Roman Echoes 2016 – Volume 21, Issue 1 by Pontifical North American College

RomanEchoes VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

NOVEMBER 2016

T H E P O N T I F I C A L N O RT H A M E R I C A N C O L L E G E

RECEIVE THE

GOSPEL OF CHRIST, WHOSE HERALD YOU NOW ARE.

8 Thailand Apostolate

12 Mother Teresa

14 Diaconate

18 World Youth Day

Contents 12 8 Features 14 Diaconate

6 NAC Voices 7 Changes to Faculty

8 Thailand Apostolate Seminarians experience life in Thailand while teaching English in this new summer apostolate.

18 World Youth Day 2016

10 Transition Home for Priest

22 Priesthood Conferences

12 St. Mother Teresa

24 Born outside of the US to be a Priest for the US

Seminarians witness the mercy of God from the slums of Calcutta to the canonization of its famous saint.

A new class celebrates ordination to the Diaconate in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter.

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20 Pastoral Experience back home

Cover Image: Thirty men stand to be ordained to the diaconate at the Chair of Saint Peter in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter

22 14 Updates 5 16 26

Rector’s Corner Snapshots of the NAC Casa Santa Maria

30 Economo’s Corner 31 Institutional Advancement

World Youth Day 2016 New Men spend part of their orientation in Krakow to celebrate World Youth Day with an estimated 3 million pilgrims.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Contributors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert Duck ‘18, Diocese of Tulsa

MANAGING EDITOR Christian Huebner ‘19, Archdiocese of Washington ASSISTANT EDITORS Joseph Heschmeyer ‘18, Diocese of Kansas City, KS Joseph Boustany ‘19, Diocese of Lafayette LAYOUT & DESIGN MANAGER Tyler Johnson ‘19, Archdiocese of Seattle LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR Christopher Boyle ‘19, Archdiocese of Boston PHOTOGRAPHERS Leo Song ‘18, Diocese of Rockville Centre Zach Brown ‘19, Diocese of Toledo

Administration of the Pontifical North American College RECTOR Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99 VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION Rev. Kerry Abbott, OFM Conv. ICTE ’14 VICE RECTOR OF SEMINARY LIFE Rev. Brian P. Christensen ‘99 ACADEMIC DEAN AND ROMAN ECHOES FACULTY LIAISON Rev. John P. Cush ’98, C’15 SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. Msgr. Fred Berardi C’82 DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION Rev. James M. Sullivan, OP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mark Randall, CFRE 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 This publication is written, edited and photographed by the students of the Pontifical North American College

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Fr. Hanley celebrates a vigil ceremony with the families of the ordinandi at Sant'Andrea della Valle

Rector’s Corner

s my fourth grade teacher at St. John the Baptist Catholic School first told me, “What’s well begun is half done.” The point being, as we know, that diligence, preparation and planning is very worthwhile for tasks both large and small. How many times in my life has this been a reminder to plan well, start well, and persevere in a task! It is a good lesson in pastoral ministry too, which the College tries to model for the men in formation. A good deal of the activities of the fall revolve around planning for the future, both for the life of the College and in training the men for living their priestly vocation. Some of this included the work of the students and faculty during the four weeks of September. This also was work planning for the future. The first-year men had Italian language courses to prepare them for these next years of study. The other classes participated in workshops on solidifying priestly identity, the commitment

of celibacy lived with and for the Church, preparation and delivery of homilies, parish counseling, marriage preparation, and the Church’s teaching on Natural Family Planning, among others. Crucial topics indeed, and work which lays the foundation for lives of priestly ministry. Each class also participated in a week-long silent retreat, a sacred time carved out from all of the other “work” of the year to focus on hearing God’s call and strengthening one’s resolve to follow Him in the priestly vocation. We are grateful for the priests, professional presenters and faculty who helped the men in this month of workshops. I have no doubt that these efforts will bear good fruit for the men we form to serve the Lord and His Church as priests. While I can say it was certainly well begun, it is a grace to know that we don’t let up once we have started! The men carry these practical and tangible lessons throughout the year. Let me express my gratitude

to all of you who are benefactors and collaborators in our mission. I am proud of what we have begun this year, and hopeful that its good start will come to a good completion for the College, in the life and ministry of the priests we send home, and for all whom they will serve. As the Ordination Rite quotes, after candidate makes his promises to the Bishop: “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment!”

Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99

“What’s well begun is half done.” The point being, as we know, that diligence, preparation and planning is very worthwhile for tasks both large and small. How many times in my life has this been a reminder to plan well, start well, and persevere in a task!

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

VOICES OF NAC

As another academic year begins, what are you most looking forward to?

“This year I'm greatly looking forward to finally getting to dive into the study of theology. Getting a chance to learn philosophy has been a great blessing, but I'm looking forward to finally getting to the good stuff!” Spencer Hodgson, ’20, Archdiocese of Anchorage

“I’m looking forward to beginning ordained ministry, as well as beginning my second-cycle program.” Rev. Mr. Peter Ascik ’17, Diocese of Charlotte

“The start of Second Theology really marks the point where the rubber hits the road, both in terms of academics and formation. In particular, I am looking forward to our homiletics practicum. I know my classmates and I are all looking forward to the opportunities to Benjamin Rahimi ’19 Archdiocese of Chicago practice and develop our preaching skills during the course of this year.” “I’m most looking forward to getting back into theological studies at the Gregorian University. I’ve enjoyed my time there since I’ve arrived in Rome two years ago, and am glad to be completing my S.T.B this year which will give me a firm foundation in theology for future ministry and studies. Studying theology continues to be fruitful in all areas of my seminary formation, flowing over into my prayer life and pastoral activities.” Matthew Meagher ’18, Archdiocese of Sydney

