Roman Echoes 2016 – Volume 20, Issue 4 by Pontifical North American College

RomanEchoes AUGUST 2016

VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

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

A Cup of Blessing SEMINARIANS CELEBRATE THE CLOSING BANQUET AND SEND MEN TO RETURN HOME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

12 Working with the Poor in Rome

20 Pastoral Year

24 Jubilee Year for Priests

Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rev. Mr. M. Casey Sanders Archdiocese of Louisville

Contents 14

MANAGING EDITOR Robert Duck ‘18 Diocese of Tulsa LAYOUT & DESIGN MANAGER Andrew Showers ‘17 Diocese of Madison

ASSISTANT EDITORS Joseph Heschmeyer ‘18 Diocese of Kansas City, MO Joseph Scholten ‘17 Diocese of Sioux Falls LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITORS Michael Zimmerman ‘17 Archdiocese of Boston PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Hart ‘17 Diocese of Alexandria Leo Song ‘18 Diocese of Rockville Centre

Updates

5 Rector’s Corner

16 Life at the College 26 Casa Santa Maria

Features 6 NAC Voices 7 Departing Faculty 10 Pastoral Council

12 Working with the Poor in Rome Fr. Jack Schrader shares his experiences encountering Christ in the poor in the Eternal City

14 Lounge Renovation STUAC brings some much needed updating to the Student Lounge

18 Kitchen Personale

20 Pastoral Year Paul-Michael Piega shares his experiences of being back home for a pastoral year

30 Economo’s Corner 31 Institutional Advancement 2

Cover Image: Chalices of the newly ordained are displayed during the Closing Banquet The Pontifical PontificalNorth NorthAmerican AmericanCollege College

24 20 24 Jubilee Year for Priests

22 Ars Pilgrimage 28 ICTE

Priests from all over the world come to Rome to celebrate the Priesthood with the Holy Father

Closing Banquet

The NAC Community celebrates

the end of the year by sending home men to be ordained and preach the Gospel.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

North American College Class of 2016

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

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N OF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE RECTOR Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99 DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION, PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES Rev. Kerry Abbott, OFM Conv. VICE RECTOR OF SEMINARY LIFE Rev. Brian P. Christensen ‘99 ACADEMIC DEAN 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 The Pontifical North American College

Rector’s Corner

n May 20 the College repeated a custom which goes back as far as any alumnus can remember. At the end of our Closing Banquet, Fr. Brian Christensen, our Vice Rector, calls out the name of each man who has completed his time of formation at the College and sends him to preach the Gospel in his home diocese. As I watched and listened as the men stood one by one in our refectory, I was moved by the group which grew until the last man was called. What a formidable task, but what a formidable group to be about this work! I thought back to the day I was similarly sent, back in May of 2000, and chuckled that I never thought I would be back to hear it again, much less be a part of those responsible for making these men ready for this task. I thought about the thousands of men who had stood in our refectory to have their names called out like this over the years of the College’s history - a pretty substantial group, for sure. But then I pondered to the next dimension…all of the good works which had been carried out by these thousands of priests over these generations. How many people coming to know God’s grace, how

many baptisms, how many catechized in the faith, how many consoled in their need? And all of them were formed to see the priesthood as their call within our walls. Then I thought of an even greater point: how much grace will be in action because of those we send this year, and next, and in the generations to come? For a world, as Pope Francis often says, which needs to know the love of Christ as much as it ever has, we are blessed to send out these men for its sanctification. And when I considered the talent, energy, faith, and joy contained in our refectory, I was a very joyful soul indeed. Many of you have dined in our refectory as students, family, or guests, and many a banquet or Rector’s dinner have been enjoyed but, clearly it is this moment which is its greatest, and in fact its very purpose: men sent to preach the Gospel! You may be blessed to attend one of their ordinations this summer, or the ordinations of men in your home diocese. If you have the opportunity to participate in these, I urge you to do so. They are causes of great joy

where we are reminded that God is never outdone in generosity and that He always provides for His Church. Please also thank your parish priests for answering the call to preach the Gospel. May you enjoy a blessed summer, filled, I pray, with relaxation and time with family and friends. Please pray for our newly ordained priests, those doing pastoral work in their dioceses this summer, and for the men preparing to join us to begin a new year. Thanks for your generosity and prayers which make our work possible!

Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99

For a world, as Pope Francis often says, which needs to know the love of Christ as much as it ever has, we are blessed to send out these men for its sanctification.

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Voices of NAC Each summer, a group of seminarians return home for the first time in nearly two years. What is the first thing that these men noticed upon returning to the United States?

“One of the first things I noticed is the gas price difference. When I left for Rome two years ago, gas was in the $4 range and now it's in the $2 range.” Nicholas Schierer ’18, Diocese of Arlington

“There’s no place like home. Ah, back to first world comforts.” Rev. Corey Tufford ’16, Diocese of San Diego

“One of the first things I noticed upon returning to the United States was all the trucks on the road. The next morning, I pulled into the Church parking lot for Mass, and again, it was about 40% trucks and at least one with a horse trailer. I thought, ‘I’m home.’” Jarad Wolf ’18, Diocese of Bismarck

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Departing Faculty

Departures and New Beginnings

his has been a year of transitions for the North American College community, even for its faculty. We are saddened to see four very beloved faculty and staff members depart, but we are excited for them and for the people of God whom they will serve in their new assignments.

