Roman Echoes 2014 - Issue 6

The Pontifical North American College

2014 • ISSUE 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Immaculate Conception • Thanksgiving • Holy Land • Serving with Pope Francis • Lector Installation • Construction Update

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Geoffrey A. Brooke Jr. ‘15 Diocese of Jefferson City LAYOUT & DESIGN MANAGER Anthony Klimko ‘15 Diocese of Greensburg MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Staley-Joyce ‘16 Archdiocese of Boston ASSISTANT EDITORS Paul Haverstock ‘16 Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul & Donato Infante III ‘15 Diocese of Worcester & Zac Povis ‘15 Archdiocese of St. Louis & Ruben Villareal ‘15 Diocese of Lake Charles

6 14

LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITORS Nicholas Fleming ‘15 Diocese of Providence & Corey Tufford ‘16 Diocese of San Diego PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Rubeling ‘15 Archdiocese of Baltimore & Kyle Manglona ‘16 Archdiocese of Seattle & Michael Lund ‘16 Diocese of Pembroke

FRONT COVER David Tomaszycki ‘16 (Detroit), Steven Wyble ‘16 (Washington), and Kevin Ewing ‘16 (Baltimore) on pilgrimage in the Holy Land over the Christmas break.

16

FEATURES/CONTENTS

11

5 6 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

RECTOR’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BANQUET Ryan Boyle ‘15

ADVENT RECOLLECTION Matthew Langanger ‘16

BUILDING EXPANSION UPDATE

NEW CASA SUPERIOR John Wilson ‘16

LECTOR INSTALLATION Kevin Valle Díaz ‘17

THANKSGIVING David Kidd ‘15

LIFE AT THE COLLEGE

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Rev. Mr. Richard Hinkley ‘14

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Rev. Brian Dellaert ‘05, C‘16

SERVING FOR POPE FRANCIS Rev. Mr. Christian Irdi ‘14 Rev. Mr. Peter Van Lieshout ‘14 Santiago Mariani ‘15 Rev. Mr. Robert Wolfe II ‘14

20

24

26 28 29 31

ELIZABETH ANN SETON PILGRIMAGE Rev. Mr. Aaron Qureshi ‘14

GEORGE WEIGEL LECTURE Nathan Ricci ‘16

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mark Randall, CFRE

ECONOMO’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. Michael Farmer ‘95

2014 • ISSUE 6

3

BOARD OF GOVERNORS of the Pontifical North American College CHAIRMAN Most Rev. John J. Myers ‘67 Archbishop of Newark VICE CHAIRMAN Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt ‘73, C‘84 Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis TREASURER Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane ‘88, C‘89 Bishop of Venice SECRETARY Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek ‘75 Bishop of Amarillo

The painting of the Immaculate Conception on display during the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl ‘67 Archbishop of Washington

RECTOR Rev. Msgr. James F. Checchio ‘92, C‘97 VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION Rev. Msgr. Michael Farmer ‘95 VICE RECTOR OF SEMINARY LIFE Rev. Timothy McKeown ‘97, C‘04 SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. Msgr. Fred Berardi C‘82 DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION Rev. Msgr. Anthony J. Figueiredo C‘00 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mark Randall, CFRE

Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson Archbishop of St. Louis Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone ‘82, C‘89 Archbishop of San Francisco Most Rev. Gerald N. Dino C‘72 Byzantine Catholic Bishop of Phoenix Most Rev. Robert C. Evans ‘73, C‘89 Auxiliary Bishop of Providence Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton ‘93, C‘02 Bishop of Steubenville Most Rev. William F. Murphy ‘65 C‘74 Bishop of Rockville Centre Most Rev. Glen J. Provost ‘75 Bishop of Lake Charles Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan ‘65, C‘71 Archbishop of Santa Fe Most Rev. Joseph Siegel ‘88 Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet Most Rev. John Vlazny ‘62 Archbishop Emeritus of Portland

RECTOR’S CORNER

W

e have an eventful few months ahead of us here in Rome.

On March 5, we begin Lent and our community will gather for 6:45 a.m. Mass at Santa Sabina, the Ash Wednesday Station Church.

Pope Francis will preside at Mass that evening in the same church as he begins his first Ash Wednesday as Successor of Saint Peter.

He will certainly be in our prayers that morning. The Lenten Station Churches are always an uplifting part of our year, and this year our practice will be strengthened as we follow along with George Weigel’s new book, Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches, which is featured in an article in this edition of Roman Echoes.

Following our celebrations for Holy Week and Easter, on April 27 we will join millions of pilgrims around St. Peter’s Square for the Mass of Canonization for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Pope John Paul II, with his historic Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis, reformed the seminaries of the world by laying out a clear, comprehensive plan for the formation of priests. It gives direction to all we do here at the College and it is one of the reasons we thank God for his wonderful pontificate. We are indebted to this soon-to-be saint for this contribution to our Church.

Pope Francis has also taken a special interest in priestly formation, just recently stressing the necessity of integral formation for seminarians, as envisioned by Pastores Dabo Vobis, in which spiritual formation is the basis of everything, intellectual and human formation are carefully attended to, and the fruit of all formation shows itself in pastoral activity, evangelizing and caring for the sheep.

Our Holy Father has frequently spoken in these first months of his papacy about the need for a priest’s life to be strongly anchored in Christ, and he told an international gathering of seminarians this summer that they must be formed not as “administrators or managers, but fathers, brothers, traveling companions” with our fellow believers.

He likewise told those of us in seminary formation that

above all we must form the hearts of the seminarians entrusted to us. Our seminarians are listening attentively to the Holy Father at his papal audiences and Masses, and follow his daily homilies as well. Later in this magazine, you will read about the honor some of our men have already enjoyed in assisting Pope Francis at liturgies in St. Peter’s.

On April 30, we will gather for our annual Rector’s Dinner at the College. The Dinner is an opportunity to honor those who assist and support us in our work of priestly formation.

This year we honor three dear friends of the College who also have unique and special connections to Pope John Paul II: Cardinal James Harvey, and Scott and Lannette Turicchi. The joyful week’s celebrations will continue as we gather here at the College to honor these good friends.

As we look forward to these upcoming events, I invite you to share in the happenings at the College of these past months, which our students wish to share with you in these pages of Roman Echoes. These have been blessed months here at the College and have included such events as the celebration of our Patronal Feast, our Advent weekend of recollection led by a recent alumnus, the lector installation of fifty-nine of our first-year men, along with the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton pilgrimage, both during Christmas break. Work continues on our expansion project for new classrooms, offices, and meeting space, and a very generous bequest by an alumnus, Monsignor Ed Petty ‘77 of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, allowed us to finish the renovations at the Casa O’Toole, our home for the many priests who come to the College for sabbaticals.

Meanwhile, of course, our work of forming the hearts of our seminarians and priests continues daily, as our seminarians and priests generously give of themselves to all the Church asks of them even now. Be assured of our prayers for you, and know that we rely upon your prayers and financial contributions to sustain us!

Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97 Diocese of Camden Rector

2014 • ISSUE 6

5

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

PRAYING WITH THE COLLEGE’S PATRONESS Ryan Boyle ‘15, Diocese of St. Petersburg the Stations of the Cross. During this time, we are surrounded by our brother seminarians in the presence of Almighty God and in full view of the grand mosaic of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Cardinal O’Brien C‘76 leads vespers in the Immaculate Conception Chapel on the occasion of the College’s patronal feast.

