Release Archive

News Releases

CUA’s Longtime Barber and Campus Institution Retires: After almost 48 years at Catholic University’s seminary, Dominic Spadaro is finally hanging up his scissors May 9. See story.

Dean’s Scholarship Pays Senior-Year Tuition for Drama Major: 5-8-08 Megan Kosmoski, a junior drama major from Tampa, Fla., will have one less worry as she enters her senior year of studies at Catholic University — tuition. See story.

Provost Honors CUA Professors with Top Faculty Awards: 5-7-08 Five CUA professors were honored with faculty awards at the spring Provost Awards luncheon for the 2007 calendar year held at the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center on May 6. See story.

Catholic University to Confer 1,100 Degrees at Commencement: 5-5-08 The Catholic University of America will confer approximately 850 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees during its 119th Annual Commencement Ceremony to be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17, on the east steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 400 Michigan Ave., N.E. See story.

Three Education Professors Participate in White House Summit : 4-28-08 Three faculty members from CUA’s Department of Education — John Convey, Leonard DeFiore and Merylann Schuttloffel —  participated in the April 24, 2008, White House Summit on Inner-City Children and Faith-Based Schools held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. See story.

CUA Awarded Merentibus Medal by Jagiellonian University in Poland: 4-28-08 The Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, has awarded The Catholic University of America its Merentibus Medal in recognition of the important professional contributions made to the Jagiellonian University by many CUA faculty and staff from the Columbus School of Law over the past 18 years. See story.

U.S. Cardinals Gather in Boston For Annual CUA Scholarship Fundraiser: 4-25-08 America’s Catholic cardinals gathered today in Boston to raise money for college scholarships at the 19th American Cardinals Dinner, held at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, located at 606 Congress St. See story.

Knights of Columbus CEO and Spouse to Speak at CUA Commencement: 4-25-08 Knights of Columbus leader Carl A. Anderson and his wife, Dorian, will address graduates at The Catholic University of America’s 119th Annual Commencement Ceremony, to be held Saturday, May 17, 2008, at 10 a.m. See story.

United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito to Speak at Columbus School of Law Commencement: 4-24-08 Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito will address more than 280 graduates at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law’s 119th commencement ceremony, to be held on Friday, May 23, 2008. See story.

CUA to Host Conference on Poverty in the United States: 4-22-08  Mark Greenberg, senior fellow and director of the Poverty and Prosperity program at the Center for American Progress, will deliver the conference’s keynote address titled “Poverty, Families and Policy in the U.S.: Where Do We Go From Here?” See story.

CUA Law Professor Named Consultor for Vatican: 4-22-08 Associate Professor of Law Helen Alvaré has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultor of the Pontifical Council for the Laity for a five-year term. See story.

Thomas and Marie Rojas Earth Day Lecture on Energy and Environmental Stewardship: “The Archaeology of Tomorrow: Beyond the Ecosphere”: 4-22-08 : In honor of Earth Day 2008, Travis Price, adjunct professor in The Catholic University of America’s School of Architecture and Planning, will discuss alternatives to the architectural homogenization spreading across the global landscape. See story.

3,000 CUA Students Rock the Pope: 4-17-08 “Are you ready to rock the pope?” a Catholic University student asked about 3,000 of his fellow students assembled on the lawn of CUA’s Columbus School of Law April 17. See story.

Pope Benedict XVI Gives Historic Address on Catholic Education: 4-17-08 Before a packed audience of more than 400 Catholic educators gathered at The Catholic University of America, Pope Benedict XVI greeted his audience as “bearers of wisdom,” invoking the prophet Isaiah’s words as the opening for his speech: “How beautiful are the footsteps of those who bring good news.” See story.

Thousands on CUA Campus Greet Pope Benedict XVI: 4-16-08 Thousands of alumni, students and staff from The Catholic University of America gathered on the CUA campus to welcome Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday, April 16, cheering as the pontiff arrived at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. See story.

Seminarians To Welcome Pope Benedict XVI to CUA’s Campus: 4-16-08 A group of seminarians is gaining an experience some priests wait a lifetime for: an audience with the pope. See story.

CUA Students Are Cheering About Benedict XVI: 4-15-08 Hundreds of students at The Catholic University of America are volunteering to serve thousands of their classmates and others who will gather to welcome Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the CUA campus on Thursday, April 17. See story.

Catholic University Readies for Papal Visit: 4-14-08 With 13 media satellite trucks parked in front of McMahon Hall, Catholic University continues to busily prepare for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI April 16 and April 17. See story.

