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| A LIVING THOMISM FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM |
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History of the Center
The Center for Thomistic Studies was founded in 1975 at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic University founded by members of the Congregation of St. Basil and located in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. English-speaking Basilians in North America have long been connected with fostering the study of Aquinas, most prominently by founding, along with Etienne Gilson, the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the University of Toronto in 1929. In 1976, at the request of the Center’s principal founder, Fr. Victor B. Brezik, CSB, Professor Anton C. Pegis, formerly president of the Institute of Mediaeval Studies at Toronto, accepted the position of Director of the Center. His was the responsibility for designing the program, acquiring a suitable faculty, and supervising the accumulation of library resources. After Dr. Pegis’ sudden death in 1978, Professor Vernon J. Bourke accepted the position of Interim Director from 1978-80. The official announcement of the opening of the Center occurred in October of 1979 at a symposium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical, Aeterni Patris. Graduate courses were first offered in the fall semester of 1980. By this time Fr. Ronald D. Lawler, OFM. Cap. had assumed directorship of the Center. In 1982 he was succeeded by Fr. Leonard A. Kennedy, CSB; in 1987 by Fr. Thomas A. Russman, OFM. Cap.; in 1996 by Interim Director Dr. Jerome Kramer; in 1998 by Fr. John C. Gallagher, CSB; in 1999 by Dr. Christopher Martin and in 2000 by Dr. Daniel McInerny. The current Director of the Center is Dr. Mary Catherine Sommers, who assumed the position in 2002.
The MA and PhD programs in the Center for Thomistic Studies received initial accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1980 (MA) and 1982 (PhD) and permanent accreditation in 1985 (MA) and 1988 (PhD). |
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