Name: Patrick Stein
Age: 18
Year: Sophomore
From: Leesburg, VA
Major: Political Science
Hobbies? I love to play sports.
What's your favorite class? History with Mr. McGuire. He is so passionate about the material and it really rubs off on the students. His are the classes I look forward to the most.
Do you play any sports? I play varsity basketball and baseball. I play basketball because freshman year I wanted to try something new. In the past two seasons I have learned a lot thanks to Coach Vander Woude and my great teammates. I love baseball. I grew up playing it with my family. I'm thankful that I get to play this great sport at a college level now.
Do you participate in any drama or music related activities? I don't. But I will sing along at Mass and in my room.
What is your favorite thing about Christendom? My favorite thing is being around so many like-minded people who take their Faith seriously. I also am thankful for the friends I've made here, especially my roommates.
Why did you choose Christendom? I chose it because I knew of the Catholic culture which flourishes here and I really wanted to be a part of it.
What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduation I plan on going into the Marine Corps as an officer, if everything goes as planned.

Cup o' Coeli Brings Out Musical Talent

Friday night, tasty smells and melodious sounds filled the tightly packed Chester-Belloc Room of Regina Coeli Hall, as students took the stage and performed musical pieces in a café-style atmosphere. The SAC sponsored event started at eight o’clock with the band Starting Early, who played a set filled with classic Beach Boys and Beatles songs.

A new Christendom musical group, Applied Sciences, performed—comprised of talented pianist and vocalist, Transfer Matt La Fave, Guitarist and vocalist, Sophomore Philip O’Neil, and vocalist, the Chronicler Online’s own, Sophomore Liz Sartor. They performed a piece by Maroon Five, as well as “Wonderwall” by Oasis.

Many students went solo, and displayed their piano talent, like Freshman Colleen Harrington who played Switchfoot’s “Only Hope,” Sophomore David Frank, who played an original composition titled “The Waltz of the Scarlet Pimpernel,” and Freshman Jacinta Ferri, who played and sang a Colbie Callait song.

Sophomore P.J. Freeman closed the night with an intense classical violin performance. Everyone enjoyed the chance to chill and listen to music after a long week, and judging by the smiles on the audiences faces, everyone was quite pleased with the results.


Starting Early performed "Don't Worry Baby" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys.


Sophomores Anna McShurley and Gabriel Schuberg opened up with a beautifully performed violin duet of Pachabel's Canon.


Senior Katie Irwin and Alumnus Bridget Randolph played a flute/cello duet called “Shenandoah.”


Senior Anna Adams, Junior Catherine Briggs, and Freshman Dominic Ginski performed a few fun upbeat songs.

A Colorful Cultural Heritage Night

On Saturday night, students gathered in St. Lawrence Commons during dinner for “Cultural Heritage Night,” a showcase of the food, traditions and talents which celebrated the diverse cultural backgrounds of Christendom Students.

The kitchen staff prepared a delicious meal, featuring several choices in keeping with the multi-cultural theme. In addition to the regular fare, there were a number of dishes prepared by students who had special recipes from their respective ethnic backgrounds.

After the meal was finished, there were a number of presentations by students willing to share their unique talents and some interesting information about their culture.

Senior Alan Ng demonstrated Chinese martial arts with agility and skill. Sophomores Paul Nangurai and Leah Merrill showcased the colorful dress of Kenya, beautifully adorned with many beads, and accessorized with bright beaded jewelry and headdress. Paul also shared some of his country’s traditions and customs.

Freshmen Taylor Anderson and Sarah Halbur played a lively Norwegian folk tune together on their violins. Chris Foeckler and Brian Killackey, both sophomores, performed a very impressive and energy filled Irish step dance, representing the Irish heritage they share in common with many of their fellow Christendom students.

Last but not least, senior Krystal Schuetz, who organized the event, made her appearance dressed in traditional Filipino attire and read the poem “To the Philippines” by the national hero Jose Rizal.

