Roman Echoes 2017 - Volume 21, Issue 3 by Pontifical North American College

RomanEchoes M AY 2 0 1 7

VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

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

THE 25TH ANNUAL RECTOR'S DINNER 10 New Fitness Center 14 Catholic Relief Services Trip 16 Rector's Dinner 28 Pilgrimage

Contents 14 10 Features 7 Sowing the Seeds of Faith 8 Learning from a Servant-Theologian

10 New Fitness Center A newly completed fitness center offers seminarians an opportunity to develop healthy lifestyles.

12 Spring Play Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians take part in a recent trip with Catholic Relief Services to the Republic of The Gambia.

16 Rector's Dinner The 25th Annual Rector's Dinner The Pontifical North American College

28 Station Mass Pilgrimage

Station Mass Pilgrimages offer many students on the Hill a chance to have breakfast with the many priests who live at the Casa.

30 Byzantine Divine Liturgy

14 CRS Trip

20 Taking the First Step Toward the Altar 22 The Reading Group 23 Echoing Back 24 A Pilgrimage with Sts. Ambrose and Augustine

A seminarian shares his reflections on assisting in the construction of the Iconostasis that now graces the North American Martyrs Chapel.

32 Holy Week 33 Alumnus Spotlight

Cover Image: Flowers bloom in front of the College beneath the statues of Our Lady and St. Peter.

30 28 Updates 5 Rector’s Corner 6 Voices of the NAC 26 Snapshots 34 ICTE 36 Casa Santa Maria

38 Economo’s Corner 39 Institutional Advancement

Rector’s Dinner A Day to Celebrate

The 25th Annual Rector's Dinner celebrates the generous support of the Rector's Dinner Award recipients.

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 FOR 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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Rector’s Corner We rejoice in spring’s arrival!

veryone looks forward to spring, and we rejoice in its arrival! It is a reminder of the goodness of life, a source of hope and refreshment. The source of joy for Christians of course, is the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, and the promise of life eternal for those configured to Him in Baptism and in the life of faith. But the whole season is full of reminders at every turn of God’s renewal of life, both physical and spiritual. It has been a beautiful spring in Rome. This made the daily pilgrimages of Lent to the Station Churches an opportunity to give thanks to God for the goodness of being together in the faith. The beauty of those Churches is a grace itself: centuries of the Christian life lived in the Eternal City, renewed each year. Experiencing this treasure is a gift for the men of our house. This season saw the completion and dedication of the new fitness center at the College. You will see within these pages the beauty of this new resource for the health of our men, and I am very happy to report that it is well used and greatly appreciated.

Spring also brought our celebration of the 25th Rector’s Dinner on April 27. To honor Bishop James Checchio and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weber, and to see our house full of so many friends and supporters of the College reminds us how greatly God blesses us. The hope instilled by the celebration cannot help recall that our house is very much alive! This spring also saw the production of the play, G.K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday. It is a joy to see the men share their gifts with the community. Their talent in music and sport is always apparent, so seeing them on stage only adds to the gratitude for the manifold ways in which God blesses our seminarians with energy and joy in their lives. But of all the spring blessings, the upcoming ordinations to the priesthood of our fourth year men is indeed the highlight, for that is what we are ultimately about! The anticipation this spring is palpable. If you have the opportunity to attend the ordination of priests in your home diocese, I urge you to do so. You cannot but be grateful for the sign of new life this is for the Church.

You will no doubt also attend Confirmations, First Communions, weddings and graduations this spring. In doing so, we see that God’s love is renewed always, and we are grateful that He is alive in his Church. This life and beauty remind us never to take God’s blessings for granted. I am grateful to you as you look through this edition of the Roman Echoes. Your prayerful interest and generosity are a tremendous hope for our life here at the College. I hope you enjoy its content and a blessed renewal in God’s never-failing goodness and life this spring!

Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99

Of all the spring blessings, the upcoming ordinations to the priesthood of our fourth year men is indeed the highlight, for that is what we are ultimately about!

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

VOICES OF NAC

In light of the recent opening of the NAC’s new gymnasium complex, Roman Echoes asks: “How do you spend your free time?”

“My free time is mostly spent with other people. My favorite things to do are watching movies in the lounge and going out for coffee. I also Denis Nakkeeran ’20, occasionally doing the Archdiocese of Boston P90X exercise program with a few people.”

“I have been going to the gym regularly for exercise this year. I have been using my free time to be with friends and classmates knowing that we will never have this much time again, as we will be off serving in different diocese very soon. We do different activities from hanging out, to playing board games, watching a movie, and really anything that friends do together to enjoy each other’s company.” “With my spare time at the NAC I enjoy personal prayer, playing my guitar, and working out at the magnificent new gym, which is open and inviting and a great way to foster fraternity. It’s important that we take care of our elves both spiritually and physically so we can better serve the people of God.” Billy Burdier ’18 Diocese of Providence

“The most frequent occupation of my free time is looking up sacred music and learning to sing it. I usually look for chanted antiphons and hymns, but also polyphony. There are a couple other men who join me, and we enjoy sharing our occasional discoveries with each other.” “I do not necessarily have one hobby that I spend all of my free time on. I usually enjoy catching up on political and cultural news back home, cooking for friends, or sitting down with a good non-academic book. The unscheduled moments of fraternity that take place in the seminary often are the most formative as well as the most entertaining.”

Ben Rahimi ’19, Archdiocese of Chicago

Stephen Schumacher ’19, Archdiocese of St. Louis

“In my free time, I like to be healthy by taking a passeggiata. The problem is that I usually end up at the Greg bar, a random restaurant, or some place for pizza by the slice. Rome has good food.” “Usually I spent my free time in reading and doing other stuff, but the new gym is beautiful, and has been a great place not just to work out the body, but to enjoy friendship. It really builds community.”

Patrick Dorelus ’18 Diocese of Brooklyn 6

Rev. Mr. Daniel Hart, ’17 Diocese of Alexandria

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Joe Squillacioti ’19, Diocese of Orange

Sowing the Seeds of Faith BY J O E C W I K ‘ 1 9, A R C H D I O C E S E O F WA S H I N GTO N

stepped into the classroom and immediately running up to me were the 4th graders—my future class—enthusiastically shouting, “Are you our new teacher?!” A bit shell-shocked from the boisterous welcome, I looked out upon the energized, excited students, took a deep breath and began the first day of what would become an incredible journey teaching 4th grade Catechism, and walking with the students to the celebration of their first Holy Communion. In my experience teaching, I often return to St. Matthew’s account of the Parable of the Sower. The familiar passage perfectly paints the image of what I seek to accomplish in my class: to sow the seeds of the faith neatly into the good soil. This proved to be a formidable challenge requiring

