When the University President Moves You In

Move-in day for first-year students is what memories (and Instagram and TikTok reels) are made of. 

After months of planning, family cars roll onto The Catholic University of America’s campus packed with must-haves for their students, draw to a stop before the assigned residence hall and — the University’s president steps forward to unload the car.

That’s how it works at our University. 

An Art and a Science

President Peter Kilpatrick is among more than 200 volunteers who have move-in down to a science. It takes 15 minutes or less for teams to unload a car and deliver everything a student will need for his or her daily life over the next eight months. In fact, by the time the first-year students arrive at their residence halls, everything is ready for their room set-up.

Each family is given a day and time slot to arrive, which helps keep traffic flowing. Catholic University student volunteers direct cars, help with check-in, and answer questions in addition to serving as a moving crew. 

On the August 27 move-in day, parents appreciated the quick work. Rob Gerkin, a veteran college parent from Orange County, Calif., noted how smooth the move-in was. He and other veteran parents looked relaxed, while first-time college parents were learning the ropes.

Blessings and Beginnings

Father Bernard Knapke, O.P., associate University chaplain, stopped by Centennial Village, welcoming students and families and leaning into car windows for a greeting and handshake as parents pulled in. 

“I’m just doing as much as I can to calm people down a little bit. It’s a fun morning!” he said. He added that the priests with Campus Ministry had blessed every room with holy water about three weeks earlier. 

A general blessing of rooms was planned for later in the afternoon near the basketball courts. He said they want to assure parents that the rooms are blessed and to invite everyone to outdoor Adoration and a welcome-back Mass over the weekend.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

Most classes begin Aug. 31 (the law school started earlier). The University community, including students, faculty, staff, and leadership, will mark the official start of the academic year with the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 3 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the papal nuncio and Pope Leo XIV's official representative to the United States, will be celebrant and homilist.