Ben Lepper ’25 and Shaye Callanan ’26
Editor-In-Chief and News Editor
Last week, Commonweal Magazine, the oldest independent Catholic opinion journal in the United States, celebrated their 100th anniversary at Chelsea Piers in New York City. As a member of Commonweal’s Board of Directors, Holy Cross’ President Vincent Rougeau invited a small handful of Holy Cross faculty and four students to the gala as his personal guests, two of which are the authors of this piece.
Holy Cross wasn’t the only Jesuit school with representatives in attendance. There were also delegations from Georgetown, Villanova, Notre Dame, Boston College, and more. But the biggest delegation from a Jesuit institution was that of nearby Fordham University’s, whose President, Tania Tatlow, was the recipient of the inaugural Commonweal Centennial Award.
The featured speakers at the dinner, which was the most-attended event in Commonweal history, included Dominic Preziosi, the magazine’s editor; Timothy Shriver, the chairman of the Special Olympics; and, of course, President Tatlow, who accepted her award with gratitude.
A major theme throughout the night was the need for Commonweal’s existence in today’s world, a world where print media is being read less and less and Catholic ideas are becoming less and less popular. Indeed, the magazine’s position is a unique one: as a Catholic journal of opinion managed entirely by lay people that promotes progressive politics and liberalism, it serves as a place for Catholics who do not align politically with the current Republican party and politics. And, based on just how well the dinner was attended (and, frankly, the fact that the magazine has survived 100 years and is well-poised to make it to the 22nd century), it is clear that their values and opinions are resonating more and more with a large group of Catholics. As long as they continue to focus on the common weal (also known as the common good), there will be a need for them in today’s world.
There was also lots of discussion about the future of Commonweal. Not only have they recently gotten into the podcast game like many other media outlets, but they also announced a new fellowship entirely made possible by donations: for the next four years, one graduating college student a year will receive a fellowship and be able to join the Commonweal team. This fellowship will help promote Commonweal’s mission amongst young people and ensure that their values will stand the test of time. It was announced for the first time at the gala and has yet to begin accepting applications, but is certainly an exciting initiative to monitor.
Alyssa Cabrera ‘25, one of the students invited to the gala, said that she “was extremely honored to learn about initiatives and current issues Catholics are continuing to discuss through Commonweal. It was inspirational to hear from professors and writers carrying these values in their work.”This gala served as a reminder that Catholic ideas and values are fully alive and adapting to our modern political and cultural landscape. Thanks to the efforts of publications such as Commonweal, Catholics can interpret the complicated world of modern current affairs through a faith-based lens. With their contemporary interpretation of politics, religion, and culture, Commonweal seeks to instill Catholic ideas within our currently divided society. Messages of hope, the importance of intellect, and respect of the marginalized are central to the Catholic tradition, and are key elements to navigating our fractured world.
Featured image courtesy of Commonweal Magazine
Copy Edited by Lilly Baumfeld ’27
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