More than 80 New Jersey alumni of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., gathered at the Essex and Sussex Club in Spring Lake the evening of Aug. 7 for the annual “CUA At the Shore” alumni event.
Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, 16th president of CUA, welcomed the alumni and provided an update of the state of the university as well as his vision and aspirations for its future. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., 14th president of CUA (1998-2010) and double alumnus of its School of Canon Law, addressed the gathering and opened the event with a prayer and blessing.
“Twenty-five years ago this year,” Bishop O’Connell remarked, “I began my 12-year tenure at CUA as president. They were among the happiest years of my life as a priest, filled with many challenges and opportunities. The greatest joys were my interactions with so many wonderful students. I keep in touch with many of them.”
In a conversation between President Kilpatrick and Bishop O’Connell before the evening began, CUA vice president for development Scott Rembold noted that the Diocese of Trenton is among the greatest supporters of CUA in the country both in the annual national collection conducted for the university each Labor Day weekend as well as in the number of students from the Diocese enrolled there.
Bishop O’Connell addresses the more than 80 CUA alumnni/ae during a Aug. 7 gathering in Spring Lake. Staff photo
Father Jean Felicien, priest secretary to the Bishop and a 2021 canon law alumnus, enjoyed mixing and meeting with his fellow alums. Barbara Andres, ’59 CUA alumna, told Bishop O’Connell that the friends she made at the university remain among her closest and most cherished friends.
Founded in 1887, The Catholic University of America is a comprehensive Catholic research university offering both undergraduate and graduate programs through its 12 schools. Chartered by the Holy See, CUA was established by Pope Leo XIII at the request of the U.S. bishops with the commitment that the dioceses of the country would financially support the university. That promise is the foundation for the annual collection conducted throughout the United States.
“I am very impressed by President Kilpatrick and his team,” observed Bishop O’Connell. “He has mapped out a truly innovative and inspiring academic and spiritual vision for the national university of the Catholic Church in our country, worthy of our support.”
CUA collection to benefit Church in U.S. and diocesan family