“I am excited about my seminar Habits and Holiness at the Angelicum and writing my S.T.B. paper exploring Thomas Aquinas and his views on virtue, human flourishing, and holiness.” Brandon DeToma ’18 Archdiocese of Louisville

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Martin Amaro ’19 Diocese of Little Rock

“I am looking forward to seeing the ‘New and Old Men show,’ as well as the Mass for the closing of the Year of Mercy with Pope Francis.” iStock.com

Changing Faculty

New Faculty and Faculty Changes Fr. John G. McDonald

Fr. John G. McDonald ’07, a priest from the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama returns to the college after having been ordained in 2007. He earned his theology degree from the Angelicum, and then began his license studies in ecclesiology at the Gregorian University in Rome. Since ordination, Fr. McDonald has served as teacher, chaplain, principal, and as president of John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham. He has also served as Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and on the Diocesan Deposit and Loan Committee as well as the Priest’s Pension Board. In January of 2012, Bishop Robert Baker appointed Fr. McDonald as Director of Catholic Education and Lifelong Formation for the Diocese of Birmingham. After serving as pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Bessemer, Alabama, he joins the college as a formation advisor, teacher of pastoral spanish, as well as the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics.

Fr. Ronald C. Barusefski

The Very Reverend Ronald Charles Barusefski, a priest of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, NJ was ordained to the priesthood on Pentecost Sunday 1989. His first

assignment was Administrator (later, Pastor) of All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church in North Fort Myers, FL. Fr. Barusefski initiated the founding of a Mission Community in Naples, FL. Both assignments provided many challenges in “mission” areas, including the evangelization of the Byzantine Catholic Church throughout Southwest Florida. Among his many assigments, Fr. Barusefski has completed a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America and is currently working on his doctoral dissertation from the Angelicum. He joins the faculty of the college as a formation advisor as well as the Director of Apostolic Formation, bringing with him his many years of pastoral experience in the various capacities he has served.

Sr. Maria Guadalupe, OP

Sr. Maria Guadalupe, OP grew up in Walpole, Massachusetts (Archdiocese of Boston), and earned a B.A. in English and French at Fordham University in the Bronx. After volunteering with a Catholic mission in Belize, she entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in 2001. Since entering the convent, she has earned a teaching certification as a high school teacher (English and French), and also a M.Ed. in Educational Administration. She has served as a middle school and

high school teacher, an elementary school principal, and in her community's development office. Last year she was a student at the Angelicum, and this year she will be serving as the Librarian for the Casa Santa Maria and also assisting at the Randal Riede Library on the Hill.

Fr. John Cush

Fr. John Cush, '98, C'15, (Diocese of Brooklyn), who joined the faculty last year as Assistant Vice-Rector, succeeds Fr. Donald Henke, '92, C '04, as Academic Dean. Fr. Cush also serves as a formation advisor and teaches the first year Theology seminar at the Gregorian University and the second year class on U.S. Catholic Church History for the Angelicum, the Gregorian, and Santa Croce.

Fr. Kerry Abbott OFM Conv.

Fr. Kerry Abbott, ICTE '14, OFM Conv. of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province, who joined the faculty last year as a spiritual director and the Director for Administration, Personnel, and Facilities, will be serving this year as Vice-Rector for Administration and as a formation advisor.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

THAILAND APOSTOLATE

Led by a marching band of their peers, students from the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind parade to the local temple to make offerings to the monks for Vassa, or "Buddhist Lent." inset Members of the Redemptorist community and other volunteers after morning Mass in the community chapel. 8

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Walking as Children of Light RYA N M U L D O O N ‘ 1 9, A R C H D I O C E S E O F N E W YO R K

“

hailand?” More than a few people found this Southeast Asian nation a surprising destination for my summer apostolate following my first year at the North American College. However, two people who took immediate interest and who came along for the experience were Benjamin Rahimi (Chicago) and Nicholas Sentovich (Rockford). Our destination was Pattaya, once a quiet fishing village, now transformed into a bustling city on Thailand’s eastern coast. Despite its modern look, however, Pattaya also shows signs of the severe poverty and social ills that plague the city. Upon arrival, the three of us joined in the work begun in the mid-1970s by Rev. Raymond Brennan, C.Ss.R., a Chicago-born Redemptorist missionary, who founded the Pattaya Orphanage. Re-named as the Father Ray Foundation after its founder’s death in 2003, today the orphanage has expanded to oversee seven projects which educate nearly 900 young people. Three of the projects are schools for people with disabilities. While in Pattaya, we lived and prayed with the Redemptorist community, but we also were part of a diverse lay

volunteer staff of people from across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Our primary daily task was to teach English – Nicholas and I to teenagers who are blind, and Ben to young adults with physical disabilities. Our students were eager English learners; after all, they are aware that knowing English gives them a competitive advantage in the Thai job market.

(Left to Right) Ryan Muldoon, Nicholas Sentovich, and Benjamin Rahimi with a memorial statue of Fr. Raymond Brennan, C.Ss.R., for whom the Father Ray Foundation is named.