Joe Cwik ’19 (Washington) and Patrick Agustin ’20 (Washington) instruct children in preparation of First Communion

me not only to understand Church teaching but to live it. When a teacher conveys not only the truth of the Church but demonstrates how the truth has led to the personal relationship God desires, the teacher becomes a sower, a witness. The Dominican tradition of my university holds as a motto, “Share the fruits of contemplation.” It reminds us that our academics are never separated from our lives as Christians, nor are studies for our benefit alone. Above all, the motto perfectly describes what a witness is. Lectures are to be heard and books are to be read, but above all the lessons—the seeds—are to be contemplated, first taking root in the listener before they are shared. As a theology student, I am never too far from the classroom. Theological discussions and systematic presentations of the faith are daily experiences for me, and it is within these classes that I begin my own preparation for teaching. Is it a bit extreme to take graduate level theology as a starting point for a 4th grade Catechism class? Not at all! When listening to lectures and praying with course material, insights (i.e., future lesson plans) begin to develop as I imagine how I would teach the Trinitarian Doctrine, the Divine Nature, the Eucharist, or any doctrine of faith to my students. In allowing these doctrines and truths to unfold in prayer, a clearer understanding of God draws me closer to Him. With that greater clarity, enlivened faith and

deeper love, I am then ready to approach the class not only as a teacher but as a witness. While the Christian can never equate the formal act of study with prayer, we can allow our study to inform prayer. When my theological studies inform my prayer, the Word takes root in my heart. There within the seedbed of

St. Francis International School is one of the many apostolates in which seminarians teach children religious education.

my soul, Christ nourishes and tends to the garden, until the seeds flourish, producing fruit. A stronger faith, a clearer understanding, and a deeper love for God are the fruits of contemplation that our Dominican motto speaks of, and these are what I seek to share with my students. Contained within each fruit are more seeds, to be matured by faith and love in the hearts and souls of the students. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

The Patristic Institute Augustinianum appropriately offers classes on Patrisitic scholar Joseph Ratzinger.

Learning from a Servant-Theologian • • • •

R E V. M R . N I C H O L A S H AG E N ’ 1 7, A R C H D I O C E S E O F SA I N T PAU L A N D M I N N E A P O L I S

y first memory of Pope Benedict XVI was watching the funeral mass of Pope John Paul II in 2005. I still remember staring at a packed St. Peter’s Square on EWTN and hearing then-Cardinal Ratzinger’s translated homily over the speakers. The refrain of his homily repeated the

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words “Come, follow me” over and over again. Something about the humility and peace of that call struck my fifteen-year-old ears, remaining forever a part of my vocational discernment. My captivation with the soon-tobe-Pope was compounded by my Grandpa Ziegler, who (proud

• • • •

The true creativity and potential of theology is not to overcome the simple traditions of the Church, but to defend, cherish, and plunge deeper into them.

German Catholic that he was) never failed to express his delight in our new German Shepherd. I still remember riding in the back seat of Grandpa’s ’87 Buick, praying the extended-edition “Grandpa rosary” with its hefty set of additional prayers for the Pope and each of my grandfather's kids and grandkids. My time as a seminarian took my appreciation of Pope Benedict to a new level. A constant flow of encyclicals, homilies, and addresses peppered my classes, leaving me hungry for more. Thus, my ears perked up when, as a third-year student at the North American College, I heard about a new one-year course of studies in the theology of Joseph Ratzinger, offered by the Augustinianum, the patristic institute in Rome.

Joseph Ratzinger greatly contributed to the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council.

Nine of my NAC brothers had the same interest, joining about fifty other students from around the world. The course of studies provided an overview of all the major theological topics – sacraments, morals, liturgy, scripture, dogma, interreligious dialogue, the Church, the relationship of faith and reason, etc. – all viewed with the penetrating eye of Joseph Ratzinger. What distinguished this course was that Pope Benedict himself insisted that he was not seeking to create his own “system” of theology. Rather, he sought simply to encounter the Word of God in the Scriptures, in his conscience, and especially in the Church gathered liturgically around her Eucharistic Lord, and to “think it together with the great masters of the faith,” the Church Fathers. Following in Ratzinger’s footsteps led us to two profound discoveries. First, we found that the concerns of the Fathers were like our own, albeit articulated in unfamiliar ways. Key to their intellectual wrestling with God was that they were not afraid to bring their real selves to their study. They did not treat the Gospel as disinterested scientists, but as men who had staked their lives on the trustworthiness of the Word made flesh. I believe this same spirit gave the writings of Pope Benedict an authenticity and courage to not shy away from the real questions the postmodern world is asking. Second, we learned what it means to be a theologian who serves. Pope Benedict knew well that there can be a temptation to be “original” and “innovative” at all costs, even to “leave behind” one’s own simple roots

Later becoming Pope Benedict XVI, he would help implement the reforms of Vatican II.

and discover “the real truth” beyond the rest of the Church. But Pope Benedict insisted that Catholic theology is different. There are not two echelons of faith, with a separate Christianity of the elite. The true creativity and potential of theology is not to overcome the simple traditions of the Church, but to defend, cherish, and plunge deeper into them. The “Grandpa rosaries” of my childhood, far from diminishing in importance before the vast field of theology, only grow in significance, containing a whole world of salvation history within them. I continue to thank God for the gift of Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, and am blessed to live among men filled with the humility and zeal to be servant-theologians. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

NEW FITNESS

CENTER

Exterior of the new gym at the North American College. inset Seminarian Peter Julia ’18 (Portland in Oregon) enjoys the free- weights in the NAC’s new workout facility.

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Personal Health for Fruitful Ministry C A RT E R Z I E L I N S K I ’ 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

eminarians are challenged and encouraged to grow in ways that lead them to be better men in all aspects of life, so that, as Saint Paul says, they might be “all things to all men.” He says this just before he employs the analogy of the athlete who trains constantly so as to win the prize, and tells the Corinthians to “run so as to win.” The Epistle to the Hebrews admonishes readers to “lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”

Though much time and energy is given over to academic, apostolic and spiritual development in daily seminary life, personal health is also an important component to preparation for the priestly life. For years, the Pontifical North American College has provided seminarians with a fitness gym in the basement floor of the main building of the campus. Over time, it became clear that there was a need for a larger and more properly equipped facility which encourages seminarians of any fitness level to take their physical health seriously.

Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva, such an upgrade was possible. Soon after their generous donation, the Rector of the North American College, Fr. Peter Harman, asked a group of students who regularly used the student fitness center for input on specifics of the new facility to be built in the summer and fall of 2016. Plans were finalized, and construction began on what used to be the grounds for four handball courts which had largely fallen out of use.

The new gym also features an air filtering system which regulates air quality and temperature with remarkable precision. On any given day, the men are able to make use of cardio machines such as treadmills and elliptical machines, as well as barbells and cable machines. The gym is meant to accommodate almost any methodology of physical fitness, from cross-fit to marathon preparation, and for those just beginning to exercise and those who have been doing so for years.

Seminarians enjoy the state-of-the-art workout equipment which include new treadmills, elliptical machines and more.

In addition to the generosity of the Mulva Family, the project was completed by the perseverance and dedication of Fr. Kerry Abbot, OFM, Vice Rector for Administration at the North American College as well as the staff of the office.

The new gym contains the most recent equipment from the TechnoGym fitness company, as well as a number of state-of-the-art features. The solar panels installed on the roof of the facility provide more than enough energy to power the entire fitness center, with the excess energy being used to power a new lighting system around the soccer field.

In the future, it is certainly the hope of formation that men preparing for service of God’s people be insightful spiritual directors and homilists, as well as faithful theologians and responsible pastors and shepherds of souls, all the while taking adequate care of their own health and well-being amidst a typically over-packed schedule with a wide variety of responsibilities. n ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

The all seminarian cast of The Man Who Was Thursday, pose after their Friday performance in the NAC auditorium.

