THE PONTIFIC AL NORTH AMERIC AN COLLEGE
roman echoes To All Those in Rome Called to be Saints
MAY 2022 VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3 12 St Paul Tours 16 Introducing Our Next Rector 20 Lenten Station Churches 29 Ukrainian College Visit
Contents 16 12 Features 6 In the Footsteps of St. John Berchmans 8 Ars Pilgrimage 9 A Visit to Monte Cassino 10 Loreto Pilgrimage 12 St. Paul Tours 13 Street Ministry Apostolate 14 Faith & Science
Updates 16 20 24 25 26 27 29
Introducing Our Next Rector Station Churches & Map Lenten Day of Recollection Installation of Lectors Installation of Acolytes Our Lady of Humility Icon Ukrainian College Soccer Visit
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5 Rector’s Corner 17 Voices of NAC 18 Snapshots 30 Casa 32 ICTE 34 Office of Institutional Advancement
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29 20 From the Editor “To all those in Rome…called to be saints” (Rm 1:7)—thus St. Paul addresses the first-century Roman Church. While these words express a typical Pauline greeting, they are full of meaning for a seminarian studying in Rome. They read as if the Apostle to the Gentiles is speaking directly to us. We have left our homeland in order to follow God’s call to pursue sanctity through the vocation to the priesthood, and this call has led us to Rome for these years of formation. There is another layer of meaning. The presence of the saints in Rome, and elsewhere in Europe, provides a devotional experience we could not receive anywhere else. The relics that adorn altars across the continent are more than decoration, or occasion for sightseeing. They give flesh to our belief in the communion of saints, showing a reality that goes beyond the limits of death and time. These holy men and women are an integral part of our formation. They inspire us by their examples, teach us by their words, and intercede for us as friends before the throne of grace.
In this issue, we focus on this formative role of the saints in our Roman experience. There are, of course, the canonized saints we encounter on pilgrimage. There are others we meet through study or reading, whose teaching makes them mentors in the faith. There are also those hidden saints we encounter in daily life, uncanonized as of yet but still powerful in their influence. These holy men and women come in great variety. They all, however, lead us on, in one way or another, to pursue our own path to sanctity in the Eternal City with renewed energy and vigor—so we can one day have something to share with all those back home, called to be saints. Taylor Colwell ’23, Archdiocese of Washinton, Editor-in-Chief
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Contributors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Taylor Colwell '23, Archdiocese of Washington
ASSISTANT EDITOR Matthew Ludwig '24, Archdiocese of Washington ASSISTANT EDITOR Michael Noriega '24, Diocese of Austin LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR Matthew Prosperie '23, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux ASSISTANT LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR Aaron Salvan '24, Archdiocese of New York
Administration
of The Pontifical North American College RECTOR Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99 VICE RECTOR Rev. David A. Schunk ‘10 ACADEMIC DEAN & ROMAN ECHOES FACULTY LIAISON Rev. John P. Cush ’98, C’15 SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. James J. Conn, SJ DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION Rev. Edward Linton, OSB 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) 470-6211 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org This publication is written, edited, and photographed by the students of The Pontifical North American College.
COVER: Seminarians of the College pass through the Porta Settimiana on their way to the day’s station church, Santa Maria in Trastevere. THIS PAGE: Ben Pribbenow '23 (Green Bay) and Joseph Brodeur '24 (Providence) lead a procession in St. Peter's Basilica. 4
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Rector’s Corner Dear Friend of the North American College:
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aints among the saints”—that is what we are called to be. A great blessing of living in Rome is that one’s daily life comes in contact with the saints of the Church. To have one’s eyes opened at all in daily life means encountering the names, images, and resting places of the saints. Our work, study, commute, and leisure in the Eternal City are all colored by the men and women who in decades and centuries past came here doing those same things. This regular and tangible reminder of their lives cannot but help spur us on in the journey of our own individual lives—to find the inspiration and encouragement of their witness in the desire for holiness and closer relationship with God. I am grateful that our community is so active in prayer and pilgrimage to connect to the saints, that we utilize this great treasure in our midst for our own sanctification. However, there is also a more horizontal witness of sanctity that goes on in our community. The holiness of the lives of the men with whom we are surrounded is an additional and necessary witness that spurs us on. The spring semester is a time of individual student evaluations with the faculty. For most of the men, this involves the opportunity to give feedback to each other in peer or “fraternal” assessments. This crucial aspect of a seminarian’s growth is a mixture of honest and candid reflection for a seminarian, to help him see what others see in him. It is often quite humbling, in the best and most
positive sense, for a brother to hear the overwhelming observations of his goodness, holiness, sincerity and devotion. Make no mistake, there are also items brought forward for his attention and growth! To a man, though, each seminarian finds it an inspiring exercise to receive the observations his brothers make about how he gives himself generously and devoutly to the Church and to his community. Yes, not only among the canonized saints in Rome does one find holiness. We are blessed to be surrounded by holy brothers. We know that we are not yet a finished product, but the men who have surrounded me in these years here have always inspired me. They encourage and challenge each other in the ways of holiness each day. This is a vital, if not always tangible, dimension of a formation community. I know the saints who surround them here, and whom they have asked for prayers, have helped them become the men they are. Thanks for your continued support.
