Celebrating the Inaugural Convocation of Catholic Institute of Technology

On September 3, Catholic Institute of Technology held its first Convocation! Our president, Bishop Arthur Kennedy, celebrated Mass, and gave each student of the inaugural class a blessing for the upcoming year and their endeavors at CatholicTech. Later in the day, His Excellency gave an address to the incoming students about the importance of Catholics in higher education and science. In the afternoon, Prof. Jeff Kleck, Dean of Academics, and co-founder Alexis Haughey also spoke to students, faculty, and guests about the mission of CatholicTech. 

The day started with Bishop Arthur Kennedy celebrating the Holy Mass. In the afternoon, guests, faculty, and students heard from Bishop Kennedy in a Presidential Address. His Excellency stressed the importance of Catholics in higher education and learning, saying, “Catholics have always had a major role in the unfolding of learning. It’s partial because there is a certain kind of authority that the Church speaks with, not because it is filled with brilliant people, but because it is the authority of Christ.” As we enter into this new era of the integration of science and faith, it is important for us to remember that we all play an important role, as members of the Church, in communicating truth to the modern world. 

Student Blessings: Each student was called up individually by name to receive a special blessing from the Bishop.

Prof. Jeff Kleck, Dean of Academic Affairs at CatholicTech, highlighted the importance of studying STEM and engineering. “It’s difficult, it takes discipline, and there’s a good reason for it: your brain is actually wiring itself to how to think like an engineer.” Additionally, with a 2:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Kleck emphasized, “There’s no better environment than being here and learning.” While studying in STEM programs is not an easy task, Kleck encouraged students, saying, “By the end of it, you will appreciate your perspective on things, you will have a whole new way of looking at the world, and it’s a lovely thing . . . When you learn this field, you will love everything that you are doing because you will analyze and understand the fundamentals of so many things. It’s not the search for this one thing that you will do – you will go through a process by which everything you look at becomes a love because you appreciate and understand how things operate.” 

Prof. Kleck, Bishop Kennedy, and Alexis Haughey address students

Finally, Alexis Haughey, co-founder of the University, addressed students and reminded them they were each intentionally designed for the specific mission that God has made them for. “God made us very specifically for this mission, just like how God made each of you perfectly for the way that He asked you to go around the world and love Him.” Throughout the day, many shared how they felt that the mission of CatholicTech is incredibly providential during this time and their gratitude for finding a place where their faith is not compromised to study the sciences. Haughey concluded by saying that the University takes its mission of making saints and scholars very seriously, that while students are here for an education in STEM, they will also receive strong formation to allow them to defend their faith throughout their careers. “This is the frontier of the New Evangelization, we don’t have scientists, engineers, researchers, out in the world openly proclaiming their faith,” Haughey said. 

Students, Faculty, and Staff gather for the opening of the academic year

The first term of classes at Catholic Institute of Technology will begin next week on September 9. Please keep our faculty, staff, and inaugural class of students in your prayers as we embark on this historic year!