30 Years of Impact
30 Years of Impact
Melina Arguello-Sotro ‘18, MA ’20 double majored in Catholic Studies and Philosophy and was a Latino Scholar. She has served as the Latino Scholars Program Coordinator since 2020. Melina and her husband, Nestor, live in St. Paul with their daughter.
Father Colin Jones ‘14 triple majored in Philosophy, Catholic Studies, and Classical Languages. He was ordained in 2018 and is a Formation Advisor at Saint John Vianney College Seminary (SJV).
Q: What was your first impression of Catholic Studies?
lives who are going to inspire them with radical love. I get to see that with the seminarians as they go through Catholic Studies and as they meet wonderful people. I know that I wouldn’t be the priest I am today if it weren’t for Catholic Studies. Q: What is going on in Catholic Studies that is different from other places? A: Going through the doors of Sitzmann Hall, one really starts to be alive. We talk about how God calls us to life, He calls us to beatitude, He calls us to lay hold of this amazing imperishable inheritance that we have in virtue of our faith. I think everyone who comes to Catholic Studies, for any amount of time, gets to receive that. You can’t not be changed and not be inspired by what you receive.
Q: How did you find out about Catholic Studies? A: When I was a senior in high school, a group of Latino Scholars were leading a video series at my parish. I was really impressed by them. They were articulate, normal, joyful students. They encouraged me to apply to the program, and I received a scholarship which allowed me to be able to afford university. Q: Why was the Latino Scholars Program so important to you in college? A: Latino Scholars introduced me to the Catholic Studies culture. It instilled in me a worldview. It was so hopeful and nourishing. It was helping me develop a sense of what is true, good, and beautiful. It was a genuinely happy experience of college.
Q: What did you enjoy most about being a Latino Scholar?
A: I took my first Catholic Studies class junior year. I experienced a community unlike any I had before. The people that I got to know in Catholic Studies are still some of my best friends. I encountered the truth alongside them. Q: What is a lasting memory from Catholic Studies? A: One class that really changed my perspective was the Newman class with Dr. Don Briel. Being guided through the works of then Blessed John Henry Newman by this amazing Newman scholar opened me up to a love for the Church that I had never experienced before. Q: Is Catholic Studies still important for college seminarians today? A: I want the men at SJV to know that they need friendships with the laity. They need people in their
A: A highlight was our monthly formation nights gathered around a table eating a good meal and discussing a topic. Our coordinator led us in conversation about an article or a book that we were asked to read. To have that space to have a good conversation about difficult topics was a real highlight. Q: How do you describe Catholic Studies to Latino students in the program today? A: The Catholic Studies project is creating a culture of students who are engaging in an interdisciplinary form of education which instills in them a certain
worldview. It helps them to adopt the mind of Christ and to take that with them into the professional world.
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Lumen Winter 2024 Page 13
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