Very Reverend Peter C. Harman, STD ’99 Rector
I am grateful that our community is so active in prayer and pilgrimage to connect to the saints, that we utilize this great treasure in our midst for our own sanctification.
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Keeping alive the memory and devotion to St. John Berchmans, Kelby Tingle ’23 (Shreveport) organized a Mass to be celebrated on the saint's feast at his final resting place, the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.
In the Footseps of St. John Berchmans KELBY TINGLE ’23, DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT
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hroughout all our faith journeys, we have been inspired by the holy lives of others. As a seminarian in Rome, I am constantly surrounded by examples of sanctity. In churches throughout the city, there are innumerable tombs and relics of saints who devoted themselves to the service of the Lord. While there are many churches and saints that I enjoy praying before, I visit the tomb of St. John Berchmans in the Church of St. Ignatius most often. Since my high school years, I have had a strong devotion to the Jesuit saint who was born in modern-day Belgium at the end of the sixteenth century. When reflecting on those years, some of my fondest memories involve altar serving at Shreveport’s Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, which
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neighbored my school. Before each Mass, all the altar servers gathered to pray through the intercession of the patron of altar servers: St. John Berchmans. For the servers of the only cathedral in the world with his patronage, devotion to the young saint was twofold! During this time, I was happy to learn about St. John Berchmans—his childhood, his untimely death at the age of twenty-two in Rome, and his eventual apparition in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, in the late nineteenth century. What I loved most about John Berchmans was his zeal for serving at the altar of the Lord. Before school, John woke up early each morning to serve Mass. This love for serving connected with me because altar serving had been a significant aspect of my faith journey, beginning when
left to right The relic of the heart of St. John Berchmans, pictured here in its reliquary in Belgium, has in recent years traveled to locations in the United States, including Grand Coteau, Louisiana, where St. John Berchmans appeared on Dec. 15, 1866. The saint's remains lie In the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome, beneath his portrait and a relief of the Annunciation.
I was eight years old. I believe that being near the altar allowed me to hear the voice of the Lord inviting me to enter seminary.
was born and raised as well as at the Church of Saint-Sulpice, where he was baptized. It was a blessing to walk through the places where his relationship with Christ was fostered.
The opportunity of being formed at the College has only deepened my devotion to the patron of altar servers and the Diocese of Shreveport. During my daily walk to the Gregorian, I walk past the place of John's death, the Roman College, and the place of his burial, the Church of St. Ignatius. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to visit the saint frequently and ask his intercession for the day’s work. Although I am studying several thousand miles from my home diocese, I remain spiritually connected to it through the intercession of our patron. It is wonderful to pray there for our bishop, priests, and faithful.
I am grateful for the intercessory accompaniment of St. John Berchmans. I have often seen his attentiveness and devotion to the small and ordinary tasks of life as an inspiration to follow. John once said, “Unless I become a saint while I am young, I fear that I shall never become one.” His longing for sanctity reminds me that holiness is not to be postponed, but should be the beginning and end of all my actions.
Being in Europe has also given me the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of my patron. After fall exams, I traveled to the saint’s hometown of Diest, Belgium, to further commemorate the 400th anniversary of his death, which we celebrated on August 13th. It was a moving experience to serve the Holy Mass and pray at the house where John
I am grateful that studying in Rome that has allowed me to deepen my devotion to my patron saint while at the same time prayerfully uniting me to the Diocese of Shreveport and to our Cathedral parish, where I hope to be ordained a priest in a few short months. I encourage all those who approach the altar of the Lord to invoke the intercession of this patron saint of altar servers. St. John Berchmans, pray for us! n
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God in the Booth SCOTT FYALL ’24, DIOCESE OF AUSTIN
David Lee '24 (Nashville), Scott Fyall '24 (Austin), and Noah Da Silva '24 (Providence) take a photo to remember their time before the tomb of St. John Vianney.
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neeling before the tomb of St. John Vianney, Curé d’Ars and patron of parish priests, my mind began to race, and my heart began to swell. In that moment I remembered all the priests who have impacted my life—those men who, through their words of encouragement and example of holiness, helped me consider that perhaps God was calling me to follow their example. From Texas to Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Italy, Spain, and back again, the Lord has placed good priests in my life. They helped me know that I was loved by a God who had a plan for my life even before I was born.
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With grateful tears in my eyes, the thought occurred to me: how neat would it be to go to confession in the same church where John Vianney used to sit and hear confessions for twelve to fifteen hours per day? I asked the priest in the confessional if he spoke English or Spanish, which he did not. However, with the help of cognates and Google Translate, he told me there was a priest whom he believed, spoke Spanish and would be hearing confessions that afternoon. When I came back later, I began talking to the priest. After a moment, he looked at me and said, “Alright, well I’m going to respond to you in Italian, and if you don’t understand me, let me know, okay?”
