The Catholic College of the South
We asked our Abbey community to leave a sweet message for Dr. Thierfelder as his retirement officially begins鈥攁nd we received so many heartfelt responses of 鈥渢hank you!鈥
Dr. Thierfelder, you and your family have made a lasting impact on our campus. Thank you for spending the past 21 years with us. We鈥檙e deeply grateful for your generosity, your unwavering faith, and the legacy you leave behind.
Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
In medieval times, a 鈥渕oment鈥 was defined as ninety seconds.
7,364,160. That is the number of moments that I have been blessed to be the President of 海角社在线. Each of those moments, the miraculous and the mundane has taught me the perfection of the present moment. To say, 鈥淭hank you, Jesus,鈥 in every one of them and mean it.
Even so, words alone seem inadequate to express my thoughts and overwhelming gratitude to you and everyone who holds the Abbey dear. As beautiful and meaningful as the iconic gothic brick buildings on our campus may be, it is the love, friendship, fidelity, sacrifice, excellence, and virtue of Abbey men and women that make it a special place and a little slice of Heaven.
I think Cardinal John Henry Newman was envisioning Belmont Abbey when he described the characteristics of a College; he wrote: “Moreover, it is the shrine of our best affections, the bosom of our fondest recollections, a spell upon our afterlife, a stay for world-weary mind and soul, wherever we are cast, till the end comes. Such are the attributes or offices of home, and like to these, in one or other sense and measure, are the attributes and offices of a College.”
Divine Providence brought us to our Abbey home twenty-one years ago, and I hope and pray that Providence will keep us here鈥ill the end comes. As Oblates of the monastic community and honorary alumni of the College, Mary and I look forward to spending the rest of our lives here, at our Abbey home, deepening the friendships born here and building new ones with those called here.
Thanks again and again for all you have done and continue to do for the Abbey.
God Bless,
In the gospels this week we hear some of my favorite parables about the kingdom of God: the leavening yeast and tiny mustard seed, the buried treasure and the merchant seeking a priceless pearl. I鈥檝e always loved those brief, irreducible story-images, but this time as I listened to the familiar parables, I realized that even though they ask us to contemplate the same mystery, I鈥檝e never really considered the shape they make, gathered together.
If the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that leavens the dough鈥聽It takes a dense and flat substance and builds chambers of air through it, raising and lightening and filling with space. It is alive but gives its life to change the bread into a new form.
If the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that sprouts and branches to welcome all the birds of the air鈥聽It begins small, alive but seemingly inert. It contains inside itself the means to grow and make a dwelling place out of the emptiness, a place of shelter and rest for creatures both earthly and aerial. It takes root in a particular place, draws water and light and air from its environment. It makes itself into a gift of home.
If the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field鈥聽It鈥檚 something we have to seek. It鈥檚 hidden – in but not of the place we discover it – and there is no stealing it away. Though it demands everything we have, the proper response can only be to buy the field and the treasure inside it without hesitation, even if it looks to the world like we just purchased an empty field without setting aside anything to build or sow with.
If the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for pearls鈥聽It is not just the treasure but also the seeking itself, the seeker in the act of searching and finding. Here again the movement toward the good and the beautiful comes to fruition in another joyfully immediate purchase – the pearl at any cost – but the kingdom is present, already, in hope and in the active pursuit of that treasure.
Each parable taken by itself shows us something, some sliver of mystery. Taken together, they hint at layers deep enough to live our lives inside and still never exhaust the truth.
If the kingdom of God is like each and all of these things鈥聽It is treasure and search, sacrifice and new life. It鈥檚 an outward branching and an inward transformation, something rooted in and nourished by earthly experience, something that transcends and ennobles its earthly hiding place. It gives of itself to offer shelter, dwelling, rest, and is not diminished. I can only name it Love.
We find the kingdom of God in聽heaven, certainly, in our perfect union with God, who is Love. But the kingdom is also here with us when we seek His loving presence. This weekend, as we pray in the Our Father, 鈥淵our kingdom come,鈥 let us embrace the words with renewed hope. May we participate ever more deeply in bringing this kingdom聽into our lives and our communities by loving God and one another. It is the treasure that costs everything we have, that is worth more than all the world.
Belmont, N.C. (July 15, 2025) 鈥 海角社在线 is excited to announce the launch of a new online hospitality management minor, set to begin in the fall 2025 semester. This innovative program features industry faculty like Michael Matthews, Hotel General Manager with Strand Hospitality Services at Hampton Inn Charlotte-Belmont at Montcross, and is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the dynamic hospitality industry.
The hospitality management minor will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the various sectors within the industry, including hotel management, event planning, and human resource management. The curriculum will focus on practical applications, allowing students to engage in hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for real-world challenges.
鈥淭his new minor offers students an incredible opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the hospitality industry while developing the practical skills employers are looking for,鈥 said Michael Matthews, Belmont Abbey professor and industry professional. 鈥淲ith the region鈥檚 growing demand for hospitality professionals, we鈥檙e preparing students to step confidently into leadership roles right here in our community and beyond.鈥
Students pursuing the hospitality management minor will have access to a range of courses that cover topics such as hospitality and tourism management, financial management, and business communication excellence. Additionally, the program will emphasize the importance of ethical practices in the hospitality sector.
“We are thrilled to introduce this new minor, which reflects our commitment to providing students with relevant and impactful educational opportunities,” said Dr. Brad Frazier, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at 海角社在线. “The hospitality industry is rapidly evolving, and we believe this program will empower our students to become leaders in this exciting field.”
海角社在线 is dedicated to fostering a learning environment that encourages personal and professional growth. The introduction of the hospitality management minor aligns with the college’s mission to prepare students for successful careers while instilling a sense of service and community engagement. As the demand for skilled professionals in the hospitality industry continues to grow, 海角社在线 is poised to provide students with the tools they need to succeed.
For more information about 海角社在线 and its programs, visit .
About 海角社在线: Founded in 1876, 海角社在线 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.聽For more information, visit /.
About Strand Hospitality: Founded in 1969, Strand Hospitality Services began as a developer/owner of full-service Holiday Inn resorts. From there, the hotel management company grew via third-party management. Today, Strand Hospitality focuses on developing, investing and operating properties as well as servicing third-party management contracts. The company specializes in the two to four-star hotel segments among many segment types of hotels and is approved to operate hotels under all the leading hotel brand families, including Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental Hotel Group, and Wyndham. Strand Hospitality Services supports operations centers in Charlotte, Myrtle Beach and Atlanta. For more information, please visit .
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Bolton
P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu
Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
I hope that you have had some time to relax and enjoy being with family and friends this summer. It is difficult to believe that we are less than four weeks away from the start of move-in!
This will be my last video update as president and I want you to know how grateful I am for all you have done to make the Abbey such a blessed and wonderful place. You and all of your good work will continue to be remembered each evening during our family Rosary.
God Bless,
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*You will be taken to the College Foundation of North Carolina to create a free account to apply.
