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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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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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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.
Canon Lawyer Michael Mazza Discusses “Law of the Catholic Church”
A civil and canon lawyer — as well as a TAC dad — Michael Mazza recently visited Thomas Aquinas College, California, to discuss the importance of canon law and the growing opportunities for lay canon lawyers in the wider Church.
The father of Maria (Dumais ’11), Monica (’11), Elizabeth (’16), Thomas (’20), Patrick (’23), and Andrew (’25), Mr. Mazza earned his J.D. from Marquette University in 1996, qualifying for the bar soon thereafter. As both a Catholic and a lawyer, however, he soon became fascinated by canon law, which eventually led him to pursue a J.C.D. from the Pontifical University of Santa Croce, which he finished in 2022. He now teaches canon law at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and maintains a private legal practice specializing in the intersection of civil and canon law.
This abundant legal experience was on display at Mr. Mazza’s presentation in the Dillon Seminar Room of St. Cecilia Hall. He addressed the nature of law itself, reflecting on its relation to justice and the possibility of unjust laws. Recognizing that his presentation considered questions raised by several of the greatest Great Books, including Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, and St. Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, Mr. Mazza told students, “It’s an honor to talk to you here, where you understand some of these issues already.”
As a canon lawyer, Mr. Mazza also spent some time discussing the origins and importance of canon law. “The law of the Catholic Church,” as he defined it, extends far beyond marital disputes and annulments, affecting every vocation and state of Christian life. Mr. Mazza also emphasized that, although many practicing canon lawyers are priests, a growing number are laypeople, many of them young women.
The presentation made a strong impression on students. “Canon law standardizes canons for us to follow,” said Jakob Gueits (’26) afterwards. “It makes clear how we ought to live the Christian life.”
