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2007 Message Archive
September 10, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community:
This week will host the largest celebration in the history of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Countless men and women religious made the Congregation to be what it is today. Among the many achievements is the foundation of many educational institutions. They have not done it alone. Countless lay people have contributed their skills and zeal to the mission of Holy Cross.
The dreams of Father Basil Anthony Moreau, C.S.C. are realized in the mission and works of the Congregation. He said this about education and zeal:
By zeal is understood that flame of burning desire which one feels to make God known, loved and served and thus save souls. Apostolic activity is therefore the essential character of this virtue, and every teacher who is animated by this virtue will fulfill the duties of his state with eagerness, affection, courage, and perseverance… He will feel that which St. Paul felt for the Galatians whom he had evangelized: "My little children for whom I am in labor until Christ Jesus be formed within you." This is the goal of all Christian education and in order to achieve this end you ought not neglect any means…
Our zeal is always guided by charity, everything is done with strength and gentleness: strength because we are courageous and unshakable in the midst of pain, difficulty and trials… and with gentleness because we have the tenderness of our Divine Model. -Christian Pedagogy I: 1, art.4 - 1856
I will be with you in mind and heart as we celebrate Father Moreau's beatification at the College. May his honor become renewed zeal for the mission in each one of us.
Sincerely,
(Rev.) Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
President
August 27, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community,
During these last days of August, our minds and hearts are drawn to the severe flooding and destruction that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought to the Gulf Coast. After two years, many in our communities continue to suffer the pain brought about by the loss of life, property, and general well being.
We on the Gulf Coast are not alone in our suffering. Many of the people who live in the Mid West and the Southwestern parts of the United States, as well as those in Mexico who stretched out their hearts and material goods to the Southeast, are now suffering from the same loss of life and safety.
The entire world is subject to changes in the environment. It reminds us that we have to depend on one another to sustain tragedy and pain. Pope Benedict XVI, in a recent communication, asked for flood relief to help the populations of Southeast Asia where this year's monsoon season has already claimed well over 2,000 lives. More than half of Bangladesh and parts of India are still under water after a month of heavy monsoon flooding. Millions of people are still living in makeshift shelters near embankments and roads and are in dire need of basic necessities.
In solidarity with all, our Wednesday, August 29th, daily celebration of the Eucharist will be dedicated to those suffering from the effects of flooding and other tragedies.
We pray for a world that speaks about peace and behaves with compassion and mercy.
Sincerely,
(Rev.) Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
President
August 6, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community:
It is my pleasure to announce that the Louisiana Board of Regents has awarded a Presidential Endowed Chair to Our Lady of Holy Cross College. Several years ago, the College established the Thomas E. Chambers Presidential Chair from donations received by many in the local community. The foundation gift was given by the Edward G. Schlieder Foundation. The original restricted Chair was given for the support of the President's office and related activities. With this matching restricted academic award of $800,000, the Thomas E. Chambers Presidential Endowed Chair is now valued at $2,000,000 and will assist in the academic leadership in the community.
The Louisiana Board of Regents awards endowed chairs to individuals who are involved in academic development and/or research efforts. We made the case that the president of a college or university must demonstrate that he or she has the academic understanding and/or background to be a leader of an academic institution. Indeed, we had to testify before a team of peer reviewers from outside the state to convince them that the President at the College has an academic vision for its future development. It is understood that the proceeds from this restricted Chair will be spent to further the academic vision of the College. We not only convinced them but we were awarded this Chair ahead of some other research-based institutions in the state.
As we implement our mission and vision statements, we will continue to enhance our academic community and our reputation for integrating academic excellence with care and responsibility, that is, the mind and the heart.
We now hold two restricted endowed chairs at the College: the Sue Ellen M. Canizaro Chair in Catholic Theology with its matching endowed professorships and the Thomas E. Chambers Presidential Endowed Chair. Both will continue to support the academic development of the College along with the endowed professorships we already hold.
This award is another indication of the esteem that many in the state have for Our Lady of Holy Cross College.
Sincerely,
(Rev.) Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
"Our zeal is always guided by charity, everything is done with strength and gentleness: strength because we are courageous and unshakable in the midst of pain, difficulty and trials… and with gentleness because we have the tenderness of our Divine Model." - Father Basil Moreau, C.S.C.
July 23, 2007
Dear Members of the Our Lady of Holy Cross Community:
The 2007-2008 school year will begin in less than a month. It has been a very busy summer at the College. Our summer sessions were well attended, bringing many new students to the campus.