Fr. Donald Henke

Joining the faculty in 2012 from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Fr. Donald Henke ’92, C’ 04, has generously served as Academic Dean here at the College, as well as a wise formation advisor and insightful professor for the Gregorian University’s first year seminar and moral theology electives at the Angelicum. Fr. Henke is being assigned to serve as the pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a small country parish about an hour southwest of St. Louis in Neier, MO. In addition, he will serve on a part-time basis at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary as an associate professor of moral theology. This coming academic year, Fr. Henke will teach the medical ethics course in the fall semester and social ethics in the spring semester, as well as serving as Archbishop Carlson's moral theology advisor for bioethical issues. Fr. John Cush ’98, C’15 (Brooklyn), currently serving as the College’s Assistant Vice-Rector, will succeed Fr. Henke as the new Academic Dean.

Fr. Luke Ballman

In 2011, Fr. Luke Ballman ’00, from the Archdiocese of Atlanta, was asked to come and serve as Director of Apostolic Formation and as a formation advisor at the College. Fr. Ballman generously gave of his time and was a truly inspirational figure, urging the men of the College to always strive for excellence in all areas of their lives. Fr. Ballman will be the Associate Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations at the USCCB in Washington, D.C. He will assist bishops, both collectively and individually, in promoting, supporting, and educating about the Church’s pastoral needs and concerns for the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life within culturally diverse communities of the United States. The committee he will support develops foundational documents and appropriate resources that promote the effective ministry of the clerical state, consecrated life, and vocations.

Sr. Mary Cecilia Niewiadomsk, OP

In 2013, Sr. Mary Cecilia Niewiadomska, OP, joined the College’s staff, serving as the librarian of the Casa Santa Maria and also

assisting in the Randal Riede Library on the Janiculum. Sr. Mary Cecilia kindly aided and guided the student priests and seminarians in the library, always with a saintly kindness and patience. Next year, she will be living at her motherhouse (Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist) and teaching algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus at Father Gabriel Richard Catholic High School in Ann Arbor, MI.

Fr. James Quigley, OP

Fr. James Quigley, OP, the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics and formation advisor, first joined the faculty of the College in 2005, departing in 2011 briefly to return to Providence College, and then rejoined the faculty once again in the same role in 2013. He brought great energy and a tremendous pastoral sense to his role in forming men to preach the Gospel. Fr. Quigley will once again be in residence at Providence College and will travel around the country giving workshops and retreats to priests and parishes, truly living his Dominican charism. To all our departing faculty, we are most grateful for their ministry and say ad multos annos!

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Closing Banquet

Fr. Peter Harman ‘99 (Springfield in Illinois), Rector of the College, preaching during Mass before the Closing Banquet.

Rejoicing with Three Cups • • • •

BY R E V. T I M OT H Y F U R LOW ‘ 1 5, A R C H D I O C E S E O F P O RT L A N D I N O R EG O N

very year, as the expectancy of completing exams and the joy of engaging a summer assignment or returning to one’s own diocese begins to become a reality, the North American College comes together to share one, final, communal meal – The Closing Banquet. Its very existence acts as a reminder that the academic year nears faithful completion and that we have moved one step closer to the goal of becoming Christ’s priests.

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The evening is always marked by a sublime combination of rejoicing in the victory of our companions who have “run the race” well, and the sadness of having to say goodbye for an unknown number of days, months, and perhaps years. After watching hundreds of men sit at the closely-knit tables of this banquet, I have repeatedly come to be struck by the power of one, enduring reality - the three cups that we offer.

• • • •

Thankfulness that a life spent in our Lord’s service, a life poured out raising the cup of victory in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, is a life lived in anticipation of an eternity spent dining at the table of our Lord, at a banquet that never comes to a close.

In keeping with tradition, every deacon that is soon to be ordained a priest is asked to prominently display the chalice he will use at his first Mass. A solitary, austere table bears the weight of these sacramental treasures, the vessels into which Christ chooses to pour out the blood of His sacrifice. As each man and woman makes their way past the sacred display it is impossible not to sense the reality of what is before them – these are the cups of anticipation, the cups that point to the meaning of the lives of the men who will raise them to the Father. This time of admiration quickly transitions to the presentation of a second cup, as the deacon who is to represent the Fourth Year class makes a toast in honor of his fellow ordinandi and the College to which they owe the formation of their minds and hearts. It is a glass of sparkling celebration,

a cup of rejoicing often marked by humorous observation and jovial reminiscing. Yet, it is also tempered by the knowledge that, for many, it will be the last time they sit shoulder to shoulder with the men they have come to consider brothers. Nevertheless, we rejoice because we know God has been faithful to us. Faithful to call us to Himself and to the dignity of acting in His Person on the earth. It is that call that encapsulates the third and final cup – the cup of victory. Perhaps the most moving moment of the evening comes when the Vice Rector solemnly stands at the podium and calls the name of each man that will return home to fulfill his priestly ministry. It was many years ago now that I first heard the names of the young clerics come before me called out with conviction and followed by a statement capturing the nature of

Deacons to be ordained Priests display their chalices in the back of the refectory during the Closing Banquet ceremony.

their life mission. It was this year that my own name was inserted into that humbling formula: “Reverend Timothy Furlow, sent to preach the Gospel in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.” At the end of this season of my life, a time forged and sustained by the Pontifical North American College, I find my heart filled with nothing but thankfulness. Thankfulness that a life spent in our Lord’s service, a life poured out raising the cup of victory in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, is a life lived in anticipation of an eternity spent dining at the table of our Lord, at a banquet that never comes to a close. n Men departing the College being individually acknowledged and “sent to preach the Gospel” in their respective dioceses.

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Pastoral Council

Seminarians made pilgrimage to the town of Manoppello, where a cloth bearing a miraculous image of Christ has been venerated since the middle ages.

Mercy Minutes: An Update on Jubilee Initiatives

• • • •

BY W I L L N YC E ‘ 1 9, D I O C E S E O F A R L I N GTO N

n an effort to extend the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy to life in the house at the North American College, a few members from the Pastoral Council a student body which helps inform, advise, and implement recommendations made by the Rector volunteered at the beginning of the Jubilee Year to brainstorm and put concrete acts in practice, in response to this year’s theme of “Merciful like the Father.”

