By Cathy Tilzey

The atmosphere was upbeat Saturday morning, May 9, as soon-to-be graduates of Carroll College processed up the aisle of the Cathedral of St. Helena for the diocesan college’s 99th Baccalaureate Mass.

Bishop George Leo Thomas presided at the liturgy, and the Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, president of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., presented the homily.

Father O’Connell quoted Pope Benedict XVI, who visited CUA last year and told Catholic educators that “every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God, who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth” so much so that “those who meet him are drawn by the very power of the Gospel to lead a new life characterized by all that is beautiful, good and true: a life of Christian witness.” (April 17, 2008).”

“Think about that for just a moment,” he added. “A Catholic college is a place to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ so that one can lead a new life!”

Whatever a graduate’s major or GPA was, favorite sport or organization or club was, Father O’Connell wanted them to ask themselves, “Was Carroll a place where I encountered God? Was I drawn by the power of the Gospel to lead a new life, a life of Christian witness?

“The great thing about our Church and faith is that Christ is always present … If we want to find him or see him or hear him, he is never far away,” Father O’Connell said.

For those who did encounter the living God in Jesus Christ at Carroll College, that encounter will continue to transform them and help them lead a life characterized by all that is beautiful, good and true. “Live up to that goal today, tomorrow and forever,” Father O’Connell said.

That afternoon, 243 seniors and faculty entered the school’s P.E. Center for awards and accolades. The outstanding teaching award went to R. Stephen Harper, associate professor of computer science, and history professor Robert Swartout received the distinguished scholar award.

Three retired faculty members received the honorary status of professor emeritus: Lois A. Fitzpatrick, professor and director of Corette Library; Father Jeremiah Lowney, associate professor of sociology; and Dennis E. Wiedmann, for teaching and being a student advisor and leadership in developing internships and other relationships with the faculty and state of Montana.

Endowed faculty positions include professors Ronald S. Stottlemyer; Robert R. Swartout; Christopher C. Fuller; Anthony M. Szpilka; Gerald F. Shields; John L. Scharf; and Colin A. Thomas.

Msgr. Kevin O’Neill presented the Borromeo award to the Good Samaritan Ministries of Helena, which manages a thrift store and promotes Catholic social justice. Theresa Ortega, executive director, accepted for the Good Samaritan and the churches and other organizations that support its programs.

Three honorary doctorates of humane letters were presented to Ivan Doig, Ph.D., who is considered one of the American West’s finest writers; Capt. Diane Carlson Evans, founder and president of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., and instrumental in getting a memorial built, and Father O’Connell, a Vincentian priest who was unanimously elected the 14th president of CUA in 1998.

Student awards include the Bishop Gilmore award for students with the highest grade-point average over four years. This year, it went to five graduates – Benjamin Dunham, Lacey Middlestead, Cherry Tomsheck, Janna Tomsheck and Briana Wipf.

Michael J. Paffhausen received the Michael Murphy award for outstanding collegiate citizenship.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 25, No. 5, May 15, 2009.