This past school year brought many challenges and changes throughout the College. As usual, we were flexible and able to adapt to the changing times.
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) review has demanded the time and effort of many on the campus over the past year. In order to achieve a successful review, we need the engagement of everyone in the College community. I thank those who have been working thus far, and I hope that every member in the community will participate in this process until it is completed.
- An academic reorganization, which was developed with the aid of many in the College, has been implemented. It will enhance our academic life.
- We completed the search for our Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. Vernon Miles will begin his work with us on August 8, 2007.
- We introduced and authorized a new Vision Statement for the College, born of the ideas of the entire community. I hope everyone will commit it to memory and, in turn, to action.
Our Lady of Holy Cross College will be a Catholic, national, comprehensive, higher education institution known for the ability to balance liberal arts and sciences and nationally accredited professional programs.
The College will be acclaimed for its individualized service to a diverse student body, the integration of mind and heart in the Marianite tradition, and the academic preparation for competent professionals in service to the larger community.
In this communication, I would like to introduce you to the structure and the positions in the new academic reorganization.
There will be two Divisions: the Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Division of Professional Studies. Each will have an Associate Dean. The Associate Deans in these areas will report to the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Raymond Gitz has been appointed as Associate Dean of the Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He will supervise the four Departments within the Division and the Chairs: Biology and Physical Sciences (Dr. Lee Ellis); Mathematics, English, General and Developmental Studies (Dr. Michael LaBranche); Philosophy and History (Dr. Peter Gittens); and Theology and Fine Arts (Dr. Chris Baglow). In two of the Departments, Academic Program Coordinators will be appointed to assist the Chairs. The Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences will also supervise the areas of academic achievement and General Education.
Dr. Pat Prechter will be the Associate Dean for the Division of Professional Studies. She will coordinate the four Chairs in the Division, but they will be directly responsible to the Vice President and Dean. The four Departments with their Chairs are: Business Administration (Interim Chair, Dr. Clayton White); Counseling and Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Carolyn White); Education (Dr. Becky Maloney); and, Nursing and Allied Health (Dr. Pat Prechter). Academic Program Coordinators/Directors will be appointed to assist some of the Chairs.
Job descriptions for the full-time faculty who serve as Chairs and Academic Program Coordinators/Directors have been developed. The Chairs will be appointed by the President in consultation with the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs on a yearly basis.
The Vice President and Dean will also supervise the Registrar, the Director of Advising, and the Director of Library Services. He will work cooperatively with the other Vice Presidents in areas of enrollment management, development, finance, planning, and assessment.
The reorganization will serve us well as we begin a new chapter in the College's history. The Vision will unfold as the College develops over the next few years. I ask that you give the new academic administrators your full cooperation. I also ask every person in the community to give the leaders of SACS the assistance that will be required to make this process a great success. Each person should play some important role during the next few years.
I look forward to a year filled with promise and activity.
Respectfully, (Rev.)
Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C. Ph.D.
Invocation given by Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C.
at the Annual Membership Luncheon of
Algiers Economic Development Foundation
held on Wednesday, July 11, 2007.
Our God, we acknowledge that You empowered the earth with incredible riches. In turn,
You empowered humankind with extraordinary creativity and capacity to labor on the
earth for self preservation and the preservation of the common good.
We believe that we have a right to acquire wealth in a lawful and just way by our work.
We know that we have an obligation to use the earth's wealth properly and insure a
wider distribution of our community's wealth. This is your command and also creates a
sane and healthy social order.
Our social order must include a generous spirit, one where selfishness is replaced by
justice and charity. We realize that justice can remove the cause of social strife, if
properly exercised, but, by itself, the practice of justice cannot unite the minds and
hearts of all men and women. Charity is the key in this area. Charity draws us together
in extraordinary ways, for love eradicates boundaries of class and position. We know
that men and women will only unite for the common good when they are convinced that
they are all members of one family, one creation, under the Creator of all.
We confess that our social order, especially our political and business community, must
be one where the rich and powerful will never neglect their poorer brothers and sisters
and always keep these interests foremost in their minds and hearts. In this spirit, we will
be workers for the community without thoughts and feelings of envy or greed. We will
appreciate the importance and dignity of labor in this creation we have so generously
been given to use for the good of all.
We pray that the efforts of the Algiers Economic Development Community will bring us
to an acknowledgment of justice and charity as we use the gifts that we have received
from the Creator.
