newman Guide colleges to compete for students while providing information about faithful Catholic education. Rising high school seniors who wish to enter next year’s essay contest can sign up for Recruit Me online here.

Kristine’s $5,000 scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Joseph and Ann Guiffre, supporters of The Cardinal Newman Society and faithful Catholic education.

“We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Guiffre for enabling this scholarship,” said Newman Society President Patrick Reilly. “They understand the unique value of a truly Catholic education, and they are thrilled to help a student experience all that a Newman Guide-recommended college can provide.”

Each year’s winner of the contest also has the opportunity to receive an additional $15,000 from participating colleges over the course of their college education. Sixteen of the Newman Guide colleges, including Christendom College, have agreed to supplement the Newman Society’s scholarship with additional $5,000 grants over three additional years, under certain conditions including full-time enrollment and academic progress.

Newman Guide Colleges Prepare Students for Happiness, Says African Missionary

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A graduate of Wyoming Catholic College who now serves as a teacher and missionary in Africa says that there’s “no better option” than faithful Catholic colleges for “being formed as a whole person for happiness and flourishing.”

“Any college can provide job training, but Newman Guide colleges are looking at students as a person created in the image of God, so yes, providing the skills and education needed to work in this life, but also to be happy, both in this life and the next,” says Hannah Graves.

Currently serving as a teacher and missionary in Malawi, Africa, Graves credits her faithful Catholic education with giving her the “perspective” she needs to continue her service. “While there is a lot that is beautiful here in Malawi, there are also lots of major problems. Corruption and destitution are ubiquitous.”

After graduating from WCC, Graves worked for a parish in Washington state that wanted to set-up a sister relationship with a parish in Malawi. Inspired to share the joys of her Catholic faith and support the sister parish, Graves took a trip to visit St. Mary’s in Ntaja. During her visit, Graves discovered, “there was a lot about the life in Malawi that appealed to me.” She was drawn to a life of simplicity.

“I have wanted to live so as to ‘tread lightly on the earth,’ and in Malawi I saw the possibility of stepping out of the materialist consumerist culture that has dominated America and to learn to live without ‘essentials’ like refrigeration, air conditioning, dishwashers, and washing machines,” Graves said.

After Graves returned from that trip, she explored the opportunity to share her faithful Catholic education and teach in Malawi full-time.  She contacted the Sacramentine Sisters and moved to Malawi in July 2022. She currently teaches high school students in a Sacramentine school, but she also volunteers regularly at a local orphanage run by Franciscan sisters.

Hannah Graves volunteers at an orphanage run by Franciscan sisters.

Living in Malawi, Graves has noticed that “so much poverty is caused by poor agricultural practices and broken family units.” Despite the poverty, Graves admires the joy she sees. “The women are always so thrilled that I am there… They take such joy in the simplest gestures and so frequently break into song.”

“My neighbor is an Italian nurse who runs physical therapy centers for disabled children (cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, osteogenesis, club foot). On my days off, I go with her out to the villages for the PT sessions. The monthly gatherings at the centers always end with a simple meal. I love ‘helping’ the women in the kitchen and trying to communicate.”

Graves is striving to live a life detached from worldly things, a life of prayer and service for the Catholic Church and the people of Malawi. She plans to stay in Africa for the length of her work permit which is two years, but is “open to considering a longer stay depending on what God seems to want.”

Editor-in-chief of Magnificat Magazine Developed ‘Habits of Prayer’ at Faithful Catholic College

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Fr. Sebastian White, O.P.

The editor-in-chief of the popular Magnificat magazine says that a faithful Catholic college is where he “began to develop daily Catholic habits of prayer and a whole Catholic outlook on the world.” Now Fr. Sebastian White, O.P., helps Catholics across the globe strengthen their prayer lives through the monthly Magnificat prayer companion, which reaches more than 300,000 subscribers in English and Spanish through the U.S. edition alone.

Fr. White is a Dominican priest and convert to Catholicism who earned his Master of Theological Studies from the International Theological Institute Catholic University in Trumau, Austria, which is recognized in The Newman Guide. He oversees the monthly publication of Magnificat, which includes the readings for daily Mass, meditations, essays on saints and sacred art, his own editorial, and more.

The Cardinal Newman Society recently asked Fr. White to share how attending a faithful Catholic college influenced him personally and prepared him for his current role with Magnificat.

CNS: What is it that drew you to attend ITI Catholic University? 

Fr. White: In early 2004 I had just returned to the Catholic Church and been confirmed as a Catholic, shortly after graduating from college. (I had been baptized Catholic as an infant, but then raised in a protestant church.) Thomas Howard, a beloved writer and convert who had been a visiting professor at ITI Catholic University in his retirement, became a close friend and mentor. I was spending much of my time reading Catholic books and talking to Tom, and he suggested that I consider going to study at ITI. When I read about the richness of ITI’s international community, the unity of the intellectual and devotional life that it offers, and the beauty and history of Austria, I became more excited at the prospect of living there and studying there. When I applied and was accepted, I knew that it would be a great blessing and would help to deepen my Catholic faith.

CNS: Could you share how your faith was deepened through your studies at ITI Catholic University?

Fr. White: ITI Catholic University is really the place where I began to develop daily Catholic habits of prayer and a whole Catholic outlook on the world. I have always felt that, had I been living in suburban Boston and working for a bank, for example, struggling to find time for daily Mass and daily prayer, I would have had a much harder time maturing as a Catholic. At ITI I was surrounded by other young, intellectually motivated Catholics and formed great friendships that last until this day. Additionally, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, daily Mass in both the Roman Rite and the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, hikes and excursions to other beautiful Catholic sites, all supported what I was I learning in the classroom. At ITI, the Catholic faith is the air you breathe!

CNS: How did your time at ITI Catholic University help prepare you for your role as editor-in-chief of Magnificat?

Fr. White: At ITI I had to read a lot and write a lot. That was an important formation that helped me, first of all, when I returned to the United States to enter the Dominican Order and in my studies for the priesthood. At Magnificat, I continue to have to read and write regularly. Additionally, ITI gave me a familiarity with the breadth of the Catholic tradition. As the editor, for example, I am responsible for choosing the daily meditations that are a beloved feature of Magnificat. I am better equipped to select those wonderful texts because of my time at ITI.

CNS: What is something about Magnificat that you look forward to sharing with its readers each month?

Fr. White: The most challenging part of Magnificat for me has always been writing the editorial because it is completely open-ended. Whereas the meditations, for example, are essentially a work of selecting and curating great texts from our Catholic tradition, when it comes to the editorial each month, I am, so to speak, starting from scratch. But ITI helped me to grow in the discipline of writing regularly. Consequently, I am less intimidated by the task. Often, I write about my own life and experiences from my upbringing. Readers have seemed to enjoy these stories and feel a personal connection to the editor. I see the editorial as an opportunity for readers to get to know the editor a bit. So over time I have begun to look forward to the opportunity to share some personal story or experience. The Catholic Church is often described as a big family. I think of Magnificat as a family, too.

CNS: What advice would you give to those who are discerning where to go to college?

Fr. White: I think young people ought to consider where they will truly get a good education. After all, college isn’t simply a religious camp. On the other hand, college is a place where a person’s moral and spiritual life can either grow and mature or suffer tremendously. Ideally, young people can find a place that offers both a high quality of academic learning and a milieu in which they can deepen their faith and develop good habits. In college, we are laying the groundwork for the person we will be for the rest of our lives. A good Catholic institution such as ITI Catholic University helps us to grow and mature in faith even while we are learning other natural disciplines.