CUA Hosts Events to Prepare for Papal Visit: 4-14-08  For the Candlelight Rosary event, students will meet at the Office of Campus Ministry in Caldwell Hall and process outdoors through campus for an hour, making five stops. See story.

Chair Unveiled for Pope Benedict XVI’s CUA Visit: 4-11-08 Four Catholic University architecture students today helped unveil the chair they designed for Pope Benedict XVI, who will sit in it when he addresses more than 400 U.S. Catholic education leaders next Thursday. See story.

Essay Contest Winner Will Meet Pope Benedict XVI: 4-10-08 Peter Osgood, a senior majoring in biology, was named this morning as the winner of an essay-writing contest on the theme of “How Catholic Education Has Changed My Life.” See story.

Delivery of CUA Papal Chair to Campus: 4-10-08 At 2 p.m. on Friday, April 11, the chair in which Pope Benedict XVI will sit during his speech at CUA will be delivered to campus. See story.

CUA Professor Awarded $600,000 Grant for Work on Solar Eruption Research: 4-9-08 Leon Ofman, an associate professor of physics at Catholic University, has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Naval Research Laboratory to study phenomena involved in solar eruptions. See story.

Winning Papal Essay to Be Announced April 10: 4-8-08 The winner of CUA’s papal essay contest, who will meet Pope Benedict XVI, will be announced at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, in CUA’s university center. See story.

Catholic University Choir Rehearses for Pope Benedict XVI: 4-7-08 “Be like a bell out there,” Leo Nestor, Catholic University music professor, told his students as they rehearsed Monday, April 7, for the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the CUA campus. See story.

Choral Practice: CUA's Choir of 17 to Rehearse for Papal Visit: 4-4-08 The media is invited to cover a rehearsal at 9 a.m. Monday, April 7, of Catholic University's Choir of 17, the choral group that will sing for Pope Benedict XVI at CUA on Thursday, April 17. See story.

Catholic University to Host Discussion on Catholic Peacebuilding: 4-3-08 Twenty-five years after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter on war and peace, Catholic scholars and practitioners will gather at The Catholic University of America on Monday, April 7, to discuss the Church’s work on conflict resolution and promoting peace. See story.

CUA President, Several Faculty Consult for Vatican: 4-3-08 Pope Benedict XVI’s April 17 visit to Catholic University — the only papally chartered university in the United States — has special significance for several members of the CUA community who also serve in a unique role as consultors to the Vatican. See story.

Fifth Annual James H. Provost Memorial Lecture: "Enduring Parishes, Emerging Ministries” by Rev. James A. Coriden, J.C.D.: 4-2-08  For the Fifth Annual James H. Provost Lecture, Father James A. Coriden, J.C.D., will discuss the ongoing growth of lay ministries and the reorganization of parishes. See story.

Well-known Alums Remember John Paul II’s Visit to CUA: 3-31-08 Thousands of Catholic University students are looking forward to seeing Pope Benedict XVI when he comes to campus to deliver a speech to diocesan education leaders and the presidents of U.S. Catholic colleges and universities on April 17. See story.

CUA Professor Earns Prestigious National Science Foundation Grant: 3-28-08 John Judge, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in CUA’s School of Engineering, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award to study vibration of collections of micromechanical and nanomechanical devices. See story.

Students to Build Chair for Pope Benedict XVI’s CUA Visit: 3-26-08 When the winners of the papal design contest were chosen in late January, junior Siobhan Steen of Paris, France, who had also submitted a contest entry, was disappointed. See story.

At Pope’s Request, CUA Organizes Common Morality Symposium: 3-25-08 Just three weeks before Pope Benedict XVI visits Catholic University on April 17, 2008, Catholic University will host a major symposium of internationally recognized scholars, organized at the Holy Father’s request. See story.

Video Features CUA Students Talking about Papal Visit: 3-19-08 The Catholic University of America has produced a video featuring students sharing their thoughts about the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to CUA on April 17. See story.

128 CUA Students Write for a Chance to Meet the Pope: 3-19-08 The Office of Public Affairs was bustling March 18 as students filed in throughout the day to meet the deadline for turning in their essays for a chance to meet Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Catholic University on April 17. See story.

CUA Launches E-mail Listserv for Papal Visit News: 3-19-08 The Catholic University of America has launched an e-mail listserv through which readers can sign up to receive e-mail news updates about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to CUA on April 17. See story.

Catholic University Faculty Available to Speak as Papal Experts: 3-17-08 The following faculty experts at The Catholic University of America are available for media interviews related to Pope Benedict’s XVI visit to CUA on April 17, 2008. See story.