“The food was delicious and the entertainment was both enjoyable and educational,” said sophomore Jackie Kenney, “I learned a bit more about different foods, cultural dress, and national heritage. I enjoyed it!”

The Christendom College community boasts international students from Canada, Colombia, Japan, England, Ireland, Mexico, and Kenya.


Paul, Leah, and Krystle are joined by Senior Jenny Dhanagom showcasing their traditional garments.



Sophomores Brian Killackey and Chris Foeckler put on an impressive Irish dancing show.

Pope Benedict and Islam

On Thursday night, students gathered in the basement of St. John the Evangelist Library as Classics professor, Mr. Andrew Hayes, presented a lecture entitled “Pope Benedict and Islam.” The talk primarily focused on the Pope's understanding of modern Islam, and included much information about the history and relationship of Islam and the Papacy. The talk further compared the stances on the Islamic religion as spoken on by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Following the lecture, students enjoyed light refreshments and drinks.

This talk will be available for download at Christendom on iTunes U.

Meeting Conservative Leaders

On March 1, FOX News Commentator Kate Obenshain and Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall addressed students in St. Kilian's Café. The event, hosted by the College Republicans, is the first in a series of Coffee Socials that provide students with an informal setting to meet great conservative leaders and exchange ideas.

Obenshain, the Vice President of Young America's Foundation, encouraged students to be active in the political sphere.

“Get internships with conservative organizations,” she said. “Come to conferences. It is so important to learn about the ideas that are out there—to equip yourself and educate yourself.”

Obenshain remarked that truly conservative colleges like Christendom were a rarity and was enthused by what she experienced on campus. She encouraged students to run for office, citing a need for good conservative men and women, now more than ever.

Delegate Bob Marshall (R), representing Virginia's 13th District since 1991, then addressed students and reinforced Obenshain's charge to be active in politics while sharing a number of personal experiences in politics.

“You have more power and influence than you think,” Marshall said. “You need to participate in this [political] process.”

Senior Chris Dayton, who helped organize the event, said that he and his peers found the talks to be inspiring. “People came up to me and were saying that the talks had really got them thinking and made them see that they really could make a difference,” he said.

Students at Christendom are active in the College Republicans as well as other conservative and pro-life organizations throughout the year. The Young America's Foundation has just announced that it will once again be ranking Christendom as one of the Top Ten Conservative Colleges in the nation.

Read more about this event here. Both Obenshain's and Marshall's addresses can be heard at Christendom on iTunes U.

College Republican Leaders Freshman Kelly Lawyer and Seniors Elizabeth Whittaker and Chris Dayton pose with Obenshain and Marshall.

Our First Free Weekend

Once our Italian Immersion week was finished, we started our normal class schedule in Rome, which consists of Roman Perspectives, Art and Architecture, Apologetics, and of course, Italian. On the side, the Christendom students have happily been educating themselves in an intensive study of the coffee, pasta, and wine of Italy. We found that as long as the local twenty-four hour bakery continues to stay in business, we all will be fine this semester.

We all greatly enjoyed our first free weekend, which ended this past Sunday night. Our Residence Assistant, Beth Doherty, helped us kick it off by helping arrange an outing to the ballet, Jazelle. This event was a huge success, and I suspect half the excitement, for the girls at least, was having a good excuse to dress up.

I spent my free weekend exploring Rome on my own, simply packing a lunch and tramping off in a random direction. I explored some souvenir shops and churches, tried out a new coffee shop, and wandered through a mosaic art gallery. My highlight was finding a bookshop with an English section, where I happily read until I was politely kicked out for closing time.

Meanwhile, the rest of my classmates scattered to different sites and places throughout Italy. A group of the boys spent an entire day at Monte Cassino, the amazing site of St. Benedict's monastery and tomb. Two students went to Nettuno, the town and shrine of Saint Maria Goretti, while others went to a local mushroom festival, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. Rome Program Director Mr. Fuerte also took a group of adventurous students to Saturday’s big rugby game, featuring Italy versus Scotland. From the gathered reports, the game was very loud, very competitive, and tons of fun to watch.