As I prayed my penance afterward, I knelt before Vianney’s tomb once more and considered what it must have been like for the thousands of penitents who visited this humble parish priest to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What words of healing and encouragement did he share? How did God speak to his children through the voice of this spiritual father? In my own imagination, I heard him say to me: “Speak freely, for the Lord hears you.” I felt reassured that, in the words of St. John Paul II, “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us.” The prospect of providing that kind of wisdom and mercy to those who need it most gave me great joy and consolation. I hope one day to do just that as a priest of Jesus Christ. n
Ora et Labora: A Visit to Monte Cassino JOSEPH DOHERTY ‘25, DIOCESE OF VENICE IN FLORIDA
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a saint. The Benedictine motto of ora et labora is an appropriate reminder of the need to balance prayer and work in this spring semester.
hen I was in seventh grade, I chose St. Benedict to be my confirmation saint. I admired this saint, whose holiness, discipline, and leadership had changed the course of history. Commonly acknowledged as the Father of Western Monasticism, St. Benedict and his network of monasteries became the bulwark that prevented Western civilization from being washed away after the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. It is amazing to consider how God calls servants to continue his work, even in the most dire of times.
death about twenty years later. For me, this was more than an outing—it was a pilgrimage I had desired to make for several years.
During the short break between fall exams and the start of the spring semester, a few other seminarians and I made a day trip to the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, about eighty miles southeast of Rome. St. Benedict founded this monastery in 529 A.D. and lived there until his
It was surreal to sit and pray next to the tombs of St. Benedict and his twin sister St. Scholastica. On one side of the Atlantic Ocean, I had read of his life, works, and deep faith. Now, as I begin my time on the European side, I have the opportunity to pay my respects to my patron and thank God for such
James Muscatella ’24 (Rochester), James Fangmeyer, Jr. ’24 (Washington), Joseph Doherty ’25 (Venice in Florida), Matthew Kelly ’24 (Richmond) at the foot of Monte Cassino.
Monte Cassino’s historic significance has not always been a peaceful one. During World War II, it was the site of fierce combat between the Allies and Axis powers. The monastery suffered near-total destruction from aerial bombing. Today, within view of the monastery lies a Polish battlefield cemetery. I was taken aback by the beautiful and silent tribute to the more than 1,000 Polish soldiers who gave their lives there. Both the monastery and the military cemetery stand largely in silence, reflecting the reality of sacrifices made in spiritual and physical battle. I cannot help but be inspired by St. Benedict, whose holiness, work, and example bequeathed to the Western world treasures of faith and knowledge. n
A cemetery lies at the feet of Monte Cassino, holding the remains of Polish troops who died defending the area.
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You dolphins, and all water creatures, bless the Lord. A group prays the Liturgy of the Hours on the steps of a fountain in the main square of Loreto. The pilgrimage was organized by faculty member Rev. Randall Soto C'98, C'02 (New York).
A Pilgrimage to Loreto ANDREW WESTERMAN ‘24, PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER
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recently had the privilege of joining a house pilgrimage to Loreto to see and pray at the Shrine of the Holy House. In the middle of that beautiful church stand three walls believed to have once been part of the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is where the Annunciation took place and where the Holy Family is believed to have lived for some time. Praying the Angelus within the same walls where St. Gabriel announced God’s plan to Our Lady was one of the most powerful moments of prayer during my time as a seminarian. It will certainly influence my meditations
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on the mysteries of Christ’s life, now that I have a visual setting in which to place both him and myself as I pray. In addition to the time in Loreto, our group also made two other stops, to visit the relics of local Augustinian mystics. The first was St. Rita of Cascia, and the second was one of St. Rita’s own special patrons, St. Nicholas of Tolentino. I had heard of St. Rita, but never of St. Nicholas. Now I have a new patron to intercede for my family, especially for the ones who have passed away—he is a special patron of the souls in purgatory.
clockwise James Muscatella '24 (Rochester) and Bryce Baumann '24 (Dallas) eagerly wait to enter the Holy House of Loreto.; ICTE participants Rev. Shaun Haggerty (Sioux Falls), Rev. Anthony Tam Pham, ICM, and Rev. George Wezninger (Toledo) pause to record their visit to the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia.; Archbishop Fabio Dal Cin (center), Prelate of Loreto, receives the group in the Chapel of the Holy Pilgrims. As Pontifical Delegate for the Sanctuary, he presented each pilgrim with a certificate invoking the Lord's blessing on them.
What I most appreciate about these trips is that I can draw nearer to God and his saints by encountering them more directly. I have gained a newfound sense of proximity and personal connection to what I had already learned in an academic setting. Similarly, whenever I have the chance to visit the tomb, shrine, or relics of a saint as I did with these two, I am not any closer or farther from them in reality. The saints are willing to intercede for any of us whether we have visited their earthly remains or not, yet by making such pilgrimages we open ourselves up to them in a unique way. I am changed in my newfound desire to emulate and pray to the saints. I was also impacted by the personal connection that comes from visiting saints’ hometowns, seeing the churches where they prayed, and the monasteries where they lived. I am grateful for this pilgrimage and am looking forward to the next one. n
He stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion. Rev. John P. Cush '98, C'15 (Brooklyn) offers Mass for the pilgrims, assisted by Rev. Mr. Mauricio Portillo '22 (Arlington) and Rev. Mr. Paul Sappington '22 (Kansas City-St. Joseph).
