Featuring: Lydia Kearney ’12
I remember my first Mass at Princeton vividly. The creaky old Aquinas building on Nassau Street was full of freshmen and leaders heading off to Outdoor Action trips. I was surrounded by people I had just met at orientation—including two of my own trip leaders and several groupmates—and I remember thinking what a blessing it was that I already had people to go to Mass with. Even before setting foot in a classroom, I was praying in Christ’s presence.
During my four years at Princeton, most weeks were anchored by the 10:05 p.m. Mass in Murray-Dodge and, when possible, daily Mass in the Chapel between classes. Mass became a source of peace amid stress and a place to encounter the Truth of Christ amid the many competing philosophies on campus.
Through Aquinas, I met many friends devoted to Christ—cradle Catholics, new converts whom I joyfully saw received at the Easter Vigil, and Protestant brothers and sisters. Most importantly, I met the young Catholic man who would become my husband. Now, twelve years of marriage and four children later, we support Aquinas out of deep gratitude for the gift of faith we received there.
While Princeton offered us plenty of opportunities—courses, varsity track experience, job opportunities, and many lifelong friendships—the greatest gift of our time on campus was the spiritual growth we experienced. Through Aquinas, Christ grew in us and helped us set our eyes on heaven as our ultimate goal, rather than on the other good but far less important earthly goals that Princeton inspired. We came to know that every earthly endeavor finds its proper place within our ultimate calling: sainthood.
My prayer for Princeton students and for all young people making their way to adulthood in our culture is that they would hear the Good News, be surrounded by a community of faith, and be nourished and galvanized by the Eucharist to engage with and evangelize the many voices that shout that God does not exist. With donor support, Aquinas is accomplishing this very work at Princeton—inviting today’s students into the same grace-filled moments that shaped my life—and with greater breadth and depth and beauty than I knew on campus 15 years ago. It’s thrilling to see.
We support Aquinas so that Princeton students—and the families and communities they will one day lead—continue to hear the same urgent message proclaimed by the first Christians: Iesous Kyrios–Jesus is Lord!