HUNTER MCDONNELL
LAYOUT EDITOR
Drogo’s Alley, an event that promised to stimulate the mind and the senses with a blend of coffee and theology, drew students to the Gentile Gallery of the J.C. Williams Center at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 12.
The highlight of the evening was a two-part discussion on the topics of St. Michael the Archangel and the Immaculate Heart of Mary led by the Rev. Nathan Malavolti, TOR, and Br. Daniel Klimek, TOR. The initial talks from the friars and subsequent Q&A session lasted nearly an hour. The talks were preceded by performances and interspersed with the hiss of the coffee machine.
Malavolti took the floor in the discussion of St. Michael, diving into the Biblical appearances of St. Michael and expounding upon his titles and his apparitions in history. Malavolti emphasized St. Michael’s value as an ally to Catholics, being called “Help of Christians” and “Champion of the Church,” among other titles.
Klimek offered a commentary on the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in which he explained that a devotion to the heart is truly a devotion to the whole person. As he explained the unity of the Immaculate Heart with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Klimek reminded listeners of their role as spiritual warriors and the importance of making personal sacrifices for the reparation of sins.
Men from Living Stones household opened the night by performing parody songs themed around the Priestly Discernment Program. Sophomore Isabel Nishimuta and junior Emily Cattapan followed the PDP with an Irish step dance performance.
Junior Brigid Williams, the organizer of the event and coordinator of Roses of the Immaculate Heart household, said she wished the turnout had been a bit larger, but that “the Lord showed up in the way that we hoped he would,” and that those present took a lot away from the talks, which Williams said was exactly what she was hoping for.
Williams gave the audience a brief history of Drogo’s Alley, explaining that it is named after the patron saint of coffee and was originally started by her brother while he was a student at Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, Georgia.
The event began as a way to foster positive community, for students to gather and have a good time, while also opening the floor to theological discussion.
Drogo’s Alley was in part a fundraiser by Roses of the Immaculate Heart, which sold baked goods and made-to-order lattes to attendees before the settled in for the evening.
Williams said she is looking forward to hosting more Drogo’s Alley events in future semesters.