Choosing the Sanctuary Over the Stage

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BY R H O D E S B O L ST E R ‘ 1 9, D I O C E S E O F N A S H V I L L E

was a latecomer to the stage, not one of these folks who started to dance at age four and voice lessons at eight. I first became involved in theater during my sophomore year of high school through a theatrical version of M*A*S*H. I greatly enjoyed my time performing and figured I had found my niche. The rest of my time in high

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school was spent doing plays, musicals, community theater, and even a professional opera. By my senior year of high school, I was seriously considering studying musical theater in college and making a career out of it. I received much positive feedback and encouragement from my theater director and choir director to do so.

• • • •

At the same time that I was getting more and more involved in theater, however, I also was getting more and more involved in my faith. I had grown up Catholic, but it was not until my junior year of high school that I began to take seriously the demands of the Gospel, to have a regular prayer life, and to truly seek a relationship with God in the sacraments. Once I began to enter into the life of grace more deeply, my perspective began to radically shift. I saw my life as no longer about my dreams and ideals, but about what I could do for God and the upbuilding of the kingdom. It was clear to me that a career as an actor would not be my way of proclaiming Jesus Christ. The more I sought a relationship with God, the more I grew in an awareness that God was calling me to dedicate my entire life to serving Him by sanctifying

others as one of His priests. I set my theater dreams aside and went to the Catholic University of America to study philosophy. After one year there, I entered seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. From there, my bishop sent me to study theology here in Rome. An annual tradition here at the NAC is a spring play. This year, I thought I’d try theater again by auditioning for a theatrical version of G.K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday. I was interested to see how I would react returning to the stage, whether I would regret giving it all up or be content to see it as a part of my life that will remain in the past. And so, for months this spring, I returned to the world of memorizing lines and blocking, countless rehearsals, all culminating in two successful performances.

Seminarians partake in the spring production, performing for faculty, students and guests this past March.

Reflecting on all this, I can say that I enjoyed the experience of theater again. However, the joy and life I find in formation and the prospect of future priestly ministry truly outweighs my theatrical inclinations. I have left something good for something better. I am grateful to God for the hope of a share in Christ’s priesthood and work of salvation. It beats being the star of the show any day. n

Joseph Boustany ’19, (Lafayette) acting in the NAC production of The Man Who Was Thursday.

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CATHOLIC RELIEF

SERVICES iStock.com

Fr. Joe Grady ’18 (Denver, left) and Dcn. Tim Wratkowski ’17 (St. Paul and Minneapolis, right) lead a small band of villiagers through the town of Faraba Banta. inset The group from the NAC with Don Pedro, the Bishop of Bafata, along with CRS staff

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Experiencing the Joy of the Gospel with Catholic Relief Services

R E V. M R . T I M OT H Y W RAT KOWS K I, A R C H D I O C E S E O F ST. PAU L A N D M I N N E A P O L I S he temperature was one-hundred degrees. Thankfully, we found ourselves under the shade of a large mango tree, the palava (meeting place) of the local village in Faraba Banta, The Gambia. How on earth (literally) did we end up here underneath this mango tree, surrounded by an entire village’s worth of inhabitants dancing and singing in their traditional colorful dress? It all started six months prior, when Catholic Relief Services (CRS) came to the seminary to speak about an immersion trip they would be offering. The purpose of the trip would be to experience the work done by CRS throughout the world on behalf of the Catholic Church in the United States. Following an application process, those of us accepted for the trip participated in orientation meetings. From the beginning, the staff challenged us to think about our motives for participating. After all, would it not be better for the money designated for

trip expenses to be donated to those very people in need whom we were going to meet? We all agreed that as Catholics, the Gospel calls us to help our brothers and sisters in need, but we had to ask ourselves how this immersion trip was going to help us live that call. The purpose of going to The Gambia, we concluded, was to witness first-hand the work on the ground, to meet those involved, and to give a voice to the stories of hope that these encounters provided. And indeed, the people we met and the projects we saw were inspiring. The work ranged from a fish farming project, to a micro-financing initiative, to efforts to improve sanitation. One of the most inspirational visits was in Faraba Banta, which brings us back to that mango tree. The members of this village had been the beneficiaries not only of the well-known CRS Rice Bowl initiative, but also a project to provide mosquito nets to protect them against malaria, a major problem especially during the

rainy season. At this site, we met Bab Jaiteh, a member of the village, who translated what the representatives of the village were saying (or singing) to us. Both the president and the chief woman welcomed us graciously, and thanked us profusely for all that CRS had done for them. The nets, they told us, have provided a major relief from the mosquitos carrying malaria. Then, one of the women sounded a beat by striking a large plastic jug with a couple sticks, and the singing and dancing commenced. To our dismay, but much to the delight of those assembled, we were invited one by one to show off our dance moves. There were more than a few laughs and large smiles from the faces encircling the dance floor. At this point, Bab Jaiteh turned around and with a big smile said, “When I was a child, the only food that was on the table was the food provided for us by CRS.” Without that food, Bab Jaiteh would not have been there that day translating for us. He would not have been there to share our joy and give thanks under the shade of that mango tree, if not for the work done by CRS. n

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THE 25TH ANNUAL

RECTOR'S

DINNER iStock.com

450 guests from North America, Italy, and the Vatican came to celebrate the many years of seminary formation the College has provided. inset Rev. Mr. Briggs Hurley â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17 (St. Augustine) plays the piano at the reception for the guests of the College.

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A Time to Give Thanks

L E V I T H O M P S O N ’ 2 0, D I O C E S E O F L A K E C H A R L E S he annual Rector’s Dinner acknowledges the dedication and generosity of the North American College’s benefactors and supporters. This year’s 25th anniversary of the Dinner once again saw the entire College community pitch in to offer 450 guests a firsthand view of the vibrant life of the seminary. At the Dinner, the College recognized Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Linda Weber of Hobe Sound, Florida, and Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, with this year’s Rector’s Award. The Award is given for dedication to the Church through support of vocations. Mr. and Mrs. Weber, originally from Ohio, recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Mr. Weber is an attorney and business leader, as well as the president of numerous boards and associations. Mrs. Weber trained as a music teacher and supported her husband through law school. As their children grew, the Webers became involved with vocations work through their local parish and diocesan seminary. After learning about the College, the Webers became supporters of its mission as well. Thanks to their generosity, NAC seminarians receive Italian language lessons upon arriving

Fr. Harman, Rector (left) presents the annual Rector's Dinner Award to Bishop Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen (right) in honor of his many years of service to the College as Rector.

in Rome, as well as annual silent retreats each fall, a crucial time of spiritual preparation for the year ahead. In his remarks at the Dinner, Mr. Weber thanked the seminarians for responding to God’s call to follow Him. He also encouraged the men in formation to persevere, despite the hostilities facing them in contemporary culture, and made clear the great hope that he and Mrs. Weber and the entire Church have for future priests. After attending the College as a seminarian, and later serving for a decade as Rector, this year’s Rector’s Dinner was a welcome home for Bishop Checchio. Originally from Camden, New Jersey, Bishop Checchio received his theological and canon law training in Rome. After serving in various roles in the Diocese of Camden, in 2003,

Bishop Checchio returned to the North American College to serve as Vice-Rector and then Rector, a total tenure of 13 years. In 2016, he was ordained Bishop of Metuchen. While Rector, Bishop Checchio dedicated his heart and energy into forming future pastors of the Church, paying careful attention to their spiritual and temporal needs. The College flourished during his tenure, with both enrollment and the number of sending dioceses increasing. In a speech at the Dinner, Bishop Checchio described the profound impact of his formation in Rome on his life as a priest. He encouraged the current seminarians to truly allow themselves to be formed after Christ’s Own Heart into holy priests. He noted that it is through the support of benefactors that this unique seminary experience is possible. For the seminarians serving guests at the Dinner, it was uplifting to see the examples and feel the support of the seminary’s many friends and benefactors, including Bishop Checchio and Mr. and Mrs. Weber. The gift of preparing for the priesthood in Rome shone out all the more clearly thanks to the generosity and fellowship enjoyed by all. n

