New Collaboration between ASU and the University of Mary

Following is the text of the remarks made by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted during the March 1, 2012, news conference announcing the new partnership between the University of Mary and Arizona State University in Tempe:

Good morning. It is an honor and a joy to be part of this historic initiative. Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to Fred Corey, Vice Provost of Arizona State University, and Fr. James Shea, President of the University of Mary. My thanks to you and your closest co-workers for your months of dialogue and hard work which have opened the way for this collaborative agreement between a Catholic and a State university.

It is fitting that this initiative occurs during the Centennial Year of the State of Arizona. A hundred years ago, the founders of our State believed in the complimentary relationship between Church and State, between good citizenship and lively faith. The State motto, which is inscribed at the center of the seal of the university, expresses this belief: Ditat Deus, “God enriches.” Secular pursuits and religious pursuits need not be at odds with one another; they are complimentary. God enriches every part of our lives, not only what we do at Church or in a synagogue or mosque but also what we do in a classroom, on the playing field, at home or in the public square. I am confident that God will enrich the academic and cultural pursuits of the students who will be part of this initiative beginning today between these great universities.

From her founding of the first universities in Europe, over a thousand years ago, down to the present day, the Catholic Church has been intimately involved in the pursuit of truth on the two wings of faith and reason. Here in Arizona, many priests, religious and Catholic laity have already been actively involved in the life and activities of Arizona State University, as students and faculty, members of the various Boards and Committees, and through the All Saints Newman Center. Scores of Catholic ASU graduates have gone on to become pillars of their respective communities, throughout Arizona and beyond, serving the Church’s mission and also building up culture and the common good in society.

It has been our longstanding desire to strengthen existing institutions and to support new initiatives of Catholic higher education here in Arizona. This is an important step forward in those efforts. A Catholic university comes from the “heart of the Church” and it serves a key role in her mission of handing on the Good news of Jesus Christ and in her engagement with communities and cultures. The pursuit of the truth in all fields of learning coincides with the mission of the Church and her service in support of human dignity and the common good.

In the great task of seeking the truth and serving the truth, in which universities play a vital role, students today face substantial challenges, even obstacles, such as false notions of freedom, twisted notions of masculinity, femininity and marriage, and disregard for the dignity and right to life of every person from the moment of conception until natural death. These challenges have brought about a real crisis of truth, which inevitably leads to a crisis of love. Without truth, love loses its way. Genuine love desires to be true.

Through this new partnership between the University of Mary and Arizona State University, it is my fervent hope that our Catholic young people will be assisted to remain closely connected to Christ and the Church, and that all students will be helped to take up their vocation and mission from God in Arizona and wherever in the world He leads them.

At the beginning of St. Peter’s mission, the Lord Jesus told him, “Put out into the deep.” Is that not what we are doing today? Taking up a new challenge which is risky but also exciting, putting out into the deep of pursuing the truth, following the truth wherever it may lead, and serving the truth in love. I rejoice in this new and daring partnership between two distinguished institutions: the University of Mary and Arizona State University. I can assure you that the larger Church in Arizona, and especially the All Saints Catholic Newman Center, under the strong leadership of Father Robert Clements and Father John Muir, and the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Phoenix under the very capable leadership of MaryBeth Mueller, will do our part to make this a real success.

“Ditat Deus”, God enriches, and He does so when we cooperate with Him in the faithful pursuit of truth and the service of truth in love.

Thank you and God bless.