W

e celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with solemn vespers followed by a banquet on Sunday, December 8, 2013. His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and former Rector of the College, presided during vespers and, during a brief reflection, urged us to see the impact of the “global entry” of Jesus through Mary. With the solemnity transferred to Monday this year, we celebrated the Mass of the Immaculate Conception the following morning in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

6 The Pontifical North American College

When at prayer, the Immaculate Conception Chapel becomes our home away from home here in Rome.

During the course of four years of formation at the Pontifical North American College, we spend about 1500 hours in the chapel, worshipping God during Mass and in Eucharistic adoration, receiving the institution of Lector and Acolyte, serving at the altar, proclaiming the Word, preaching the gospel, listening to rector’s conferences and talks during days of recollection, witnessing oaths of fidelity, meditating on the mysteries of the life of Christ in the Holy Rosary, offering our confessions, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and praying

Every seminarian at the College faces challenges in the transition to a new country and a new seminary. But, just like our earthly mothers at home, the Immaculate Conception Chapel reminds us that, “Surrounded by courts of angels, the serene Mother daily comforts and intercedes for her sons who gaze upon her in this chapel.” Our Mother is there to gently wake us for 6:15 a.m. morning prayer and Mass. She watches over as we spend our holy hour adoring her Son. She bids us farewell as we head to dinner after evening prayer, knowing that we’ve already partaken of the most important meal of the day, the Eucharistic banquet.

Her mosaic is surrounded by a frieze with eight scenes depicting the seven sacraments and a priest preaching—a tender reminder of the need for us to be Christ in the life of all those whom we encounter. She hovers over the tabernacle like a proud mother. Even the altar on which the tabernacle rests is dedicated “To the mothers of the sons of Alma Mater.” Everywhere

A TOAST TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Prior to my arrival as a seminarian at the North American College, I never knew that I had a Brooklyn accent. I simply thought that everyone sounded just like me, and if they didn’t, they might be from Long Island.

In all honesty, prior to arriving at this College to begin priestly formation, I knew almost nothing about our beloved homeland. I was perhaps a bit insular—and I know that’s unheard of in a New Yorker.

It took me a while to realize that there was life outside the five boroughs of New York City!

Living here at the College made me realize that, although the song says, “in Christ, there is no east or west, in Him no south or north,” there sure was east and west and north and south in our beloved America. And thanks to this Pontifical North American College, I can say—and I dare say that most of us can agree—we know good, happy, healthy, holy priests, religious, and laity from San Francisco to Boston, from La Crosse to Mobile.

Living abroad makes us appreciate the grandeur and glory of our homeland, the United States, from sea to shining sea; yes, for its mountains and prairies, and even its oceans, white with foam, but most of all for its wonderful people.

A toast then, to the United States of America; May God richly bless our land and her people.

Rev. John P. Cush ‘98, C‘15, Diocese of Brooklyn

we turn in our home away from home, our mother is there to lead us to her Son. Just as Jesus gave us his mother from the heights of the Cross, Mary towers over us and gives us her Son day in and day out, most especially in the Eucharist.

Rev. John Cush ‘98, C‘15 (Brooklyn) offers a toast during the Immaculate Conception Banquet.

Tony Hollowell `16 (Indianapolis) offers a toast on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

A TOAST TO THE COLLEGE No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. This college has formed men to be priests for many years, and all men here are training to be like our teacher, Jesus Christ.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “We must never forget that the only legitimate ascent to the ministry of the pastor is not that of success, but of the cross.” The cross hangs over this refectory, it hangs on our walls in our rooms, it thrusts itself before our eyes in every chapel. Everywhere we go, the suffering and death of our Teacher is before us, and we know that when we are fully trained, we will be just like him.

But this college is not a morgue! Yes, it is full of men preparing to ascend the cross, but we are not dead.

“We have a baptism with which we are to be baptized, and how we are constrained until it is accomplished!” How our souls squirm in anticipation and anxiety, the anxiety of love, the anxiety to be with our Beloved, the anxious anticipation of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. How constrained we are until that day, that day of passion and death, that day of eternal life! The chalice we seek to drink we will indeed drink, and it will carry us off to our Beloved.

While we wait with constrained hearts, we grow in gratitude for this college, this fortress of training, which continues to prepare us for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. If you have ever been thankful for what this college has done for you in your life, if you have ever been thankful for the opportunity to celebrate mass with the Holy Father, if you have ever been thankful for the gift of the Eucharist and the bread of life given daily in our chapel and for the holy priests who gave up their home and diocese to come and train us, if you have ever been thankful for a delicious four course meal of lasagna and saltimboca and profiterol and red wine, while sitting next to good men who also desire to give their lives for their Beloved, if you have ever been thankful for any of these things, I ask you to please stand...

And let us toast this training ground, this college of constrained and anxious men who desire with burning hearts to one day partake in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Ad multos annos!

Tony Hollowell ‘16, Diocese of Indianapolis

2014 • ISSUE 6

7

TOP: Rev. Harman `99 (Springfield) offers a toast during the Immaculate Conception Banquet.

LEFT: Cardinal O’Brien C‘76 visits with Michael Rubeling ‘15 (Baltimore) and his parents.

At our banquet for the Immaculate Conception, our newest faculty member, Reverend Peter Harman ‘99 of Springfield, Illinois, toasted our Holy Father. Recalling the vision of Pope Pius IX, who established our beloved College, Rev. Harman toasted the vision of Pope Francis today. As Mary’s yes changed the course of history and brought salvation to the world, Pope Francis encourages and inspires each one of us to bring the Evangelii Gaudium, “The Joy of the Gospel,” to the world today. Based firmly on the foundation of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis challenges us to put into practice the sacraments and preaching we see in the chapel friezes. We know we can count on the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to assist us during our formation, just as she assisted Jesus during his earthly life.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception serves as an occasion for our seminarians and alumni to reflect on their time of formation here. How fitting that we celebrate this solemnity in our home away from home here in Rome. Our celebration this year certainly honored our Lord

8 The Pontifical North American College

A TOAST TO THE HOLY FATHER At the end of the introduction to his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis tells us of the tone he wishes us to have not only in its reading, but in everything we do: He says, “I ask you to adopt in every activity which you undertake: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say: Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

Rejoice we do on this great feast day of our beloved College and of the Patroness of our homeland. Our rejoicing takes its root in the unfathomable wisdom in the plan of God to save us—to prepare a place for his Son to live among us through the cooperation of Mary Immaculate. It is only through the wisdom and foresight of the Holy Father, in the Person of Blessed Pope Pius IX, that we sit here today at all. In his desire in 1855, as the shepherd of the whole flock, to unite the Church, he saw fit to initiate the broadening of the experience of the clergy in the United States to include exposure to the Church universal. And where better than here, in the footsteps of the princes of the apostles, in view of Peter’s successor, and the meeting place of the world’s faithful under his care.

Today, we look to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for that same widening of our experience. By being here, we see with his eyes and learn from his voice. He has taken the world by storm, has he not? Do we not sense in him a kind of tone that follows some of the traits of our homeland? To always seek anew a spirit of freshness and enthusiasm—a way to widen and include all in one’s vision, and to not be tied to convention for its own sake. His voice has been heard anew by so many.

So please rise and lift your glasses in honor of our Holy Father, Pope Francis: Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit may continue to speak clearly and strongly to him, and never tire of announcing the joy of the news of salvation, through Christ. May this grace and health and strength be his; may too be the prayers and support of the entire flock entrusted to him. Ad Multos Annos.

Rev. Peter Harman ‘99, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

and our Mother, drawing our entire community, past and present, ever more closely together. Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!