When the school day ends for students with physical disabilities, athletics provide a welcome break from their studies. Wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and swimming are among their favorites. It was always striking to see the side of the pool littered with wheelchairs and prostheses as the students temporarily escaped the Thai summer heat. At “Speaking English Club” in the evenings, lots of laughter ensued as the planned lesson generally

devolved into the students singing along to their favorite English songs. Expressing likes and dislikes was one of the first things Nicholas and I covered with our blind students. “I like KFC and pizza” and “I don’t like snakes” were common responses by our students. (There are definite similarities among young people around the world!) “I like to play music” was another common refrain. Nicholas and I were bowled over one morning when we arrived to find a marching band of our blind students practicing on the school grounds. They were preparing for a parade to the local Buddhist temple, where students would make offerings to the monks in preparation for Vassa, or “Buddhist Lent.” Just when I thought I’d seen most everything, a talented marching band of blind students was quite a first! There is great truth to the adage that teachers learn from their students. At the end of each class period, the blind students would stand and say in unison, “Thank you, teachers. See you tomorrow.” My summer apostolate in Thailand showed me that there’s more to seeing than just sight – it’s a matter of the heart. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Transition Home for Priest

Fr. Zach Mabee ’15 (Lansing) evangelizing the local neighborhood by going door-to-door.

Bringing the Gospel Door-to-Door

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BY F R . Z AC H M A B E E ‘ 1 5, D I O C E S E O F L A N S I N G

ope Francis’s repeated call has been for the Church to reach out, with renewed vigor, to the “peripheries” – i.e., not mainly to those people and places with whom she is comfortable or well-situated, but rather to those that most deeply need her message of new life, hope, reconciliation, and salvation. For my first assignment as a priest, I was sent to a place that is rather “peripheral,” Flint, Michigan.

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In its heyday, Flint was home to several of the largest automotive plants (or “shops”) in the rust belt, if not the entire country. It was a bustling place, with something on the order of 100,000 automotive workers churning out products for General Motors and other major automotive outfits. Now, several decades after the great majority of these shops abruptly closed and left Genesee county, Flint is visibly struggling. The city is severely under-populated and simply

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For my first assignment as a priest, I was sent to a place that is rather “peripheral,” Flint, Michigan. Working in Flint has been a tremendous blessing and gift to me as a newly ordained priest.

lacks the baseline economic vitality that is needed for imminent revival. (It does have a very pleasant, rejuvenated downtown and a top-notch cultural campus, with a beautiful art institute and symphony. Nonetheless, its residential neighborhoods are largely struggling and in serious need of renewal.) Working in Flint has been a tremendous blessing and gift to me as a newly ordained priest. Whereas one in my circumstances might typically go to a larger, more efficiently functional suburban setting, I was sent – by my bishop, Most. Rev. Earl Boyea – to a city that is struggling to find its feet again and rebuild what was lost over the last half-century or so. Here in Flint, I work mainly at St. Mary parish, a small church with a deeply loyal flock, on the east side of the city. We run a weekly food pantry and are actively striving to reach out to our neighbors, even through door-to-door ministry and regular community events for families and their children. I also help serve at St. John Vianney, where a group of us priests live together, as well as at our historic church, St.

Matthew’s, in downtown Flint, and Powers, our regional Catholic high school. My daily tasks have been as varied and diverse as helping to coach JV basketball at Powers, to visiting one of our two local hospitals, to hosting out-of-town groups who’ve come to Flint to pray for our city and work here, to reaching out to prostitutes who walk to the street regularly outside my church. Above all else, my life has been centered around and sustained by my daily prayer of the Church’s liturgy, particularly the Eucharist, which I am blessed to offer in these beautiful churches, in the midst of this struggling city. It has been a tremendous blessing and honor to help bring the grace of Christ’s priestly sacrifice into this place, which quite visibly needs renewal and reconciliation. I am grateful for the extended time of prayer and study that I had at the seminary, particularly in the heart of the Church while at NAC. I look forward to many more years of priestly service, especially those that I will spend here in Flint! n

GREAT READ Alumnus and author Msgr. Stephen DiGiovanni ’77, C’83 has produced another extraordinary volume on the College. “Aggiornamento on the Hill of Janus” covers the history of the College from its relocation on the Janiculum Hill in 1955, to 1979. A detailed work that took over two years to complete, the book is a great read for alumni of the College and for any Catholic interested in the development of the modern American Church. Order your copy today from Midwest Theological Forum (theologicalforum.org or 630-541-8519). *Msgr. DiGiovanni has graciously agreed to donate all proceeds from the sale of

Fulfilling Pope Francis’ call to go to the "periphery," Fr. Zach goes to meet those where they are, both physically and spiritually.

the book to the College!

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

MOTHER T E R E SA An estimated 300,000 people gather to celebrate the canonization of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity who worked tirelessly among the poorest of the poor, giving witness to the mercy of Christ.

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A Saint of the Slums

J E R O M E K R U G ‘ 1 9, A R C H D I O C E S E O F O K L A H O M A C I T Y

“

fter due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother Bishops, we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a Saint and we enroll her among the Saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church.” Using these words on September 4, 2016, Pope Francis announced that the woman who for so many years had been known as a heroine and an inspiration was now to be known as much more—a saint. Those of us packed into St. Peter’s Square all spontaneously erupted into cheers and applause after we responded, “Amen!” It was a jubilant moment as something that most of us had merely intuited had been officially declared. Teresa of Calcutta, servant of the poorest of the poor, was a friend of Jesus, and He had made her holy. Saint Teresa’s canonization occurred most providentially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. Mother Teresa’s life was a striking gospel of mercy. Pope Francis has often said that mercy is a verb, not a noun. He phrases it as mercy-ing and being mercy-ed. Mother’s mercy-ing of the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta was born from her experience of having been mercy-ed by Jesus. She understood that the sentiment of

(Left) Stephen Cieslak ’19 (Archdiocese of Portland) and (far right) Jerome Krug ’19 (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City) stand with other volunteers outside the city of Calcutta.

