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During these remaining days of Advent, we at Catholic International University wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our entire community: our students and alumni, our faculty and staff, our generous supporters and the myriad of new friends we have made along the way. This year has been marked by numerous achievements. Since our rebranding ceremony, held at the stunning Papal Nunciature in Washington, D.C. in June, our team has worked tirelessly to implement our plan for growth, broadening and adding vital academic departments, developing additional degree programs, earning crucial accreditations, and expanding our international outreach. Our digital prison ministry has exploded, bringing more than 2.75 million lessons to incarcerated men and women in over 1100 prisons around the nation. What’s more, Catholic International is now poised to launch our program in AI and Prudential Design of Emerging Technologies in the new year.
The crowning moment of 2024 was our Convocation Mass and 41st annual Gala: “Education From the Heart of the Church.” We were incredibly blessed to have the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Christophe Cardinal Pierre join us, as well as EWTN’s Tracey Sabol as Master of Ceremonies. We were thrilled to present Most Reverend Michael Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, with the 2024 Founder’s Award. During his remarks, Bishop Burbidge encouraged us to respond faithfully to God’s call to “radiate His light to the world” and to “continue to form students who are equipped for lives of excellence and virtue.” The event was not only a celebration of our university’s history and achievements but also an opportunity for our esteemed benefactors to support our mission. The evening was a brilliant success. Thanks to your extraordinary generosity, we far surpassed our fundraising goal for the event.
The problems of today are immense. Everywhere we turn we see evidence that our world is troubled. Catholic International University is here as a part of the solution: to be a beacon of light by bringing “Joy from the Truth” to our global campus. In preparing the minds and hearts of our students for fruitful lives of service, we know we alone are not enough. As we approach the Holy Days of Christmastide, we are reminded that God sent His only begotten Son to save us. This is the Truth from which all our hope, all our joy pours forth. We pause to deeply reflect on this reality. All things are possible in Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. As Pope Francis said in his December message: “Christian hope is a gift from God that fills our lives with joy. And today, we need it a lot. The world really needs it a lot.”
I pray that in each of our lives, in our families and friendships, in our work and community, we will experience the profound serenity that this holy season brings. May each of us be blessed and, in turn, be a blessing to others as we head into the 2025 Jubilee year with renewed hope and with readiness for the tasks ahead.
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