After Mass, the incoming freshmen, members of the faculty, and other students reconvened in the Moody Auditorium. To begin the Matriculation ceremony, the College welcomed five new members of the New England teaching faculty: new tutors Dr. Pierre-Luc Boudreault, Dr. Daniel Gutschke, and Dr. Brett Smith, as well as Dr. Glen Coughlin and Dr. Joshua Lim, formerly of the California campus. With Fr. Markey leading them, all five educators made the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity, as do all new Catholic members of the College’s teaching faculty.
Then came the matriculation itself, as the members of the Class of 2026 signed their names to the College’s registry. Dr. Paul J. O’Reilly, president of Thomas Aquinas College, addressed the new students on the unique nature of the enterprise they are commencing. “Liberal education is motivated by training the mind, by asking the question, ‘Why?’, while practical education is motivated by curiosity, asking, ‘How?’” he said. “Studying the ‘why’ as the ancients did sets the education free, primarily through three things: leisure, order, and (most fundamentally) faith.” After elaborating on each point, he concluded with words of encouragement. “Today you begin an enormously worthwhile pursuit. Our hope is that you will thrive here and devote yourself completely to the program.”
