Snapshots

Seminarians and faculty from the state of New York gather around the Christmas tree in the refectory for a group photo. Members of 4th Central hall prepare to host the judges during the Christmas hall decorating contest.

Rev. David Schunk '10 (San Francisco) celebrates Christmas Day Mass for the community.

An angel adorns the Christmas creche outside the Immaculate Conception Chapel. Members of 3rd Convent hall pose for a photo during the Christmas hall decorating contest.

Students line up at the various food stands for the first-ever NAC Christmas Market. A sign advertises "fresh strudel" at the NAC Christmas Market.

The winning "non-clerics" team poses with their trophy after winning the first-ever Babbo Natale Bowl. George Cardinal Pell hands the Book of the Gospels to Isaiah Fischer '24 (Bismarck), as he receives the ministry of lector.

Zach Jones '22 (Sioux City) carries the ball for a first down while Rev. Mr. Gregory Zannetti '21 (Metuchen) chases him down. Guillermo Jimenez-Lainez '22 (Bridgeport) and Guillermo Hernandez '22 (San Diego) make grilled cheese sandwiches.

a HOUSE ofLEARNING

LEARNING

ROMAN ECHOES 25TH YEAR

NAC FACTS

“Above all, your time in the seminary is also a time of study. . . . I can only plead with you: Be committed to your studies! Take advantage of your years of study! You will not regret it. . . . I simply say once more: love the study of theology and carry it out in the clear realization that theology is anchored in the living community of the Church, which, with her authority, is not the antithesis of theological science but its presupposition. Cut off from the believing Church, theology would cease to be itself and instead it would become a medley of different disciplines lacking inner unity.”

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 2010 Letter to Seminarians

The Pontifical North American University

STEPHEN JONES ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY

Seminarians from the Class of 2024 attend their online lectures for the Gregorian University.

As a middle-school history teacher before seminary, I am well acquainted with the difficulties of both teaching and learning in a chaotic environment. Nothing prepared me, though, for the challenge of distance learning in an online format in Italian.

In October, after only three weeks of in-person class, the Angelicum and the Gregorian Universities transferred to a primarily online format, while the Santa Croce continued in-person for the most part. The students of the Gregorian have been meeting in the tower classrooms since that time; meanwhile, the Angelicum students have attended their classes in the student lounge and Casa O’Toole. We certainly miss making and seeing our friends from other colleges at our universities, and distance learning is not as effective as actually being in the classroom, but there have also been unforeseen blessings from learning at what has become, for the time being, the Pontifical North American University.

One positive consequence of the online format is that there is more time throughout the day. Without transit time, we have more time to sit down with our brothers and enjoy a cup of coffee in the lounge before making the short trek to our respective “universities.” Another positive consequence of online school is that we see our brothers who attend other universities more often than would normally be the case. Additionally, one of the most cherished new traditions is “recess on the campo” between classes. Since the Angelicum students attend class in the lounge, which is located directly across our sports field, during the pausa they often toss a football around, play bocce ball, or engage in some other sport. On occasion, the Greg guys go down and participate in the fun as well.

The past year has certainly proved to be a challenging one in many respects, and our way of life as students of theology has been no exception. However, despite all of the uncertainty in regard to where and how we attend class, it is admirable to witness how the men of the College have responded to every challenge thrown their way. n

The Faith of Children

STEVEN VETTER ‘23, DIOCESE OF BISMARCK

In its section on prayer, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “the most common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith.” This temptation seems to barrage us non-stop, and it manifests itself in the desire to test God—“God, where are you in this situation?”

To fall into the temptation would be to doubt God’s presence in every situation in which we find ourselves, but we know from Sacred Scripture and the teaching of Jesus that God is in fact with us, no matter how hard it is to see him.

I have been blessed this year with the opportunity to prepare fourth-grade students for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. I was asked to offer the class completely online, a method that is new and exciting yet mixed with struggles and difficulties. Since I have a degree in secondary education, I thought it would be relatively easy to adjust. Within a few days of launching my new online classroom, I knew that what I needed was to ask God for help.