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Seeing Rome through St. Paul SAMUEL HILL ’24, DIOCESE OF RICHMOND
With his trusty white binder, Samuel Hill '24 (Richmond) gives a tour of the interior of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Behind the group is the altar built above the tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
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efore I became Catholic, St. Paul was just a distant character of the New Testament with a nice conversion story. I have since come to see Paul as a person whose work among the “Gentiles”—the outsiders—has never ceased. This year I was given the opportunity to give tours at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and it was here that Paul came to life for me. When I read Acts 28:14 (“And thus we came to Rome”), saw the place where Paul was martyred, and visited his tomb, the story became tangible for me. I began to wonder what Paul’s thoughts may have been when he saw
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the Colosseum or the Roman Forum. Now, when I see clouds of starlings and the snowcapped Abruzzi Mountains on the horizon, I can imagine Paul’s own wonder at the same sight. Through St. Paul, I have come to understand the significance of Rome as the heart of the Church. For Paul, spreading the Good News to the “ends of the earth” meant going to Rome. Paul would have understood very well that “all roads lead to Rome,” because the Roman Empire extended to the whole world! By the light of his conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul saw that Jesus was the key to the deepest longings of his Judaism. The special revelation of Israel as God’s
chosen people became the message that all people are chosen. Jerusalem’s walls, which protected the sacred dwelling place of the Lord, led to the open arms of St. Peter’s colonnade calling all peoples to worship. This revelation radically changed Paul’s life. He who consented to the murder of St. Stephen became an Apostle. Through Paul, we are aware that we aren’t perfect people, but we are invited to allow God, through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ, to both make up for what we lack and ransform us with his unconditional love. n
Hidden Saints on the Streets of Rome STEPHEN JONES ‘24, ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY
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e have all encountered the poor on the streets of Rome in one way or another. A few months ago, Fr. David Hulshof '81 (Springfield-Cape Girardeau), Director of Apostolic Formation at the College, approached a few men whose apostolates had been cancelled or postponed because of COVID, and he proposed a new ministry. He envisioned us walking around and intentionally engaging the poor and
homeless in conversation: learning their names, where they are from, and where they live. He wanted us to form relationships with them and to learn what they needed: food, water, blankets, or perhaps a book to read. In short, he sent us out into the streets like Jesus sent his disciples, two by two. Before I was assigned to this new ministry, I often felt helpless interacting with people on the streets. I
Stephen Jones ’24 (Oklahoma City), Nicholas Shelton ’24 (Tyler), Peter Fairbanks ’25 (Washington) and Joseph Wappes ’24 (St. Paul and Minneapolis) head out to seek those in need on the streets of Rome.
thought, “There are so many poor and homeless and only one of me. How can I help?” Now, I can say that one of the unexpected graces of my time in Rome has been the opportunity to engage in a new apostolate serving the poor and vulnerable on the streets of Rome. I often find myself more profoundly affected by these encounters than those we are there to serve. One instance of the humanity of the poor and homeless stands out to me. On a clear, sunny day in December, I was walking with a fellow seminarian by the right colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. We saw an elderly homeless man, sitting in the sun and enjoying a beautiful, warm day. We approached him and started a conversation. He joyfully started sharing his life with us. He spoke of his love for Our Lady, his own deep faith, and his gratitude for what little he had. At the end of our ten-minute conversation, he knelt down at our feet and asked for our priestly blessing. I was struck that this man, forty years my senior, was asking for my blessing as a spiritual father. Unable to give him the blessing he desired, we prayed with him and walked away deeply moved by his faith and joy. I learned in one encounter that the poor and vulnerable can be hidden saints among us, and that we can make a difference by letting Jesus work through us in simple things, like conversation and prayer. n
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Science and Religion: In Conflict or Complementary? STEVEN VETTER ‘23, DIOCESE OF BISMARCK
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uring the fall semester of 2021, I was enrolled in a seminar at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) entitled Science and Religion: A Historical Approach. The course opened up to me the complex history and relationship between science and religion. There are many in our world today who teach a false dichotomy that says science and religion are in perpetual conflict. What we discovered over the course of the semester is that they are not in conflict. Instead, they enrich each other and advance man’s search for knowledge and truth. The Catholic Church recognizes and encourages investigation into all forms of knowledge. Although each has its own field of action and inquiry, science and religion are both directed to coming to know and understand the all-good and all-loving God who created us. God created us in his image and likeness and made us part of the material universe. He gave us the capacity to seek and know the highest truth. Indeed, the nobility of human beings lies in searching for and discovering truth through the use of reason. Religion reveals to us that God is the highest truth and that ultimately, we were not created for this world, but for eternity with him. Science helps us to examine and explain the created order and beauty we see
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Seminarians from the Diocese of Bismark stand next to one of the telescopes in the Vatican Observatory: (from left) Joshua Hill ’23, Rev. Mr. Jacob Magnuson ’22, Steven Vetter ’23, and Rev. Mr. Grant Dvorak ’22.
around us—all of which is a partial glimpse of the beauty we will see in God. Science and religion are not in conflict; they are complementary. One of the many gifts we receive while living in Rome is the witness of the saints, and we have a wonderful example from recent times who spoke beautifully about the relationship between faith and reason. St. John Paul II is buried next door to us in St. Peter’s Basilica, and he continues to
teach us how to live a life in the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and holiness. As he wrote in his encyclical Fides et Ratio: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.” n
Come, Let Us Adore God the Creator ANDREW MESSER ‘25, DIOCESE OF TOLEDO
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eum Creatorem Venite Adoremus: these are the words that greeted me outside the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo. These are the words that, for the many priests who have worked at the observatory, define a spirituality rooted in tradition. When I visited the telescopes at Castel Gandolfo, I found this tradition alive and growing in the Church today.