I said, “Amen,” and I cheered because I had been touched by the mercy-ing of Mother Teresa long after she left this world. His words, “I Thirst,” spoken upon the cross, continues today in his thirst for souls in love with Him. Mother set out to satiate Jesus’s thirst for souls in love with Him, both with her own soul and with those souls she brought to Him in her mercy-ing.

We were mercy-ed by Jesus in that sacrament before we set out for a day of mercy-ing the poorest of the poor with the same mercy shown to us. Our day’s work was put into its proper context when we would read day after day, “I Thirst.” It was a reminder to open our own souls to be mercy-ed and to never hesitate to mercy the person in front of us. Standing in St. Peter’s Square I held in my heart those I had worked with just one week prior in Calcutta. Each person I had met and mercy-ed stood with me spiritually. We had seen first-hand the gospel of mercy that was Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s life, and we stood in testament to that gospel. I said, “Amen,” and I cheered because I had been touched by the mercy-ing of Mother Teresa long after she left this world. I said, “Amen,” and I cheered because Mother Teresa was a friend of Jesus, and He had made her holy. I said, “Amen!” and I prayed, because the mercy of Jesus continues to invite me to be his friend. n

This summer I had the opportunity to live, work, and pray in Calcutta with Mother Teresa’s spiritual daughters, the Missionaries of Charity. The words, “I Thirst,” are written upon the wall next to the crucifix in the sisters’ chapel. We celebrated the Eucharist every morning in that chapel before going to work with the poor of Calcutta. ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

DIACONATE

ORDINATION (Right) Daniel Eusterman '17 celebrates a vigil service the night before ordination. inset The ordination class makes their oath of fidelity and profession of faith in preparation for their ordination.

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Configured to Christ the Servant

BY DA N I E L E U ST E R M A N ‘ 1 7, A R C H D I O C E S E O F D E N V E R hen a man begins seminary, he usually is not excited to be a deacon. Nothing against deacons, but throughout his years of formation, a seminarian has his eyes set on that distant day when he finally is able to celebrate Mass, absolve sins, and anoint the dying as an ordained priest. For many of us, these are the things that first attracted us to the Lord’s call. When I was in college seminary, I started a countdown clock to measure the days to ordination. Back then, it kept the reality at a reasonable distance: “2,342 days…okay, no problem.” This summer, that same countdown hit “50,” and it struck me: “In fifty days, I will be ordained a deacon and will promise a life of prayer, obedience, and—most dramatically—celibacy.” Suddenly, the deaconate became a much bigger deal. Diaconate ordination was the first major commitment of my life. Freely choosing these promises will now concretely shape every day of the rest of my life. Thankfully, with 2,492 days of prayerful discernment, spiritual guidance, and priestly formation behind me, the decision already was well underway. Yet, as it approached, the closeness of the day made it all the more real. The promises took on a new

poignancy; they demanded greater reverence and more sober consideration. Two things in particular made those last fifty days into a fruitful period of preparation for receiving the gift of Holy Orders and committing my life to service through the promises. The first was familiarity with the Rite of Ordination. Praying with the promises, the words spoken by the bishop, and the ordination homily brought peace and clarity. What we had studied from a distance for many years was now manifested in very particular words. One of my struggles approaching ordination, a common one, was my awareness that I was not quite up to par for such a total gift of self. But the Rite takes this into account, and commends the struggle into the hands of God. When asked, “Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ,” our response is

not, “Yes, because I have reached level 25 of holiness.” Instead, we say: “I do, with the help of God.” The second great help was the NAC’s three-week program on practical preparation for life as a deacon. The first week we spent practicing Exposition and Benediction, the Holy Mass, and the Rites of Baptism, Funerals, and Holy Matrimony. The second week focused on marriage preparation and counseling. These two weeks gave us practical training in the basic “how-to’s” of diaconal ministry. But the last week before ordination was spent in the wisest way: a week-long silent retreat. Praying together before the Blessed Sacrament as a class, with the Scriptures, the Rite of Ordination, and our first homilies placed us in the proper disposition to receive Holy Orders, spending time with Him whom we strive to know and imitate, “who came not to be served, but to serve.” n

The newly ordained deacons stand with ordaining prelate, His Eminence Seán Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap, Their Eminences James Francis Cardinal Stafford ’58 and James Cardinal Harvey ’75, Fr. Peter Harman ’99, Rector; and visiting bishops.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Snapshots

Third-year men, class of ’18 and Fr. Larry Herrera, SJ, pose with Archbishop Patròn Wong, the Vatican Secretary for Seminaries. From left, Vinhson Nguyen (Phoenix), Michael Nguyen (Orange), Joseph Squillacioti (Orange), Jesus Mariscal (Yakima), Archbishop Wong, Matthew Meagher (Sydney), Fr. Larry Herrera, SJ, Cesar Izquierdo (Yakima), Peter Julia (Portland in Oregon), Mitchell Brown (Gallup), Joshua Meier (Denver), and Eric Tamayo (San Diego).

The choir leads faculty and seminarians in a candlelit procession after the diaconate prayer vigil.