HOMILY of HIS EMINENCE EDWIN CARDINAL O’BRIEN GRAND MASTER OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM at VESPERS of the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT in honor of THE PATRONAL FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE, ROME 8 DECEMBER 2013 Any of you who are frequent flyers are now aware of a useful innovation offered by the Federal Aviation Administration, called Global Entry. For a nominal fee and a brief background check, one returning on an international flight into the US can bypass lengthy passport-check lines and within a minute or two sail through the terminal exit. It’s called Global Entry.

During Advent, the Church prepares for another kind—a richer and more profound Global Entry as we commemorate the world’s Savior—the Messiah’s becoming flesh and entering our global existence to dwell among us. Two iconic figures flank the entrance announcing his arrival—biblical personalities of colossal, if contrasting stature.

Elegance in appearance and sophistication in speech are not the hallmarks of John the Baptist. Gaunt and haggard, he surely drew the attention he desired and deserved as Jerusalem, all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan flocked to see him, irresistibly drawn as they were to hear his disturbing, provocative, foreboding warning: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Prepare the way of the Lord. He feasted on grasshoppers and wild honey—and as well on Pharisees and Sadducees—both them and those of us in these later ages! You brood of vipers, slither away, for your fiery judgment of wrath approaches.

And the other who stands vigil: Shrouded and wrapped in her thoughts, her body tells of the One the world is expecting.

She, (as Pope Francis writes) who would soon turn a stable into a home for Him, with the poorest of swaddling clothes but an abundance of love, she herself has already become the first house of God in the world, the first place in which everything that was, belonged to God. Everything you are, Immaculate Mary, everything is for God—his dwelling place. Gratia plena!

Pope Francis has said that when the Church looks for Jesus, she always knocks at his mother’s door and asks: Show us Jesus. It is from Mary, Patroness of our beloved Nation and of this College, that the Church’s sons and daughters learn true discipleship. And as often as we turn to her, as we do this night, she will never fail us.

And so, as the longest night of the year approaches, and as the Church’s Advent again relives the menacing pitch-dark of a cosmos without a Messiah, we have a morning star to give us hope, the Immacolata who is our Church’s spring in the midst of Advent’s winter, our flawless poem of endless joy and thanks. For she is God’s singular gift to his world, the worthy antiphon who precedes our psalm of redemption. Mary, the Immaculate Conception is, truly, the new song we sing to the Lord this night, the fullest human mirror of the love of Jesus for his Church and for this, her College: gratia plena.

Maria Immacolata, Aiutateci!

ADVENT RECOLLECTION

ADVENT’S SILENT WAIT Matthew Langanger ‘16, Diocese of Saint Cloud

D

uring Advent the North American College hosts an in-house silent retreat for the seminary community. The goal of the retreat is for the men to set aside time and all distractions in order to examine their relationship with God more closely, and rededicate themselves to the vocation of priesthood to which they are being called.

Every year the retreat is led by a priest who guides the seminarians’ prayer through a series of reflections relating to Advent. This year Fr. Scott Pogatchnik ‘10 (St. Cloud) was invited to direct the retreat. Fr. Scott focused his reflections on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in view of a priestly spirituality.

He reminded all to follow Mary’s example as priests, especially at the Annunciation. It was at the Annunciation that Mary conceived Jesus, the Word incarnate, in a small, quiet room. Thus the priest is

10 The Pontifical North American College

reminded that at times, he needs to go into the small, quiet room of prayer in order to let the Holy Spirit penetrate the depths of his heart. It is there that he encounters the Word. For the priest, this is necessary if he expects to preach effectively and convincingly about the Word.

Fr. Scott also reflected upon the importance of the second joyful mystery, the Visitation. The Christian disciple is reminded here of the importance of going out to spread the Good News. Mary was so filled with joy when she conceived Jesus that she could not contain it, so she set out to share it with her cousin Elizabeth.

After Jesus has entered the hearts of believers, they should not contain that joy which he gives, for, like Mary, they too are called to be on mission in order to spread the good news.

Priests cannot let this joy only be contained in their preaching; it must inform their whole ministry. This is because a large part of their ministry

is to spread the joy that Jesus has to offer to those who are mourning, sick, disabled, and poor.

With Fr. Scott and the help of Mother Mary, the retreat helped to focus on our relationship with Jesus and to prepare our community both for Christmas and for priestly ministry.

Rev. Scott Pogatchnik ‘10 (St. Cloud) gives a conference to the North American College community during the Advent Day of Recollection.

BUILDING EXPANSION UPDATE

NEW TOWER TAKING SHAPE What a difference one month makes. By December, with the completion of the retaining walls and foundation, the construction of the initial frame of the tower was underway. Over the course of the month, the first three floors were erected, as well as the beginnings of the detail work on the basement area, where all the building’s mechanical equipment will be located. By late January the construction of another three floors was complete. It presents a very visible sign—with construction moving along and detail work on the lower level of the building taking place. In addition, in early January HVAC machinery was installed in a designated area near the new structure, with water and HVAC pipes from the main building installed to connect to the new classroom tower. By the end of January, the first six floors were constructed, while the detail and bricking of these floors will take place in February, as well as the continued construction of the remaining floors. Please be sure to visit our website to see daily pictures of the construction project.

Be sure to check online for daily photo updates! www.pnac.org/tower-progress/

2014 • ISSUE 6

11

CASA SUPERIOR

A ROMAN VETERAN TO HEAD THE CASA SANTA MARIA John Wilson ‘16, Archdiocese of New York

D

on’t expect the new superior of the Casa Santa Maria to take much time getting adjusted to life in Rome. You could even say that he was born for the job.

Monsignor Ferdinando Berardi, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, spent the first eight years of his life in a small village outside of Bari in southern Italy. He came to America with his parents and siblings in 1958, settling on New York City’s Staten Island, but maintaining close ties to his native country.

“I still have two aunts in my old hometown—and seventeen first cousins,” Monsignor Berardi told Roman Echoes. “I’m very close to them. I’m godfather to one of my cousin’s daughters, and I’ve done lots of baptisms and witnessed marriages there. This will offer me an opportunity to be a closer part of their lives.”

He also has family in Rome and Assisi, where the son of one of his cousins recently made first vows with the Order of Friars Minor.

Being closer to the Italian branch of his family is some consolation for the new distance he’ll experience from the American side. Monsignor Berardi was one of eight children, and he speaks with pride of his twenty-one nephews and nieces and their growing families.

Still, he said, the welcome he has received from the North American College community has eased the transition: “Once my appointment was announced, I received so many warm greetings that I felt right at home.”

New Casa Santa Maria Superior Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C‘83, of the Archdiocese of New York

12 The Pontifical North American College

Monsignor Berardi comes to NAC with a broad experience of priestly ministry. He was ordained a priest in 1977, responding to a call he had felt since early childhood. After three years of parish work, he came

to the Casa Santa Maria as a student and earned a license in Sacramental Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm.

Returning to New York, he served as vice chancellor of the Archdiocese and taught at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, where he also directed the continuing education program for priests. As one of the Archdiocese’s foremost liturgists, he helped to coordinate two papal visits to New York. Most recently, he was pastor for twelve years at Holy Family Parish in New Rochelle.

Working in the chancery and at Dunwoodie brought Monsignor Berardi into close contact with Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and former rector of the North American College, who also served two terms as rector of the seminary in New York.

Cardinal O’Brien hailed the new appointment.“[Msgr. Berardi’s] scholarship combined with a strong pastoral sense helped prepare hundreds of seminarians with a healthy respect and love of the liturgy,” he said. “In one way or the other, he has been involved in the ongoing formation of priests most of his priesthood. In this regard, he is an excellent choice to serve as superior of the Casa Santa Maria.”

