From the Desk of the President
"House of God, Gate of Heaven"
(Winter 2009 Newsletter)
[Index
of Past Articles by President Dillon]
Here on the campus of Thomas Aquinas College, there is growing
excitement as Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel nears completion.
In this past month, some key elements were delivered from Spain
- the altar, tabernacle, baldacchino, and altar rail. Artisans from
Arte Granda, the company that fabricated these pieces, have now
installed them in the Chapel sanctuary, and their beauty is breathtaking.
With these installations accomplished, the heart of the Chapel is
now complete. At the same time, plans are now very much underway
for the Chapel's Dedication Mass, which will occur only a few weeks
from now.
Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel will certainly be a blessing
for the whole community of Thomas Aquinas College. Not only will
its seating capacity allow all our faculty, staff, and students
to worship together, its beauty and grandeur will be edifying for
anyone who enters through its magnificent bronze doors.
We are deeply grateful to all those who have contributed to this
project - those who have given greatly of their plenty and those
who, like the widow of the Gospels, have given generously from the
little they have. With your help and the help of all of our benefactors,
Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel - a $23 million project
- has come to be a reality.
While to date we have received just over $18 million in gifts and
pledges to erect this beautiful house of God, our goal is to raise
the remaining $5 million in order that, wholly unencumbered by debt,
this Chapel may be entirely set apart for the glory of God.
I hope that you will consider joining in this final effort by making
a sacrificial gift to our Chapel Fund using the envelope enclosed
with this newsletter. Your contribution will help ensure that this
crown jewel of our campus will truly be a "house of God and
gate of heaven" (Gen. 28:17).
Even more, though, you will be helping to secure Thomas Aquinas
College's financial well-being during these difficult economic times.
Because we accept no direct government funding, and because we do
not turn any student away simply for financial reasons, we are challenged
each year to raise $4 million for financial aid and operations.
Though never easy, in this present economic climate, it will be
more difficult than ever to meet this challenge. By completing the
funding now for Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, we will
be in a better position to provide for our students' needs.
So I humbly ask that you consider making a sacrificial contribution
to the Chapel Fund at Thomas Aquinas College. I assure you that
great good will come through your generosity as our young people
go into the world and do their part to help build up the Body of
Christ.
Please be assured of our prayers for all our benefactors, especially
at the four Masses offered each day on our campus - soon at the
altar of the magnificent new chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the
Most Holy Trinity.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam!
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Winter 2009
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