I received a short tour of the Papal Palace and gardens that overlook the mountainside, along with the four telescopes that are housed in the city. There are two telescopes built in the 1930s, after the observatory moved to its permanent location at Castel Gandolfo. The telescope in the gardens was built in 1957; this is the one Pope St. Paul VI used to view the moon on the night Neil Armstrong landed there. There is also an older telescope, completed in 1891, which bears witness to the Vatican’s astronomical tradition from the beginnings of modern science. The Carte du Ciel telescope was constructed as part of an ambitious project to “map the sky.” The Vatican received its own portion of the sky to catalogue, and the images can still be found today. This telescope was moved to the gardens in 1942. I was particularly struck by the images from the Carte du Ciel telescope. The Vatican Observatory has preserved its own portion of the sky in these early photos, called “plates.” This shows that the Church truly partakes in her own research and preserves what she
finds as a treasure to be presented to the Lord. We can say that we live in a Church that preserves both Sacred Tradition and “sacred science.” We are part of a tradition that believes in adoring God the Creator and does not find any opposition between the book of Scripture and the book of nature. I that found this place was more of a ressourcement than a discovery. There are many who may be shocked to discover that the Church has such a relationship with science. But the fact is, she has never denied it. From a spiritual point of view, she does not ask us to deny it for ourselves, either. My own intellectual conversion can be described as a Copernican revolution. When I was at the center of my own life, I considered everything in orbit around myself. I learned, however, that Jesus is our real center of gravity, who takes us down from the stars in order to place us at the dust of his feet.
A priest at the Vatican Observatory stands beside his telescope, pen and notepad in hand.
We must not deny the stars. Instead, as the Church does, let us place all at the feet of Jesus, if only to discover that even the stars are as dust at his feet. n
Andrew Messer ’25 (Toledo) stands next to one of the telescopes at the Vatican Observatory.
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The Incoming Rector: Msgr. Thomas Powers MICHAEL NORIEGA ’24, DIOCESE OF AUSTIN
The Pontifical North American College is proud to announce that the Rev. Msgr. Thomas Powers ’97 has been appointed the College's twenty-fourth Rector. Msgr. Powers will begin his term on July 1, 2022, and Very Rev. Peter Harman ’99 will complete his six-year term at the end of the academic year. Msgr. Powers is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and is currently serving as Vicar General for the diocese as well as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Darien, Connecticut.
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sgr. Powers grew up in Newtown, Connecticut, and attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, earning a degree in economics. Upon graduating from Notre Dame, he worked as a financial consultant in New York and spent one year doing volunteer work in Puerto Rico with the Center for Social Concerns of the University of Notre Dame.
Msgr. Powers began his formation for the priesthood at St. John Fisher Seminary in Connecticut before coming to the College in 1993, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a Licentiate Degree in Sacred Theology from the John Paul II Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family. Msgr. Powers was ordained to the priesthood in 1997 and served in various assignments in his home diocese before returning to the Eternal City in 2005, when he began serving the Holy See in the Congregation for Bishops. While working for the Congregation for Bishops, he resided at the College and served as an adjunct spiritual director. Between his time as a student and service as an adjunct spiritual director, Msgr. Powers is well-known to the College community. When asked about the appointment, Msgr. Powers stated, “Although serving as the next Rector of the Pontifical North American College was neither something I ever
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Rev. Msgr. Thomas Powers ’97 (Bridgeport)
expected nor sought, I am very grateful to be asked to take on this important role. In accepting the appointment, I ask the Lord to grant me the grace to fulfill this role faithfully, and I entrust myself to our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Humility.” Fr. Harman expressed his support for the appointment as well, stating, “Msgr. Powers is a talented, generous, faithful, and holy priest. I cannot think of a better example and spiritual father for the men in priestly formation here at the North American College.” Please join the College community in welcoming and praying for Msgr. Powers—Ad multos annos! n
VOICES OF NAC
Which saint has inspired you most during your time in Rome, and why?
There is no saint who has inspired me more during these years than St. Thomas Aquinas. I feel a closeness to St. Thomas, now that I have had the opportunity to travel to the places where he was born, lived, taught, wrote, and died. He inspires me to pursue a deeper knowledge and love of God, which, when experienced, will make everything else, in his words, “seem like straw.”
Rev. Nicholas Morrison ‘21, Archdiocese of Washington While St. Dominic was in the womb, his mother had a dream that her son was a dog running around the globe with a fiery torch. This torch is the light of the Gospel, the truth of grace. He fulfilled this vision in founding the Order of Preachers and sent his first friars from Rome to the European universities. In Rome, St. Dominic has ignited my desire to preach the Gospel to people thirsting for Christ’s truth.
Rev. Mr. Michael Hoye ‘22, Diocese of Worcester Since St. John Bosco has been an inspiration to me since I was in high school, I was excited to be able visit his tomb in Turin during my first year at the NAC. He was a priest who loved Christ above all and dedicated his priesthood to helping troubled youth. As I continue in my seminary formation, his motto is ever in my mind: “Give me souls, and take away the rest.”
Victor Gjergji ‘23, Archdiocese of New York Of all the saints buried in the city of Rome, St. Paul has had a particular impact on me. Getting to know him and being able to read his epistles at his tomb always inspires me to commit myself evermore to the formation process. By his example and through his intercession, I pray that I too may become an apostle of Jesus Christ to the nations.
