Catholic Tech

Upcoming Events and Student Life Updates

Aug 30, 2024
News

What does it mean to have a “convocation?”

On September 3, 2024, Catholic Institute of Technology will be hosting its inaugural Convocation! 

A “convocation” is typically used to describe a meeting or assembly of people for a common purpose. Today, the term is most commonly used in education, to call together the members of an institution or school, welcome new members, and express their mission for the incoming year. Academic convocation is meant to bring together the ideas that the university is striving to achieve in the upcoming year and convey them to the greater community. Convocation will include mass with Bishop Arthur Kennedy, and many other highlights. Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn and other social media platforms to stay up to date on events!

Campus Updates

As for life on campus, faculty and staff have been preparing for the term, while the Newman Fellows have begun their work placements. Even though their work has begun, Italy still holds plenty of wonder and adventure. Fellows have been enjoying the swimming pools on campus to cool off from the summer heat, and taking in the beauty of over 60 acres of nature on the campus property. 

Students walking the streets of Rome (left and upper right),
faculty meeting along Lake Albano (lower right)

Last Saturday, a group took a day trip into the Eternal City,  Rome. For some of the Fellows and staff, coming to CatholicTech is their first experience in the old world, so this trip to Rome was especially meaningful. Newman Fellow James McCann reflected on his first excursion into Rome: “I thought the most noteworthy thing was the antiquity of everything mixed throughout the city. Despite having ruins from the ancient world next to baroque churches, and modern business mixed in, it all goes together and makes sense. It’s a great mix of the old and the new, just like us here at CatholicTech. I keep having to remind myself that this isn’t a dream! It’s the sort of thing that is so different from everything I’ve ever experienced and it’s so fantastical.”

On this hot Roman day, members of CatholicTech marveled at the beauty and grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. Fidel Valenzula, a Newman Fellow, shared some thoughts about his experience in the Vatican, saying, “the real highlight of the day was visiting Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica. Since my reversion to the Catholic faith, it’s been a dream of mine, and I can’t express how amazing it felt to finally be there. Every Catholic should make it a point to visit the heart of the Church at least once. The art, history, and music in St. Peter’s were beyond words. One of the most special moments for me was seeing the altar dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who’s my patron saint.” 

Fidel and Janisse Valenzuela on their first trip to St. Peter’s (lower left),
CatholicTech community in Vatican City (upper left and right)

From Vatican City, the group strolled through the historical district of Rome, walking along the Tiber, stopping into the church of Saint Agnes in Agony in Piazza Navona, and getting some refreshing gelato along their journey. Another Fellow, Diego Salcido, commented on the cultural value of Rome as well – “When I was walking through the street, it was so impressive to see how Italians just live among these historical buildings. It’s interesting how in the United States, you go to a historic site and plan an outing to see something, but in Rome, it’s everywhere you look, and that’s a normal part of their culture.” Some members of the group stopped into an exhibit on Leonardo Da Vinci, others attended mass for the feast of St. Bartholomew, and many saw Italian monuments and the Trevi fountain. They finished out the day with dinner near the Pantheon, and can’t wait to see more the next time they go into Rome!

We are thrilled to welcome our freshman to campus in just three days! Soon, they will be here on campus and able to enjoy wonderful experiences just like the rest of the members of this inaugural class. We are so excited to share the start of this first term with you! Follow along with the students, staff, and faculty during this historic time on our LinkedIn and other media platforms!