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Spearheaded by Kevin Leaver ‘17 (Boston) and Mark Mleziva ‘17 (Green Bay) with representation from each class and moderated by Fr. John Cush ’98, C’15 (Brooklyn), the group sought to channel the momentum of this extraordinary year into new areas of seminary life. A previous article in Roman Echoes already spoke of some of their initiatives, but since that time the House has enjoyed two more major successes, which perhaps are related: a weekend pilgrimage to Loretto, and a new apostolic enterprise with refugees here in Rome.

• • • •

“Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy.” Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, 10

About forty pilgrims, to include the house’s resident Carmelite sisters, were led and animated by Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo C’00 (Newark) with the help of Fr. James Sullivan, O.P., Fr. Daniel Hanley '05 (Arlington), and Msgr. William McDonnell '65 (Rockford) Diocese for the weekend of Pentecost Sunday. The timing and locations for the pilgrimage certainly set the stage for many graces: the group began with the shrine at Manopello, where there is an image of the face of Christ believed by many to be the “napkin” in John 20:7. Pope Francis’ words that “Jesus Christ is the Face of the Father’s mercy” were certainly not lost on the pilgrims, who then, with the end of classes fast approaching, went to beg more mercy through the intercession of St. Joseph Cupertino, the patron of student exams, at his shrine in Osimo. Finally, they spent the night and Pentecost Sunday at the shrine of Loreto, a major pilgrimage site which contains the walls of Mary’s house in Nazareth brought over by the Angeli family (or were they angels?)

at the turn of the first millennium. Passing through a holy door on each day of the pilgrimage, renewing their baptismal promises, and provided with opportunities for confession and personal prayer, the group came back spiritually nourished with their personal intentions consigned to God’s providence.

Fr. Jim Morin '16 (Lincoln) served as chairman of the pastoral council this year.

Crusaders reconstructed the Holy House in Loreto, where seminarians recently journeyed on the jubilee year pilgrimage.

As a new initiative during the Year of Mercy, seminarians are helping to serve the refugees fleeing violence and persecution in the Middle East.

In another venture of mercy, Thomas Gramc ’17 (Pittsburg) and Sister Judith Zoebelein, F.S.E., were commissioned by the committee to seek out opportunities to work with the fast growing refugee and migrant population here in Rome. The two missionaries gained momentum when the Holy Father requested at a prayer vigil for Divine Mercy Sunday that dioceses around the world consider setting up an institution—a hospital, a home for the elderly or for abandoned children, a school—as a “memorial” for the Year of Mercy. They were able to connect with Santa Maria Immacolata parish, in partnership with Caritas International, who as a result are expanding their tutoring program for migrant youths. Tom expressed his own astonishment at the situation of some of the children, mainly from Ethiopia and the Middle East, who had fled violence and/or deplorable economic situations, oftentimes without one or both of their parents because they had been imprisoned or had died. Moved by their experience, the school will likely be a new site for apostolic work by NAC seminarians in the fall, who hope to bring a positive male presence through English tutoring and sports programs. n

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INSET: left Missionaries of Charity working with the poor of Rome. right Pope Francis visits the poor in the outskirts of Rome.

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Serving the King Among Us R E V. JAC K S C H RA D E R ‘ 1 5, D I O C E S E O F FA L L R I V E R

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nd the King will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matt 25:40 RSV). One of the surprising elements of priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College is the daily encounter with the poor of the Eternal City. Of course when arriving in Rome, I expected to be challenged by the theological education and the seminary formation program. However, I did not foresee the inescapable call of the King to serve God in loving the poor. I have to admit that it is not always easy to believe that when I see the poor, I see Christ. Often my experiences with the poor do not live up to my romantic expectations. I have discovered problematic situations that do not have easy solutions. It is precisely in these troubling moments that I must remember the words of the King and make an act of faith. What I do for the least of my brothers and sisters, I do for God. Almost five years ago, I met a man who was begging near St. Peter’s Square. He is a talkative man, always with a story to tell and always with a request for a special need. During my time in Rome, I see him every few months. He comes into the city to visit the churches and charitable

organizations, which offer him clothing and food. Also, he finds me. I’ve learned a special lesson with this man: loving him and serving him does not always mean giving him what he asks for. Loving the poor does always mean saying yes to their requests. On one occasion, this lesson was poignantly expressed. I was rushing back to the Pontifical North American College after an evening class, in order take care of some business before Evening Prayer. Sure enough at a moment when I thought I had no time

A listening and loving ear was worth more than my pocket change. In the years since, I often recall my friend’s expression of gratitude as I seek to offer true service in the complex situation where the least of my brothers are found. to spare, my beggar friend stopped me in my tracks. He was back in Rome, making his rounds. We began to talk and walk together towards the seminary. We spent about thirty minutes walking a distance that would normally take me five minutes. He was telling me about his home country, the woes of his early life, and also celebrating the people who are generous to him in Rome. When

Rev. Jim Morin ’16 (Lincoln) and Michael Zimmerman ’17 (Boston) with university students serving bagged meals to the poor at St. Peter’s Basilica.

he asked me for money, I made it known that I was not going to offer him anything that day. We continued walking and as we came to the gate of the seminary, he looked me in the eyes and sincerely said, “Thank you for spending some time with me.” He had not asked me to spend time talking. He asked for money. However, my simple listening ear is what he was seeking and that for which he was thankful. This was a revelatory moment for me concerning how to love the King in His distressing disguise of the poor, a revelation spoken by the one of the least of the brothers among us. A listening and loving ear was worth more than my pocket change. In the years since, I often recall my friend’s expression of gratitude as I seek to offer true service in the complex situation where the least of my brothers are found. n ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

LOUNGE RENOVATION

Alex Nevitt â&#x20AC;&#x2122;18 (Paterson) cheerfully makes his request at the new designated ordering area. INSET: A view from one end of the Jewell Lounge shows the variations of seating and new color that ties the space together.