Monsignor Berardi also brings a global perspective to his work at the Casa. He served for ten years as

Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi (row three, first from the left) is pictured here with student priests at the Casa in 1981. Also pictured are: rector, Msgr. Charles Murphy (first row, second from the left) and the Casa Superior at the time, Msgr. Jack Ashton (third from the left).

director of New York’s Propaganda Fide office, where he was responsible for coordinating the global missionary efforts of the Archdiocese. His work took him to China, India, Latin America, and the Caribbean. “It gave me an experience of the worldwide Church that I had already experienced in Rome, but this added to my knowledge of the responsibility that we all have to bring the Gospel not only to our own culture, but also to so many throughout our world,” he said.

Still, it was his experience studying at the Casa Santa Maria that first taught him the importance of continuing priestly formation. “At the Casa I was surrounded by fine and intelligent

priests all pursuing graduate degrees, not for their own purposes or advancement, but to better meet the needs of their people,” he said.

“The fraternity that I felt as a student priest aided me in understanding my ministry.”

He recalled being especially edified by the sacrifices made by fellow students. Particularly there was one who struggled with the Italian language, yet still chose to enroll in one of the most difficult graduate programs in the city so he could master his subject material.

“Ongoing formation is such an important part of our lives,” he said.

Our Facebook page now has nearly 1500 friends! Join the crowd at www.facebook.com/PontificalNorthAmericanCollege

2014 • ISSUE 6

13

LECTOR INSTALLATION

A MILESTONE ON THE PATH TO ORDERS Kevin Valle Díaz ‘17, Archdiocese of Newark

The newly installed lectors pose for a final picture with Most. Rev. Bernard A. Hebda ‘89, Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark, and Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97 in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

F

rom experience, we know that lectors at Masses in our home dioceses are faithful people of

God: men and women, teenagers, or young adults who provide this service to the Church, and who draw us closer to the Word of God. We might not know, however, that there is an established ministry of Lector, which today is most often received by men on the path towards

14 The Pontifical North American College

priesthood. On January 12, the Sunday after Epiphany and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, my classmates and I were installed as lectors by the Most Reverend Bernard Hebda, Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark.

We attended several conferences and lectures at the College in order to prepare us for this ministry, and we were reminded often that a lector is installed by the Church to read the

Word of God in liturgies. Archbishop Hebda mentioned in his homily that it was a perfect occasion for us to say “Yes” to the Lord in preparation for our final “Yes” at priestly ordination.

Now that we have been accepted to this ministry, my classmates and I feel called to live in a manner worthy of the Word of God. Being a lector requires a generous response: We are called to resemble Christ, who is the perfect example for us of how to

live a life of service, as we give this first “Yes” to our bishops and to the Church.

During his homily, Archbishop Hebda remarked on the importance of being obedient to the Word of God. I was reminded of Jesus’ words to his apostles: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”(Matthew 28:19-20). These words of Christ are meaningful for all of us who desire to be priests, for with these words Christ commands us to go into our communities proclaiming and exercising our ministry as lectors.

As we undertake this joyful duty to announce the Word of God, we recall Saint Paul’s teaching that faith comes by hearing the Word.

The Holy Spirit helps us to fulfill this command, because his presence, which we have received in baptism and confirmation helps us to live and be obedient to Christ. The Holy Spirit invites us to proclaim the Word of God with dignity, and above all to let ourselves be challenged to live the Word that we are now proclaiming.

We must discover and appreciate the Word of the Lord, especially looking to Mary as an example of love, true humility, prayer, and openness to divine grace.

Perhaps the best moment in the installation was when Archbishop Hebda handed me the lectionary and said: “Take this book of Holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the Word of God, so that it may grow strong in

TOP: Michael Zimmerman ‘17 (Boston) receives the Lectionary from Most. Rev. Bernard A. Hebda ‘89, Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark.

RIGHT: The lector candidates stand and confirm their presence as their names are individually called.

the hearts of His people.” Lectors are in solidarity with the congregation because they have the privilege of sharing the Word of God with them.

Whenever God gives gifts to his people, he expects them to share those gifts with others, just as the early Christians served one another in their local communities. We are similarly called to live in solidarity with our brother seminarians at the College, serving them with this gift we have received. My classmates and I are called to let a deep love for Holy Scripture imbue our actions, letting others be nourished by the Word we proclaim.

I would like to thank our bishops, families, and the members of our dioceses. Your prayers for us are a pillar that sustains us, especially now when we are far away. Please keep praying for us, and for the North American College. God is using your prayers to help form us so that we can serve you faithfully in the future as your priests. Thank you for everything you do on our behalf. I hope that you rejoice with us in this step we have taken toward the priesthood by becoming lectors.

2014 • ISSUE 6

15

THANKSGIVING

GIVING THANKS AT NAC David Kidd ‘15, Diocese of Toledo in Ohio

Most Rev. George Murray S.J., Youngstown celebrates Thanksgiving Day Mass in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

I

t was a balmy thirty degrees when, at 6 a.m., 150 brave men began the annual Turkey Trot around the Vatican City State to inaugurate Thanksgiving. A crew had already been outside for an hour, setting up the course and welcoming the runners. As the runners darted out past the College gates onto the Roman streets, one could hear the roar of shouts, laughter, and holiday cheer from the seminarians, priests, friends, family members, and study16 The Pontifical North American College

abroad students who took part in the race. It was the largest turnout yet for a race that boasts of being the only 5K race in the world whose course encircles an entire country.

Returning to the College after the race, runners were met, as they are each year, with the smell of breakfast being cooked by seminarians in their hallways—The smell of eggs, bacon, sweet rolls, pancakes, waffles, burritos, fruit and oatmeal

permeated the air. Keeping with tradition, fourth-year men and fifthyear priests returned to the hallways on which they lived during their earlier years. There is nothing quite like an American breakfast to begin Thanksgiving day.

During the time leading up to noon Mass in the Immaculate Conception Chapel, the seminary choir, hospitality greeters, masters of ceremony and sacristans reverently prepared

for the beautiful Mass that would unfold. The principal celebrant was Bishop George Murray, a native of the Diocese of Camden and the current bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown.

The Jesuit bishop told those gathered about a wise priest who would make a list every year of what he was thankful for on Thanksgiving day. His Excellency exhorted all to recall what they were thankful for so as to be a people of true happiness, grateful for what we have been given by God. Another feast followed—a pranzone in the O’Toole Refectory. There were mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing, but also pumpkin pasta and of course, the favorite dish of all— pumpkin pie! The fifth-year priests baked 114 pumpkin pies and, keeping to tradition, composed a song. This year the song was a spin on Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Nevertheless, it was probably the words of Rev. John Connaughton ‘13 (Bridgeport) that most moved the hearts of the men gathered with his toast to the United

Students and guests gather in the Refectory for Thanksgiving Day dinner.

States of America. Recalling the days of Rocky Balboa and Ronald Reagan, he helped rekindle their love and affection for America.

Thanksgiving at the College would not be complete without an evening showing of Person to Person, the 1952 documentary that once filmed an episode at the NAC featuring the College’s “second founder,” Most Rev. Martin J. O’Connor.

Friday brought with it a day of class, but soon gave way to the weekend, when celebration and good cheer continued on Saturday with the New Man-Old Man comedy shows. The weekend’s last event was the nowfamous Spaghetti Bowl football game between the new men and the upperclassmen. Wind and rain met the players off and on throughout the game, though the intensity of the two teams never let up. At times the teams would take turns being a West-Coast Spread Offense team

and an SEC lightening quick team. At other times, they both moved the ball on the ground tactically and made defensive stops as as if they were two Big Ten teams. The outcome came down to the final play of the game; the new men attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game but the old men made the defensive stop and came away with a 40-38 victory.