CUA Invites Students from Other Area Colleges to Greet the Pope: 3-14-08 Catholic University’s president, Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., has invited students from other Washington, D.C., area Catholic colleges and universities to join the CUA community in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to campus on April 17. See story.

CUA President Announces Judges for Papal Essay Contest: 3-13-08 Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, president of Catholic University, has assembled a panel of judges to recommend a winner and runner-up in the Papal Visit — Student Essay Contest. See story.

1960s Comic Book in Archives Depicts Black Presidential Nominee: 3-12-08 Should Sen. Barack Obama win the nomination of his party and be elected president, he will be the first African-American to hold that office. That prospect has led some to try to single out the film or work of literature that first depicted a black president, and that search has led … to The Catholic University of America. See story.

Papal Mass Furnishings Taking Shape at CUA and Maryland Workshops: 3-11-08 CUA architecture students John-Paul Mikolajczyk and Ryan Mullen didn’t travel far for spring break. In fact, they spent most of their time off during the first week of March at work, helping to build the altar and chair to be used at the April 17 papal Mass in Washington, D.C. See story.

Astrophysicist to Discuss Spitzer Space Telescope at CUA: 3-10-08 Michael Werner, a renowned astrophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will discuss “The Spitzer Space Telescope: Exploring the Infrared Universe” at Catholic University March 14, at 4 p.m. See story.

CUA Staff Remember Last Papal Visit: 3-5-08 The Catholic University of America has produced a 10-minute video in which three staff members recount their experiences of the 1979 visit of Pope John Paul II. See story.

Looking Ahead to ‘Power Lunches,’ Students Learn Table Manners: 3-5-08 CUA students are learning that the fork can be just as mighty as the pen. See story.

Students Write for a Chance to Meet Pope Benedict XVI: 3-3-08 Millions of people dream of meeting the pope. For Catholic University students, that dream is just 500 words away. See story.

Islamic and Christian Scholars Explore Faith and Reason at CUA: 3-3-08 Ten Islamic scholars from Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia and Africa are visiting Catholic University to participate with Christian scholars in a month-long seminar that will begin March 3. See story.

CUA Students Begin Spring Break Praying with Pope Benedict XVI: 3-1-08 On Saturday, March 1, the first day of spring break, about 100 Catholic University students took part in the Sixth European Day for University Students with Pope Benedict XVI presiding via satellite from Vatican City. See story.

CUA Experts Available to Discuss 2008 Elections: 2-29-08 Several experts on U.S. politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., are available to discuss the 2008 presidential election and the impending primary elections in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday, March 4. See story.

Media Advisory: CUA Students to Pray Rosary with Pope Benedict XVI via Satellite: 2-27-08 On Saturday, March 1, about 100 Catholic University students will begin their spring break in one of the university’s campus chapels by taking part in the Sixth European Day for University Students with Pope Benedict XVI presiding via satellite. See story.

CUA to Present Performances in Celebration of Work by Thornton Wilder: 2-26-08 From Thursday, Feb. 28, to Sunday, March 2, the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music will feature several performances as part of the event, Catholic University President’s Festival of the Arts Presents Wilder and Wilder (Thornton, that is…) — a festival celebrating work by Pulitzer prize-winning author Thornton Wilder. See story.

CUA Lecture Series to Explore Thoughts of Four Philosophers: 2-25-08 Catholic University’s School of Philosophy will present the Graduate Student Spring 2008 Lecture Series through April 4. See story.

CUA to Celebrate Thornton Wilder’s Our Town with Opera, Drama, Musical Premieres, and Lectures: 2-21-08 From Feb. 25 to March 2, The Catholic University of America will present its annual President’s Festival of the Arts featuring the Washington, D.C., premiere of Ned Rorem’s Our Town opera based on Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. See story.

New Hampshire Ceremony Honors CUA Student Winner of Papal Design Contest: 2-20-08 Ryan Mullen, one of the winners of a design contest for the altar and other sanctuary furnishings at the Mass that Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate in Washington, D.C., will be honored during a presentation at his high school alma mater. See story.

CUA Students to Pray Rosary with Pope Benedict XVI via Satellite: 2-19-08 On Saturday, March 1, about 100 Catholic University students will begin their spring break in one of the university’s campus chapels by taking part in the Sixth European Day for University Students with Pope Benedict XVI presiding via satellite. See story.

Folklife Specialist to Speak About Black Folk-Music Researchers: 2-18-08 Folklorists John and Alan Lomax were pioneers in collecting, studying and disseminating black folk music. See story.