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Setting the Bar High

B O B BY K I L N E R ‘ 1 7, A R C H D I O C E S E O F WA S H I N GTO N his year, the Student Activities Committee (STUAC) perceived a general consensus in the house that our lounge, as a locus of fraternal and communal life, could better serve the student body if it were to undergo a remodeling. Responding to this, STUAC put together a subcommittee of seven students to hear various ideas and to consolidate in a comprehensive vision a new layout and plan for an updated and remodeled lounge. The student lounge and bar was a room large enough to accommodate much of the community on any given evening, but it lacked the order and beauty that puts the mind at ease after a day of classes. The blaring fluorescent lights and the haphazard arrangement of couches gave the impression of a hospital waiting room with refreshments rather than a family living room. Many students expressed a desire to build a better place for fraternity and communal life, so they decided to move forward with a plan for renovation. With the approval of the faculty, STUAC moved ahead and tasked eight men with the redesign. As ideas poured in, a vision of the new and improved Jewell Lounge began to take shape.

The façade of the newly renovated Jewell Lounge bar was designed and constructed by Fr. Daniele Russo ‘16 (Sydney) and his team.

The response from the benefactors, students, and faculty was generous. Assured of financial support from the Jewell family, students volunteered their time and dedicated their talent to the vision formed by the planning committee. With the support of the Rector and the continual help of economo, Fr. Kerry Abbott, OFM Conv., and the talented house personale, the lounge changed dramatically over the course of three months. Weeks of behind the scenes work was suddenly revealed during a week in January, when over thirty students brought all of the planning to bear. Old furniture was replaced by new student-built décor. The new tables, shelves, and bars were built specifically for the space. A coat of paint and trim enlivened the once whitewashed walls, and new lighting complimented the changes well.

Further, the bar itself was completely rebuilt. During the redesign it served as the basis for the design of all new furniture, ensuring a consistent theme throughout the room. Deacon Danielle Russo ’16 (Sydney), with design help from Andrew Showers ’17 (Madison) and the expertise of Daniel Eusterman ’17 (Denver), built the new bar. Its timeless design allows several students to sit at the bar and enjoy a pint while the bartender serves the needs of other bar patrons at a dedicated point of sale. New tables were built by Jordan Dosch ’17 (Bismarck) to match the bar. Some were built at bar height and paired with new bar stools while others serve as great study spaces. There is now seating for over one-hundred students in the lounge. Two new portable bars which seat nine students each separate the lounge area from the gaming area. The class of 2019 contributed a new ping pong table and there is a space reserved for two dartboards. Every element of the new lounge was intended to contribute to a space dedicated to fraternity. This year, the first classes to use the space also enjoy the sense of pride of having built it themselves. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Life at the College: A Year in Review

Left to Right: Tim Anastos ‘17 (Chicago), John Kladar ’18 (Rockford), and Shane Nunes ‘18 (Bridgeport) showing their content after another successful year of “Grilled Cheese Friday” during Lent.

The College’s Choir sings for the Stational Mass at Dodici Apostoli on the Ordination day of Bishop James Checchio.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, giving a reflection on priesthood to the college.

Fr. Kerry Abbott, OFM Conv., elevating the chalice during Mass on the Feast of SS. Philip and James as the college celebrated a Stational Mass at Dodici Apostoli for the Ordination of Bishop James Checchio.

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The Gregorian University successfully defended their University Softball Tournament title in 2016.

The Old Men regained their dominance this year in the 2015 Spaghetti Bowl on Thanksgiving Day.

Michael Buck ‘18 (Melbourne), Andrew Auer ‘18 (St. Louis), Spencer St. Louis ‘18 (Fort Wayne-South Bend), Jeff Craig ‘18 (Pittsburgh), and David Wheeler ’18 (Lexington) enjoying gelato in Assisi as the college welcomed a new man class of 72 this past fall.

Priests from all over the world gather at the four major basilicas of Rome to listen to presentations on mercy and the priesthood.

Fr. Peter Harman '99 (Springfield in Illinois) was sworn in as the 23rd Rector of the North American College on February 28, 2016.

Fr. Stephen Gadberry '16 (Little Rock) processing to the statue of Our Lady during the candle-lit ending of the Prayer Vigil on the night before Diaconate Ordination.

Thirty-nine newly ordained deacons showing their joyful gratitude last fall at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Patrick Doloreus ‘18 (Brooklyn) cooking a delicious meal in the fifth floor kitchen that is frequently used throughout the year.

The new men class leading the community in a few Irish songs during the St. Patrick’s Day house party.

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Kitchen Personale

The kitchen personale are met with a standing ovation from the students for their hard work behind the scenes.

Behind the Scenes: An Interview with Cook Luigi Panunzi

• • • •

J O H N S O U D E R ’ 1 7, D I O C E S E O F L A K E C H A R L E S

t 1:15 PM on a normal school day as many as 350 students, faculty, and guests are fed a full Italian-style pranzo in the College’s refectory: salad, pasta, a meat or fish course, and a dessert arrive at over fifty tables in what becomes a familiar ritual for NAC seminarians. To eliminate buffet-line bottlenecks and keep things moving quickly, the meal is served by that day's assigned group of eight seminarians. By 2:00, the entire process ends—no small feat! But the servers are only the final link in a chain of events that begins

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early in the morning when the kitchen staff begins its daily task of feeding the community, producing food of a quality that often evokes compliments from visiting guests, often reminding the seminarians not to take the fresh-cooked Italian they eat every day for granted! Luigi Panunzi is one of the cooks at the NAC and I was able to sit down and talk with him about his job at the College. Luigi is a Roman, raised in the Prati neighborhood just north of the Vatican and often played in St. Peter's Square with his friends as a child.