Some have argued it was the closest the new men have come to winning since 1999, when Monsignor Thomas Powers of Bridgeport, Connecticut, currently an adjunct spiritual director at the College, was quarterback and led his new man team to victory over the old men. This year’s game was one for the annals of College lore.

Much fun and fraternity was had by all at America’s Seminary in Rome over the Thanksgiving weekend. If we can’t be home for Thanksgiving, there is no better place to give thanks to God than here at the North American College.

Ken Hackett, Ambassador of the United States to the Holy See, reads President Barack Obama’s Thanksgiving announcement.

2014 • ISSUE 6

17

LIFE AT THE COLLEGE

2

1

1. Adam Potter ‘16 (Pittsburgh) with Rev. Mr. Garrett Nelson ‘14 (Great Falls-Billings) enjoying the festivities during the Christmas Party.

2. Casey Sanders ‘17 (Louisville), Daniel Koenemann ‘17 (Burlington), Robert Kilner ‘17 (Washington), and Anthony Hollowell ‘16 (Indianapolis) during the Christmas Party.

3. Scott Gratton ‘15 (Burlington) providing the entertainment for the Christmas Party.

4 3 6

4. Zachary Mabee ‘15 (Lansing) and Nicholas Colalella ‘15 (Brooklyn) taking a break from their acting work during the Christmas Party.

5. George Elliott ‘17 (Tyler) sporting a black cowboy hat.

6. Trevor Chicoine ‘17 (Des Moines), PaulMichael Piega ‘17 (Austin), Shawn Roser ‘17 (Venice), Reynor Santiago ‘17 (New York), Kevin Valle-Dìaz ‘17 (Newark), and Joshua Nevitt ‘17 (Camden) showing their support for their class.

7. The New Man offense lines up for a play in the Spaghetti Bowl.

5

8. Sr. Mary Cecilia O.P., Sr. Annunciata O.P., and Sr. Maximilian Marie O.P. with PaulMichael Piega ‘17 (Austin) on the sidelines cheering on the New Men. 9. The New Men practicing for the Spaghetti Bowl.

10. The fifth year priests getting ready to serve the pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving.

7

18 The Pontifical North American College

11. Rev. Mr. Richard Hinkley ‘14 (Houston), Garret Twining ‘17 (Austin) and Eric Chapa ‘15 (Corpus Christi) proudly seated at the Texas table for Thanksgiving.

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

12. James Hansen ‘15 (Rockville Centre) enjoying the clean up after the Third Year Class Dinner.

13. Trenton Van Reesch ‘15 (Canberra and Goulbourn), Santiago Mariani ‘15 (Charlotte) and Darin Schmidt ‘15 (Sioux Falls) enjoying a Saturday morning breakfast on the fifth floor terrace.

2014 • ISSUE 6

19

HOLY LAND

A LAND LIKE ANY OTHER, A LAND LIKE NO OTHER: THE 2014 PNAC PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND Rev. Mr. Richard Hinkley ‘14, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

E

very year during our Christmas vacation, the College sponsors a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Organized and led by a member of the faculty, this trip offers us the privilege to dwell briefly in the land where the Son of God chose to make his dwelling among us. The Holy Land is often considered an unofficial “fifth gospel.”

A gospel without words, the Holy Land testifies to the historic and geographic grittiness of God’s plan of salvation.

Before the trip I, like others, had seen photographs of the Holy Land, giving my imagination something to draw from when considering the gospel narrative. These mental pictures, 20 The Pontifical North American College

however, cannot compete when you stand by the shore of Galilee at dawn and watch the same sunrise that our Lord would have seen, or when you realize how close Mount Calvary is to the Holy Sepulchre, and how the Crucifixion would have been visible from much of the city.

At the same time, we were continually confronted by how ordinary a land it is. Galilee is just another lake; Jerusalem is just another town. In Galilee life is quiet and simple; in Jerusalem it is busy and complex.

Galilee may be the lowest freshwater lake on earth, but it is hardly the largest or the most exotic. Yet we

could look out over those waters and love them as if they were the waters of our favorite childhood lake or pond. Jerusalem is neither the oldest nor the best preserved city in the ancient Near East, yet the whole world still pours into her, day after day, with each passing year.

Calvary’s outcropping and the empty tomb—are both venerated piously by pilgrims each day. These are the holiest spots on earth—one just a rock quarry outside Jerusalem, a place of execution and burial.

Then there were the ironies. Bananas are now cultivated on one of the slopes of the Mount of Beatitudes.

Trash litters its base. In Jerusalem, one quickly learns that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built and destroyed numerous times over the centuries, is a dirty and dilapidated structure. The tomb of the Messiah is housed in a small building within the larger church, which is embarrassingly supported by rusty, unsightly I-beams. The church is administered by four different Christian groups whose sharing of the church is often fraught with pettiness and friction. This is the land of the Prince of Peace, yet for how long has that land truly known peace?

Be that as it may, in spite of the incongruities and imperfections, it remains the Mount of Beatitudes and the Tomb of Christ. It is the Holy Land.

It is an actual place with a history, and with real human beings living and making pilgrimage there. And it is in the here and now—in the particular, in the chaos, in the unflagging reality of these spots that we encounter the Lord. The Lord did not dwell in a perfect land; he dwelt in this land which he makes holy—the ordinary and yet extraordinary.

for having had this privileged time to pray where our Lord lived and to live where our Lord prayed. As several indicated during the trip, the fact that God became man is a sobering reality.

It takes a lifetime to digest. The Author of Life was found in a trough, walked along the Judean countryside, died on a cross, and is risen in truth.

This earth-shattering message, our God made ordinary, compels us to unapologetically confess it daily in a busy world that has grown tired and skeptical. Concluding with the words delivered by Pope Paul VI upon his return to Rome from the Holy Land fifty years ago, I think we at the College who have made this same voyage can echo his sentiments: “We return with our heart full of intense emotions, bearing the radiant and moving images of the Holy Places, etched into our memory and forever, which speak with a naked eloquence of the life of Jesus Christ, of his sufferings, of his love.”

Like those before us, we are grateful TOP: North American College seminarians pray the Stations of the Cross as they ascend the Mount of Beatitudes with the Sea of Galilee behind them.

RIGHT: This year’s Holy Land pilgrimage group poses with the city of Jerusalem in the background.

2014 • ISSUE 6

21

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

REMEMBERING MSGR. EDWARD PETTY ‘77 Rev. Brian Dellaert ‘05, C‘16, Archdiocese of Dubuque

T

he Pontifical North American College recently erected a plaque at the Casa O’Toole, which houses the Institute for Continuing Theological Education, in grateful memory of Monsignor Edward C. Petty ‘77, Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Monsignor Petty died on October 16, 2007, a week after his 60th birthday, following a two-year battle with cancer. Many years before, he decided to make the College the major beneficiary of his family estate.

For those who knew him, it’s easy to understand why: He had a special place in his heart for the College and its mission.

Monsignor Petty loved the College.

He possessed a sharp awareness of the College’s history, understood its purpose, and was a generous supporter over the years. The four years he lived and studied in Rome were among the most formative of his life, nurtured his faith, and cemented his loyalty to the Holy Father and to the Church founded by Our Lord with His Apostles. Likewise, it was in the

22 The Pontifical North American College

City of Peter and Paul, home to the College on the Hill where he forged many of his lifelong friendships.