On Sunday, many of the girls joined Mrs. Fuerte for a day retreat offered at a nearby convent. It was a chance to spend some time in prayer and reflection in a very peaceful atmosphere. The nuns could not have been sweeter and served us a delicious lunch afterwards.

Other students opted to go to the Vatican Museum, since it was the monthly free admittance day. The museum houses hundreds of paintings and pieces of classical art, but my classmates found out that you have to arrive very early in order to beat the immense crowd that flocks to the museum’s doors. Although free admission is always a plus, you also want to escape from being trampled or crushed to death by a tourist mob.

Now after sharing our stories and adventures of the past weekend, my classmates and I realized that yes, we still have class on Monday, which means that reading has to be done and assignments finished. So we scatter to our respective rooms and study-nooks in order to accomplish what is expected of a college student.

Until next time...

Resting in front of the Aracoeli on top of the Capitoline Hill.


Jacquelyn Brogley and Noreen Daly enjoy the Italian sun and St. John Lateran.


John Killackey snaps another great shot: a view from Monte Cassino.


It was a glorious day to be at Monte Cassino.


Taking notes on the go is something you become an expert at.

Transferring to Christendom

At the start of the semester, new faces and personalities arrived on campus—the transfer students. They are new to the Christendom College scene but veterans to the rigors of college life.

Several made the transition from large secular universities, others from small private colleges.

Freshmen Daniel Mitchell transferred from a large state university to Christendom.

“The transition to a more personal classroom setting makes me feel wanted,” he said. “At my previous school, most of my professors did not know or even care about my name. Here, on the first day of each of my classes, the professors made a point to get to know each of their student’s names. I get the feeling that the professors care about the success of their students, which is wonderful.”

Mitchell said that he chose Christendom because it offers a great Catholic education and an enjoyable Catholic atmosphere.

“My good friend John McWhirter, also a freshman, encouraged me to come. Everything he told me about the school was positive, which really impressed me,” he said.

Several transfer students spoke highly of the tight knit campus community. “I thought it would be hard coming in the middle of the year,” said Freshman Anna Harris “But after the first week, I had formed new friendships on campus. Everyone was open to meeting the new students, and I felt very welcomed.”

“The transition has been easy,” said Sophomore Matt La Fave. “I chose Christendom from my previous college because I wanted to pursue liberal arts in a more traditional sense, and it’s been great.”

Transfer students are expected to complete the core curriculum classes including English, History, Philosophy and Theology, though many students are able to transfer their Language, Math, and Science credits from their previous colleges.

When asked why he chose the liberal arts education of Christendom College over the pursuit of an engineering degree, Sophomore Shawn Dust said, “I feel that liberal arts is more suited to me. When I visited, I was impressed with the teachers and the classes, and I was immediately attracted to the Catholicity of the community. I feel that Christendom is forming me as a person in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.”

For most of the transfer students, faith is a very important part of the their academic formation.

“I love how the class schedule is structured around daily Mass and the Sacraments, how we say prayers before classes,” Anna Harris said. “I feel that I am able to be more balanced spiritually, academically, and socially here, and I love it!”

Transfer students are eligible for all the same financial aid considerations as first-time freshmen, including academic scholarship, loans, and grants. A transfer student goes through the same application process as a first-time freshman but also must supply his/her college transcripts in order to receive credit.

Crusaders finish the Basketball Season

The men’s and women’s basketball teams finished the year off last week with games against Gallaudet University. The game against Gallaudet played last Thursday, showcased “Senior Night” on the College campus. Both teams honored their departing seniors. For the Lady Crusaders Jeanie Goeckner and Meghan Kavanagh played their last game in Crusader gymnasium and for the men TJ Nacey, Matt Lancaster, and Matt Hadro finished off their careers.

This year’s seniors mark a unique passing of the torch, so to speak, as they were freshmen when former Athletic Director Mr. Tom Vander Woude was in his final year at the college. Matt Lancaster and Matt Hadro both remember playing for him with fond memories.

