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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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Admission & Aid
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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Students & Parents
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. Hildebrand Garceau, O. Praem. (’78) Returns as Chaplain
A native of Connecticut, Fr. Hildebrand came to the College as a student in 1974. After graduating in 1978, he spent one year teaching before joining the religious community of the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception. He attended Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon and was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 by Timothy Cardinal Manning, then the Archbishop of Los Angeles. After two decades with the Canons, however, Fr. Hildebrand discerned a calling to a more monastic vocation, and in 2003 received permission to transfer to the religious order of the Norbertine Fathers at St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange, Calif.
In 2004 Fr. Hildebrand was appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Costa Mesa, a 3,000-family parish where Mass is offered in four languages — English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Latin. Under his leadership, St. John’s placed a special emphasis on the Sacrament of Penance, offering not just the usual one hour for confession on Saturdays, but also two hour-long opportunities every Sunday. The church also operated a Eucharistic chapel for perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Fr. Hildebrand admits he was surprised when his superiors asked him to return to the College as a chaplain, but he is delighted by the prospect. “I have always considered the College to be a milestone in my human development because it really helped me to form my way of thinking and strengthen my faith,” he says. “I hope to give back to the College at least a little bit of what it has given to me.”