Episodes
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
”Be Transformed”: Matriculation Address by President Kyle Washut
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
The college year at Wyoming Catholic College ends with the formality and pomp of graduation as we award degrees and bid another class farewell. The year begins with another, largely-forgotten ceremony equally formal, meaningful, and full of academic pomp: Matriculation in which each new freshmen adds his or her signature to the matricula, the large, leather-bound book that contains the names and signatures of every Wyoming Catholic College student since the school’s inception.
This year’s ceremony, in addition to welcoming new students, President Glenn Arbery welcomed his successor, newly-appointed President Kyle Washut. Here are President Washut’s remarks to the class of 2027.
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
”Nature and Nature’s God” with Dr. Daniel Shields
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
…[W]hatever is in motion must be put in motion by another,” wrote St. Thomas Aquinas at the beginning of his Summa Theologiae, “If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.”
This proof of God’s existence is the first of five that Thomas presents at the beginning of the Summa. And while that seems simple and convincing to most of us, many scholars are certain that the proof is not at all convincing insofar as it relies on Medieval physics and cosmology.
In his new book, Nature and Nature’s God: The Scientific and Philosophical Validity of Aquinas’ Proof of an Unmoved Mover Wyoming Catholic College philosopher Dr. Daniel Shields argues that those scholars should take another look at Thomas’ argument.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Grads and Cowboy Hats with Dean Kyle Washut
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Like all graduating seniors, Wyoming Catholic College seniors look forward to baccalaureate robes, degrees, and moving their mortarboards tassels from, right to left. But much more than the typical academic regalia, our seniors look forward to being awarded that most coveted graduation emblem, a black Wyoming Catholic College Stetson.
Those cowboy hats are the symbol of their four years of exercising mind, body, and spirit in a Wyoming Catholic College education. College dean, Mr. Kyle Washut explains how the tradition began.
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Graduation 2023-Remarks by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
The 2023 Wyoming Catholic College graduation speaker and recipient of the college Sedes Sapientiae award was Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, the archbishop for the Archdiocese of Denver.
His words were realistic about the challenges we face as a culture and as a Church, but there were nonetheless words filled with hope. After the graduation ceremony, I expressed my gratitude to him saying, “Thank you. I needed that.” And I suspect we all need what he had to say.
Here are Archbishop Aquila’s words to the Class of 2023 and the rest of us.
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Graduation 2023-Senior Address by Miss Emma Hermanson
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Each year the Wyoming Catholic College senior class chooses one of its members to deliver a speech at graduation. The Class of 2023 chose Miss Emma Hermanson.
Before coming to Wyoming Catholic College, Emma Hermanson spent her high school years at a classical school in Colorado. At Wyoming Catholic, her favorite part of the curriculum was the humanities track, feeding her abiding love of literature. After graduation, Emma will be getting married and beginning her work as a high school literature and writing teacher in the fall.
Here is what Emma had to say at graduation.
For information on The 2023 Wyoming School of Catholic Thought click here.
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Graduation 2023: The President’s Address by Dr. Glenn Arbery
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
This past Saturday, May 13 began what we’ve come to call our graduation triduum, three days of celebrating the achievements of ther Wyoming Catholic College Class of 2023.
Graduation weekend begins with the senior dinner on Saturday evening—seniors, faculty, and staff only. Monday was Commencement. And Sunday, after Baccalaureate Mass we held The President’s Dinner at which college president, Dr. Glenn Arbery, addressed seniors their parents, families, and friends along with the faculty and staff.
Here’s what Dr. Arbery had to say.
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Much Ado About Much Ado with Dr. Tiffany Schubert
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
BENEDICK But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.
BEATRICE A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
BENEDICK God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.
William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” has it all: heroes, villains, loyalty and betrayal, hatred and love, serious crime and silly sidelights. At one point it veers dangerously close to utter tragedy only to come right again with true love conquering even the coldest hearts.
I asked Dr. Tiffany Schubert to begin giving us an overview of the play.
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Sacred Music and Renewal with Mr. Paul Jernberg
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
There was a time not too long ago when every church had a church choir. Ordinary people knew how to sing parts and often tackled difficult pieces of music with wonderful results.
At Wyoming Catholic College, the choir loft in our oratory and, during special masses such as our upcoming graduation mass, the choir loft at Holy Rosary Church here in Lander are crowded places. Our students love to sing.
And this spring semester they have the added inspiration of a new choir director, our Composer in Residence, Paul Jernberg. Mr. Jernberg is also the founder and director of the Magnificat Institute of Sacred Music.
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
St. Thomas on Providence with Dr. Michael Bolin
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
“We know,” St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, “that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
Those words from St. Paul can and should comfort us. Nothing happens in our lives or our world that God does not intend to bring about good for His children. His providential care surrounds us. On the other hand, terrible things happen in our lives and in the world around us. Does God will evil? Allow evil? Maybe evil is not what we think it is?
Dr. Michael Bolin has been reading St. Thomas Aquinas’ Compendium Theologiae with our Wyoming Catholic College sophomores considering, among other things, that “all things are governed by divine providence.”
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Political Rhetoric and the Common Good with Dr. Virginia Arbery
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
In almost every walk of life and vocation, the ability to express yourself orally with clarity, precision, and persuasiveness are vital. That’s obvious for priests, teachers, salespeople, politicians, and lawyers, but consider that engineers, managers, administrators, builders, doctors, at-home moms, and…well, you name it… make presentations and proposals to individuals and groups.
This semester Dr. Virginia Arbery and Dr. Tonkowich each have two sections of sophomores for Trivium 202 and sat down for this conversation.