June 29, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross Community:
It is my pleasure to announce that Sr. Suellen Tennyson, MSC has been elected to be the Superior General of the Marianites of Holy Cross. We ask God's blessing on Sr. Tennyson as she begins this most important work in the congregation and the church.
We congratulate and are grateful to Sr. Kay Kinberger, MSC for the wonderful work that she has done to foster the life of the Marianites and the growth of the College.
Respectfully yours,
(Rev.) Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
May 21, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community:
I am pleased to announce that we have a new Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs at Our Lady of Holy Cross College. Dr. Vernon G. Miles will join our community on August 1, 2007. His most recent position was Dean and Professor of English at Lynchburg College, VA, which he held since 2002. Previously, he was the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Union College in KY. He received a M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Arkansas, and a B.A. in English from Belhaven College. He completed a Mellon Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His teaching and research interests are in academic leadership in higher education, the literature of slavery, African-American literature, the American novel, and nineteenth-century American Literature.
Dr. Miles has written extensively in scholarly journals in his fields of interest. He has submitted a manuscript for a new book on racial ambivalence to a national university press. He is very active as a presenter in higher education forums such as the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). His most recent presentation was entitled "Principles for Dealing with Personnel Issues" (2006 Workshop for Chief Academic Officers in Their Third or Fourth Year of Service). He is active in the work of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). He presented a workshop, "Avoiding the 'Perfect Storm': Using an Integrated Institutional Effectiveness Model to Navigate Change," at a meeting of the Commission in 2003.
At this most important junction in the history of the College, we welcome Dr. Miles as the new Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
May 11, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross Community:
In the spring of 2006, I established the Presidential Task Force on Retention. The Report from the Task Force identified four strategic initiatives to improve the retention rate at the College.
Our student satisfaction surveys continue to indicate strong student engagement. However, because of many factors indicated in the Report, our retention efforts require continued improvement.
One of the roles of the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Development, Ms. Kristine Hatfield, is to insure student engagement. Therefore, recognizing the role of retention in our continued enrollment efforts, I have appointed Ms. Hatfield as the administrator of our retention efforts which includes the authority to fulfill the recommendations of the Task Force on Retention in cooperation with many offices involved in the retention effort.
I ask that you give her your full cooperation.
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
May 8, 2007
Dear Faculty and Staff:
I write simply to thank each one of you for all that you have done for our students in this most extraordinary time. It has been such a long year with the interruption to our schedule in September and the extension of classes into August. You have proven your greatness as educators and individual men and women.
On Sunday, at the Graduation, all our extra work and effort will seem worth while as we see our graduates walk across the stage. We will have come through the storm into the light of day. Our new graduates will carry with them your spirit of courage and life into the future.
I want to thank you in a personal way for all the support that you have extended to me during this year. I look forward to the years of growth ahead of us. Our Lady of Holy Cross College plays a very important part in the life of New Orleans, and we will continue to keep this most important role.
I will see you at the Mass on Saturday and the Graduation on Sunday.
Let us pray for one another.
Sincerely yours,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
May 2, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross Faculty and Staff:
I am delighted to announce that the following members of our faculty have been promoted: Ms. Marie Adorno Associate Professor of Nursing Ms. Anita Althans Associate Professor of Nursing Ms. Katherine Law Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences Dr. Rebecca Maloney Associate Professor of Education Ms. Carol Scott Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts Dr. Lisa Sullivan Associate Professor Education
Congratulations to each one of you!
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
May 2, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross Faculty and Staff:
I am delighted to announce that the following members of our faculty have been promoted:
Ms. Marie Adorno Associate Professor of Nursing
Ms. Anita Althans Associate Professor of Nursing
Ms. Katherine Law Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences
Dr. Rebecca Maloney Associate Professor of Education
Ms. Carol Scott Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts
Dr. Lisa Sullivan Associate Professor Education
Congratulations to each one of you!
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
Easter Message
April 3, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community,
The Resurrection is the pivotal celebration of the Church's liturgical calendar. As Christians, we celebrate our gift of freedom through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because of the Lord's life among us, death has been transformed into life, everlasting life, our lasting hope.
The 2007 academic year has given us new life. We are thankful for all that we have been able to accomplish, even in these very difficult times. What lies in our future depends on our own creativity, our desires, and our cooperation with the God who is and will be.
I wish you the blessings of the Easter season.