Troy Niemerg ‘24, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois When I arrived in Italy almost eight months ago, the first place I stayed long enough to feel like home wasn’t Rome, but Assisi. In my four weeks of language school there, I found myself drawn to the humble crypt of St. Francis, to learn his story and marvel at his life. Above all, it was his love of poverty that drew me. The transition to life in Rome is a lesson in spiritual poverty, and unlike St. Francis, it’s one I often learn begrudgingly. Since those first weeks here, St. Francis of Assisi has been for me a mentor and witness in joyfully embracing poverty.
Jacob Tschida ‘25, Diocese of Duluth
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Snapshots
Priests of the Casa Santa Maria in in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, the station church on Friday of the Second Week in Lent.
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Rev. Alessandro Calderoni-Ortiz ‘21 (Tulsa) and Rev. Mr. Louis Cona ‘22 (Rockville Centre) share a photo outside the church of St. Rita of Cascia in Cascia, Italy, while on the College pilgrimage.
Viktor Gjergji ’23 (New York) serves gumbo for the celebration of Mardi Gras.
Rev. David Hulshof '81 (Springfield-Cape Girardeau), preaches in the station church of St. Mary Major, while Rev. Mr. Paul Sappington ’22 (Kansas City-St. Joseph) serves as deacon.
Left to right: Most Rev. Fabio Dal Cin, Prelate of Loreto, speaks to seminarians of the College while Rev. Randall Soto C'98, C'02 (New York) stands by.
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Members of the Class of 2024 stand with Most. Rev. Augustine Di Noia, O.P. after their institution as lectors on January 16, 2022.
From left, two Ukrainian seminarians speak with Chukwuma Odigwe ‘25 (Washington) and Andrew Messer ‘25 (Toledo) during the soccer game.
Members of the Second-Floor Hospital Corridor enjoy the Mardi Gras celebration together.
The Basilica of the Crowned Mother of Good Counsel in Naples, where seminarians of the College who study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross made a pilgrimage.
Rev. Mr. Bijoy Joseph ’22 (Sydney), Richard Sofatzis '23 (Sydney), Rev. Mr. Jakob Hurlimann ’22 (Austin), Justin Faehrmann ’23 (Sydney), and Rev. Mr. Isaac Oviedo ’22 (Tyler) made a pilgrimage to the location in Naples where St. Thomas Aquinas heard Christ speak to him from the Cross. ROMAN ECHOES 2022 • VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3
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clockwise Diocese of Austin seminarians Michael Rhodes ‘25, Rev. Mr. Samuel Bass ‘22, and Michael Noriega ‘24 smile following Mass at Chiesa Nuova; The morning walk along the Tiber toward Santa Sabina treated the pilgrims to a sunrise over Rome; James Fangmeyer, Jr. ’24 (Washington) and Ben Pribbenow ’23 (Green Bay) pray during Mass on Ash Wednesday; Seminarians and priests of the Archdiocese of New York in the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul, the titular church of New York's cardinal archbishops from 1946-2015.
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Keeping Watch for the Lord JOSEPH WAPPES ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS
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s the city of Rome sleeps, a group of seminarians walk along the banks of the Tiber in the cold moments before dawn. It is Ash Wednesday—the beginning of the season of Lent, the beautiful season where Christians gladly turn to the Lord through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These seminarians go to “keep watch” and pray at the Church of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill. They recommit during this Lenten season to be alert for the Lord and to be present to him and to the things of heaven.
This is the beginning of the ancient Christian tradition of the Station Churches—of going on pilgrimage to forty different ancient churches throughout Rome during the forty days of Lent. The early Christians saw their pilgrimage as similar to a military soldier standing on guard and keeping watch (in Latin, statio). Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we keep watch for the Lord.
I have a sense of walking with these saints. The daily pilgrimage reminds me of what our whole lives really are: a journey to our heavenly homeland. Every morning during Lent, as we gather to walk and pray, I am reminded of that journey. And on that journey, I am not alone. Not only am I accompanied by the men and women walking with me now, I am also surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses”—those men and women who have completed the journey and are enjoying eternal life. They know what it is like to experience the ups and downs of daily life, to face suffering and sadness, and yet, to find companionship, security, and hope in our loving God and in the cross of Jesus. These friends are not far from us, and they intercede for us as we make our journey.