Seminarians wait in St. Peter’s Square before the canonization mass of St. Teresa of Calcutta. From left, Billy Burdier ‘18 (Providence), Shane Hewson ‘19 (Tulsa), Cesar Izquierdo ‘18 (Yakima), Anthony Stewart ‘18 (Nashville), Tyler Johnson ‘19 (Seattle), Martin Amaro ‘19 (Littlerock), Leo Song ‘18 (Rockville Centre), and Brendan Ryan ‘19 (Providence).

A group of first-year men, class of ‘20, learn Italian in one of the classes provided after regular orientation.

Part of the 2016-2017-orientation team made up of second-year men, class of ‘19. From left, Alex Nevitt (Patterson), Clay Ludwig (St. Augustine), John Gancarz (Hartford), James Morrison (Washington), Chris Smith (Austin), Ben Rahimi (Chicago), Brad Berhorst (Jefferson City), and Andrew Auer (St. Louis).

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Max Carson ‘20 (Des Moines) entertains some of his classmates during their fraternity weekend in Assisi.

Spencer Hodgson ‘20 (Anchorage) and Randy Hoang ‘20 (Portland in Oregon) pose with Fr. John Cush ‘98 (Brooklyn) at a welcome social in the Red Room.

First year men pose after a softball game on the Campo Sportivo. From left, Joseph Moschetto (Arlington), Joseph Caraway (Lake Charles), Scott Miller (Sioux Falls) and Matthew Goldammer (Saint Paul-Minneapolis).

Clay Ludwig ‘19 (St. Augustine) pours a beverage for a guest at the diaconate reception in the courtyard.

The second-year men, class of ‘19, pose for a group photo after their September silent retreat in Greccio.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

WORLD YOUTH DAY

An estimated 3 million pilgrims celebrate World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.

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Orientation at World Youth Day

J O N F I N C H E R ‘ 2 0, D I O C E S E O F T U L SA

“

hy did God bring you here to Krakow for World Youth Day? What grace did He give you?” This was the question that my friend Annie asked me as I ran into her at the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2016, and at the time, I had not yet figured out the answer. What grace had God given me? I had encountered millions of young Catholics from around the world who were on fire for their faith. I heard and saw Pope Francis for the very first time. I had prayed at many holy sites in Krakow, including the churches containing relics of St. Faustina and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

I finally understood what the Lord was telling me. He was looking at me lovingly and saying, “When are you finally going to understand? When are you going to trust me and realize that I am enough for you? I am all you have; trust in me and you will be given all you need.” I also ate lots of bad food. I was constantly surrounded by millions of people. I walked twelve miles on a sprained ankle. And I got lost in Krakow for hours in the pouring rain, missing my flight back to Rome. So

So, I continued searching, knowing that I was about to miss my flight. As I headed back to my hotel, the tram line I needed was shut down, and the roads I needed to take were closed. I was officially lost in Poland, without a map, without a cell phone, and without being able to speak any Polish. (Center) Jon Fincher ’20 attends the events of WYD with a group from Tulsa, OK.

why had God brought me to World Youth Day 2016? In his closing homily, Pope Francis said, “Don’t be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Him with all your heart, to respond generously and to follow Him! Don’t let your soul grow numb, but aim for the goal of a beautiful love which also demands sacrifice. Say a firm ‘no’ to the narcotic of success at any cost and the sedative of worrying only about yourself and your own comfort.” As I hobbled back to Krakow headed for the airport, it was this message that stood out to me most. The Lord was about to show me how I was supposed to follow Him more wholeheartedly. My journey to the airport started splendidly. I was enjoying the beautiful scenery, walking a bit slowly, but happily on my way back to Rome. As I looked for a taxi, I soon realized that it would be impossible to find a free one.

But after walking for hours in the rain, I finally understood what the Lord was telling me. He was looking at me lovingly and saying, “When are you finally going to understand? When are you going to trust me and realize that I am enough for you? I am all you have; trust in me and you will be given all you need.” That was why Jesus had led me to Krakow. He had brought me there to show me my own weakness, my own inadequacy. He led me there to teach me how to trust in Him more and trust in myself less. It is my hope that each of us here at the North American College can grow in that same trust, understanding that we have a Father who loves us and who wants what is best for each and every one of us. n

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Pastoral Exprience

(Far right) Michael Nguyen ’18 sits with his pastor and parishioners during the annual "Revs. vs. Sems" basketball game.

Home Away from Rome

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BY M I C H A E L N G U Y E N ‘ 1 8, D I O C E S E O F O RA N G E

fter two whole years of being away from home, I was finally able to return to my beloved Southern California this past summer. As I patiently sat in heavy traffic under the warm summer sun amidst the ocean breeze, listening to the musical honking of the horns around me, I realized how much I had missed this. This was

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home. After a few days of catching up with family, friends, and of course food, I embarked on my summer pastoral assignment. I was fortunate to have been assigned to my home parish, Christ Our Savior, a smaller and newer parish in the Diocese of Orange. The trilingual—English, Spanish, and Vietnamese—parish consists of about 2,000 families and continues to grow.

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“As I patiently sat in heavy traffic under the warm summer sun amidst the ocean breeze, listening to the musical honking of the horns around me, I realized how much I had missed this. This was home.