Sincerely,
Father Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
March 29, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community:
Sister Laura Melancon, MSC, has been an excellent member of the College community for over 40 years. She has held many administrative positions during her tenure at the College including Vice President for Mission and Planning, Academic Dean, Special Assistant to the President, and Director of Development. Few will deny that she has made a major impact on the growth and development of the College.
It is with regret that she will be leaving the position of Vice President for Mission and Planning. She will now be free to explore the options that are opened to her for the next part of her career at Our Lady of Holy Cross College.
In order to fulfill the important role that she occupies, we will be seeking a person to fulfill the planning part of her position. The search process will be announced shortly.
In Our Lady of Holy Cross College,
Fr. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
March 12, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross College Community:
The Alumni Association of Our Lady of Holy Cross College is alive and well. On Saturday evening in the Moreau Center, now known by the students as the "BMC," another gala event took place to honor three of our graduates: Anna Faye Marciante ('92 & '99) in Education; Vicki O'Brien ('00) in Business; Cheryn Young ('86) in Nursing. Each of these graduates expressed their pride in their education at the College. They could not say enough about the special care and concern that they received while at the College.
The event celebrated two alumni gatherings in one: the annual wine tasting and the awards ceremony. This is only the beginning of the celebrations we want to have in the future to honor our graduates.
The night was more significant because the Alumni Association gave a special award in the name of our own James Rabalais, Jr. As administrator, teacher, mentor, advisor and community ambassador, he was most deserving of this special award.
Faculty and staff members are so important to the success of our alumni development. Experience has demonstrated that it is the faculty and staff members that are remembered by the students even more than their education. We cannot underestimate the incredible impact one or two members of the community can have on the consciousness of students. For example, at Stonehill College, our sister school in Massachusetts, the alumni association conducted five alumni surveys over a period of five years to determine who had the greatest affect on the graduates. In each instance, one name was the first choice. He was the campus minister there for 30 years. At his funeral, there were hundreds and hundreds of alumni in attendance and many emails sent in his honor.
Each of us is an ambassador for the College. In the end, what matters is not our position, but our expression of genuine care and concern. It does not matter what we can do for the students, but who we are for them. Of course, they expect a quality educational experience, but they also expect what we do so well at Our Lady of Holy Cross: we care for them as individuals.
Please try to support our alumni office in their attempts to bring the alumni back into the community. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D.
February 28, 2007
Dear Faculty and Staff:
In this " Message from the President," I want to report on some important issues discussed at the Board of Regents meeting on the life and development of the College.
The Board made the following decisions at its recent Board meeting:
Adoption of a New Vision Statement: We have a new Vision Statement which should be used in all our documents. Our Mission Statement continues to be very appropriate for the present moment and broad enough to take us into the future. However, the previous Vision Statement needed some clarity to move us into the future. You will remember that many months ago, I sent a message to everyone in the College community regarding the development of a revised statement in line with the work of the Presidential Task Force for Strategic Planning. After input from the entire community, we developed a draft statement, along with a vision narrative and planning pillars, which reflected the views of the community. After inclusion of community comments, these draft documents, Vision Statement, the Vision Narrative and the Planning Pillars, were sent to all the community for comments. Very few comments were received, which indicated an acceptance from the community. After inclusion of these final comments, the Board members were presented with the final documents at the Board meeting. The Board accepted the documents unanimously. These Statements should serve as the basis of all institutional restructuring.
Academic Restructuring: Based upon the Vision Statement, the Board also approved the adoption of a two-division structure in the academic area. The Vision calls for a balance between liberal arts/sciences and nationally accredited professional programs. Thus, the academic structure will have two major divisions: a Liberal Arts and Science Division and a Professional Programs Division. In the next two months, we will discuss the detailed structure of the two academic divisions and the implications for each discipline and its leadership. Other institutional structural issues will also be discussed during the semester.
Directional Goals: In preparation for the revised Strategic Plan, the Board approved a set of Directional Goals (attached), including a separate goal for Academic Affairs. As you may recall, Sister Laura Melancon, M.S.C., is chairing a Presidential Committee on Strategic Planning. The report will be presented to the Board in April.
Honorary Doctorates: Four names were presented and approved by the Board: Rev. Bryan Hehir, Sister Bernardine Hill, M.S.C., Dr. Alex Johnson, and Mr. Peter Quirk. Fr. Hehir, a priest from the Archdiocese of Boston, is a world known leader in social justice and ethics. He teaches and lectures throughout the country. Sister Bernardine was a long time faculty member at the College in Education. Dr. Johnson is Chancellor of Delgado Community College. Mr. Peter Quirk works for the Archdiocese of New Orleans and is chair of the Catholic Foundation.
