Providence College

📍 Fatima, Portugal, and beyond!

In May, students and staff from Providence College Campus Ministry traveled from Fatima, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to learn about the message Mary gave when she appeared to three shepherd children in 1917.

Highlights of the pilgrimage included Mass in the place where Mary appeared, climbing castle walls, and seeing the statue sculpted by Rev. Thomas McGlynn, O.P., who once taught art at Providence College.

Seven Providence College faculty members attended the Wakonse Conference on Inspiring College Teaching, at Camp Miniwanca on Lake Michigan, where they explored new ideas and strategies to bring back to their classrooms.

Joining them for the first time were Honors students Natalia Fila ’27, Clara Arcand ’28, Patrick Morreale ’28, and Clare Coleman ’29, who attended the concurrent Wakonse Undergraduate Leadership Conference.

While faculty honed their teaching skills and students strengthened their leadership abilities, the entire group proudly represented PC — and even taught fellow attendees how to speak Rhode Islander.

When chemistry major Leart Jahaj ’27 arrived at Providence College, he knew he wanted to study science and make a difference. Today, he is one of just 454 students nationwide to receive a Goldwater Scholarship, the nation's most prestigious undergraduate award for students pursuing careers in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

Working alongside faculty mentor Adelaide Clark, Ph.D., Jahaj conducts environmental research that examines pollutants in the air we breathe. A member of the Honors Program and Phi Beta Kappa, he has co-authored published research, earned a NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration research internship, and embraced the liberal arts education that challenges him both inside and outside the lab.

Read more about Jahaj's journey and how faculty mentorship, undergraduate research, and academic curiosity are helping him prepare for a future in environmental science: https://news.providence.edu/leart-jahaj-goldwater/

Providence College celebrated the commissioning of 13 cadets — including three Friars — as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during the 2026 ROTC Commissioning Ceremony.

Please join us in congratulating Paul Cronin ’26, Griffin Gouck ’26, Jason Vitelli ’26, and their fellow cadets from the Patriot Battalion as they begin lives of leadership and service. Friartown is proud of you. 🇺🇸

During his keynote address, retired Colonel Ryan Dillon ’95, a graduate of PC’s ROTC Program, reflected on the lasting values of leadership, loyalty, and integrity, sharing advice first given by his father, the late Army Colonel Gerald F. Dillon ’68, ’74G, at Dillon’s own commissioning ceremony 31 years ago.

Watch the ceremony, view photos, and read more about the Dillon family legacy: https://news.providence.edu/celebrating-commencement-2026/

Before they crossed the stage at graduation, the Class of 2026 gathered in prayer, reflection, and celebration at the annual Commencement Mass.

Celebrated by College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G, the Mass honored the journeys, leadership, scholarship, and service of this year’s graduates while reminding them to “make your mark on the world” and continue their lifelong search for truth.

Swipe through moments from the celebration, then visit https://news.providence.edu/celebrating-commencement-2026/ to read more, view photos, watch Father Sicard’s homily, and see the full ceremony.