I was very excited and eager to be in the parish because it would give me a glimpse of what I am called to do, my vocation. I shadowed the pastor wherever he went, quietly observing and taking notes. Everything I did at the parish made me even more excited for the priesthood. One of the greatest blessings during the assignment was experiencing the people of God, who entrusted to me and invited me into the experience of God in their lives: their joys, their sadness, and their anger. Who was I that I should be allowed to so intimately journey with them on their path to holiness? Meeting them where they were and walking with them on their journey not only made a big difference to

Christ Our Savior parish is where nearly 2,000 families come to worship in three different languages.

them, but it also helped me to grow in my own path to holiness. Although the parishioners would constantly tell me how much I was helping them, it was truly they who helped me. It was this series of interactions and encounters, amongst others, that affirmed me in this vocation of which I am undeserving. This was a very humbling experience, and it has made me a better person. Now, I take these experiences back with me to Rome as a reminder of why I am here—to prepare myself as best as I can so that, when I am sent back to my diocese at the end of my seminary formation, I will be able to journey with the people of God to the best of my God-given abilities; for one cannot give what one does not first have. n

THIS FUTURE SEMINARIAN IS COUNTING ON

YOU.

Remembering the College in your will or estate plan is an excellent way to make sure America’s Seminary In Rome is able to serve seminarians and priests well into the next century. A variety of options are available, including Charitable Gift Annuities with attractive rates. Contact us today to learn more.

Mark Randall, CFRE Executive Director, Office of Institutional Advancement 202-541-5403 or mrandall@pnac.org

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Second-year men, class of ’19, attend conferences that guide them in forming an identity modeled on the Priestly Heart of Jesus.

Formed to a Priestly Identity BRAD BERHORST ‘19, DIOCESE OF JEFFERSON CITY

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n his first Rector’s Conference of the year, Fr. Peter Harman spoke about several sources of “priestly wisdom.” Among those he noted was that of experience; and it was this source which flowed richly throughout the second-year September formation workshops.

The Pontifical North American College

Every fall before university courses begin, each class of seminarians receives a month of intensive conferences on some aspect of our formation. For the second-year men, these conferences focus on Priestly Identity. Over three weeks of conferences and a weeklong silent retreat, various faculty members from the College shared from the wealth of their experience to illuminate this theme. Fr. Austin Vetter, the Director of Spiritual Formation, began the month with an overview of the various aspects of priestly identity enlivened by stories of his own priestly ministry. Accompanying the second-year men to a retreat house in Greccio, Italy for a week of silence and recollection, Fr. Vetter offered brief conferences each day, inviting us to meditate more deeply on the meaning of the priesthood and the mystery of our call to share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. The retreat each year is greatly anticipated and

provides a time for rest and renewal as we begin the new academic year. The opportunity to spend such time with God, reflecting on the priestly experience shared by our formators and on our own experiences in formation over the previous year, comes as a great blessing. After returning to the College, Fr. John McDonald, the new Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics, gave a series of conferences on preaching. Discussing everything from the theology of the homily to practical tips for preparation and delivery, Fr. McDonald gave great life to the conferences by sharing many of his own experiences in the pulpit. The seminarians also broke out into smaller groups to write and preach practice homilies. Each group had a faculty moderator who provided feedback and encouragement. The final week of conferences built on the previous weeks’ material, with lectures on the biblical and historical roots of the priesthood, the theology of the priesthood, and a presentation on priestly celibacy by Fr. David Songy, O.F.M. Cap., of the St. Luke Institute. The culmination of the month was a panel discussion open to any and all questions from the seminarians on priestly identity and ministry. Fr. Brian Christensen, Fr. John Cush, Fr. Daniel Hanley, Fr. John McDonald, and Fr. Kurt Belsole, O.S.B. shared from their combined priestly experience with seminarians eager to bring questions. I will take the liberty of speaking for many in my class and say that one of the most enriching aspects of our September workshops was seeing in a renewed way the zeal and pastoral love which fires the hearts of our formators. If it is anywhere that we come to see how the love of Christ impels us, it is in this living transmission of priestly experience, the very source of priestly wisdom Fr. Harman urged us all to seek. n

All seminarians and priests are called to lay down their lives like that of the Good Shepherd. This begins in prayer, is nourished by study, is formed in community, and put into practice in charity.

Rome in your in-box! Sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter, “Firmum Est.” News, photos, student profiles, and historical snapshots. tinyurl.com/firmumest

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

(Third from left) Martin Amaro â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19 stands with the youth group from his apostolate at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey, Mexico.

Three Countries, Three Cultures MARTIN AMARO â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19, DIOCESE OF LITTLE ROCK

Seminarians come to Rome to study come from many diverse backgrounds.

The Pontifical North American College

hen my bishop asked me to come to Rome a year before finishing college seminary in Monterrey, Mexico, I was very excited about not only going to another country, but this time another continent. This was the third time I moved to another country. It meant change in many aspects of my life, both spiritually and human.

the Church, especially a bilingual vocational retreat, I decided to discern to the priesthood a year before graduating from high school.

I spent the first ten years of my life living in San Felipe, a small town at the very center of Mexico. My entire family is very Catholic, especially from my mom’s side of the family, so I grew up going to Mass every Sunday, praying the rosary every day, praying before meals, etc. I didn’t pay too much attention to my faith during this time of my life, but now that I look back and reflect on it I can see how God, little by little, from these first moments, shaped my vocation to the priesthood in the years to come. My family and I moved to the United States in late 2002, to the state of Arkansas. I started going to Mass at my home parish, Saint Edward's, and it was very interesting to discover other aspects of the universal church. What surprised me the most was when the parish had bilingual Masses. It was a blessing watching the Spanish and the English speaking communities coming together. Years later, and thanks to the many good experiences I had in