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1. Honorees Robert and Linda Weber are presented with one of the night’s Rector’s awards in recognition of their generous support of the College. 2. From Left: Seminarians Andy DeRouen ’20 (Lake Charles), Clayton Forner ’20 (St. Paul and Minneapolis) and Michael Berndt ’20 ( Springfield in Illinois) prepare to serve dinner to the evening’s guests. 3. Seminarians and fifth-year Priests of the North American College entertain the guests with some music after dinner. 4. His Eminence Cardinal O’Brien, a past rector of the North 18

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8 American College, walks with Fr. Michael Rubeling â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17 (Baltimore), as he is welcomed by faculty and seminarians. 5. Kitchen staff of the North American College pose for a quick photo as they prepare the dessert for the guests. 6. Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, also a former Rector of the College, poses with religious sisters of the Religious Teachers Filippini before dinner begins. 7. Guests pause for a quick photo as they enjoy the festivities of the Rectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dinner. 8. Bishop James Checchio is gifted with a Crosier for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the College.

Newly installed acolytes (class of ’19), with Bishop David Kagan (center), of the Diocese of Bismarck who instituted them this past February.

Taking the First Step Toward the Altar

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BY RA L P H D’ E L I A ‘ 1 9, D I O C E S E O F ST. P E T E R S B U R G

n February 26, 2017, my classmates and I had the great joy of being installed as acolytes. To many outside of seminary formation, perhaps, this ministry is unknown or poorly understood. Practically speaking, those of us who have been installed now have the responsibility to assist the priests and deacons of our community in carrying out their ministries, particularly in service to the liturgy. As we prepare to return home for our summer assignments in

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• • • •

our various dioceses, we will also assist as special ministers giving Holy Communion to the faithful at the Liturgy and to the sick. What underlies this service, however, goes beyond the ministry of acolyte; it is at the core the vocation to the priesthood. It is our profound love for Christ that compels us to serve His Church with the same passion—a passion overflowing with affection—that led Him to the cross. The Rite of Institution exhorts those chosen for this ministry to, “Be obedient to the commandment which

Second-year seminarians of the class of ’19 pray before their installation as acolytes.

the Lord gave to His apostles at the Last Supper: ‘Love one another as I also have loved you.’” The connection to the Last Supper is surely not coincidental. The ministry of acolyte is necessarily oriented towards service at the altar. However, as I reflect on this ministry and what it means for my vocation, I recognize that the service to which I have been called is not exclusively about the new responsibilities that I will undertake. Instead, it is about something more; it is about my complete and total self-gift. After all, if I have been called to love as Christ has loved, then I too, must follow Him to Calvary. The Church in Her wisdom understands that such a love requires constant nurturing. Thus, we have been given these ministries along the path to ordination. Last year my classmates

and I received the ministry of lector, which encouraged us, in proclaiming God’s word to others, to accept it ourselves in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Now the Church has invited us to “live more fully by the Lord’s sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness,” as is indicated in the Rite of Institution. The final step before priesthood is diaconate ordination, which will throw us even deeper into the experience of Christ’s service to His Church, to which we will be conformed. The process is not self-referential by any means. We do not receive these ministries as a celebration of moving one step closer to the priesthood. Rather, we receive these ministries as an invitation to greater conform our lives to Christ. In receiving the ministry of acolyte, there is a clear

Second-year seminarians of the class of ’19 kneel to offer a prayer of thanksgiving after having received communion.

invitation to plumb the depths of the mystery of Christ’s love for me and for His Church. In doing so, I pray that my classmates and I can come to know more intimately this profound love, and to serve His Church with a passion that risks everything—even our own lives. 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 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

The Reading Group Experience at the North American College

BY AV E RY DA N I E L ' 1 9, A R C H D I O C E S E O F AT L A N TA n his beautiful Eucharistic hymn Adoro Te Devote, St. Thomas Aquinas begs of God: Fac me tibi semper magis credere, In te spem habere, te deligere. In English it says: Make me to always believe in You more, to hope in You, and to love You. The word deligere is translated as “to love simply”, yet this word carries a deeper meaning in the Latin: it is to love with a love born out of deep knowledge of the beloved. For the medieval thinkers, such a love was a direct window into the interior life of God Himself. It evokes thought of the Scriptures: “who has searched the depths of God? Who has been His counselor?” To St. Thomas, this deligere love was personified in the Holy Spirit, who eternally proceeds as the love between the Father and the Son, and who, by the grace of Jesus and the loving will

of the Father, enkindles in us this same penetrating love. Here at the NAC, we seminarians and priests seek this same grace from our Lord: to love Him ever more deeply through equally ever-deepening knowledge of Him. The study of theology has precisely this as its aim. We study such a large volume of theological material in the foundational first three years, our First Cycle, that often little time is left to plumb the rich depths of theology. The reading groups we have here provide a relaxed atmosphere in which we can take a deeper bite of a particular slice of theology, so that we may “savor the sweetness of divine wisdom”, as St. Thomas Aquinas would say. Interestingly enough, the

The reading groups offer seminarians the opportunity to discuss theological topics together, mutually enriching their studies.

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concept of small groups assembling with a professor to explore certain topics in-depth dates back to the medieval university system. Even if they could only find an empty room with a dirt floor to sit on, students were zealous to find professors to explicate texts and topics for them, and even fired them if they skipped a chapter! We, the students, are fortunate that the College, through the initiative of our Academic Dean, Fr. John Cush, offers a wide variety of fields; popular themes include Ecclesiology with Fr. Daniel Hanley and Sacraments with Fr. James Sullivan, OP. For my part, I have been privileged to participate in two semesters of a group which focuses on St. Thomas Aquinas's Fundamental Moral Theology, which answers questions like “What makes man happy?” “Why does he act at all?” and “What makes up a properly human action?” In addition, we have an incredible instructor in Sister Mary Christa Nutt, RSM, who leads us into a greater understanding of why God alone fulfills our desires, and how that fundamental fact shapes all our actions and even how to integrate these considerations into our prayer life. The reading groups are yet another incredible gift we are given here at NAC, and I am excited to take this mode of evangelization back home to share the riches of knowing God with the people to whom I minister. n

