Members of the University community were joined by students and faculty from the Dominican House of Studies and St. Anthony of Padua School in Brookland to begin their semester in prayer during the annual University Mass honoring the patronal feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Mass was cosponsored by Catholic University and the Dominican House of Studies in association with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).

This year’s celebrant and homilist was the Very Rev. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P., prior of the Dominican House of Studies. During his homily, Father Guilbeau reflected on St. Thomas Aquinas’ practice of asking questions and contemplating the true nature of the world around him.

“St. Thomas possessed the habit of a curious spirit, a habit that he acquired as a son of St. Benedict, and which he perfected through the grace of St. Dominic,” Father Guilbeau said. “He incessantly asked ‘What?’ of all things in order better to ask ‘Who?’ is the source of them all?”  

This Mass marked the fifth time Catholic University was joined by NCEA in the celebration of the Mass, in anticipation of Catholic Schools Week, which will be celebrated from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3. The Mass was broadcast live on EWTN and CatholicTV.