In 1983, Bishop Thomas Welsh founded CDU to bring the truth of Christ and His Church to the world through online distance education. CDU’s web-based learning community enhances adult faith formation and enables access to accredited degree programs in theology simply with a connection to the Internet.  Today, our graduates are proof that CDU’s digital learning is transformative. Nine out of ten graduates are using their knowledge in roles that serve the Church. For many students, CDU is their only option to enhance their professional work, to prepare for careers in the Church, to volunteer in parishes and dioceses, and to be parents who are both witnesses and missionary disciples, speaking with passion and knowledge about the faith. All this is accomplished at less than half the cost of attending a traditional Catholic university or college and would not be possible without the generosity of people like you.

Your generous donation to our annual event enables us to provide transformative Catholic education in fidelity to the teachings of the Church anytime, anywhere around the world, delivered 24/7 to smart phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads!  You make it possible for CDU to serve the underserved and those who serve, and to achieve our great mission to “Teach all Nations” by communicating the mind and heart of the Church in a digital world.  Your gift:

• Educates American service men and women deployed around the world.
• Prepares directors of religious education, teachers, and catechists to teach, promote, and defend the Catholic faith
• Brings the healing Word of God to Catholic prison inmates who take courses to deepen their faith and evangelize fellow inmates.
• Supports Mission Dioceses with scholarships for strong lay leaders.
• Holds down tuition rates. Most graduates share their knowledge and serve the Church.
• Supports isolated and marginalized Catholics around the globe with online campus resources.

Your generosity answers the need of the Church to provide transformative religious education in an online format that is essential for the New Evangelization so frequently mentioned by Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.  Understanding and sharing our Faith will transform individuals, communities and cultures around the globe.  Thank you for supporting CDU’s 2021 Gala.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Previous Honorees:

2021 – His Excellency Most Reverend Robert Barron

2019 – His Excellency Most Reverend Christophe Pierre

2017 – Fr. Robert J. Spitzer, SJ, PhD

2016 – Carl A. Anderson

Supreme Knight of The Knights of Columbus

2016 – His Excellency Most Reverend William E. Lori

Archbishop of Baltimore and Supreme Chaplain of Knights of Columbus

2015 – Helen Alvare, JD

Professor of Law, George Mason University

2014 – His Excellency The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio

Archbishop for the Military Services

2014 – His Excellency The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio

Bishop of Brooklyn

2013 – Barbara & Tim Murphy

2012 – Dr. Margaret & Ambassador Thomas Melady

2011 – His Excellency, The Most Reverend Pietro Sambi

Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America

2011 – Joseph and Bertha Braddock

2010 – His Excellency, The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington

2010 – EWTN

Mr. Michael Warsaw, Chairman of the Board

Previous Honorees:

2017 – St. James the Greater

Rev. John S. Ledford

2017 – St. Veronica Catholic Church

Rev. Dennis W. Kleinmann

2016 – Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Rev. John D. Kelly

2015 – Good Shepherd Catholic Church

Rev. Thomas Ferguson

2014 – St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church

Rev. John P. Mosimann

2013 – St. Mary Catholic Church

Rev.  Dennis W. Kleinmann

2012 – Holy Spirit Catholic Church

Rev.  John M. O’Donohue

2011 – St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church

2010 – St. Agnes Catholic Church

Rev. Frederick H. Edlefsen

2019 – Diocese of Brooklyn

Stephen Pryor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees

The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees and University Chancellor

The Honorable Susan R. Malone

We are grateful to our sponsors! 

Gala Sponsors 

The Basilica of St. Mary

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

EWTN Global Catholic Network

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Holmer

Hon. Janice Obuchowski and the Halprin Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pryor

Gala Patrons 

Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

Archdiocese of Washington

Mrs. Bertha Braddock

Diocese of Arlington

Good Shepherd Catholic Church

Mrs. Barbara Keebler and Mr. Terrence Giroux

Korte Realty

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Maher

Mrs. Sandra McMurtrie

Dr. and Mrs. Fritz Scheuren

Dr. Marianne Evans Mount

Mrs. Barbara Murphy

Mr. and Mrs. William Page

Dr. and Mrs. Fritz Scheuren

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Smith, Esq.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schott Stevens

Dr. and Mrs. Charles R. Wasaff

Gala Friends 

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles

The Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D.

Reverend Monsignor John C. Cregan

The Catholic University of America

Christendom College

Mr. Brian Corbin and Dr. Donna DeBlasio

Mr. Daniel Curtin

The Most Reverend John M. Dougherty

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gallinelli

Drs. Angelo and Eileen Giardino

Mrs. Geraldine Hall

Ms. Jean Halle and Mr. Glenn Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hertz

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jones

The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, J.C.L.

Mr. and Mrs. John McCabe. Esq.

Mr. Michael McGarry

Dr. Margaret Melady

Mrs. Helena Metzger

Mrs. Blanche Moore

Mr. and Mrs. John Palaszczuk

Mrs. Mary Petrino, DM

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Hon. and Mrs. Peter Schaumber

Mrs. Elizabeth Shortell

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tauke

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wilkins

Trip Auction Sponsor 

AmFund

Wine Sponsor 

Rappahannock Cellars and Dida’s Distillery

Floral Sponsor 

St. Luke Catholic Church