Vatican Observatory’s Director Discusses Faith, Science and Planets: “Galaxy Evolution in the Local Universe”: 2-18-08 The Vatican Observatory’s director discusses the cosmic evolution over the last 13 billion years in a lecture presented by CUA’s Department of Physics: “Galaxy Evolution in the Local Universe.” See story.

CUA President Expresses Sympathy to Northern Illinois University: 2-15-08 Following the shootings at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, Feb. 14, CUA President Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., sent a letter to the university's president, John G. Peters, offering the "prayers and support" of the CUA community. See story.

Film Screen and Presentation: “Breaking the Silence — Torture Survivors Speak Out”: 2-13-08 The film, “Breaking the Silence — Torture Survivors Speak Out,” is based on more than 40 interviews conducted with survivors of torture from around the world. See story.

Catholic University President’s Festival of the Arts Presents Wilder and Wilder (Thornton, that is…): 2-12-08 The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music presents alternating performances of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and the Washington, D.C., premiere of composer Ned Rorem’s opera version of the play as the highlight of Wilder and Wilder (Thornton, that is…) — a festival celebrating the work of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. See story.  

CUA Nursing Students Volunteer at Mass for Sick: 2-11-08 Ten sophomore volunteers from Catholic University’s School of Nursing provided first aid for the sick at a special Mass Monday, Feb. 11. See story.

CUA Experts Available to Discuss Lenten Season: 2-5-08 The following sources at The Catholic University of America are available to discuss Ash Wednesday, Lent and other liturgical traditions leading up to and including Easter Sunday. See story.

Three CUA Students Take Prizes in Annual Hartke Declamation Contest: 2-5-08 Three Catholic University students — two in drama and one in music — won prizes Feb. 4 at the Third Annual Hartke Declamation Contest, with artful readings performed from memory on the theme of “Sports and Leisure” before an audience of about 50 people at Callan Theatre. See story.

CUA Receives $244,000 Grant from NASA: 2-5-08 Three CUA physics professors have received a $244,000 grant from NASA to better understand solar eruptions of charged particles, which cause the famed Northern Lights but also can wreak havoc on Earth. See story.

CUA’s Annual Student Declamation Contest to Be Held Feb. 4: 2-1-08 The third annual Hartke Declamation Contest will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, in Callan Theatre, giving eloquent CUA students a chance to win a $1,000 first prize, $300 second prize and $200 third prize. See story.

CUA Celebrates Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas With University Mass: 1-31-08 Catholic University celebrated the Patronal Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas with a university Mass Jan. 29 in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. See story.

Student Winners of Papal Design Contest Announced at CUA: 1-28-08 The winning architectural design by two Catholic University students for a 10-by-4-foot papal altar and a pulpit, lectern and chair that Pope Benedict XVI will use when he celebrates Mass in Washington, D.C., was unveiled today at The Catholic University of America, D.C., in partnership with the Archdiocese of Washington. See story.

Student Winner of Papal Design Contest to Be Announced Today: 1-28-08 The winning architectural design for the papal altar, chair and pulpit for Pope Benedict XVI's Mass in Washington, D.C., will be unveiled at 1 p.m. today at The Catholic University of America, D.C., in partnership with the Archdiocese of Washington. See story.

CUA Architecture Lectures to Explore Irish Design Culture and Built Heritage: 1-25-08 Catholic University’s School of Architecture and Planning will present “An Exploration of Irish Design Culture and Built Heritage” as its Spring 2008 Architecture Lecture Series. See story.

CUA Presents “A Perfect Ganesh”: 1-25-08 CUA’s Department of Drama presents “A Perfect Ganesh” by Terrence McNally. In this touching and humorous Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, two outwardly unremarkable middle-aged women decide to forgo their annual vacation with their husbands. See story.

Martin Luther King Day of Service Draws 130 CUA Volunteers: 1-18-08  Approximately 130 members of the CUA community will be spending Monday, Jan. 21 — their day off for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday — working in several D.C. public schools. See story.

CUA to Welcome More than 1,600 Young Pro-Life Marchers: 1-16-08 Catholic University will welcome more than 1,600 young people and their chaperones to campus on Monday, Jan. 21, the eve of the 35th Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. See story.

Visiting Scholar in Social Work Receives $200,000 Grant: 1-15-08 Michael Sheridan, a CUA visiting scholar and director of research at the National Catholic School of Social Service's Center for Spirituality has received a two-year $200,000 grant from the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University — one of seven selected from among more than 230 submissions. See story.

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