• • • •

John Souder: Luigi, thanks for

meeting with me!

Luigi Panunzi: It's a pleasure! JS: Jumping right in: what's the most gratifying part of your job?

LP: First of all, I want to say that I like this work, and I do it because I like it, not because I have no other option. That makes a difference for me!

JS: Yes, that's clear to me when I

visit the kitchen. It seems like you are happy at your work.

LP: I like to do it! And the part that's

the most satisfying is when I encounter

one of you [seminarians] and you say, 'thanks for the food, it was good!' There's a great satisfaction, really, because everything I do revolves around the hope that what I do is good for you all.

JS: How do you see your job in

relation to the mission of the college? Especially as someone whose work is usually behind...

LP: Behind the scenes? Yes, I would

say that it's behind the scenes. It's work that's done discretely. Some men here never really meet us over four or five years because we're here, in the kitchen. It would be strange to meet Luigi on the third floor!

JS: Yes, that would be strange. LP: So our relationship with the priests is somewhat limited. Some of us meet because occasionally a student has to come down to the kitchen, but mostly it's a simple “Ciao ciao!” in the hallway. And that's how it has to be, because we have a job to do here.

JS: And when they say they like the food?

LP: Certainly! That's the best. That's

our goal. When the food doesn't come out well, it's a little defeat for us, and it's wonderful when the students say, “Thanks! The pasta was great today!” This is what we're paid to do! It's our task, it's our duty!

JS: Are there any particular challenges

that come from working in a place like this, that is, a seminary?

LP: Certainly. And that's because we

are a community! It's not as if we're feeding people who come up to a bar for some food and then leave. There are no “clients” here, there are residents. We are also have a set budget, so when we have a big banquet, we try to do the most possible with the resources we have...But as for challenges, I wouldn't call these challenges, really. We are happy to work here because we know that in the restaurant industry or in a hotel, we would actually have a much harder schedule. For them, work can begin at eight, and we can go home to our families at eight. So we feel like we're doing well here.

JS: Thanks for sharing that! I would

like to throw in an observation, and ask you to comment on it: In a community that lives and eats together every day for most of the year, everyone has an impact on everyone else. For me, getting to know the kitchen staff and how much pride you take in doing your best every day actually enriched my daily eating experience here. Could you comment on this idea, how our shared life changes the dynamics?

LP: Yes, I would agree. It's an honor

for us to be a part of this place. It's a unique place... To be honest, I really like the days of silence [referring here to the weekends of recollection that we have periodically on campus].

JS: And why is that? LP: I like it because I feel that I am

able to participate in it. Where there's a day of reflection on campus, we're in the midst of work, but it's as if the work we do is suspended in the clouds. It's a beautiful feeling I get on the days of silence. I also like it when I encounter a student or a priest during a day of silence: we greet each other in silence, with a nod of the head, and I really like that. And even on the normal days, the house has a feeling of respect and order, even when everyone's here.

JS: Yes, quiet is a bit hard to come by these days! LP: Yes, and I enjoy it. JS: Well, Luigi, thanks for your time!

I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview! Is there anything you would like to add?

LP: It was my pleasure. I just want to end by saying that I'm happy working here, and that I really enjoy my job! n

BY THE NUMBERS: 862 lbs

Max. quantity of pasta consumed per week (approx 80 grams/per person, lunch and dinner)

350

Maximum number of diners per meal

7,350

Maximum number of meals prepared per week

Total number of kitchen staff

1,050

Meals prepared per cook per week

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Paul-Michael Piega â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 (Austin) serves Stations of the Cross at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, San Marcos, Texas. INSET: left to right Piega stands with the parish's altar servers after Mass; Piega counseling a parishioner during his pastoral year.

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Pastoral Year: A New Hope

PAU L-M I C H A E L P I EGA ‘ 1 8, D I O C E S E O F AU ST I N s every Jedi Master has his own apprentice to train in the ways of the Force, so too, a pastor trains the seminarian in the ways of ministering God’s grace during a supervised pastoral year. To fans of Star Wars, an adage pronounced by renown Jedi Master Yoda—Do. Or do not. There is no try.—is the quintessential theme that epitomizes the year-long apprenticeship experience. In other words, a pastoral year allows a seminarian to put the ideals of priestly formation into practice. Such a year brings concepts into the concrete, hesitancy into zeal, supernatural into natural, and the transcendental into reality. After two years of theological studies at the PNAC and the Pontifical Gregorian University, my pastoral year was one filled with abundant grace, objective growth, humbling trials, and sundry experiences that many seminarians in Rome aren’t fortunate enough to experience in their summer-only pastoral experiences. Drawing from the Program of Priestly Formation, “In a parish internship experience, the seminarian draws on the experience before him in the parish and asks how his human, spiritual, and intellectual formation makes a difference.” Moreover, St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas, my previous seminary, considers that the pastoral year is a

Serving at a former college roommate's wedding in Austin, Texas.

