Top photo caption: An overview shot of the campus of The Catholic University of America. Photo from The Catholic University of America
The Diocese of Trenton will join dioceses across the nation in holding a collection at all Masses Sept. 5-6 for The Catholic University of America, Washington, the only institution of higher education founded and operated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
CUA has a special connection to the Diocese of Trenton: Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., served as CUA’s 14th president from 1998 to 2010 before becoming the 10th Bishop of Trenton.
The university, established in 1870, is a national research institution devoted to the service of the national and global Church. It has more than 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in more than 250 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels across 12 colleges and 32 research facilities.
The annual collection, which is the only one taken up to benefit higher education in the United States, allows for CUA to continue providing affordable, quality education rooted firmly in Catholic intellectual, social and moral tradition. Since its founding, CUA graduates have been serving the Catholic Church of today, equipped with skills that are guided by and grounded in faith.
Although there are more than 200 Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. established before and after CUA’s foundation, CUA has the distinction of being the only papally chartered American institution of higher learning. CUA includes three “pontifical” faculties: philosophy, theology and canon law among its 12 schools.
CUA is also the only Catholic university in the U.S. with a School of Canon Law. Beyond Bishop O’Connell’s former tenure, the University’s ties with the Diocese of Trenton are significant. Bishop O’Connell, Bishop John M. Smith and Bishop John C. Reiss, along with several priests from the Diocese of Trenton, are graduates of its program in canon law, and a number of priests received their seminary theological preparation there.
A central campus building, a university professorship in English and an undergraduate scholarship bear Bishop O’Connell’s name, as does the plaza across the street from the campus.
Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis have each visited CUA and the neighboring Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop O’Connell hosted Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the University in 2008.