When I entered seminary in 2010, I was asked by my bishop to study the first years of my formation in Monterrey. Once again I was ready for another change. Just like the first time I went to the What surprised me U.S, the first year in Monterrey was difficult the most was when to adjust to a new way of the parish had life. Believe it or not, I bilingual masses. even had to learn Spanish again since I actually It was a blessing watching the Spanish forgot a lot of it during my time in the United and the English States, especially how to speaking communities write. However, it didn’t take me long to integrate coming together. and to fall in love with the people and seminary life. I learned and grew up in many aspects of my life during the five years I was in this city. The first year at the Pontifical North American College has been amazing and full of blessings. Although it had its challenges, I do have to say that adapting to a new country and culture was easier, this being the third country in which I have lived. The experience of being formed as a priest in three countries has given me a unique perspective on the universal Church, in its richness and diversity. It is my hope to bring this into my future ministry as a priest for the United States, a country that has given me a home and a Church that has awoken my vocation. n

2016 2016 Watch for your December 8 Annual Appeal letter, coming soon. These funds help sustain America’s Seminary in Rome!

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Casa Santa Maria

The priests of the Casa share meals with one another daily, fostering community and building priestly fraternity.

The House on Humility Street

• • • •

W R I T T E N BY F R . N I C H O L A S CO L A L E L L A ' 1 5, D I O C E S E O F B R O O K LY N

he gong of a seventeenth century bell, the rustle of autumn leaves, the reverberation of heavy footsteps on the outdoor staircase, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a classmate’s room, the chattering of students in the Piazza della Pilotta… All of these scents and sounds accompany me on a routine weekday morning at the Casa Santa Maria

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as I prepare to make the very short journey to class at the Pontifical Biblical Institute just across the street. The transition from being a seminarian on the Janiculum Hill to being a student priest in the center of the Eternal City has afforded me both great opportunities and great challenges. The Casa Santa Maria is place deeply rooted in the history of Rome. First a sixteenth century convent, then a Napoleonic stable, then the first

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The Casa Santa Maria is place deeply rooted in the history of Rome. First a sixteenth century convent, then a Napoleonic stable, then the first American seminary in Rome, today “the Casa” is a house of study for priests.

American seminary in Rome, today “the Casa” is a house of study for priests. In 1859, Pope Pius IX, a former altar boy in the very chapel where today’s priests of the Casa celebrate Mass, bequeathed the former convent on Humility Street to the United States Bishops, thus founding the first American seminary in Rome. But why a house for student priests in Rome today? As a fifth-year priest at the Casa Santa Maria, I have had the opportunity to work, pray, study, and converse with priests from all over the United States, Australia, and other parts of the world. The North American College’s mission to provide its student priests with an experience of the Universal Church is thus accomplished at the Casa. The comradery of the priests, the sense of brotherhood, and communal worship are all hallmarks of the house. I had some hesitations about continuing my studies right after priestly ordination. The parish, after all, was the reason I decided to become a priest. Yet my experience at the Casa has given me nothing but consolation and reassurance regarding my vocation to the priesthood. Studying

Sacred Scripture, being close to the Holy Father, conversing with fellow priests, and offering confessions and catechesis for pilgrims at the U.S. Office of Visitors to the Vatican all have been positive experiences. And what’s more, I am able to bring these positive experiences of the Church Universal back with me to Brooklyn! There is, though, one last thing that makes student and priestly life at the Casa all worth it. The fact the Casa Santa Maria is on “Humility Street,” is no coincidence. In the chapel, above

the main altar, is a nineteenth-century copy of an earlier painting of Mary affectionately known by us as Our Lady of Humility. This image has accompanied me from my time as a new seminarian on the Janiculum Hill to my time as a fifth-year student priest at the Casa. To me, she has been a constant reminder that Jesus is the reason for my vocation, the finality of all my prayer and study. She also assures me as I am on my way to class in the morning, amid all those routine scents and sounds, that I am not alone. n

A statue of the Patroness of the College, the Immaculate Conception, stands at the center of the inner courtyard.

(Center) Fr. Harman ’99, Rector, stands with the priests of the Casa after celebrating Mass.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Institute for Continuing Theological Education

Fr. Thomas Willis (Diocese of Saint Augustine) preaches to the ICTE priests at the river’s edge in Phillipi where Saint Paul baptized Lydia, the first European convert to Christianity (Acts 16:15).

Continuing Theological Education in the Biblical World • • • •

J OS E P H H E S C H M E Y E R ’ 1 8, A R C H D I O C E S E O F K A N SA S C I T Y I N K A N SA S

ver the last 35 years, more than 3,000 priests have participated in the Institute for Continuing Theological Education (ICTE). So what is it, and what makes it worthwhile?

As the name suggests, ICTE is a program of continuing education for those who are already ordained. This ongoing formation was a direct fruit of the Second Vatican Council, and the priests who have participated in ICTE over the years are a diverse bunch, hailing from all parts of the English-speaking world. Fr. Scott Brodeur, S.J., a professor of Pauline Theology at the Gregorian University and one of the theology professors

• • • •

The Pontifical North American College

Fr. Scott Brodeur, S.J., (Gregorian University) teaches the ICTE priests at the ancient port of Cenchreae from which Saint Paul sailed and where he had his head shaved because of a vow (Acts 18:18).

involved in the program, suggests that this diversity is one of the perks of the ICTE program, since it creates “a very interesting mix” leading to “a beautiful experience of priestly fraternity.” Fr. Brodeur emphasized that “the priests who come are ready for this experience: they’ve chosen it.” For many of the priests, ICTE may be their first encounter with priests from a particular region or country, or perhaps with a previously-unknown religious order. ICTE offers priests a chance to see their own ministry in a new light. Fr. Brodeur adds that it gives priests “a chance to pause, to reflect on one’s experiences as a priest, and to learn from various professors in their own areas of expertise.” This time and space are important for the priest to be able to stop and to ask important questions about the theological meaning of the work that he has undertaken, including the countless Baptisms that he has performed and the Masses that he has celebrated.