yearlong field education internship in which a seminarian inserts himself into the life of a parish. Furthermore, he reflects upon his ministerial experiences in order to deepen his skills as he continues to prepare himself for the life and work of a parish priest. My pastoral year was a time of much learning for me. From serving in every single sacrament whether it be the celebration of new life in Christ in baptism, or waking up in the middle of the night to accompany the pastor for anointing loved ones who are near death; to the joys of holy matrimony or in the sorrows of numerous funeral masses, the sacramental life and the daily mundane tasks of the church were fully lived out and experienced. Two unique features regarding pastoral year was the ability to return home with the people one will eventually serve, as well as the ability to walk with the People of God in experiencing the fullness of the Church’s liturgical

calendar. Another exclusive feature of the year was the creation of a case study project. This was done to help me better understand and research a specific administrative practice of the church’s administrative side, i.e. what are the best practices in preventive maintenance, how do internal audits work, budgeting, development, re-branding efforts, etc. Furthermore, this year helped me to understand the reality of community rectory life in which one learns that Jedi mind tricks only work in a galaxy far, far away and that priests are not perfectly programmed droids, but rather unique human beings who are deeply loved by the Father and are beloved sons of God. The year not only brought an intensity of recognizing my ministerial habits, but proved to provide a different experience, which helped give me a more realistic expectation of the priesthood. It is an experience that can be shared, but never fully understood if never experienced. The pastoral year is one that teaches the apprentice to stay on target in all four pillars of formation and disciplines him deeply in a life of prayer. It is a year that ultimately prepares the seminarian to love sacrificially for the salvation of souls—a path that leads to an infinite time in a heavenly realm far, far away… n ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

A group of 20 from the College made a pilgrimage to Ars, France during Easter Week to pray with St. John Vianney.

Spending Time with the Curé of Ars REV. MR. ADAM POTTER ‘16, DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH

I 22

t has been said that we do not pick our confirmation saints, but they pick us. Oh, how true that has been for me! When I converted to the Catholic faith over fourteen years ago, I had no idea the impact that my confirmation saint would play in my life. As a freshman in high school, I remember

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being drawn to this priest from France, who was simple, poor, and lived a heroic life seeking Jesus. Yes, it is true - I was also fascinated by his battles with the devil and fasts on potatoes and water alone, but more than that it was his zeal for souls that led me to choose him as my confirmation saint—or was it the other way around? Every two years the Pontifical North American College offers a pilgrimage to Ars, France, to spend Easter Week with this great patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney (1786-1859). This year, Fr. David Gaffney (Providence) and Fr. Brian Christensen ’99 (Rapid City) led the pilgrimage a group of twenty men, comprising four priests, six deacons, and ten seminarians. Many in the group were familiar with St. John Vianney and his stories, but no one was ready for the experience of encountering him as we did that week.

It is one thing to hear stories of his hearing confessions for up to eight hours a day. It is another thing to feel the marble floor in the parish Church that has been caved in where millions of men and women would have waited for hours to go to confession with The Holy Curé. It is one thing to hear stories of this saint being tempted and tortured by the evil one. It is another thing to see the burn marks on his bed post where the evil one was known to torment St. John Vianney through the night by lighting his room on fire. There are countless inspiring stories of the sermons of this humble, yet powerful preacher, who would preach to a packed church—small though it was—to people who came from near and far to hear the Good News. To see and touch the small, simple ambo that he would have preached from brought this saint to life in a very real way. There was nothing glamorous about it, and yet it was where this holy saint touched the hearts of millions.

Rev. Adam Potter ‘16 (Pittsburgh) posing for a picture with a statue of St. John Vianney.

The priests and deacons were especially touched by the continuity of the priesthood seen in a very real way as the Sacrifice of the Mass was offered at his tomb with the same chalice and paten that St. Vianney used. St. John Vianney is noted for his great love of the Mass and how he was often moved to tears during those most sacred prayers.

Rev. Brian Christensen '99 (Rapid City) celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. John Vianney with then Deacons Stephen Gadberry ‘16 (Little Rock) and Sean Grismer ‘16 (Rockford) assisting.

The week in Ars was one that was special to all twenty men who went on the retreat. It was a chance to pray with and be inspired by a man of God who loved God, the priesthood, and God’s people with his whole life. For me, it was a chance to recognize the power of this saint’s intercession in my life and helping me to come to find my vocation in the priesthood. May St. John Vianney continue to intercede for all priests and seminarians to embrace the priesthood, which he so profoundly called “the love of the heart of Jesus.” ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

JUBILEE OF MERCY FOR PRIESTS & SEMINARIANS

As sons and neighbors of the Holy Father, the men of the College try to follow his lead in this jubilee year. INSET: The Year of Mercy invites priests to become "merciful like the Father."

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Living Sacraments of Mercy

C L AY LU DW I G ‘ 1 9, D I O C E S E O F ST. AU G U ST I N E s the Year of Mercy continues to be a wellspring of grace and hope for all those in thirst for God, it has offered another fount of life within the Church for those specifically charged to proclaim the mysteries of Christ. On Thursday June 2nd thousands of brother priests and seminarians from all over the world flocked to the major basilicas of Rome to spend a day of prayer together with the shepherd soaking in his intimate message of mercy to them. Pope Francis’ intention in having a gathering of pastors and future pastors of the Universal Church was to focus on the essential virtue at the very core of this Jubilee Year, and allow the Church’s

A heart that has first encountered the love of Jesus is a heart that is constantly taking risks to search out those who are lost, walking with them, and forgiving them with generous compassion. pastors to internalize this message within their hearts so as to be the visible “signs and instruments” of God’s mercy throughout the world. Pope Francis openly shared with his brother priests that his personal

of Christ we inhale “the oxygen of the Holy Spirit” and breathe life to those who are sick and suffering.

