Please join us for an evening of prayer and celebration as we mark
Catholic International University’s
41st Annual Gala
Friday
November 22, 2024
Schedule of Events
5:00 Convocation Mass
Cathedral of St. Thomas More (newly renovated)
3901 Cathedral Lane | Arlington, VA 22203
6:30 Reception
7:30 Gala Program and Dinner
Army Navy Country Club
1700 Army Navy Drive | Arlington, VA 22202
Catholic International University is honored to recognize The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge for his outstanding contributions to the Faith with our 2024 Founders Award. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Arlington and the 40th anniversary of Bishop Burbidge’s ordination, giving us special cause for celebration.
On June 8, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Burbidge the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. On October 4, 2016, he was announced by Pope Francis as the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Catholic International University’s founding diocese, and was installed on December 6, 2016, at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More.
Bishop Burbidge is a faithful member of the Catholic International University Board of Trustees and has held a number of leadership positions at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and previously served as Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and the Committee for Communications. He currently serves as Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
In recent years, Bishop Burbidge has published pastoral letters titled, “In Tongues All Can Hear: Communicating the Hope of Christ in Times of Trial” and “A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology.”
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Room Blocks have been acquired at two Arlington properties:
Click the titles below to be directed to a specific booking link for Catholic International guests.
Hilton Garden Inn Arlington Shirlington
1-877-STAYHGI
Group Name: Catholic Distance University
Group Code: CDU
1 King guestroom – $135 | 2 Queen guestroom – $161
Complimentary parking | Complimentary shuttle service to and from ANCC
The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City
(800) 422-2410 or (800) 241-3333 (24 hrs)
King or double Deluxe room – $209 (Rate is valid for 11/21-11/23)
Parking – $28 per day or $51 overnight
To Book:
Please mention Catholic International University to receive our discounted rates. The deadline date to make a reservation is Friday October 20, 2024. Reservation requests received after this deadline date will be subject to availability and prevailing rate
We look forward to seeing you in person, so save the date,
tell your friends, and do not miss this year’s event.
For questions, contact Annie Hager, Director of Institutional Advancement,
at (304) 825-7527 / ahager@catholiciu.edu or email gala@catholiciu.edu
Please donate or join us for Catholic International University’s 2024 Gala.
Founder's Award Recipient
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, DD, PhD
Bishop of Arlington
Master of Ceremonies
Tracy Sabol
Award-winning journalist and Anchor of EWTN News Nightly
University President
Maria Sophia Aguirre, PhD
President, Catholic International University
Catholic International University is grateful for your support. Not only has your gift supported our honorees and graduates, you have also supported the only exclusively online university in The Association of Theological Schools. As the university’s only annual event fundraiser, the Gala provides much-needed revenue to fulfill our strategic mission for Catholic online education that nurtures the spiritual and intellectual life of Catholics around the globe.
Benefactor Sponsor
The Diocese of Arlington
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Holmer
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pryor
Mission Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. Carlo Molano
Gala Sponsor
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Mrs. Barbara Keebler and Mrs. Terrence Giroux
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Maher
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schott Stevens, Esquire
Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Birkofer
Champion Sponsor
Anonymous
The Basilica of St. Mary
Dr. and Mrs.Charles Wasaff
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Trip Sponsor
Amfund
Music Sponsor
Dr. & Mrs. James T. McDeavitt
Floral Sponsor
Rachel’s Vineyard in the Diocese of Monterey, California / Dr. Araceli Lardizabal-Carnazzo (Catechetical Diploma 2015, MA Theology 2016)
Wall of Wine Sponsor
Rachel’s Vineyard in the Diocese of Monterey, California / Dr. Araceli Lardizabal-Carnazzo (Catechetical Diploma 2015, MA Theology 2016)
Patron Sponsor
Archdiocese for Military Services, USA
Mrs. Bertha Braddock
The Diocese of Brooklyn
Mr. and Mrs. William Duncan
Hobbs Properties, Inc.