Echoing Back 60 Years COMPILED BY REV. MR. ALEK SCHRENK ’17, DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH

oman Echoes looks back 60 years to the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter in Rome and at the North American College. From Roman Echoes 1957: Carnival, Lent, Easter The two days immediately before Lent occasion the celebration of Carnevale, a time of parties and general merry-making, but most delightfully, of children’s costume pageants. The Via Nazionale becomes a Fifth Avenue of children’s fashion, and the young set of Rome parades up the avenue in everything from flowing royal gowns to cowboy-and-Indian outfits. Then the season of Lent begins. The clerics at the College receive the ashes on their tonsures, and all of us are once again reminded of our humble origin and destiny. Many students continue the custom of visiting the station churches daily. The climax of Lent is Holy Week. During this time every Christian wishes to be as close to Christ as possible, and next to Jerusalem, Rome best fulfills this longing. Here we have the Pope, the many shrines and reminders of the Passion, the Scala Santa, the relics of the True Cross, Veronica’s Veil, and the relics in the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. During Holy Week a quarter of a million pilgrims crowd Rome. We, of course, participate in the ceremonies ourselves. Seven

churches, convents, and hospitals in Rome request our services, thereby considerably reducing the size of our own congregation. On Monday of Holy Week we have the Seven-Church Walk, travelling the way made holy by millions of pilgrims and saints such as St. Philip Neri. Our Day of Recollection last Holy Week was conducted by Fr. Conrad Louis, O.S.B. On Holy Thursday many of us went to St. Peter’s to watch the washing of the altars and some returned bearing the large brushes which are used for the occasion. On Good Friday afternoon following our own service, which was attended by one hundred unexpected guests from French Equatorial Africa, we visited various churches and shrines in Rome, and it was easy to grasp the deep spirit that pervaded the city. At no time during the year does our Lord have such a firm hold on His people—the crowds at the Scala Santa, the long lines in St. John Lateran’s waiting to kiss the crucifix—everywhere we found examples of faith to take into our hearts. The ceremonies continued at the Saturday evening Easter Vigil. Last year Fr. Thomas Lynch sang the Exultet exceptionally well, and then soon afterwards the Easter Alleluias were ringing out all over the city. On Easter morning, Bishop O’Connor celebrated a Solemn Pontifical High Mass after he had addressed the student body. Following the Mass, we went to St. Peter’s Square and became lost in a crowd of some three hundred thousand

The Paschal Candle is lit for the Easter vigil in 1957.

waiting to hear Pope Pius XII’s Easter Message. Archbishop [Luigi] Traglia had just finished saying Mass at an altar erected before the front door of the basilica. On tiptoe we could see the altar and the basilica delicately balanced on a thousand different heads—the full-blown tresses of Italy, the blonds of Germany, the closely shaven tonsures of the monastery, and the service crew-cuts of America. The entire world was represented there that day. At noon the small white figure of the Pope appeared on the balcony of the basilica amidst the cheers of the people. The man who stands in the place of Jesus Christ spoke to the world and then blessed it. The people knelt to receive a blessing and a memory. A happy postscript to last Easter came from the ladies of St. Susanna’s Church. In appreciation for our services during Holy Week, the ladies baked all sorts of wonderful American layer cakes and sent them to the College for Mother’s Day. We certainly appreciated their appreciation. n ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

Priests and seminarians stand at the tomb of St. Augustine in Pavia, Italy after celebrating Mass.

A Pilgrimage with Sts. Ambrose and Augustine

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BY N AT E A N D E R S O N ‘ 2 0, A R C H D I O C E S E O F WA S H I N GTO N

ur Lord has a funny way of jumbling the first and the last. So it was fitting that the first stop on our recent seminary pilgrimage to Milan was the church housing Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” With 30 seminarians and priests hurrying into the air-sealed room, some were more eager than others to occupy places nearer the table. That proved unnecessary since

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its surprising immensity ensured no one would leave hungry. But Leonardo had only served the appetizer. The focus of the journey was two of the great Latin Fathers of the Church—Saints Ambrose and Augustine. Lest any seminarian approach under-prepared to venerate these patriarchs, the six-hour bus ride to Milan included a viewing of a film on Augustine’s life, from his days as

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Ambrose and his close companions left us one last pearl of veritas to mull over: the unity of truth, the communion given to those who give themselves to Truth.

Augustine loved that Person with both the discipline of a genuine philosopher and the passion of a man in love. How else to explain someone whose written corpus of five million words glows so hotly with the Gospel?

Beyond the façade of the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, seminarians had the opportunity to serve Mass for the Ambrosian Rite of the Mass.

an unbaptized, pear-thieving youth, to his years as a brilliant rhetorician enslaved to fleshly desire, to his stint with Neoplatonism and finally to the moment when Truth Itself found him, thanks to the great Bishop of Milan, Ambrose. One word re-sounds throughout Augustine’s life: veritas, truth. And that emerged as a theme of the pilgrimage. Ambrose exemplified veritas when he told Emperor Theodosius he must do penance after massacring thousands of his own subjects. The emperor had no clothes, morally speaking, and Ambrose found it necessary to say so. Like the innocent voice in the fable, St. Ambrose combined his stately prudence with the candor of a child—not unlike that providential child who got Ambrose elected as a bishop while he was a mere catechumen. Veritas for Augustine was more than an idea; it was a Person, “You Who are the Truth,” as he writes in his Confessions.

In Pavia, neighboring Milan, we celebrated Holy Mass on the altar containing Augustine’s relics. In his homily, Fr. John Cush, the leader of our pilgrimage, reminded us that the Truth is as needed in 2017 as ever before. His words challenged us to an arduous task, with the church’s “Golden Sky” apse for inspiration above, and the tomb of the martyr philosopher Boethius for consolation in the crypt below. If any left without the ardor of Augustine, it was not for lack of kindling.

On the final day of the pilgrimage, we attended Mass in the rare Ambrosian Rite at Milan’s ancient Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio. There we found Ambrose’s remains situated between two martyrs. Close by were his sister, Saint Marcellina, and his brother, Saint Satyrus. Apparently, saints are not a statistically well distributed lot; they often come in pairs and clusters. Ambrose and his close companions left us one last pearl of veritas to mull over: the unity of truth, the communion given to those who give themselves to Truth. Hopefully, after some time with our forerunners, and amid the cheerful banter aboard the bus, we came a bit closer to living this verity—as we set off together down one of many roads leading to Rome. n

Between visits to the churches of two great orators, the Renaissance Carthusian monastery of Certosa di Pavia was enough to take everyone’s breath away and make the pilgrims as silent as St. Bruno.

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 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

Snapshots

Seminarians living on Fourth Hospital pose for a hall photo on the roof of the NAC tower.

Seminarian Ryan Muldoon ’19, (New York), shows his American pride at a NAC Martyr’s soccer game.

Seminarian Peter Julia ’19 (Portland in Oregon), repairs a bike in the NAC’s bike shop.

Vice Rector for Seminary Life, Fr. Brian Christensen ’99 (Rapid City), leads the house in prayer before a conference in the NAC auditorium.

Bishop Jason Gordon of Bridgetown, Barbados speaks to the NAC community about preaching homilies during the annual Carl J. Peter lecture series.

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Seminarians James Glasgow ’20 (Washington), Patrick Agustin ’20 (Washington), Spencer Hodgson ’20 (Anchorage) and Max Carson ’20 (Des Moines), perform music in the student lounge.

Leon Griesbach, the NAC choir director, leads the choir during one of the liturgical celebrations.

Seminarian Brandon Guenther ’19 (La Crosse) and Msgr. William McDonnell ’65 (Rockford), pose during the NAC Mardis Gras party.

Celebrating Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord during the Casa Santa Maria Lenten Retreat with priests of the Casa and deacons of the North American College who are making their canonical retreat in preparation for ordination to the Priesthood.

The 2017 NAC American Martyrs soccer team poses after a game in the annual Clericus Cup soccer tournament.

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

STATION CHURCHES

Fr. Peter Heasley â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13 (New York) celebrates Mass at the Station Church of the Basilica of Ss. Vitalis, Valeris, Gervase and Protase. inset Seminarians gather for the daily "Casa Breakfast" after attending the Station Church Mass in the morning.

