Catholic and Dominican Institute
Scholars delve into Thomistic philosophy at Mount workshop
Photos by Matt Frey
Dozens of scholars from around the globe explored the wisdom of 13th century Dominican friar St. Thomas Aquinas at the annual St. Thomas Aquinas Philosophy Workshop, hosted at Mount Saint Mary College.
The workshop was co-sponsored by the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute and the Thomistic Institute at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
The theme of this year’s workshop was “Aquinas on Nature and the Natural.” The event brought together scholars, graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and lovers of philosophy for formal scholarly presentations, prayer and meditation, and informal conversations related to philosophy and theology.
Participants came from colleges and universities like Notre Dame University, Providence College, Loyola Marymount University, Angelicum, and Newman University. The four-day event saw attendees from as far away as Belgium, Italy, and the Philippines.
The scholars were welcomed to the conference by Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission at the Mount, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute; and Fr. Ambrose Little, OP, assistant director of the Thomistic Institute and assistant professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
Zola explained that the workshop, which was celebrating its 14th year, is a unique way to bring together a diverse audience of individuals.
“It’s always gratifying to see seasoned scholars sharing their knowledge with a younger generation of enthusiasts of Aquinas’s philosophy,” he said. “In addition, we also have individuals who are not academics, but are just interested in learning more about his ideas. There is amazing synergy that occurs when you have such a diverse group all focused on one topic.”
He added, “A large part of the success of the workshop is due to the setting of our campus. The participants remark on the incredible views of the Hudson Valley, as well as the beauty of our campus and the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary. Personally, I’m very grateful to so many people in our campus community who help make our guests feel welcome and contribute to the success of the workshop.”
Mount celebrates 800th birthday of St. Thomas Aquinas
The Mount celebrated the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Thomas Aquinas – influential philosopher, Dominican priest, and patron saint of Catholic schools – with a series of insightful lectures in the Spring 2025 semester.
St. Thomas Aquinas, OP made innumerable contributions to theology and philosophy over the course of his five decades on this Earth, most famously creating a school of thought that encompasses both theology and philosophy, now known as Thomism.
The St. Thomas Fest – spearheaded by Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission at the Mount, associate professor of Philosophy, and director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI) – was a precursor to the lecture series.
Zola kicked off the festivities with a prayer and blessing offered by Sr. Lucy Povilonis, OP, a Dominican Sister and Religious Coordinator of Bishop Dunn Memorial School on the Mount campus. A dessert reception followed before Zola gave his lecture, titled “Why Aquinas is Still Relevant after 800 Years.”
Zola explained that one of the simplest, yet most profound aspects of Aquinas’s philosophy is the notion that truth can be found in many ideas and texts, even those one does not expressly agree with. For example, Aquinas embraced Greek philosophers like Aristotle, fusing their ideas with the principles of Christianity.
“What Thomas offers us is a way to see more, or to broaden our vision,” said Zola.
Additional topics followed throughout the semester, beginning with Sarah Maple, assistant professor of Religious Studies, giving a lecture titled “What is Beauty?” As the second talk in the series, Maple delved into the Thomistic perspective on beauty, prompting reflection on whether it is an inherent quality or subject to individual perception. She also considered beauty’s role in the enjoyment of life and its potential demands on us.
Robert Miller, associate professor of Theology and Religious Studies, presented “Adoro Te Devote: St. Thomas Aquinas on the Eucharist.” In his talk, Miller provided a detailed examination of Aquinas’s deep reverence for the sacrament of Holy Communion, emphasizing the Catholic belief in bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Jesus Christ and the importance of the priest’s words during consecration.
The series concluded with John Hofbauer, associate professor of Philosophy, presenting “The Thomistic Intellectual Tradition, Artistic Inspiration, and the Mystery of Faith.” This final talk highlighted Aquinas’s immense influence as a philosopher and Dominican priest, whose contributions shaped theology and philosophy, giving rise to Thomism.
All lectures in the series were sponsored by the Mount's Catholic and Dominican Institute, which actively promotes the college’s heritage, advances Dominican values, and provides a crucial forum for ethical discussions within the community.
Dominican Scholars donate $300 to Baby Steps pantry
The Dominican Scholars of Hope, under the guidance of Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission, Director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute, and Associate Professor of Philosophy, present the Baby Steps Baby Pantry at Christ Lutheran Church with a donation of $300.
Photo by Matt Frey
Right before the end of the Spring 2025 semester, the Dominican Scholars of Hope (DSH) donated $300 to the Baby Steps Baby Pantry (BSBP) at Christ Lutheran Church in Newburgh, N.Y.
Rooted in the values of the Judeo-Christian and Dominican heritage of the college, DSH is a nonacademic living and learning community for highly motivated Mount students.
Through a Krispy Kreme doughnut fundraiser, the DSH raised the money for the pantry, which provides infant supplies for families in need in the local area. Each month, families who are part of the program are provided with a week’s worth of diapers, wipes, wash, and cream.
Susan Surprise, treasurer and one of the founders of Baby Steps, and Laura Kohlmann, president of the board for the pantry, were grateful to accept the donations in person.
They thanked Dominican Scholars of Hope advisor Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission, Director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor for Philosophy.
This is the seventh year the Dominican Scholars have hosted fundraisers to benefit BSBP.