In this episode of Conversatio, Belmont Abbey Campus Minister Carmen Alexander and our guest Paul J. Kim discuss his journey of faith, the challenges of living as a young adult in a secular world, and the importance of community, sacraments, and personal growth.
campus ministry
Belmont Abbey College Awarded Gaston Business Association’s 2024 Spirit of the Economy
Belmont Abbey College Awarded Gaston Business Association’s 2024 Spirit of the Economy
Belmont, N.C. (April 18, 2024) – The Gaston Business Association awarded Belmont Abbey College the 2024 Spirit of the Economy award. The Spirit of the Economy award is bestowed upon organizations that have made substantial contributions to the economic development and prosperity of the Gaston County area.
As a regional partner serving local business, the college’s numerous degree programs bring needed knowledge and skills to the county’s workforce. The college’s holistic approach to education ensures that students not only receive a top-notch academic experience but also develop into well-rounded individuals ready to make a positive impact in their communities. “The entire Belmont Abbey College community is extremely humbled and most grateful for this award. It represents the spirit of sacrifice and service found not only at Belmont Abbey College but throughout Gaston County. It is why Gaston County is such a wonderful place to work and live,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College.
Partnerships with local businesses include CaroMont Health’s new hospital, scheduled to open this Fall on Belmont Abbey land. CaroMont Health was instrumental in the creation of new healthcare degree programs and will serve as the proving ground for a generation of new nurses. This collaboration will provide invaluable hands-on experience for students and contribute to the overall improvement of healthcare in the region and county. Finally, in May of this year the first graduating class from the college’s three nursing programs will join the healthcare workforce proof of the ongoing impact the college will have on our future.
On the horizon are new graduate degree programs that will form a new cadre of leaders, a new performing arts center that will serve the broader community, and the further fulfillment of the college’s commitment to return faithful voices to the public square.
Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to receive the 2024 Spirit of the Economy award, which serves as a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence in education and its dedication to preparing students for successful careers. The college looks forward to continuing its mission of shaping future leaders and making a positive impact on the local community.
For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its programs, please visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.
Sarah Bolton
Marketing Project Manager
Belmont Abbey College
704-461-7016
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit https://belmontabbeycollege.
Belmont Abbey College Completes Historic “Cover to Cover” Bible Marathon Reading Event
Belmont Abbey College Completes Historic “Cover to Cover” Bible Marathon Reading Event
Belmont, N.C. (April 17, 2024) – Belmont Abbey College recently concluded a groundbreaking initiative known as “Cover to Cover,” a marathon reading of the Bible. From Monday, April 8th, through Thursday, April 11th, the college community embarked on a continuous reading of the Bible, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history. This unique endeavor, possibly the first of its kind among Catholic colleges in the United States, aimed to unite the Belmont Abbey community through a profound immersion in the Bible and served as preparation for the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage event for the Diocese of Charlotte operated by the college’s Hintemeyer Scholarship Program students and held on the Abbey’s campus. The
The Cover to Cover event, which took place outside the college’s main administration building, Stowe Hall, saw participants standing at a podium, reading aloud from Sacred Scripture throughout the day and night. Students, faculty, monks, and staff took turns reading, ensuring a seamless transition from one reader to the next. Wesley Nelson, Director of Campus Ministry, marveled at how many people had echoed his own feelings: that “the particular passage that the Lord had ordained that I would be reading was of particular meaning to me in my relationship with Him.” Lily Miller, a freshman at Belmont Abbey College, shed tears as she read from John’s Gospel, particularly touched by the poignant exchange between Christ and Peter.
Involving over 110 readers, the Cover to Cover event was completed in 85 hours and 42 minutes and concluded in the early hours of Friday, April 12th, a precursor of grace for the upcoming Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage. During a final gathering, Tom MacAlester, the Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, quoted the last chapter of Revelation, emphasizing the eternal nature of the participants’ faith journey.
Dr. MacAlester reflected on the significance of the event, stating, “Our first Cover to Cover event at Belmont Abbey College began with the transit of the moon between us and the sun: a partial solar eclipse. In a tangible and celestial way, God was communicating to our little community that by embarking on this unique and beautiful journey we were, in a way, living these words. By proclaiming the word of God continuously, we found we did not need a ‘lamp or sun’ to illuminate our path. We had Scripture to provide that to us. And God Himself, revealed through the entirety of the Bible, shone that light straight down Abbey Lane.”
This immersive experience aligns with the Benedictine prayer tradition, which emphasizes the continuous engagement with the Word of God. The Cover to Cover event serves as a testament to the enduring monastic tradition of 1,500 years, carrying forward the practice of faithful and contemplative scripture engagement.
For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its commitment to spiritual growth and academic excellence, please visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.
Sarah Bolton
Marketing Project Manager
Belmont Abbey College
704-461-7016
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit https://belmontabbeycollege.
Belmont Abbey Holds an Annual Power Weekend!
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Christina Villanueva
Have you ever felt in college as just going through the motions? Or simply bouncing from class to practice every day? Belmont Abbey has been offering for the last five years a weekend to show students there is more to college than just class and practice. It is called the Awakening Retreat, and it is held during the spring semester. While this is still a Catholic retreat, it is open to all students of all grades. It is a chance to open your heart and mind to discover something more profound. During this weekend, students can collaborate and reflect with other students and have time to meditate and pray without outside pressure. This only happens once a year and has been found to be very successful. To sign up, there is an information table outside the cafeteria for more information.
One key part of the Awakening Retreat is being a part of a small group. This is a group of students, led by upperclassmen, to bond and converse over speeches and
activities throughout the weekend. To keep the privacy of the retreat coordinators, the details of the cannot be shared. This very reason has led to hundreds of students
participating in such an amazing weekend. Students are able to open up and trust their small group to share their struggles. This gives other students the opportunity to help their peers on a confidential level.
Another important aspect of the retreat is the power of prayer. Whether a student is catholic or not, they are able to participate in prayer throughout the retreat. There are rosaries, reflections, and, most importantly, the holy mass. This is a chance for the retreatants to talk to God and bring to him their needs. During school, time for prayer can be hard to find. The Awakening Retreat is an easy and fun way to feel stress-free and relaxed while growing in the faith.
Students have said to have felt “refreshed” and “joyful” after returning from this retreat. From personal experience, the retreat was a perfect way to start my college career by meeting new people and feeling comfortable. This goes to show how powerful this retreat can be. It is open to any student of Belmont Abbey. People have repeatedly gone back to help with the retreat, and it has not been talked about enough.
This year the Awakening Retreat was held February 24-26.
This article was originally posted in the Spring of 2023, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.
March for Life with Dr. Thierfelder
Watch the latest message from the President of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Bill Thierfelder.
