New Man Arrival

The Beauty of Arriving in Rome

JACOB DERRY '26, DIOCESE OF LANSING

The New Man Class of 2026 attends Mass in the Catacombs of St. Callixtus during NAC Orientation.

Few would describe the birth of a child as “pretty.” More often, we would call it “beautiful.” The word “pretty” typically refers to an object’s exterior that is visually pleasing; there is a simple and easy attraction. In contrast, “beautiful” often speaks to the transcendent or deeper meaning underlying an event, object, or person. Beauty, in some way, always reminds us of God.

While at a wedding this past summer, I heard the priest make this distinction between “pretty” and “beautiful.” He noted that many aspects of that particular wedding were pretty: flower bouquets, decorative ribbons, well-groomed hair, and formal attire. Amidst all the pretty things, the priest pointed out that the crucifix is not pretty, but it is beautiful because it is the loving sacrifice that wins our reconciliation and salvation. In reflecting on the orientation to the NAC, I think of both “pretty” and “beautiful.” Living in Rome, one naturally soaks up many pretty sites and experiences: historic art and architecture, fantastic food, and the vibrancy of the city. Nevertheless, there were plenty of moments from orientation that were less than pretty: the sweltering heat and our subsequent sweat, the humbling attempts to speak broken Italian with natives, and the embarrassment of guessing incorrectly which way to open a door of a given corridor (push or pull?). There was also the discomfort of learning a new culture, a new seminary program, and all sorts of new people. Nothing could prepare me for it all. From this perspective, NAC orientation may appear clumsy, unpolished, and not pretty. But the reality is, just like the crucifix, orientation radiated beauty. Orientation was beautiful when the faculty and 2nd-year men welcomed us warmly and served us generously in every possible way. It was beautiful when we deepened our devotion to Saints Peter and Paul, whose tombs we visited, and when we prayed the Angelus with the Holy Father. It was beautiful when our class shared our vocation stories with each other and when we hiked up a trail to the Franciscan hermitage in Assisi. These beautiful experiences all spoke passionately of God and helped me recognize the beauty of surrender. For when I surrender myself, my expectations, fears, dreams, and discomforts to God and his Providence—like I tried to throughout NAC orientation—this, too, is beautiful. It’s living like Jesus Christ. n

EVENTS CALENDAR

JULY 20

The New Men class of 2026 arrive for Early Orientation. Members of the class of 2025 give them a tour of Rome, including the famed Pantheon

AUGUST 22-24

The New Men travel together to Assisi to pray together and build fraternity

AUGUST 29

Formation conferences and preaching workshops begin

AUGUST 27

Pope Francis elevates His Eminence, Robert Cardinal McElroy, C'86, Bishop of San Diego to the College of Cardinals. Rev. Bradley Easterbrooks '22 and Rev. Guillermo Hernandez '22 celebrate with their diocesan bishop

SEPTEMBER 4

The first of the classes leave for their annual silent retreat

SEPTEMBER 29

Twenty-three deacons from the College are ordained at St. Peter’s Basilica

OCTOBER 3

Very Rev. Mark Lewis, S.J., Rector of the Pontificial Gregorian University, celebrates Holy Mass at the Church of St. Ignatius to inaugrate the academic year

AUGUST 21

Pope Francis greets the New Men following the Angelus at St. Peter’s Square

SEPTEMBER 3

New Men receive a tour of the Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo from His Eminence, James Cardinal Harvey '75, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

OCTOBER 13

Rev. Msgr. Thomas Powers '97 is installed as the Rector of the College