The more I learn to trust God and spend time with him in authentic prayer, the more effective both my teaching and apostolate have become. I have noticed God working in the lives of my students in profound ways. They desire to receive the sacraments and learn about the faith even in the midst of so many unknowns. God is working in their families as well. One of the major advantages to online learning is that children are at home with their families. I have witnessed God strengthen family bonds by encouraging prayer as a family and motivating parents to learn about the faith with their children. It has been a deeply humbling experience to see God work through the parents of these young children, giving them the grace to be the primary educators of the faith in their home.

When I am tempted to ask God where he is working in my apostolate, I remind myself: God is working in me as I continue to grow in faith and trust; God is working in parents inspiring them to hand on the faith to their children; and God is working in the hearts of these young children who teach us all how to believe. n

Steven Vetter '23 (Bismarck) teaches fourth-graders online for his apostolate. The more I learn to trust God and spend time with him in authentic prayer, the more effective both my teaching and apostolate have become. I have noticed God working in the lives of my students in profound ways.

Interview with Librarian Sr. Maria José, O.P.

TAYLOR COLWELL ’23, ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON

Sr. Maria Jose with Rev. Mr. Max Carson '21 (Des Moines), Timothy Courtney '23 (Arlington) and Sam Bass '22 (Austin).

Could you tell us about the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist and their relationship with the College? Our community was founded in 1997 by four Dominican Sisters in response to St. John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization. Our motherhouse is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and our apostolate centers on teaching in Catholic schools as well as other forms of evangelization. Our lives are rooted in prayer; we have a deep love and devotion to the Eucharist (we pray a holy hour together as a community every day) and to the Blessed Virgin Mary (daily, the Sisters renew their consecration to Mary according to the De Montfort method).

In August 2013, the sisters were invited by then-Msgr. Checchio to serve as librarians at the College. Since then, two sisters have always been assigned to the library, one at the Janiculum Campus’s Randal Riede Library, and the other at the Casa Santa Maria. Currently, there are two other sisters in Rome at the Angelicum University. The four of us live in a convent at the Casa Santa Maria. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your vocation? I am originally from El Paso, Texas, and I entered the convent in 2006 after having graduated with a degree in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and worked as a software engineer in the telecommunications industry in Dallas, Texas, for a few years.

When I was about eleven or twelve, I was introduced to the religious life, and I was excited about the possibility of being a sister when I grew up. After high school and college, I did not think, or at least avoided thinking, about this vocation. In the first few months as a working professional, I initially thought I had everything I wanted, since I was living a very comfortable life and was getting a monetary raise every three months. After some time, I came to realize I was missing something in my life and was not truly happy. Through the prayers and encouragement of my parents, I made the decision that I should pray more and take my faith more seriously. At the time, I was going to Mass every Sunday, but I was just fulfilling my obligation as a “Catholic.” I knew a lot about Jesus but did not know him or love him personally.

Over time, God gave me the desire to serve him and seek his will for my life. I initially did not want to accept the idea of being a religious sister, but through Eucharistic adoration, I began to fall in love with Jesus Christ and my Catholic faith. Eventually I was able tosurrender to God and willingly and joyfully say, “God, if you want me to be a sister, I will be a sister. I know you will provide for everything.”

I was drawn to the Dominicans’ four pillars of prayer, community life, study, and the apostolate, as well as by my community’s particular devotions to Mary and the Eucharist. I was also attracted to the sisters’ joy. They were just normal and happy; their prayerfulness, joy, and sincerity were very attractive qualities.

Could you tell us about your work as a librarian at the College? First of all, in the library, because a lot of the seminarians and priests need books and periodicals for their research, we keep all our periodicals up-to-date as best as we can. We catalogue, check-in, repair, and reshelve the books. We also periodically obtain new books, either by purchase or from generous donors. We try to keep our cataloguing system current so that the students and faculty at the College can find what they need. We also provide research assistance and transfer books between our two libraries. Also, we are blessed to have four seminarians who act as library assistants throughout the week; it is a joy to work with them.

Secondly, and most importantly, I am very grateful for the opportunity to work as and enjoy being a librarian at the College. Daily, I get to see the love the men of the College have for the priesthood and their living out of their lives as faithful followers of Christ. Our sisters pray for them every day, knowing this is one of the greatest gifts we can give. n