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Station Mass Pilgrimage with a Side of Fraternal Hospitality

Matthew Faucett ‘19, Diocese of Green Bay

ne of the great blessings afforded to seminarians, priests, and many others who study or visit the Eternal City is the practice of the Roman Station Church pilgrimages. The practice—revived in recent decades by the College—allows the individual partaking in the pilgrimage and the Masses opportunity to reflect on our common Christian pilgrimage on the earth. Just as Christ journeyed to Jerusalem with His disciples, so, too, are we called to follow Him closely through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and our participation in the ancient traditions, eventually culminating in His Passion, death, and Resurrection. As we continue this laudable practice, Lent also brings another tradition to the students from the College. For many seminarians, a true blessing comes after a long, early-morning walk (or bike ride) through the well-trod streets of Rome: the Casa Breakfast. The priests of the Casa Santa Maria generously welcome seminarians from the “Hill” for a quick meal before we head off to classes at the different universities. The Casa Breakfast has been available for students of the Hill for at least 25

years: an impressive tradition, given the Station Churches pilgrimages were revived in their present form during the 1970’s. While the food is always much-appreciated—some swear the scrambled eggs are the best in the city—the true blessing is the unique opportunity to walk and eat with many of the Casa priests who concelebrated that morning’s Mass. I, along with about 30 other men from the Hill, am on the “permanent list” for Casa Breakfast, which guarantees us a spot at the table for the entirety of Lent. Others, on the afternoon before each Station Mass, may sign up for this privilege on a “daily list” outside the refectory—a list that is quickly filled, especially if the church is nearby the Casa! After the station liturgy ends, many seminarians begin to trek to the Casa immediately. I prefer to read a bit about the history of the church and then leisurely ride my bike to the Casa (having a bike in Rome has its benefits). Most men are able to make it to the Casa breakfast by 8am, and thankfully due to the walk or ride from the church, the typical early-morning confusion about cereal, fruit, or oatmeal selection has faded, which allows for moments of fraternity

Fr. Andrew Liaugminas C ’17 (Chicago) celebrates Mass at Santa Maria in Via Lata, the place where St. Paul is said to have spent two years under house arrest in Rome.

as we share the tables with priests and other seminarians. For those who attend the Gregorian University— myself included—we are particularly appreciative of the Casa Breakfast, as most men are able to unhurriedly eat, drink a few cups of coffee, and enjoy some good conversation well before the morning classes begin. The seminarians are afforded many great blessings here in Rome, and among these the “Casa Breakfast” is a unique and much appreciated tradition. As this year’s celebration of Lent closes, we look ahead to the glorious Resurrection of Christ, who meets us every day in our own pilgrimage of life. n ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY

An icon of the Madonna and Child graces the front of the iconostasis. inset The iconostasis and the icons which adorn it are also "windows" pointing to our Lord and the mysteries of our salvation.

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A Liturgical Doorway to Paradise

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 oman Echoes spoke with Joseph Sigur ’19, who recently completed work on building an iconostasis for the North American Martyrs chapel.

Q: Can you describe your work on creating the iconostasis? I designed and built the iconostasis, and did some of the woodcarving on the royal doors of the Annunciation and the Four Evangelists. The icons themselves were written by a professional Ukrainian iconographer. The design for the iconostasis is based on an iconostasis at the Ukrainian Catholic mission in Charlotte, NC.

Q: What is an iconostasis, and what is its role in Eastern Catholic liturgy and theology? The iconostasis is the part of nearly every Byzantine church that separates the sanctuary from the nave and which is adorned with icons. It is incensed several times throughout the Divine Liturgy, and many of the prayers are read before the icon of either the Theotokos (Mary the Mother of God), or Christ. The architecture of Byzantine churches is often compared to the Jerusalem temple with the courtyard, temple, and Holy of Holies corresponding to the

narthex, nave, and sanctuary. Whereas in the Jerusalem temple the Holy of Holies was separated by a veil, in Byzantine churches the Holy of Holies is separated from the rest of the “temple” by the iconostasis. Rather than the tablets of the Mosaic law, one finds the book of the Gospels; instead of the rod of Aaron, the cross of Christ; and in place of the manna, the Eucharist. It would be an impoverishment to see the iconostasis only as something which separates the clergy from the faithful or (allegorically) the heavens from the earth. The iconostasis and the icons which adorn it are also “windows” opening to us our Lord and the Mysteries of our salvation.

Q: How did you get involved in this project? I mentioned offhandedly to Fr. Barusefski that I have a bit of experience with carpentry as my father has taught woodworking for years. One thing led to another and the iconostasis project came to life.

Q: Which scenes are depicted on the iconostasis, and why were these chosen? We incorporated a few things common to almost every iconostasis. There are four prominent icons: St. Nicholas, the Theotokos, Christ Pantokrator, and the

patron saint of the church (in our case, this is of St. John the Baptist). There are two small icons of the archangels Michael and Gabriel above two diaconal doors, pointing to the Byzantine understanding of the deacons as fulfilling the ministry of the angels in the liturgical assembly. The prominent icons of the Theotokos and Child and Christ the Teacher point to the First and Second Comings of Christ. On the royal doors between these two icons there is a depiction of the Annunciation, showing that it is through Mary's ‘fiat’ that the Lord has become like us in all things but sin. Jesus not only takes on our lowliness, but makes us sharers in His divinity and partakers of the “divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, life-creating, and awesome mysteries of Christ,” and the royal doors point to this reality.

Q: Spiritually, how did this project (and the resulting iconostasis) impact you? My work on the project and my participation in the Divine Liturgy have helped me to experience more profoundly the cosmic nature of the holy Liturgy, which unites heaven and earth, makes us partakers of the heavenly Mysteries, and invites us to deeper communion with Christ. I hope that the same be true for all who worship in our humble chapel. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

The Anglican Ordinariate Triduum R E V. R O B E RT A DA M S ’ 1 7, D I O C E S E O F L E X I N GTO N

uring most of the school year, the student priests at the North American College devote their time to studies. During the Christmas and Easter breaks, however, fifth-year priests have the chance to minister in a parish. This Easter break, I spent Holy Week and the Triduum with Msgr. Keith Newton at the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory (also known as “Warwick Street”) in London. This was a wonderful break from schoolwork and a chance to do some priestly ministry in English. I was able to concelebrate the Triduum for the first time. Monsignor had me chant some parts of the Good Friday and Easter Vigil liturgies. I also was able to preach at the Easter Vigil and celebrate one of the Easter Masses.

Because I was ordained last May, this was my first Holy Week and Triduum as a priest. It was a privilege to offer these significant liturgies. At this point, I should mention that I am finishing my license in liturgical theology. This means that I have spent the last two years of school learning all about the history and theology present in these Triduum liturgies. While I certainly learned many things from class, there was just something special about the opportunity to offer the liturgies in real life! Besides the fact that this was an opportunity to minister in English, I was excited to go to this parish because it is staffed by priests of the Anglican Ordinariate. The Anglican Ordinariates were created by Pope Benedict XVI in his apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus

”The Coverdale English reminded me of the King James Bible that many Baptists in eastern Kentucky love so much.”

