Thank you to all who participated in the Anniversary Celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of the Dedication of Villa Madonna becoming Thomas More College!

Friday | September 21 – An Evening of Art!

A Celebration of Art Alumni | 5-7 p.m. Opening of artwork curated from VMC/TMC artists, presented by the Creative and Performing Arts Department in the Eva G. Farris Art Gallery. The show continued through October 5. The following artists had pieces on display: Jennifer Bucalo Baldwin ’76, Christopher Beiting ’13, Mackenzie Staley Bessler ’16, Andrew Blom ’14, Sarah Brandt ’16, Michael Burkart ’75, Jacob Condon ’16, Karen Cress ’16, Elizabeth (Meyer) Ehrler ’99, Guadalupe Fernandez ’17, Kayla Fulcher ’17, Kennedy Fry ’18, Rita (Koehl) Geiger ’74, Bonita Williams Goldberg ’88, Mick Goldberg ’65, Cody Goodin ’84, Barbara Airhart Gronefeld ’76, Richard Gronefeld ’77, Maria Anne (Creed) Hoban ’81, Nicole Kallmeyer ’16, Nathan Klare ’12, Ben Kleier ’16, David Klocke ’96, Rose Hatmaker (Abbott) ’02, Jaime Maley ’17, Jason Matheny ’14, Tricia Kramer Noe ’67, Barb Rauf ’69, Kate Rowekamp ’12, Emily Sanker ’16, Victoria (Hoening) Sapp ’95, Cathryn Scheben ’17, the late Bernard Schmidt ’58, Roger R. Schwartz ’73, Alexis Taylor ’11, Emma Teller ’11, Heidi Toelke ’75, Carolyn Wagner ’13, Leslie Strecker Weisner ’73, Ruthe Wyman (Reeves, Smith) ’76.

 

Villa Players Alumni Reception | 8:30 p.m. Former and present Villa Players gathered following the 7:30 p.m. performance of “A Man for All Seasons” in the Thomas More Theatre.

Sunday | September 23

Mass | 10 a.m.  Thomas More Chancellor Bishop Roger J. Foys, D.D., celebrated a Mass dedicated to Thomas More College at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, Kentucky.

Celebratory Pig Roast | 5 p.m.  Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Thomas More converged on campus to enjoy live music and fabulous food at the in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. The pig roast was free and open to the public.

Thursday | September 27

23rd Annual Bishop William A. Hughes Awards | 6 p.m.  Honorees include Casey (Thomas) ’81 and Mark Guilfoyle, J.D., Stephanie Renaker-Jansen and Dick Jansen, and Frank Murphy. The awards ceremony will be held at Drees Pavilion in Devou Park in Covington, Kentucky. For a photo gallery from this event CLICK HERE

Friday | September 28

Red Mass | 12 p.m. The Saint Thomas More Society of Greater Cincinnati and other members of the legal community arrive on campus to celebrate the annual Red Mass with Bishop Roger J. Foys, D.D., as celebrant in Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, asking for God’s blessings on the legal community.

Thomas More Night at the Reds | 6:40 p.m. The announcement was made that Thomas More College would officially become Thomas More University effective Monday, Oct. 1. Such exciting news! For photos of the unveiling and the official press release, CLICK HERE. That evening, it was Thomas More night at Great American Ball Park as the Reds took on the Pirates. An announcement about the move to University was made with Acting President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., Board Chair Marc Neltner ’85, and Board Chair-Elect Judith Marlowe, Ph.D. ’69 on the field to kick off the game. There was a contingent of blue among the red, a show of support by Saints faithful for this big announcement in a very public venue!

Saturday | September 29

Academic Convocation | 2:30 p.m. The excitement of the Academic Convocation which again mirrored the events of 1968 with faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Thomas More gathered to witness the pomp and circumstance, as a procession in full regalia entered Connor Convocation Center. Acting President Jagger presided as greetings were relayed on the part of the students, faculty, alumni, and the Board of Trustees. Gary P. Zola, Ph.D., executive director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, was awarded the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters, and the main keynote address was presented by none other than beloved professor Raymond G. Hebert, Ph.D., dean of the College Emeritus, professor of history, and executive director of the Institute for Religious Liberty. For a photo gallery from this event, CLICK HERE

Sunday | September 30

Vespers | 2 p.m. The celebration wound down on Sunday, Sept. 30 with a Vespers service concelebrated by the Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Covington, and Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D., Archbishop of the Diocese of Louisville, in Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel. This beautiful prayer service, also called Evening Prayer, is a part of the Liturgy of Hours and involves hymns, the singing of psalms, and prayers of intercession. Its climax included the singing of the Magnificat (or Gospel Canticle). A grand closing to an event-filled week to celebrate Villa Madonna’s transition to Thomas More College, now evolved to Thomas More University.

Wednesday | October 3

Choir Concert | 6:30 p.m.  Specially prepared for the 50th Anniversary, located in Steigerwald Hall, Saints Center. This event was FREE and open to the public!

 

Those attending these events were asked to tag their pictures on social media with #TMCelebrates50