Balanced Budget and Budget Approval: The Board instructed the President to present a balanced budget for 2007-2008 at the April 26, 2007 meeting. As you know, it is very difficult to determine the number of students who will register until late in the second semester and sometimes as late as the beginning of classes. The Board members want to approve the budget before the administration makes budgetary decisions for the future which includes contracts.
We look forward to a very fruitful future.
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C., Ph.D
January 24, 2007
Dear Our Lady of Holy Cross Community:
The celebration of the Christmas event, 2006, announced to the world the gift of a new world in the New Year, 2007. The time between Christmas Day and the day of the New Year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the many memories of the past year and the expectations found in the next year. It is a time to reflect on our past and our future. This is so important because we, as gifted human beings, are able to learn from the past and bring newness to the future.
Of course, as we reflect on the days prior to December 25th in the year 2006 and the expectations after January 1st, our minds turn to the good times, as well as the pains and surprises. In 2006, we might have welcomed a new child or grandchild into the family, or finished a long project like a dissertation, or the rebuilding of a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina or welcomed new members to our learning community of Our Lady of Holy Cross, or crossed the stage at graduation, or passed a license examination, or experienced a conversion of spirit for the new year. We opened our doors that January 2006 to many - faculty, staff and students - who found OLHCC as a port in the storm, a place to learn and develop their talents and lives. Actually, during those days between August 2005 and January 2006, many had the time to reflect on their lives and their future. Many decisions were made during that time which will be effective for a long time.
There is no doubt that during this week between Christmas 2006 and the first day of 2007, the people of the world reflected on the war in Iraq. The many images of deadly explosions fill our retinas with fear and trembling. We might ask: where does all this hatred come from and why is it so destructive? We turn to the Christ child and ask earnestly for the arrival of peace, healing, and harmony. We pray for the courage to do what is right always with the common good in mind. I imagine that the men and women immersed in the American Revolution, or the Civil War, or the wars in Europe, or the wars in Korea, and Vietnam, prayed earnestly for a new year of peace and healing. Today, we continue to pray that all share in the gifts of liberty, nourishment, and freedom from fear.
After the terrible storm of 2005, 2006 was a welcome change. All the residents of Louisiana and Mississippi, and vicariously all the members of the world, experienced a historical event. It was so destructive and painful, but also an opportunity for us to learn so much about our behaviors and attitudes. While there were some who saw this tragedy as the opportunity to profitably utilize the charity of the world community, the majority of people grew in altruism, empathy, charity, and a desire for the common good. I can remember seeing the emotion on the face and in the voice of our Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast speaker as he spoke about the courage he witnessed by individuals during and after the storm. I can reflect on the joy of our "Spes Unica" recipients who impressed the people in the room to care for the poor and the needy. We celebrated the 90th anniversary of the College, an event that brought together Marianites, faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and many friends of the College. Our frustrations were washed away by our joy of being together as a unified community.
At the College, we opened the New Year of 2007 with many new students, some new faculty and staff, and a new enthusiasm for the future. Many have taken notice of the wonderful learning community that we are and want to join us in our mission. However, this joy was mellowed by our pain over the loss of a beloved dean and the pain of those who are seriously ill or face many troubles. We will put these memories "into our personal vaults" for reflection at a future time, maybe the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, 2007 - 2008.
Always, as Christians, we hear the words of hope found in the scriptures: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
As we celebrate, learn, laugh, and cry together in this New Year, we know that we have the Our Lady of Holy Cross Community to depend on in the present moment and the future. We are overjoyed that all our alumni bring the spirit of the College into their workplace and home.
Sincerely yours,
Father Anthony De Conciliis, C.S.C.
January 10, 2007
Dear Community of Our Lady of Holy Cross College:
It is with sadness that I announce the passing of Dean James Rabalais, Dean of the Division of Applied, Natural, and Social Sciences (DANSS) at the College, and a beloved member of the College community. In addition to his renowned roles as teacher, administrator, and advisor, he was an excellent ambassador in the community.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the College, I want to express the great loss all of us will experience in the years to come. We extend our prayerful sympathy to his wife, Linda, his children, and extended family.
We pray fervently that his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in the peace of the Lord.
The funeral arrangements and other details will be communicated as soon as they become available.
Sincerely,
Rev. Anthony J. De Conciliis, C.S.C.