Korte Realty, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lalljie
Mr. and Mrs. Justin Lilley
Loch Harbour Group / Mr. Tony Braddock
Dr. Marianne Evans Mount
Mr. Bill and Mrs. Mary Noel Page
Saint Luke Catholic Church
Dr. and Mrs. Fritz Scheuren
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Smith, Esquire
Associate Sponsor
Ambassador Michele Burke Bowe and Mr. James Bowe
Mr. and Mrs. George Muñoz
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church
Saint Theresa Catholic Church
Gala Friend Sponsor
Dr. Maria Sophia Aguirre
Dr. Mark B. Amelang and Mrs. Karina Amelang, Esquire.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bender
Mrs. Mary Ellen Bork
Ms. Amy Burns Smith
Dr. and Mrs. Peter Casarella
Mr. and Mrs. Giuseppe Cataldo
Mr. and Mrs. John Charleston
Ms. Jean Halle and Mr. Glenn Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Frommelt
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hamberger
Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde
The Honorable Susan R. Malone and Col. George Malone
Mr. and Mrs. John F. McCabe, Esquire
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry McGinn
Dr. Margaret Melady
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Metteauer
Mrs. Blanche Moore
Mr. and Mrs. John Palaszczuk
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Pencina
Mrs. Mary Petrino, DM
Eminence Cardinal Christophe Pierre
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wilkins
Very Rev. Jamie Workman
Sister Mary Brendon Zajac, SND
In 1983, Bishop Thomas Welsh founded Catholic Distance University, now known as Catholic International University, to bring the truth of Christ and His Church to the world through online distance education. The university’s web-based learning community enhances adult faith formation and enables access to accredited degree programs in theology, liberal arts and new innovative degrees simply with a connection to the Internet. Today, our graduates are proof that Catholic International’s digital learning is transformative. Nine out of ten graduates are using their knowledge in roles that serve the Church. For many students, Catholic International is their only option to enhance their professional work, to prepare for careers in the Church, to volunteer in parishes and dioceses, and to be parents who are both witnesses and missionary disciples, speaking with passion and knowledge about the faith. All of this is accomplished at a significantly lower cost than attending a traditional Catholic university or college and would not be possible without the generosity of people like you.
Your generous donation to our annual event enables us to provide transformative Catholic education in fidelity to the teachings of the Church anytime, anywhere around the world, delivered 24/7 to smartphones and tablets, iPhones and iPads! You make it possible for Catholic International to serve the underserved and those who serve, and to achieve our great mission to “Teach all Nations” by communicating the mind and heart of the Church in a digital world. Your gift:
- Delivers innovative degree programs that incorporate Catholic values from the heart of the Church to students worldwide.
- Educates American servicemen and women deployed around the world.
- Prepares directors of religious education, teachers, and catechists to teach, promote, and defend the Catholic faith
- Brings the healing Word of God to Catholic prison inmates who take courses to deepen their faith and evangelize fellow inmates.
- Supports Mission Dioceses with scholarships for strong lay leaders.
- Offers cost-competitive tuition rates.
- Supports isolated Catholics around the globe with online campus resources.
Your generosity answers the need of the Church to provide transformative religious education in an online format that is essential for the New Evangelization so frequently mentioned by Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. Understanding and sharing our Faith will transform individuals, communities, and cultures around the globe. Thank you for supporting Catholic International University’s 2024 Gala. We look forward to seeing you there!
Previous Honorees:
2023 – Michael P. Warsaw, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of EWTN Global Catholic Network.
2022 – His Excellency Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone
2021 – His Excellency Most Reverend Robert Barron
2019 – His Excellency Most Reverend Christophe Pierre
2017 – Fr. Robert J. Spitzer, SJ, PhD
2016 – Carl A. Anderson
Supreme Knight of The Knights of Columbus
2016 – His Excellency Most Reverend William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore and Supreme Chaplain of Knights of Columbus
2015 – Helen Alvare, JD
Professor of Law, George Mason University
2014 – His Excellency The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio
Archbishop for the Military Services
2014 – His Excellency The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio
Bishop of Brooklyn
2013 – Barbara & Tim Murphy
2012 – Dr. Margaret & Ambassador Thomas Melady
2011 – His Excellency, The Most Reverend Pietro Sambi
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America
2011 – Joseph and Bertha Braddock
2010 – His Excellency, The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington
2010 – EWTN
Mr. Michael Warsaw, Chairman of the Board
Previous Honorees:
2017 – St. James the Greater
Rev. John S. Ledford
2017 – St. Veronica Catholic Church
Rev. Dennis W. Kleinmann
2016 – Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Rev. John D. Kelly
2015 – Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Rev. Thomas Ferguson
2014 – St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church
Rev. John P. Mosimann
2013 – St. Mary Catholic Church
Rev. Dennis W. Kleinmann
2012 – Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Rev. John M. O’Donohue
2011 – St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church
2010 – St. Agnes Catholic Church
Rev. Frederick H. Edlefsen
2019 – Diocese of Brooklyn