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for former Anglican bishops, priests, and faithful who wanted to become Catholic without losing their Anglican traditions. Now, the priests and people function as normal Catholics, but with some special parts in the Mass taken from the Anglican tradition. All of this is interesting, but it was particularly important for me because I wrote my licentiate thesis on the liturgy of the Anglican Ordinariates. We do not have any Ordinariate parishes in my diocese, but I came into contact with the Anglican Ordinariates when I spoke with one of my friends who also wrote about this liturgy. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the language and the respect for tradition present in the Ordinariates. The Coverdale English reminded me of the King James Bible that many Baptists in eastern Kentucky love so much. This language resonated with the religious culture of the southern United States. I was fascinated by the possibility of bringing this beauty back into communion with the Catholic Church. However, I knew that I needed to get a chance to see how Anglican Ordinariate Catholics worshiped in a real parish. Spending time at the parish on Warwick Street gave me a chance to meet and worship with the real people of the affected by these liturgies. Instead of just writing about these liturgies as abstract curiosities, I got to see how they nurtured the faith of these communities. n

Alumnus Spotlight J OS E P H B O U STA N Y ‘ 1 9, D I O C E S E O F L A FAY E T T E

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have been crucified with Christ, and yet I am alive; it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.” These words of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians ring in the ears of every seminarian as he progresses through formation and approaches priestly ordination. These same words were found on the ordination card of Monsignor David Toups, the rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, upon his ordination twenty years ago. Msgr. Toups is a native of Houma, Louisiana, but having moved to Clearwater, Florida, midway through high school, he entered the seminary for the Diocese of St. Petersburg and was subsequently ordained a priest for the diocese in 1997. He began his seminary years at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. After two years, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and moved to the Pontifical North American College where he completed his Bachelors and Licentiate Degrees in Sacred Theology in the typical five-year program. Monsignor is also an alumnus of the Casa Santa Maria where he completed his doctorate in Dogmatic Theology in 2004. The North American College is more than merely an academic institution, however. It was at the College that Msgr. Toups says “the understanding of priesthood as a configuration to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, was placed in my heart.” So convicted was he about this priestly identity of Christ that he put his reflections into

recalls the example of the “spiritual fathers” under whom he was formed during his time at the North American College—Cardinals O’Brien and Dolan—and after whom he models his own spiritual fatherhood to the seminarians of St. Vincent de Paul. “I could not be the man that I am without the formation and foundation I received as a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College,” he says. It was at the College where ”the understanding of the priesthood as a configuration Jesus Christ, The Great High Priest, was placed on my heart.”

writing in a book entitled Reclaiming our Priestly Identity, which was published in 2010. Without doubt, this is the goal of seminary formation—to configure one’s heart to the priestly heart of Jesus Christ, or in the words of St. Paul, that it may be “no longer I, but Christ Who lives in me.” In his love of Christ and the Church, Msgr. Toups has been called to fulfill his priesthood in many ways. He has served as both a Parochial Vicar as well as a Pastor in the Diocese of St. Petersburg; he worked for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2007 until 2010 in the office of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations; and he has functioned as the Dean of Human Formation and an Associate Professor of Systematic and Liturgical Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, where he was later appointed to his current position as rector. In his ministry as a rector, Msgr. Toups

The North American College forms men to be priests after the heart of the Jesus Christ. As a beneficiary of this formation myself, I can speak of the importance of looking to those who have gone before me as examples of faith and devotion to Christ and His Church. With Christ Himself being the perfect example, I can confidently look to priests such as Msgr. Toups who are always seeking to conform their lives to Christ’s, saying, “…not my will, but Yours be done.” The College wishes a happy 20th anniversary of priestly ordination to him and to all members of the Class of 1997. Ad Multos Annos. n

Msgr. David Toups stands with a group on a mission trip to Haiti.

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

Institute for Continuing Theological Education

Priests vest before celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

How God Builds His Kingdom: A Lesson from February 17, 1967

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BY R E V. T I M OT H Y H E P B U R N, I C T E ‘ 1 7, A R C H D I O C E S E O F AT L A N TA

ne of the many blessings that I had already experienced in my first month at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education (ICTE) was the daily celebration of Mass with brother priests. The thirty-four ICTE priests were organized into four liturgy groups. Each group was assigned a rotating week to provide celebrants for the Divine Office, Mass, and various devotions.

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My turn to be the principal celebrant for daily Mass finally fell on February 17, 2017. The readings for the day were Genesis 11: 1-9 and Mark 8: 34-9:1. The first reading recounted the human pride that motivated the people to build the so-called Tower of Babel with the goal to “make a name for themselves.” The Gospel, on the other hand, called us to the complete opposite: to extract ourselves from self-willed greatness, and to lose our lives so as to find ourselves in Christ Jesus.

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The people who built that first tower wanted to make a name for themselves, and therefore just built a great tower of pride. God humbled them, because He was building something completely different, a Kingdom so much more complex and beautiful.

Fifty years ago that day, on February 17, 1967, no one was attempting to “make a name for themselves” when 25 college students from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh went on an ordinary campus ministry retreat. During that retreat about 12 of these ordinary college kids knelt before the tabernacle and began to experience God in a way that they had never known before. They had no idea that what was happening in their hearts that day in a very personal way would, 50 years later, grow into the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, numbering some 120 million Catholics across the globe. No doubt, all of us have opinions about the Charismatic Renewal as we do about Cursillo, the Neo Catechumenal Way, Focolare, or Communion and Liberation. My point in recalling this Golden Jubilee for Catholic Charismatic Renewal is that God does not build His Kingdom at our initiative, to our specifications, or by our timetables. The people who built that first tower wanted to make a name for themselves, and therefore just built a great tower of pride. God humbled them, because He was building something completely different, a Kingdom so much more complex and beautiful. In my classes, I was edified as I listened to Dr. Donna Orsuto from the Gregorian University teach about women saints such as Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard of Bingen. In each account it was clear that none of them were out to make a name for themselves. In fact, most of them were very honest about feeling out of

Priests gather for their first dinner out on the town with tour guides John and Ashley Noronha.

control at times. These women had no idea that they would one day be Doctors of the Church. They were quite convinced though that any work they were accomplishing was God’s work, not theirs. It seems that God’s preferred building method, when it comes to building His Kingdom is, first, to pull the main leaders off the project. Saint Catherine of Siena went to her bedroom for three years! St. Anthony went to the desert, St. Benedict to a cave at Subiaco, St. Francis of Assisi also went to a cave both above Assisi and also to Subiaco. The Seven Founders of the Servites (whose feast is February 17) left Florence for Monte Senario. Is it fair to say that they all went on Sabbatical? And then only after their sabbatical were they ready to build the Kingdom, in the right way. All of us at ICTE were in Rome for the same purpose: to take a break from the building. God had removed each of us from center stage in our parishes and ministries. When we posted pictures of ourselves on the piazzas

enjoying pasta, wine and gelato, or viewing beautiful art and architecture, our people back home probably did not think we were dying to ourselves and taking up our cross, yet each priest knows his own heart. We know how difficult it is to separate ourselves from our daily work, and our daily purpose. I am excited to think of what God was building while we were not building, while we took a Sabbath’s rest, not in a cave but in a casa, quieting our souls, listening to His Word anew. The Gospel for that day ends with the words: “until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.” The Kingdom of God is being built by His power, not ours, in His Name, not ours. A sabbatical is the perfect time to recall this truth in prayer, and the perfect place is somewhere near the Pantheon which has the best pistachio gelato in Rome. Fr. Timothy Hepburn is a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta where he serves as Director of Vocations. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

Casa Santa Maria

Fr. Alex Kreidler teaches Latin in his free time to those interested in learning the language for further studies and prayer.

