Thomas W. Carroll: “The Shining College Upon a Hill”

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by Thomas W. Carroll
Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Boston
Remarks at the Inauguration of Paul J. O’Reilly
October 22, 2022

I am honored to speak today surrounded by the awe and wonder of God’s creation, nestled in the majestic mountains of Santa Paula. Thomas Aquinas College is the college I wished I attended.

In this moment, as our culture collapses around us, Thomas Aquinas College stands as the shining college upon a hill — actually two hills now on both coasts. These two campuses keep alive the good, true, and beautiful.

I have come to know TAC through my work as superintendent of schools. With the support of Cardinal Seán O’Malley in Boston, we are in the midst of rebuilding the future of our church, one student and one classroom at a time. And we are doing this in one of the largest Catholic school systems in the nation, with more than 100 Catholic schools, 32,500 students, and 4,200 faculty and staff.

In my three years as superintendent, our need for talented and faithful school leaders and teachers has turned me into a “fisher of men” — and women. And in our nationwide search for faithful talent for our schools, I have found no better waters for casting my net than Thomas Aquinas College. 

In just three years, I have replaced three dozen school leaders — perhaps the largest intentional turnover of Catholic school leadership in the nation. But no matter whom I put in the front offices of our schools, the magic that happens in schools is what happens within the four walls of the classroom. 

“TAC tutors eschew the indoctrination too often present in American campuses, instead deftly encouraging the importance of preparation, intellectual risk-taking, and collegiality.”

That’s why we launched our St. Thomas More Teaching Fellows initiative, where we are recruiting faithful Catholic graduates — mostly from liberal arts colleges — to apply their intellect and missionary zeal in our classrooms. Thomas Aquinas College has become the cornerstone of our efforts to remake our Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. I have recruited more students from TAC than from any other college. And I have spent the last two days on this campus recruiting even more after hosting other TAC students just the week before last in Boston.

But why do I wish I attended TAC, and why do I want to hire its graduates? 

First, the quality of teaching here is stellar. The tutors have no rivals. Second, to succeed here, students have to work hard, be in love with their faith, and be intellectually curious — all qualities in short supply in the broader culture. Third, TAC has created “safe spaces” for students. I don’t mean safe spaces in a politically correct way that attempts to shield students from contrary views or to encourage political orthodoxy. TAC has made its classrooms safe spaces for students to be intellectually daring. TAC tutors eschew the indoctrination too often present in American campuses, instead deftly encouraging the importance of preparation, intellectual risk-taking, and collegiality.

Lastly, TAC has created a strong Catholic culture through study of the Bible, frequent Masses, and Adoration. In the background, inspired landscape architecture provides quiet places for reflection and prayer. My favorite being the Blessed Mother statue with running water surrounded by roses.

One of the TAC graduates we hired this year described how the ready availability of the sacraments here deepened his faith. At TAC, he also cultivated a habit of weekly Adoration, explaining, “I have fallen in love with Eucharistic Adoration. I can say with complete honesty that the happiest moments of my life have occurred before the Blessed Sacrament.” After four years of TAC, he offers: “I now am married to my Catholic faith; one cannot know me without knowing the faith I profess.”

“What TAC has become to its students — and our nation and church — requires constant nourishment: new students, generous benefactors, and leadership committed to continuation of what makes Thomas Aquinas College such a special place.”

What a beautiful credit to his family, but also to the intentionality of faith formation at Thomas Aquinas College.

Pope Paul VI remarked, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” At Thomas Aquinas College, students are surrounded by tutors who are witnesses. So perhaps it should not be surprising that so many faithful TAC graduates are following their example and becoming faithful educators in Boston and elsewhere.

Their decision to become educators should be viewed as a high compliment to the impressive roster of tutors assembled here at TAC. Let’s show our thanks now for TAC’s tutors with a round of applause.

A few closing thoughts: What TAC has become to its students — and our nation and church — requires constant nourishment: new students, generous benefactors, and leadership committed to continuation of what makes Thomas Aquinas College such a special place.

With the inauguration as president of Paul O’Reilly (a former TAC student and tutor), with the ongoing support of TAC’s board (capably led by Scott Turicchi), and with an executive staff that includes the likes of the inimitable Jim Link, I have no doubt that TAC will remain “the gift that keeps on giving” to our nation and our Church.

Thank you. And may God continue to bless Thomas Aquinas College.

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