To enhance this experience of renewal and theological reflection, ICTE has undergone an important change over the last few years. Whereas the original ICTE program was structured over two semesters, the “New Face of

The “New Face of ICTE” replaces the fall semester with three modules, each of three to four weeks in length. This modular approach is an attempt to accommodate those priests who cannot afford to spend three or more months away from their parishes. ICTE” replaces the fall semester with three modules, each of three to four weeks in length. Participating priests can then participate in any combination of the three modules. (The spring

semester retains the traditional semester-long format.) This modular approach is an attempt to accommodate those priests who cannot afford to spend three or more months away from their parishes. Additionally, these modules capitalize upon ICTE’s location in Rome and proximity to the Biblical world. For example, the first module this fall was entitled “In Rome and in Greece: Following in the Footsteps of Saint Paul.” As part of the module, the 23 participating priests joined Fr. Brodeur and ICTE director Fr. James Sullivan, O.P. on a eight-day pilgrimage to Greece. For many involved, it was a life-changing experience to be at the actual places mentioned in the New Testament, the very locations in which Christianity was first preached. Fr. Brodeur explains that these encounters awaken us to the reality that “No, this is not mythology. This is the Word of God.” “I cannot tell you the number of priests who have told me, ‘I’ll never preach the same way again.’” n

The latest news and photos from Rome. 10,000 fans and counting – join us! Bishop Alexander Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, leads the ICTE priests in the chanting of the Creed in front of the tomb of Saint Paul at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

Economo’s Corner Projects for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Priests R E V. K E R RY A B B OT T, O F M CO N V. , I C T E ' 1 4

ow, where do I begin…so many good things to report! While summer is a time when our students and faculty head off for apostolates around the world, our College maintenance staff and contractors shift from their normal busy pace to high gear. Our major construction season is a short one, from July to September, in order to minimize disturbance to our primary mission: forming today’s and tomorrow’s priests for God’s people. Along with our normal summer maintenance activity preparing over 60 rooms and apartments for our new seminarians and faculty, we also saw 4 major projects begin and/or finish this summer: • In August we renovated a large rehearsal space and office for our Director of Liturgical Music, including two soundproofed practice rooms. Next door, our College archive has a new, expansive climate-controlled location, as does the office for our College architect. This work was completed on time and on budget. • Our 2nd, 3rd and 4th Convent seminarians have never had proper hall lounges as do the other

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residence halls. Completed in August, all three halls now have bright, new air-conditioned lounges where they can gather in micro-communities to relax, study and celebrate. These helpful additions to our seminary life were completed on time and on budget. • In our last issue, we reported the beginning of the second phase of the Casa Santa Maria resident room renovation, the creation of 35 two-room, air conditioned residential spaces each with its own bathroom. I am thrilled to report that this project also was completed on time and on budget in late September, in time to welcome our new and returning priest students. The third phase,

for additional residential rooms, will begin next summer with completion slated for 2018. • Begun in July, our new gymnasium is right on schedule and on budget. This project is on track for completion and occupancy by the end of January 2017. As I said at the outset, “wow!” Yet for me, the real “wow” is that each and every one of these projects is realized only because you, our benefactors, appreciate that our work is not simply to build buildings, but to help build the minds, bodies and hearts of our seminarians and priests for the service of God and His people. Thank you for your generous prayers and support in this holy mission! n

Institutional Advancement A Season of Thanksgiving

MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

t is hard to ignore the history of the Pontifical North American College while on campus, as I was last month. We have new students in ancient buildings studying our timeless Faith. Moreover, it is especially humbling to consider how many people have invested in our mission since our founding in 1859: bishops and dioceses, foundations and corporations, lay individuals, and of course, our loyal alumni from all over the United States. We are also reminded visually, within our beautiful facilities each day, of those who have provided materially for us. The photo here, which is a floor stone in the Immaculate Conception

life and are now commended to the mercy of God. It is even more rewarding for us when we have the opportunity to thank our friends in person, and show them the fruits of their gift. The upcoming 25th Annual Rector’s Dinner on April 27, 2017 is just such an occasion and I hope you will be able to join us. Chapel, recalls all who made the first century of the College possible. As we journey into our second century, we renew this pledge of prayer and gratitude each day at Holy Mass. And at this time of year, with the Commemoration of All Souls and Thanksgiving Day, we especially pray for our deceased benefactors who remembered us in

25 th Annual Rector’s Dinner

As we approach our 157th birthday coming up on December 8, the Commemoration of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate our mission of forming faithful, holy priests for service in the United States. May you be inspired to renew your support of this noble work! n

2017 Rector’s Award Honorees Most. Rev. James F. Checchio 92, C’97, Bishop of Metuchen & Former Rector

Save the date and plan to join us in Rome for the 25th Annual Rector’s Dinner on Thursday, April 27, 2017! Formal invitations will be mailed in January 2017.

For information on the dinner, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mark Randall at 202-541-5403 or mrandall@pnac.org

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Weber, Hobe Sound, FL ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 1

The Pontifical North American College Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED1

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 “Like” The Pontifical North American College on Facebook to keep up with the latest photos, news, and events from our campuses in Rome. New Men spend an afternoon walking the grounds of Castle Gandolfo during their orientation.

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