The Ave Herald

Several students, faculty and staff from Ave Maria University and the law school attended a speech by former White House aide Karl Rove Tuesday night in Naples. Mr. Rove referred to Ave Maria University as "the hope for the future," and later posed with them for the above picture. (photo by Stephen Henley)
Click for story on the speech from Naples Daily News

 The homebuilder's short-term emphasis will be on developing and marketing the Del Webb community at Ave Maria. Pulte's new investments in Del Webb include a $15-million amenities center and a new model home park - and other changes are in store for the community as a result.

Bees get quite active in the spring and can swarm in large numbers, as seen in the above picture of a swarm of hundreds in a tree outside the Ave Maria oratory recently. These bees departed without incident but there has been at least one instance of a swarm attacking people last week in Phoenix. Click here for that story from the Arizona Republic. 

A collaboration between a biblical scholar and a self-taught artist has produced a book relating the Gospel of John in 67 color illustrations. Ten of the original paintings from which the book was eventually made will be displayed March 27-28 at the Festival of the Arts in the Ave Maria town center. The book, Trail of Glory (pictured above), will be available at the Ave Maria Inspirations gift shop.

Two Ave Maria families who have known each other for several years recently found out they're related. The discovery led to the reunion of cousins John DeFelice (L) and Charlie Testa,who hadn't seen each other for 60 years.

The music from 48 bronze bells weighing 13 tons will ring out through the town of Ave Maria Wednesday and Thursday in concerts and other performances from one of the world's few traveling carillons. Above, some of the bells from the Mobile Millenium carillon that will play as part of the university's events for the Feast of the Annunciation.

 
Art from all over the world is on display in Ave Maria town center in the first International Exhibit of Children's Art, part of the town's annual Festival of the Arts March 27-28. The above painting by 8-year-old Ostap Chaplya from Ukraine was judged "Best in Show."

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archibishop of Boston, will celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass May 7 at Ave Maria University, the school has announced. The Mass will be at 5 p.m. in the oratory, with graduation exercises the following day.

The former Speaker of the House, a recent convert to Catholicism, will be in Naples April 18 with his wife for a screening of "Nine Days that Changed the World" -- a film chronicling the 1979 visit of Pope John Paul II to his native Poland. The event is sponsored by the Ave Maria School of Law.
Click here for story from Naples Daily News  

Ave Maria got into the Irish spirit for St. Patrick's Day. Above, left, bartender John Jochum at the Queen Mary Pub. Above right, Patrick and Virginia Hanley flew the Irish flag from the balcony of their town center condo.