Pope Francis speaks at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

conversion was spurred on through a powerful experience of God’s embrace in confession where he had felt the tender love of the Father through a priest who was an effective “vessel” of mercy. It is from this experience that our Holy Father teaches and preaches because it is here where God concretely manifested His love. Pope Francis desires his priests and seminarians to open their hearts and receive this generous gift, in order that their lives be sacraments manifesting the merciful heart of Jesus. The “dynamism of mercy” flows from the priestly heart that recognizes his own sinfulness and wounds, realizing that the Blood of Christ has been poured out for the forgiveness of his sins. Pope Francis told the priests that it is in the balance of “wretchedness and dignity” that the priest is able to go forth in freedom, reaching out to those in need and realizing that the other person is just like themselves. In drawing close to the Bleeding Heart

These days of celebration reached their pinnacle in the closing Mass on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In his homily Pope Francis offered Christ’s Sacred Heart as the model of the heart of all priests and future priests. It is only through His Heart that we will be open and available to the People of God. A heart that has first encountered the love of Jesus is a heart that is constantly taking risks to search out those who are lost, walking with them, and forgiving them with generous compassion. This is a heart that the People of God deserve to be loved with and nothing less. This is the Heart of The Good Shepherd. It was evident during these days of prayer that Pope Francis loves with the Heart of Jesus and it is Christ in him calling all priests and seminarians to be living sacraments of the Father’s Mercy. What an appropriate message for the seminarians and priests of the North American College as they are sent out to their summer apostolates and ordained ministry. May the fire enkindled in our hearts through this retreat not dwindle after the Jubilee Year of Mercy, but shed lasting light in the hearts of the faithful throughout the dioceses we serve and beyond! n ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Casa Santa Maria

The builders hard at work in renovating the Casa Santa Maria.

Extreme Makeover: Rome Edition

• • • •

M S G R . J OS E P H R C H A P E L ' 9 2 , C ' 9 8, A R C H D I O C E S E O F N E WA R K

e have some very messy days ahead at the Casa Santa Maria, but all to a good end!

Towards the end of June the Casa will close up lock, stock and barrel for nearly three months for part two of a three-part major makeover! The final result will be a tremendous modernization and upgrade of facilities to equip each student priest's room with its own "ensuite" bathroom and shower, along with air-conditioning, for the first time, to offset the oppressive

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heat so common at the beginning and the end of the Roman school year. The first, preliminary part of the project occurred last summer and over the Christmas break. An enormous amount of infrastructure work was accomplished: in the basement, new sewage lines and service-accessible flooring; on the first floor, new plumbing service lines, new electrical wiring and conduit and new motion-sensitive lighting. In addition, two rooms were fully renovated as prototypes to see if any alterations were needed to the plan.

• • • •

This summer's work will be so extensive that the building will be closed completely with all of our offices, personnel, and staff relocated to the seminary on the Janiculum hill for the duration.

This summer's work will be so extensive that the building will be closed completely with all of our offices, personnel, and staff relocated to the seminary on the Janiculum hill for the duration. But after gutting most of the first and second floors over these three months, we look forward to finding thirty-five fully renovated student priest rooms ready for use when we return in late September. And next summer, we'll turn around and do it all again! The third and final part of the project will provide the same upgrade to all the remaining rooms, including those on the third and fourth floors.

Rome was not built in a day!

It was quite a creative challenge to avoid losing lots of rooms in the process. But happily, by reclaiming space from the existing common bathrooms, shower rooms, and some other spaces, when the renovations are completed, we will have a total of eighty-five modernized and comfortable student priest rooms. A renovation of this magnitude comes with a pretty hefty price tag: an estimated $6.5 million! Of course this would be impossible without the tremendous generosity of so many people, especially through the To Echo Christ with a Roman Heart initiative.

Fresh wine needs fresh wineskins, and this year’s new priest students need a renovated Casa Santa Maria.

We are so grateful to all of our benefactors through the years whose selflessness ensures both the formation of seminarians as well as the advanced theological studies of so many graduate priests in Rome. It is this selfless giving which will allow so many priests, for years to come, to work in an environment that is so much more conducive to the advanced studies needed today for the many ministries that are so important for the Church tomorrow. n “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev 21:5)

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Institute for Continuing Theological Education

The chapel of the Casa O'Toole, where priests making Sabbatical join together daily for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Priestly Renewal in Rome Rev. Chris Hartshorn â&#x20AC;&#x2122;94, Diocese of Des Moines I arrived at the North American College for the first time in late August 1990 and I arrived at the College for the second time in early January 2015. My first arrival at the College in 1990 was as one of the New Men to begin my four years of formation at the College. My second arrival at the College in 2015 was to participate in the ICTE program. As I look back on both experiences, I look at them both as graced moments in my life. My years at the College 28

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as a student were filled with many opportunities and challenges. To be a seminarian in Rome helped to broaden my understanding of the Church and of myself. The opportunity to live and study in Rome for four years helped to grow in my understanding of the Church Universal. It also challenged me and helped me to grow as a person and to come to a deep sense of peace about my own calling to the priesthood. After more than twenty years as a priest of the Diocese of Des Moines I had the opportunity to take a sabbatical and to return to the College for the ICTE program. This was a perfect fit for me. The sabbatical program gave

me a chance to return to Rome and NAC for an extended stay and to do so in a more relaxed manner than as a seminarian. It truly gave me the opportunity for rest and for renewal in my priesthood. There were no

Fr. James Sullivan, OP, begins his third year as director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education.

formation evaluations and there were no oral exams at the Greg to pass! I will be ordained a priest twenty-two years on June 24, 2016. I will always look back at my two experiences at the North American College as grace-filled opportunities and moments in my life and they will always remain instrumental in my living out of my call as a priest today.