After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, this year we have the chance to resume our participation in this beautiful tradition that goes back to the fourth century. We join other pilgrims from around Rome for a morning Mass at the day’s Noah Da Silva ’24 (Providence) reads in the Church church. We walk from the of the Twelve Holy Apostles, with a painting of the martyrdom of St. Philip in the background. College in an atmosphere of silent prayer. When we arrive at the church, we celebrate Mass and pray before the relics of the saints. It has been beautiful for me to begin each While the cold, early mornings of the pilgrimage are not day of Lent with a silent pilgrimage to these places so always bursting with happy feelings—perhaps like many connected to the early witnesses of God’s love—the of our practices of prayer, fasting, or almsgiving—I am saints and martyrs of Rome. grateful for the reminder to be attentive to the things of the Lord, the things that endure, and to keep watch. n
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S. Sabina S. Giorgio in Velabro Ss. Giovanni e Paolo S. Maria dell’Anima (in lieu of S. Agostino) FIRST WEEK OF LENT S. Pietro in Vincoli S. Anastasia S. Maria Maggiore S. Lorenzo in Panisperna Ss. Dodici Apostoli S. Pietro in Vaticano SECOND WEEK OF LENT S. Clemente S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (in lieu of S. Balbina all’Aventino) S. Cecilia in Trastevere S. Maria in Trastevere S. Vitale Ss. Marcellino e Pietro THIRD WEEK OF LENT S. Marco S. Pudenziana Ss. Nereo e Achilleo (in lieu of S. Sisto) Ss. Cosma e Damiano Sant'Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso (in lieu of S. Lorenzo in Cucina) Chiesa Nuova (in lieu of S. Susanna) FOURTH WEEK OF LENT Ss. Quattro Coronati S. Lorenzo in Damaso S. Paolo fuori le Mura Ss. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti APRIL S. Eusebio S. Nicola in Carcere FIFTH WEEK OF LENT S. Crisogono S. Maria in via Lata S. Marcello S. Apollinare S. Stefano Rotondo S. Giovanni a Porta Latina HOLY WEEK S. Prassede S. Prisca S. Maria Maggiore
Substitutions from the traditional route were made for churches that were unavailable for various reasons. With gratitude to Station Church coordinators Patrick Ryan '23 (Providence) and Joseph Wappes '24 (St. Paul-Minneapolis).
left to right Pilgrims kneel in prayer at the confessio of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, oldest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary; At San Bartolomeo all'Isola, Rev. Christopher Trummer '21 (Springfield in Illinois) elevates the Blessed Sacrament with Rev. Mr. Bijoy Joseph '22 (Syndey). The church is dubbed the "Sanctuary of the Martyrs of the 20th and 21st centuries," since it enshrines relics of those killed in hatred of the faith in recent memory; Rev. Randy Hoang '21 (Portland in Oregon) elevates the Precious Blood at the Station Mass at Santa Maria dell'Anima, while Rev. Mr. Dustin Busse '22 (Portland in Oregon) raises his eyes in adoration. ROMAN ECHOES 2022 • VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3
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Through the Cross We Find Our Joy REV. MR. MARK HELLINGER ‘22, DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND
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f the many opportunities to encounter the saints in Rome, perhaps the most frequent, but also most overlooked, is our encounter with the saints in their sons and daughters. That is to say, given the nature of the Church in Rome—its universal character and centrality in the life of the Church—we are surrounded by many religious. These priests, sisters, brothers, monks, and nuns carry on the task of observing faithfully the mind and designs of their founders. Simply put, in the religious we see here in the city of Rome and throughout the world, we encounter a living bearer of the charism given by God to the Church through their founder. One such encounter, for me personally and for the College community at large, was our recent Lenten Day of Recollection. The College was happy to welcome a son of St. Ignatius, Fr. Jacques Servais, S.J. He is currently
the director of the Casa Balthasar here in Rome. It is a house founded by Cardinal Ratzinger and others after the death of Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar as a place of Ignatian discernment of vocation for men from all over the world. It also promotes the writings of Henri Cardinal de Lubac and Adrienne von Speyr. Fr. Servais gave us two conferences and two homilies focused on Lent as a time for confession and preparation: preparation not only for Easter, but also for the Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgement. One of many insights he offered that resonated with me was our need to see confession as not only an act by which we name our sins, but also as an act of praise to the Father. Indeed, that we can confess our sins is a grace won for us at Easter. It is in this light that we can joyfully approach the throne of grace, confess our sins, and turn back to the
Lord. This is an integral insight, not only for future ministers of the Sacrament of Confession, but for us all, as all must constantly turn back to the Lord as penitents. Throughout the weekend, one could not help but notice the centrality of the cross. This was a note of St. Ignatius coming through to us. The inescapable focus on Christ’s act of redemption in the Lenten season reminds me of the final charge delivered by the bishop at a priestly ordination: “Receive the oblation of the holy people to be offered to God. Understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord's Cross.” That is what ministerial priesthood is about. As Fr. Servais also reminded us, however, conformity to the Cross does not come without the promise of joy. This is the joy of new life at Easter and of eternal life in the world to come. n
Rev. Jacques Servais, S.J. presents a conference for the College’s Lenten Day of Recollection.
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Bless these chosen servants. Marco Cerritelli (Washington), Joshua Burcroff (Detroit), and rest of the Class of 2025 kneel to receive a blessing during their institution as lectors by Most Rev. Augustine Di Noia O.P.
