Benefactors Recognized at Gratitude Mass and Lunch

On Thursday, November 14, Aquinas College once again expressed its deep appreciation for its benefactors at the Gratitude Mass and Lunch. The annual event, which brings together College benefactors, Board members, and friends of the institution, has become a cherished tradition on the campus. 

This year’s festivities began with a votive Mass of Thanksgiving in Aquinas’ Saint Jude Chapel celebrated by Father Luke Wilgenbusch (an adjunct faculty member at the College) with Father John Sims Baker concelebrating. The Mass, dedicated to the intentions of the benefactors and friends of the College, set a tone of gratitude and reflection for the day’s events.

Following Mass, attendees gathered in the Siena Hall Main Lobby for lunch so that benefactors could eat and socialize with some of the students who benefit from their contributions. The program for the day included remarks from Sister Cecilia Anne, O.P., President of Aquinas College, and Mother Anna Grace, O.P., Chair of the Aquinas College Board of Directors, who conveyed their deep thankfulness for the vital role that our benefactors play in supporting the mission of the College. Current Aquinas student Sister Christina, O.P., later shared a firsthand account of the impact of the College on her educational journey from Madison, Wisconsin to Nashville, Tennessee.

One of the highlights of this year’s gathering was Sister Christine Born, O.P., ’63 being inducted into the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) Hall of Fame. In her short remarks, Sister Christine – a member of the College’s first graduating class – observed that despite all the changes that Aquinas has experienced over the years the constant from her undergraduate days up until the present has been the College’s commitment to the formation of educators.
 
Events like the Gratitude Mass and Lunch serve as a reminder of the collaborative efforts between the College and its benefactors in promoting Catholic education and working toward the transformation of culture. As Sister Cecilia Anne later reflected, “It was truly inspiring to see our benefactors recognized and celebrated with the goodness they deserve.”