Thomas More College Establishes: Catholic Medieval Guilds

Authentic Catholic Colleges exist. They might not have huge names, Bowl Series football programs, or appear as often in pop culture as some other, allegedly, Catholic institutions, but they do exist. One of them is Thomas More College in New Hampshire.

On top of traditional curricula, and student bodies that exemplify the teachings of the Church, these authentically Catholic schools are known for uniquely implementing traditional methods into their pedagogical philosophy in order to make their educational platform relevant in today's world. Yes, I said that right, they are using traditional methods in order to make their educational offerings more relevant. (Funny how that works eh?)

In that vein, Thomas More College has recently announced that they are establishing: Catholic Medieval Guilds.

The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts announced that it has established a series of medieval-style Catholic guilds that will enable its students to gain skills and experience from master craftsmen in areas such as woodworking, sacred art, music, and baking.

Thomas More College’s guilds will take its spirit from the associations of men and women who advanced their trades and responded to the needs of their local communities in the Medieval Age.

“Catholic guilds flourished during medieval Europe, but by the Nineteenth Century they had all but disappeared,” said Thomas More College president William Fahey. “Guilds in its earliest form were developed out of man’s natural spirit of association. The Catholic Church took medieval guilds under its tutelage and infused into them the vivifying spirit of Christian charity.”

Thomas More College’s guilds will operate with the same level of community and charity.

“Not only will students learn skills they can use throughout their lives,” said Fahey, “they will have an opportunity to bake bread for the homeless, produce icons for local churches, create chairs, cribs, and other projects for the poor and needy in our community, and bring music to nursing homes and hospitals.”

Thomas More College also expects that its guilds will enhance religious life on campus. This fall, for example, students in the woodworking guild will build a new altar for the College’s chapel, while students in the sacred art guild will produce religious art that will hang on the chapel walls. Students in the music guild will be trained to chant and produce sacred music for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The newly established Catholic guilds at Thomas More College will also play a key role in the development of its students.

What a cool idea? Is this a gimmick? No... not anymore than what some colleges forward as legitimate educational paths. In fact, in an economic climate such as ours, a more practical and applied educational model makes sense. Rather than dealing solely in the theoretical during the students educational period, the practical application of their education, and the work product that it creates, places their energy, effort, and the college's resources back into society in a tangible way.

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