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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Rev. Brendan Kelly (’85) Remembers Rev. Ramon Decaen (’96)
In a recent article for the Southern Nebraska Register, Rev. Brendan Kelly (’85) reflects on the life of a beloved friend and fellow TAC alumnus priest, Rev. Ramon Decaen (’96).
Read: “He Competed Well,” by Rev. Brendan Kelly (’85)
Fr. Kelly, pastor of St. Stephen Church in Exeter, Nebraska, and brother to College tutor Dr. Brian Kelly, recalls how he first met Fr. Decaen, who was then a transitional deacon at All Saints Parish in Manassas, Virginia. At the time, Fr. Kelly was still discerning next steps to the priesthood, and, after many conversations with Fr. Decaen, finally saw a path forward.
“I can clearly recall the Sunday in spring after Mass when Deacon Decaen said to me, ‘Brendan, you say that you are called to be a priest. When are you going to get on with it? You aren’t getting any younger, you know.’ He was right, and we talked about how to set about joining a diocese for priestly formation.”
With Fr. Decaen’s help, Fr. Kelly joined the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and a few years later, was ordained to the priesthood in 2005. “It was a great day, and Fr. Decaen was thrilled at having me as a diocesan brother,” he says. “When I arrived at St. Mary in Nebraska City for my first priestly assignment, he had been working there before me, preparing the way, as it were.” Though the two priests were often busy with their parish and teaching assignments, they made an effort to catch up whenever their schedules would allow.
“Life was not easy for ‘Padre Ramon,’ as his parishioners would eventually call him,” relates Fr. Kelly, “and he bore the joys, pains, and heartaches of his people, as well as of his family, with unfailing zeal as the years went by.” In 2021, Fr. Decaen contracted the Covid-19 virus and died, soon thereafter, at only 48 years old. He had been a priest for just over 20 years and spent the last 10 years of his ministry serving Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln.
“Whether the occasion was one of joy or sorrow, hard work or play, prayer or just priestly banter, Fr. Ramon lived the love of God and allowed that love to radiate to whomever it might be that God would send into his life that day,” Fr. Kelly concludes. “To paraphrase the great St. Paul, He competed well. He ran the race. He kept the faith.”