Following his ordination to the priesthood on May 19, 1977 in the College’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, he returned to the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He served in a variety of educational, administrative, and parish assignments. He earned a Masters Degree in Social Work in 1981 from The Catholic University of America and was appointed the director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Later, he served as rector of the Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa, beginning in 1992. In 2003 he was named prelate of honor by Blessed Pope John Paul II. He then served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, and spiritual director to Don Bosco High School, in Gilbertville, Iowa, starting in 2004.

Now that the work to refurbish and furnish the Casa O’Toole is completed, the College gratefully acknowledges Monsignor Petty’s contribution to the

College as well as his priestly service to the universal Church. The newly renovated Casa O’Toole will now be able to offer a more suitable space for the Institute and air-conditioned facilities. The renovations also have made it possible to welcome more seminarians to the College.

As much as his gift will assist the priests who come to the College for years to come, it is a small gift compared to the gift of Monsignor Petty’s priesthood, generously shared, joyfully expressed, and faithfully lived.

He never would have wanted any acknowledgement or publication of this charitable act. However, I would hope that by remembering him, we would remember our responsibility to look after our priests and those who are in formation to become priests. I would also hope his example would inspire others to consider the Pontifical North American College in their estate planning as a way to make a positive impact for future generations of seminarians and priests.

Monsignor Petty understood the

unique value of studying in the Eternal City. He was always thankful to the College for this unforgettable opportunity to walk the streets where heroic saints and martyrs trod before, to pray at their tombs, to ask God for the grace to become a priest after the Lord’s heart, and to go before so many beautiful and miraculous images of Our Lady to whom he lovingly entrusted his hopes and aspirations. Grateful to God for a priesthood, which had been greatly enriched by his Alma Mater, he wanted to help provide the same experience for others seeking to share in Christ’s priesthood. That’s why, having accepted God’s will and the cross, he remarked to me a number of times following his diagnosis of terminal cancer, “This (bequest) will help the College.”

As I reflected about the significance of his gift, I remembered something Monsignor Petty preached at my first Mass: “A true vocation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ will always be something of a mystery. And it will remain something of a mystery until that day, when the priest himself, meets face to face the One—The Eternal High Priest—who gave him a share in His own priesthood.”

In the meantime, he concluded that until then, we as priests did know at least this part of the mystery, that unworthy as we are, “We were given an all-consuming desire to dedicate ourselves completely to Jesus Christ, and His Church, so that we could, in turn, give Jesus Christ back to others, through His Church, for the rest of our lives.”

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat ei.

Msgr. Petty ‘77 celebrates his first Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

“

Contemplation is good for the soul, but so is a good warm bath.” These words of Saint Thomas Aquinas express well our aim at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education: to provide priests who labor in the Lord’s vineyard a time to rest and be renewed in mind, heart and body.

Monsignor Petty’s generous bequest has enabled the Casa O’Toole residence to be furnished with an adequate level of comfort for the 35 priests who come to Rome each semester to participate in the sabbatical experience, most particularly in the provision of air conditioning throughout the house. The highly positive experience of the priests, who return to their ministries with fresh zeal and new insights, is a tribute to our brother who gave of himself to the end in love of Jesus Christ. As we gather each day to celebrate Mass in the Casa O’Toole chapel, we remember and pray for Monsignor Petty and all our benefactors.

”

— Rev. Msgr. Anthony J. Figueiredo C‘00, Director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education

2014 • ISSUE 6

23

SERVING FOR POPE FRANCIS

THE PETRINE OFFICE UP CLOSE The opportunity to meet Pope Francis at the Mass for the close of the Year of Faith, and to receive from him the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium on behalf of all deacons, was one of the most privileged moments of my life.

It was particularly special, as a deacon, to have encountered a pope who has such a love for the poor, the sick, and the suffering, and who continues to give such a great example of what it means to be a humble servant after the heart of Christ.

It was just as inspiring to be present at the very first public veneration of the relics of St. Peter, which took place at that Mass. During the recitation of the Creed, the Holy Father embraced the relics of the Apostle Peter. In so doing, the pope witnessed to the unbroken link the Church has with antiquity, not only in the form of Petrine succession, but also in terms of all her other enduring traditions and beliefs. Being a deacon at that event reminded me of my own connection with the deacons of antiquity—Lawrence and Stephen, for example—who boldly witnessed to the faith, often at terrible cost, and who remain for me examples of both courage and fidelity.

Rev. Mr. Christian Irdi, ‘14 Archdiocese of Perth

Rev. Mr. Christian Irdi ‘14 (Perth) receives Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium from Pope Francis at its promulgation.

24 The Pontifical North American College

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL WITH THE HOLY FATHER On the first Christmas night, an angel announced the birth of Our Lord to a group of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. Some two thousand years later, I had the incredible privilege of serving as the deacon of the gospel at the Holy Father’s Christmas Mass and proclaiming—to the whole world—those same words of the angel recorded in the Gospel: “I announce to you good news of great joy!”

I received official word of my role in the Mass a little less than two weeks in advance, and I passed along the news to my diocese, my family, and a few friends by email. I was amazed that by the time Christmas Eve arrived, news had spread very quickly and a huge number of people back at home tuned in to watch. I was humbled by the supportive response and the feedback I received. It seems that God used the occasion to work good things, and in powerful ways, among people I knew from back home.

From my perspective, participating in such an intimate way in the Christmas Mass was an opportunity to renew my dedication to our Holy Father, to greet him briefly before the procession began, and to observe him up close as his characteristically warm demeanor became strikingly more solemn, reserved, and prayerful once he entered into the Mass itself.

When the moment to prepare for the Gospel procession finally arrived, I was oscillating between feeling terrified and feeling thrilled, all the while trying to focus on executing my role with accuracy and reverence.

It was a strange moment when I stepped up to the ambo, knowing that the words of the gospel which I was about to sing would be immediately broadcast around the world. But by the time I was about halfway through the gospel and my initial nerves had calmed, I was able to sing the scripture with the genuine conviction that it was truly the good news the world needed to hear: “This day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”

Rev. Mr. Peter Van Lieshout ‘13 Diocese of Rochester

ARGENTINIAN ROOTS On November 4, 2013 I received the news that on that very same day—in fact, only a few short hours away—I would serve as a lector at the Mass offered by Pope Francis in remembrance of all the cardinals and bishops who had passed away during the year. Having been born in Argentina myself, I was especially touched by the opportunity to participate at a papal Mass celebrated by the first Hispanic pope in history.

Yet what moved me the most was the awareness that this pope, like all the other popes in history, was none other than the Vicar of Christ himself, and that I had been invited to help him serve God’s people in the Basilica under which the tomb of Saint Peter remains to this day. The realization was, in fact, rather overwhelming, and it was only after recollecting myself for a moment that I was able to practice my reading and head out to the Basilica of Saint Peter.

What struck me the most about the experience was coming to a better appreciation of how we have been called to be instruments of joy in the lives of so many people. By doing just one of the duties which the Church had prepared me to undertake, I was able to be used to bring my loved ones and those present at the Mass closer to the love of Christ. By witnessing firsthand the great good which our merciful God brought about through this experience, the words of Saint Paul that I proclaimed became for me all the more real: “Since God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that He will not refuse anything He can give.” He desires nothing else than our everlasting

happiness, and whether we have been called to serve him at a papal Mass at Saint Peter’s or within the walls of our very own home, this is a gift which has been laid before us all to be received with thankfulness and joy.

Santiago Mariani ‘15 Diocese of Charlotte

TWO SIDES OF POPE FRANCIS As we stood there in the Chapel of the Pietà under the gaze of Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, the only thought that kept running through my mind was, “When will he come?”