Rev. Msgr. Donald Schmitz ’65, Diocese of Winona The ICTE module “The Art and Architecture of Rome and Assisi” was just what I was looking for. I hoped to spend time at some of the sites I visited fifty years ago as a student at NAC, from 1961 – 1965, and it delivered. I was very pleased with the whole program, and I found Fr. Jim Sullivan, O. P., with his sense of humor and generosity, to be a great director. In one short month, we covered my favorite places and some new ones, as well. I found our guides to be both excellent and informative. The thirty-three of us priests prayed Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer and concelebrated Mass daily; sometimes in the Casa O'Toole chapel and often in churches and basilicas we found ourselves in along the way. I am particularly grateful for the one-week retreat with Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., the papal preacher. In going from Rome to Assisi and back, we stopped at Orvieto and Spoleto. Free time allowed for visits to other towns, and for me it was Todi.

Priests enjoy fraternity and relaxation in the lounge of the Casa O'Toole.

Taking meals with the seminarians at NAC and joining them in prayer brought back memories—same refectory, same chapel; the same mission too, but in a new day. All of this plus real conveniences like the offer of the NAC economo to exchange our personal checks for Euros and the ride from and to the airport made it a great experience.

Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini ’78, Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin graciously accepted my request to undertake a sabbatical program at the PNAC where I had been a student so many years before. In the Fall of 2014 I was on my way to Rome, the city of Peter and Paul, the city I have learned to love best of all. The ICTE is a golden opportunity for renewal for those priests who for many years “have borne the heat of the day” in priestly ministry, a ministry that brings joy and fulfillment to be sure, but one that carries with it so many demands and challenges in serving the Catholic Church today.

There is something uniquely beautiful about the fraternity of the priesthood. This fraternity amply on display at ICTE where priests who have never met, some from the far flung places of the earth, have a chance to pray together, to study theology, to travel, and to learn from one another how to become better and, I daresay, holier priests of Jesus Christ. In the daily celebration of Holy Mass, in praying the Liturgy of the Hours, during the wonderful retreat in Assisi, and in simply sitting around and chatting, each of us grew in our love for the Lord and one another. I especially remember the great talks on the history of the city of Rome given by the late Msgr. Roger Roensch whose love for Christ and the Church and his beloved city of Rome were so obvious to each of us. MAY HE REST IN THE JOY AND PEACE OF THE RISEN LORD! I would encourage those priests who are contemplating a sabbatical program to seriously consider the ICTE. May Jesus Christ continue to be praised in all our works!

ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

Economo’s Corner Renovations Help Further the Mission of Forming Future Priests R E V. K E R RY A B B OT T, O F M CO N V.

o be sure it is exciting to be involved in the primary mission of the Pontifical North American College: cooperating in the discernment and formation of our men as future priests for God’s people in the United States, Canada, and Australia! Yet, this mission does not take place in a vacuum. We can appreciate that this formative journey of living the Gospel in everyday life involves assiduous attention to the four pillars of priestly formation outlined in the 1992 Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Saint John Paul II Pastores Dabo Vobis (Human, Spiritual, Intellectual and Pastoral), and the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. What is exciting for me, these past 9 months, is to have had a front row seat to see how you, our benefactors, have made possible for our seminarians and student priests (and the many women and men that our College community comprises), profound opportunities for deepening their experiences of each of these four pillars. In another article in this issue of Roman Echoes you will read about the multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation project for our graduate

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Yet, laudable and wonderful as all these developments are, two accomplishments (and there are many other examples) these last 9 months have shown me how fully our College community embraces a Gospel-based missioned life, the four pillars and the PPF in great measure due to, and in respect for, our benefactors: house of studies, the Casa Santa Maria, which will modernize living quarters and common spaces. Within the last year we have undertaken or completed multi-million dollar projects that have resulted in a 9-story addition to the seminary that provides classrooms, spaces for liturgical training, meetings, and a beautiful chapel for prayer. Likewise, we are about to break ground (hopefully this summer) on a new multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art fitness center that will more than double the exercise area of our current basement facility. What may be less noticeable are the facts that we have completed a renovation, expansion, and consolidation of our computer/printer resource center, library office, and converted the “old ICTE classroom & lounge” into modern, acclimatized spaces for our archive, practice rooms for our wonderful liturgical musicians and choir, and offices for our technical resource manager.

• The renovation of the Student Lounge that has resulted in the creation of a beautiful space for fraternity, study, and events. • The College community-wide effort to undertake a focused recycling program for paper, plastic, glass and aluminum that has come to fruition due to the commitment of our students to reducing waste. Both of these projects came about through the vision of our entire community: students, faculty, support staff. We saved thousands of Euros by the efforts of our community members, being done with a mind to respect our donors’ beneficence and the environment that God has provided us. Human, Spiritual, Intellectual and Pastoral formation, powerful precepts to be aware of, but more magnificent when lived…tante grazie a tutti! n

Institutional Advancement Alumni Reunion

MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR he annual Alumni Reunion was held in San Diego, CA on June 21-23, 2016. Attendees enjoyed a variety of

events including a visit to the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, a theological lecture on St. Junipero Serra, an update on the College from rector, Fr. Peter Harman ‘99, and a

lunch cruise on the San Diego Bay. The Founders Award was presented to Archbishop John Quinn ’54. The next reunion will be held in Indianapolis on June 20-22, 2017. n

In Memoriam The North American College community was saddened by the death Mary Di Donato, who died on May 4 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mary served as the Director of Development for the Office of Institutional Advancement from 2006 to 2011. Mary was the key organizer for the Vision For the Future (VFF) capital campaign that raised $28 million for the College – the largest campaign in our history. She also hosted several trips for benefactors to Rome, revamped our direct mail program, and

organized several gala dinners in Washington, DC to benefit our mission. Mr. Greg Jewell, a longtime friend of the College who worked closely with Mary on development efforts remembers her passion for the Church, and the work of the College. “Mary loved the NAC, our priests and seminarians, and her family. She worked tirelessly and was genuinely a kind person,” he said. Requiescat in pacem. ROMAN ECHOES 2016 • VOLUME 20: ISSUE 4

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

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