Catholic Distance University’s friends, supporters, trustees, faculty members, and recent graduates gathered for the annual gala on November 4, 2017, at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel in Arlington, VA. Father Robert J. Spitzer, SJ, PhD, was awarded the Founders Award, CDU’s greatest honor, “for his great heart and zeal as a scientist and for helping all of God’s children find their path to God through science.”

 In today’s increasingly secular world, Father Spitzer explained, many young people are leaving religion behind. Many cannot reconcile faith with fact-based science, which is increasingly--though wrongly--seen as contradicting religion. Father Spitzer spoke about misperceptions of the dichotomy between faith and science. “Faith and science are in no way contradictory,” he explained.

 The Bishop Thomas J. Welsh Award was awarded to two parishes for the continuing support of their pastors and the enrichment of the parish community through CDU: St James the Greater Church of Charles Town, WV, and St. Veronica’s Church of Chantilly, VA.

 Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, Bishop Emeritus of Arlington and a member of the CDU Board of Trustees, hosted the event. Catherine Szeltner, host of EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, served as Master of Ceremonies, and Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, delivered welcome remarks. The evening began with an Academic Convocation Mass recognizing CDU’s 2017 undergraduate and graduate degree recipients, a number of whom travelled from across the country to attend the event. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, Chancellor of the university, served as principal celebrant and homilist. Bishop Paul S. Loverde served as principal concelebrant, and Rev. Msgr. Dennis Kuruppaserry, First Counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature, delivered the Invocation.

 Save November 3 on your calendar so that you do not miss CDU’s 2018 Gala!