Teaching and Learning in the Eternal City

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BY R E V. A L E X K R E I D L E R ‘ 1 5 C ’ 1 7, D I O C E S E O F K A N SA S C I T Y-ST. J OS E P H

o Resonate Christ with a Roman heart.” St. Paulinus of Nola wrote these words 16 centuries ago in a letter to a missionary as an encouragement in his task of preaching the Gospel. These words are now graven upon the new tower at the North American College, within which the seminarians attend conferences and lectures aimed at

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forming them to be priests after the Heart of Christ—and to echo Him in a particularly Roman way. The city of Rome offers copious opportunities to immerse oneself in the ancient customs of the See of Peter. These encounters with the treasures of the Church—her unchanging doctrine and tradition—deepen as one learns the Roman language.

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Teaching Latin at the College, while it offers many benefits to the seminarians, has also been beneficial for me. They say that one doesn’t really know a subject matter until he can teach it.

Learning a language grants a privileged insight into another culture—another mode of expression. This is one of the reasons why the Church’s canon law, even to this day, insists that seminarians know the Latin language well. Latin is an essential instrument for being formed in the Gospel of Christ and to spread that Gospel to the four corners of the world with a Roman heart. To this end, for several years now priests, particularly Fr. Joseph Fowler and Fr. Larry Herrera, have offered Latin classes at the College. As a recent alumnus and current resident of the Casa Santa Maria who benefited from these classes in the past, I am now honored to help teach these same courses up on the Janiculum Hill.

Each Pontifical University in Rome requires Latin in its first-cycle course of studies. Some of these universities allow the seminarians to fulfill this requirement by taking the Latin courses at the College. This system has proved beneficial for many reasons. Perhaps the most prominent is that, because most of the classes at the universities in the city are taught in Italian, taking a Latin class at the College removes a major obstacle to learning the language, namely, not having to learn a foreign language in a foreign language! Another benefit is that the smaller class sizes allow for a better student-teacher rapport, more time for questions, and ultimately less time wasted, which is important for the seminarians who are already quite busy with their other formation requirements.

Teaching Latin at the College, while it offers many benefits to the seminarians, has also been beneficial for me. They say that one doesn’t really know a subject matter until he can teach it. Knowing Latin well is essential for my own course of studies in canon law. Thus, teaching Latin has challenged me to hone and refine my own knowledge of the language. More importantly, it has given me the opportunity to give back to the College from which I have received so much, and to come to know and be inspired by brothers—the future priests of the Church. It is my hope that these classes will help these men resonate Christ with a Roman heart, and bring all men to the Heart of Christ their Lord. n

The 2017 Alumni Reunion will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

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June 20-22, 2017

SAVE -theDATE!

Invitations have already been mailed, but more information including hotel information and event highlights can be found at pnacalumni.org

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

Economo’s Corner Small Institutions that Make a Big Impact R E V. K E R RY A B B OT T, O F M CO N V. , I C T E ' 1 4

he Pontifical North American College is a physically big place comprising 13 acres of land and 10 large multi-story buildings and structures across two campuses. We house almost 420 residents, plus guests, and provide more than 900 meals each day. Yet, within the “bigness” of the College there are also “small institutions” that, while not huge, have a big impact. One of these is Grilled Cheese Friday and another is the College Business Office. On many Fridays in Lent, it has become a College “institution” for some of our students to band together and provide various forms of grilled

cheese sandwiches and French fries to the College community utilizing a small grill and a couple of household-type fryers in the Student Lounge. It is amazing (and oh-so-tasty) what these highly motivated men can produce—especially after our staff electrician rewired the Lounge to provide a proper electricity supply. But what, you may ask, does this Grilled Cheese Friday have to do with the College Business Office? Good question…the answer is nothing less than a manifestation of the Gospel-based servant leadership our men embrace in study and practice, in a culinary encounter of Italian and North American (and, by extension, Australian) cultures and people. That may sound overstated, but I have witnessed it. Day in and day out, the ten members of our College Business Office oversee the maintenance of all those buildings and the provision of all those meals. They are a “small institution” within the larger College community, but they have a big impact on our lives every day. You can imagine my joy then, when I mentioned to the Business Office staff one Thursday, “why don’t we all go to Grilled Cheese Friday?”

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Before I could say “panino,” (Italian for “sandwich”) they had perused the menu and assembled an Excel spreadsheet so that we could efficiently submit our order to assist the student cooks. Of course, it was a wonderful and special experience, perhaps not what one would necessarily expect during the quiet, reflective season of Lent! For a few minutes on a sunny afternoon, these women and men who do so much for us invisibly came out into the light around a big round table outside the Student Lounge. They were thrilled by how our students, without being asked, happily served them, even treating them to “extra” fries along with their sandwiches. Happiness in such a simple moment with simple pleasures does not properly describe what I witnessed. However, it does describe the servant leadership we are all called to. Yes, this is a big institution with a big impact on the Church, but it is nice to know that we are not so big that our men have forgotten the kind of simple thoughtfulness that can result in great and lasting good. Glory be to Jesus Christ, now and forever! n

Institutional Advancement Self-Improvement MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

fter 158 years of providing priestly formation, one might think the North American College is on auto-pilot. Not so. Unlike Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), the College over the years has had to adapt to a variety of cultural, political, and societal factors. The most recent history book on the College, Aggiornamento on the Hill of Janus illustrates this point perfectly. This past December, the Congregation for Clergy released The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, a detailed set of guidelines and norms for priestly formation, an update from a 1985 version. These directives will apply to every diocesan seminary around the world, including the NAC. Meanwhile, several of the College’s own Board of Governors recently met with faculty representatives and students on

campus in Rome. Their goal: to reaffirm that what we offer in priestly formation is the best that it can be. In that vein, the Office of Institutional Advancement recently launched a wide-scale survey among our alumni and lay benefactor communities. The survey seeks to gauge how well our mission is understood, how our stakeholders engage with us, and what factors prompt financial investment. A series of focus groups around the country will further refine the main themes discovered in the surveys. The survey project is being conducted by an outside firm, and funded by a generous benefactor. “The NAC is one of the best kept secrets in the country! We need to better understand why our current supporters value our mission. And once we do, we will be better able to relay our story to new friends and collaborators,” he said.

The Office of Institutional Advancement recently launched a wide-scale survey among our alumni and lay benefactor communities. The survey seeks to gauge how well our mission is understood, how our stakeholders engage with us, and what factors prompt financial investment.

It is our expectation that the survey will also help identify new strategies to help us fund the next major round of needed renovations at our two campuses. The College has been blessed by the generosity of so many, all of whom help make our mission possible with their gifts. New needs require new investment, and as the world around us evolves, we look forward to exploring new solutions. Some of the survey results will be included in our next issue of Roman Echoes, due out in July. That issue will also contain a special section called, Anno a Roma: our Year In Rome Annual Report. You’ll read about all the amazing things that happened this academic year; the improvement projects we undertook; the hundreds of persons served by our seminarians in apostolic works; and our financial outlook. The section will show you, our dear friend and partner, the fruit being realized from your investment. Until then, please remember to keep our fourth-year Men in prayer, as they return to their home dioceses for ordination. And be assured of our deep gratitude for your steadfast commitment to the College in this ever-changing world. n

ROMAN ECHOES 2017 • VOLUME 21: ISSUE 3

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. The entire NAC community stands underneath the cross overlooking the Campo Sportivo

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