Anxious glances were constantly cast in the direction of the elevator, whose doors would soon open to reveal their precious cargo to a room of expectant seminarians, deacons, and priests. As the seconds ticked by and the chime of the elevator sounded, each of us held our breath. He had arrived.

The following moments, though brief, hung in suspension as the pope made his way around to greet all those who had gathered to serve at the sacred liturgy. One by one, he made his way to each of us, locking eyes, sharing laughs, and shaking hands. When he came to me, my heart stopped and my mouth locked up. I had so much I wanted to say. I had seen him elected only ten months prior. I had served at his installation, listened to his various audiences, and heard his homilies.

What could I say to capture my joy at this moment? When he locked eyes with me and took my hand, I was only able to muster a “Buongiorno, Sua Santità!” to which he responded with a smile, “Buongiorno e auguri!” After

he greeted the final few people, the masters of ceremony shepherded us out and prepared us for the Mass.

As we began the procession, I turned back and stole a quick glance at the pope again, now fully vested. His jovial countenance had been replaced with the serious gaze of a man prepared for battle—of a man before the face of his God. The seriousness with which he prepared himself to celebrate Mass struck me. It was as if he was saying, “Yes, the time for fun greetings and stories has passed. We stand now before God; let us not keep him waiting.” Any sense of nervousness I felt left me after seeing him. I was ready for the Sacrifice. And so we began.

As we approached the Offertory of the Mass, I ascended to the altar and prepared the gifts with the other deacon.

I handed the chalice to His Holiness and accompanied him around the altar for the incensation. At the moment of the doxology I held the chalice alongside him as he raised the gifts, now become Christ’s very own Body and Blood, to the Father. He was so prayerful, so focused. Anyone near him could not help but feel the same love and devotion that he exhibited.

The devotion, the majesty, the humility, and the love that I witnessed that day—January 1, 2014—will not soon depart from my memory. It is a day I will always cherish, for that brief time spent with Pope Francis in the sacristy and at the altar made its imprint on my heart. Those moments reminded me of the joy of my vocation, and filled me with the grace to follow the Lord faithfully wherever he wills me to go.

Rev. Mr. Robert Wolfe II ‘14 Diocese of Bridgeport

2014 • ISSUE 6

25

RECENT PILGRIMAGES

REDISCOVERING SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON Aaron Qureshi ‘14, Archdiocese of Washington

From Left to right: In front: Rev. Mr. Joe Langan ‘14 (Baltimore), Don Gino Franchi, pastor of S. Elisabetta Anna Seton parish in Livorno, Rev. Mr. Aaron Qureshi ‘14 (Washington). Back row: Deacon David Rider ‘14 (New York), Robert Boxie ‘16 (Washington), Rev. Peter Heasley ‘13 (New York), Trevor Chicoine ‘17 (Des Moines), Daniel Thelan ‘15 (LaCrosse), Andrew Mattingly ‘15 (Kansas City-St.Joseph). In the background are the tombs of William Seton and Antonio Filicchi.

26 The Pontifical North American College

We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life.

We know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.

-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

T

here are over a hundred parishes in the United States named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be canonized. But there is also one in Italy to add to the number: the parish church of Santa Elisabetta Anna Seton in Livorno, where St. Elizabeth in 1803 took her initial steps toward conversion to the Catholic faith. On January 4, 1804, eight men from the College made a pilgrimage to Livorno to celebrate the feast day of the saint with the parish.

Shortly after their arrival in Livorno, the men met Don Gino Franchi, who introduced himself as the “new pastor” despite over thirty years of service to the parish. We were then treated to a walking tour of St. Elizabeth Ann’s sites in Livorno by a local expert on her life. We went down to the port where she had landed in 1803 with William, her husband, along with the site of the lazaretto where William was quarantined. We then

saw the Filicchi family residence, where Elizabeth Ann stayed for a few months after William’s death and first traced on herself the sign of the cross. We went on to visit the nearby church of St. Catherine’s, where Elizabeth followed Amabilia Filicchi to daily Mass and found herself “irresistibly drawn to worship Jesus in the sacrament,” as a commemorative plaque told us.

Returning to the parish, we served at a Mass presided by Cardinal-Elect Lorenzo Baldisseri. Afterwards, the ever amiable Don Gino showed us around the church, whose walls are covered with murals depicting the life of the saint both in Italy and in the U.S. The tombs of William Seton and Antonio Filicchi are located on parish grounds, too. The parish then hosted us for dinner in their parish hall, where among other delights, we were treated to Don Gino’s own homemade limoncello! At the dinner, we presented the parish with a photo

of the NAC’s first ordained class— the class of 1859—whose number included Robert Seton, the grandson of Elizabeth Ann. On Sunday morning, we celebrated Mass at Montenero, a Marian shrine near Livorno where Elizabeth, in a stroke of grace, grasped the Real Presence of Jesus in the sacrament and fell to her knees in adoration.

Her love for the Eucharist struck New Yorker Deacon David Rider ‘14 profoundly: “It made me think of what Benedict once wrote: every great reform in the Church is connected to the rediscovery of the Eucharist.

Elizabeth’s conversion is a model for the New Evangelization.” As we returned to the station, Don Gino and Deacon Franco treated us to a farewell pizza lunch and encouraged us to come back next year. After a weekend of such hospitality, friendship, and “every abundant grace,” how could we possibly refuse?

WANT EVEN MORE NEWS FROM ROME? The latest news, photos and stories from our campuses in Rome, delivered monthly to your Inbox for free! Sign up today at https://onlinegiving.pnac.org/firmumest

2014 • ISSUE 6

27

GUEST LECTURER

DOING ROME AT HOME Nathan Ricci ‘16, Diocese of Providence

“T

them with the tradition and its spiritual resonance, particularly during the season of Lent. The book gives Catholics around the world the opportunity to walk with the pilgrims of every century, encountering the life of a Church made rich with the sacrifice of martyrs.

he Roman Station Church Pilgrimage is an invitation to walk the path of salvation history,” as George Weigel recently told the men of the North American College. A longtime friend of the College, Weigel is the Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., and returned to Rome to deliver a lecture on his newest publication, Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches.

Amidst biblical exegesis, theological reflection, captivating photography from Stephen Weigel, and commentary by art historian Elizabeth Lev, the book captures the treasures of this ancient Lenten practice. The book is meant to help Catholics “do Rome from home,” familiarizing

Weigel’s lecture was much more than a summation of this valuable spiritual guide. It also expounded on the missionary nature of the Church and her invitation to evangelization. As Weigel told the men gathered in the Corso Auditorium, the early Christian disciples did not win converts to the faith by argument, but by the “witness of transformed lives.” Today’s call to be Christian witnesses of transformed lives is no less pressing. The Station Church pilgrimage is one way to realize this perennial goal.

To transform lives, one must begin with an interior transformation.

Weigel reminded the men that it is the real encounter with Jesus Christ that attracts people—an encounter that needs to be lived in a deeply personal way. The season of Lent affords us the opportunity to dive deeper into the riches of this personal friendship, calling all of us to deeper conversion in Christ. Weigel went on to tell the men that Lent is not so much about what Catholics are called George Weigel speaks to the College about his new book, Roman Pilgrimage.

28 The Pontifical North American College

to give up, but what they are called to be as Christians. Strengthened in a renewal of baptismal grace, this call to interior conversion is nothing less than the paradigm of true conversion and reconversion—a reactor, as it were, for the spark of evangelization.

Since pilgrimage is much more than an external journey—indeed, it is a deeply interior journey toward Christ—the Station Church pilgrimage is a perfect opportunity to recommit to the essentials of our faith.