The games against Gallaudet featured a contrast in styles for both games. Gallaudet was a very talented team and looked to run the floor and play pressure defense while the Crusaders looked to try and control the tempo more and be more methodical on the offensive end. The Gallaudet women’s team raced out to an early lead and never looked back. The Lady Crusaders played solid defense and had some offensive bursts in the 2nd half but the Gallaudet team had too much too often as the Lady Crusaders fell to the Bison in the last game.

The men’s game was a tale of two semesters as the first game back in November featured the Bison winning by a huge margin as the Crusaders were unable to deal with the pressure from Gallaudet and the score told the story.

This game would be far different. Despite playing without juniors Matt Rensch and Joe Townsend, the Crusaders fought hard for 40 minutes, even leading the Bison during the first half. Gallaudet made a small run to end the half and led 36-31. The 2nd half saw the athletic Bison pull away, but the Crusaders fought back behind the strong play of Brian Fox and Brendan Krebs on the offensive end and Tim Beer and Sam McMahon on the defensive end. The Gallaudet team tried everything they had done in the previous meeting, but the progress made over the year by the Crusaders was evident, as they shredded the Gallaudet press multiple times for open shots. Despite the hard fight of the Crusaders, the Bison did pull away behind a game high 29 points for senior Johnny Jackson, the final score read Gallaudet 87 and Christendom 70.

I would like to personally thank both teams for their hard work throughout the past season, and thank the fans for their support throughout the year as well, especially for senior night which included a packed house by the Christendom “Crazies,” as our fans are affectionately called. Both teams showed great improvement throughout the year and have lots of young talented players which only gives confidence and excitement for future years in the world of Crusader Basketball!


You just can't stop Dave Townsend.


Caitlin Morgan adds two to the Lady Crusader's score.




Sophomore Frances Dewey, and Seniors Sarah Miranda, Lindsey Mersch, and Marie Muys show their support for the seniors.



Q. Can you tell me about the types of Masses offered at Christendom? Do you have different types of Masses for people to go to, like traditional Masses or contemporary music Masses?

A. We do offer different types of Masses at Christendom, but I’d have to say that they are all offered in, what would be considered, a traditional manner. There are normally 15 Masses a week offered on our campus. Two or three a day, except for Sunday when there is one main community Mass offered.

As far as the type of Mass goes, our priests offer the Ordinary Form of the Mass (sometimes referred to as the Novus Ordo Mass) in English and Latin and they offer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (sometimes referred to as the Tridentine Mass) in Latin. The actual schedule may be found here.

Generally, there is some type of hymn sung at the beginning of Mass and at the offertory. These songs are normally accompanied by our organist and are typically songs like, "Jesus My Lord, My God, My All," "Soul of My Savior," "Faith of Our Fathers," "Salve Regina," etc.

The various parts of the Mass, such as the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei are also often sung, sometimes in Latin and sometimes in English. Gregorian Chant, offered by our Schola Gregoriana, is also commonly heard at a variety of the Masses throughout the week.

On Sunday, we have one main community Mass at 10 am which is accompanied by our accomplished choir and the Schola Gregoriana. There is a lot of incense and solemnity, and about 6 or 7 altar boys, during this Mass and it is the highpoint of our week here.

For some, the liturgical experience at Christendom is new to them because they grew up in parishes where the norm was to have more contemporary Masses and not as much incense, altar boys, patens, bells, chant, and sacred polyphony, but they grow to love the traditions of the Church through learning more about them and experiencing them on a daily basis. Others grew up with all of the so-called "Smells and Bells," and they too are happy to immerse themselves in the liturgies offered.

I hope this helps and if you are ever in the area, please feel free to stop by for Mass and experience the beauty of the liturgy in our Chapel of Christ the King.

Director of Admissions
tmcfadden@christendom.edu
800.877.5456 ext. 1290

If anyone has questions about applying, visiting, scholarships, financial aid, campus life, rules and regulations, majors, core curriculum, transfer credits, or even about the food here at Christendom, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.