As Weigel reminded the men, the North American College has consistently been at the helm of promoting the Station Church pilgrimage to effect precisely this personal transformation. In fact, as Weigel pointed out, the College has done more than simply recover the ancient tradition. It has paved the way for the New Evangelization.

Already, in the United States, priests and bishops have begun to reclaim this Station Church tradition in their dioceses, encouraging pilgrimages to parishes with special Masses and opportunities for the sacrament of Reconciliation. Weigel encouraged the efforts to maintain the pilgrimage, noting that the tradition need not end in Rome. Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches will surely prove instrumental for Catholics as they do Rome at home and in their dioceses.

The Christian pilgrimage, after all, is nothing less than an invitation to walk the path of salvation history.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

ADVANCE THE NAC MISSION IN 2014 Mark Randall, CFRE Executive Director, Institutional Advancement

$

316 billion.

That is roughly how much Americans donated to charitable causes in 2012 (the most recent year with complete giving data.) This is not a record high, but close to the pre-recession total of $344B in 2007. Our country remains the most generous of any developed nation. When one considers how many good works are accomplished with those billions, it is not an exaggeration to say our world would not be the same.

The Pontifical North American College is a recipient of some of this charity – or investment, as we prefer to call it. Last year, 4,038 persons and organizations supported the College with contributions ranging from a single dollar to several million. Their demographics are as varied as their giving: our benefactors include our alumni, parents of current seminarians, various foundations, and lay persons from around the country.

This philanthropy is not just helpful for the College, it is critical. We normally project that 25% of our annual budget is covered by contributions to our mission. To keep our tuition affordable, we do not charge the actual cost of what we spend on each student in Rome. And, given that we receive no funding from the Holy See, nor from the US Conference of Bishops, we rely on our benefactors to help make our mission possible today, and in the future.

In 2014, we will unveil some exciting additions to our Advancement program: • Cor Meum Monthly Giving — Referring to part of our motto (“steadfast heart”) this special program recognizes our most loyal benefactors.

By establishing a recurring, automatic gift via your credit card or bank account, you can spread out an annual gift and help the College better plan its financial budget. Convenient, helpful, and easy!

• Charitable Gift Annuity Program — The College is now accepting gift annuities. These financial products offer an immediate tax benefit and provide an annual income stream back to the donor. Gift annuities are a great way help the College in the future while preserving your own income stream today.

• Commemorative Projects — Several key projects at the seminary are in need of immediate financial support, ranging in cost from $10,000 to $500,000.

In most cases, a loved one, family name, or bishop/ diocese can be remembered with a tasteful plaque in recognition of your generous investment.

We also will be announcing a new speaking tour (perfect for your parish, service club, or conference), extensive updates to our website and email newsletters, and exciting coverage of the blessing of our new wing that will be completed this Fall. The Pontifical North American College story is truly extraordinary: Please help us spread the good news this year!

May I assume that you, dear reader, have an active interest in the welfare of the Pontifical North American College?

As the College moves into our 155th year, I invite you to deepen your relationship with our community: the 252 seminarians we serve; the 69 priests engaged in graduate studies at the Casa Santa Maria; and the 33 priests with us on sabbatical each semester. Renew your gift…join one of our giving clubs…contact us to discuss remembering the College in your estate plan. Your contribution will help strengthen our financial foundation to fund the many excellent programs of formation. Thank you for remaining “steadfast in your support” and I look forward to hearing from you in this blessed New Year.

2014 • ISSUE 6

29

Alumni Reunion 2014 ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION June 17-19, 2014 – New York City Hosted by the Archdiocese of New York Join your fellow Alumni for three fun days in the Big Apple! Vespers and Mass at the Cathedral, opening mix, updates from the Rector, city excursions, coffee at the Cardinal’s Residence, a lecture at The Cloisters, and more.

For more information and registration details, see the Alumni Association website:

www.pnacalumni.org

Invest today in the future of the College Help the NAC prepare for its next 150 years of service to the Roman Catholic Church in America through a planned gift. You can include the College in your estate plan (Will) in a variety of ways. The College is now offering Charitable Gift Annuities as an investment vehicle. Annuities simultaneously provide a charitable donation, an income tax deduction and a guaranteed lifetime income stream for you, the benefactor.

To learn more, contact Mark Randall, CFRE, our Executive Director for Institutional Advancement at mrandall@pnac.org or 202-541-5403.

The easiest way to support the NAC? Join Cor Meum: our new program for special benefactors who make a monthly automatic gift of $10, $15, or even $25.

No checks, no postage required! You can adjust your gift at any time and be assured that your regular support is helping provide extraordinary priestly formation for the men we serve.

To sign up, go to: http://onlinegiving. pnac.org or call the Office of Institutional Advancement, 202-541-5411

30 The Pontifical North American College

ECONOMO’S CORNER

S

ince the last issue of Roman Echoes, so much has taken place at the College—the varied celebrations surrounding Thanksgiving, the annual Christmas party, hall decorations for Christmas, the beautiful liturgy connected with the Institution of Lector for the first-year class, and our men’s celebration of two weeks of Christmas break. Of course, it is always reassuring when they return from the annual Christmas break. All of them seem to find the College to be their second home, since it is here that their friendships are formed and here that their serious and practical human, intellectual, pastoral, and spiritual formation takes place.

During the Christmas break I was the faculty member on duty until December 28, and I was reminded of my own time as a student at the College, with the first-year men adjusting to their first Christmas away from home, with six of our men having family members visiting the Eternal City, joining us for the traditional Christmas pranzo. Many of them commented on how well their sons were doing, as well as the great facilities in which the seminarians reside. Throughout the 150-plus year history of the College, this has been a great gift and blessing. The comments from our many visitors and family members of students are reassuring, and are due in large part to our growing number of friends and benefactors, who through their generosity have allowed so many improvements to both the seminary and the Casa Santa Maria campuses. Our alumni continue to play a part in providing such instrumental help through their witness in priestly ministry and their own sacrificial giving to their alma mater.

In this issue you have read about the life of one of our alumni from the class of 1977, Rev. Monsignor Edward C. Petty, who contributed his talents to the College and experienced many happy memories during his time here, all while being formed into a happy and Christ-centered priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. As an alumnus he had always been supportive of the College in a variety of ways, but also remembered the College in his last will and testament. His generosity has greatly aided the College in continuing its mission of priestly formation. Alumni have an excellent example in Monsignor Petty, not only to recall our great memories of the College, but to remember the College in our wills as well. Not to seem too morbid, but his example has inspired me to update my own will and to make sure the College is included.

With the new year we continue to pray for blessings and good health for all our friends, benefactors, and alumni. We also give thanks for the more than 250 men who discern God’s call to priesthood here at the seminary, the over 60 student priests studying at the Casa Santa Maria, and the many priests who participate in the Institute of Continuing Theological Education sabbatical program. All continue to be witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ and like Monsignor Petty, witnesses to the excellent formation program provided at the College.

Monsignor Michael Farmer ‘95 Archdiocese of Mobile

2014 • ISSUE 6

31

The Pontifical North American College

NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 144 WALDORF, MD

Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 For more information about the Pontifical North American College, subscription questions, or to learn about ways you can financially support “America’s Seminary in Rome”, please contact Mark Randall, CFRE, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement.

Tel: (202) 541-5411 / Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org

22nd Annual

Rector’s Dinner Wednesday, April 30, 2014 In Rome, on the campus of the College 2014 HONOREES:

Scott and Lannette Turicchi Pasadena, CA

Cardinal James Harvey ’74 Archpriest of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica

Tickets, sponsorships, and advertisements now available!