Proclaiming the Word of God as Newly Installed Lectors JOSHUA BURCROFF ’25, ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT
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ince I am used to reading at Mass back home, I didn't think much about the significance of our lector installation as it was approaching. That is how I worked; but when the day came, it was time for God to work. As our class processed into the chapel with our new albs, a sense of wonder and awe overtook me. God gave me interior peace in that moment to receive the book of Holy Scripture. The physical reception of the lectionary was a gesture that only began to communicate the significance of what it means to receive the Word of God. God chooses to speak creation into existence, as we hear in the ten
instances of the phrase “And God said...” in Genesis. This phrase points to a creation that lacks any hint of competition against other powers. God is the only one who can create. The significance of these ten instances carries over into the Ten Commandments God gives his chosen people on Mount Sinai. These commandments are not oppressive, authoritarian dictates, but guidelines given by a loving Father who knows the longings of our hearts and desires to meet them. The fulfillment of the covenant God makes with his people is found in Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh. When we see that the words God speaks have the power to create, the power to heal, the power to raise
from the dead, and the power to forgive sins, our ability to proclaim those words to others at the Holy Mass is an utter gift. For this reason, it was not a ceremony of certification we completed, for something was different. After the installation, we took our group picture as new lectors, got back to our rooms, checked the liturgical schedule to see when we were assigned to read at Mass, and carried on with the rest of our day. However, we were not the same. We had dared to receive God’s Word into our hearts, into the very core of who we are. Now we are prepared to share that Good News with the entire world. n ROMAN ECHOES 2022 • VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3
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Acolyte Institution: Service at the Lord’s Table RYA N A S H E R ‘ 2 4 , A R C H D I O C E S E O F D E T R O I T
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ake your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” This is the exhortation the bishop gives to acolyte candidates during their rite of institution. It is quite the exhortation, and an intimidating one, if we are to take it seriously. “Make your life worthy of your service.” This service unfolds at the table of the Lord, the table of the Blessed Sacrament, where our Lord himself is present: body, blood, soul, and divinity. I think it’s safe to say that my life is not worthy of serving at the Lord’s table, no matter how virtuous or holy I might be! Please God, we do continue to grow in virtue and holiness, but no matter how much we may progress in the spiritual life, nothing except God’s free gift of grace can make me worthy of service at his table. “Our qualification comes from God” (2 Cor 3:5). So it really is all his grace, and his gift. In my own reflection and prayer leading up to the institution, I simply tried to give thanks to God for his calling. To serve at the altar of the Lord is truly a gift. It is humbling to be so close to everything that happens on the altar. There are two virtues that will make our lives “worthy” of our service: humility and gratitude. These are the virtues that draw us closer to the Eucharistic heart of our Lord, the heart that loved us even to the point of death on a cross. 26
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Ryan Asher '24 (Detroit) is instituted to the ministry of acolyte as he receives the paten from Most Rev. Adam Parker '00, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archiocese of Baltimore.
In receiving this ministry, I feel blessed to be on the journey toward the priesthood with my classmates at the College. In God’s providence, his slow but steady work in our lives, I sense that God wants to draw our seminary community and all of the faithful into one body—the body that is the Church. Just as we say in the
Eucharistic Prayer: “Grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit may become one Body, one spirit in Christ.” O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine! n
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What it Means to be a Neighbor M AT T H E W P R OS P E R I E ’ 2 3, D I O C E S E O F H O U M A-T H I B O DAU X
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n March 19th, I took in the colors and sounds before me: a gray sky, a green field, and a team’s worth of bright yellow jerseys dodging in and out of red, white, and blue uniforms on the College’s campo sportivo, battling over a bouncing soccer ball. Filling the space between the game on the field and the calls of the players, there was the chatter of observers on the sidelines. Three languages could be heard: English, Italian, and the mother-language of our guests sporting blue-and-yellow—Ukrainian. It was the first time we had them over in recent memory: members of the Pontifical Ukrainian College, our immediate neighbor on the Janiculum. When Russia began its assault on Ukraine, it began to sink in that seminarians next door to us were studying for the priesthood for dioceses being shelled. As brothers in Christ, many of us felt called to extend a hand to them. I couldn’t imagine what their hearts felt, and although I had never met any of them,
Members of the North American and Ukrainian Colleges greet one another after the soccer game.
I prayed for them. Fr. Harman sent a letter on behalf of our College to the Rector of the Ukrainian College to show our support and solidarity. He invited them to a soccer match followed by a cookout, and they accepted. It was a joyful time, with lots of life. Previously foreign faces became friendly, and people who once saw each other only from a distance
Under the cross, members of the two colleges hold the Ukrainian flag as a sign of solidarity in faith and a pledge of prayerful support.
shook hands, ate burgers, spoke, laughed, prayed, and played together, motivated by a love greater than the evil of dark times. The match brought cheer to the onlookers, even if it couldn’t eliminate the sorrow and uncertainty of war. Our game served as a good distraction from current events and an act of Christian solidarity. However, it was not only the game that brought courage. John 16:33 is more on target: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” This is the courage I saw in them, evidence of the pastors they will one day become. A single phrase can describe the event: “what it means to be neighbors.” In a time of war, we have been brought close by the love of Christ, the same love Christ taught is proper to “neighbors.” n ROMAN ECHOES 2022 • VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3
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Interview with Our Lady of Humility Iconographer Veronica Royal MATTHEW LUDWIG ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON
From our founding in 1859, the College has been under the patronage of Our Lady of Humility. This Marian title refers to Via dell'Umiltà (humility street), the original location of the College. The College recently commissioned an icon to be written of this same image. We were honored to find Veronica Royal, a renowned iconographer, to assist us with this project. Working from her studio in rural Virginia, she recently spoke with Roman Echoes.
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How long have you been writing icons and where did you learn?
symbols depicted. The icon is a means of worshipping God and venerating Mary and the saints.
The Lord called me to my journey in the sacred art of iconography in 1995. Wanting to deepen my knowledge of the meaning of icons and develop my skill level, I travelled to study with British, Italian, and Greek master iconographers. Coordinating workshops with Romanian, Russian, and American iconographers also allowed me to develop my skills here in the U.S.
Had you ever written Our Lady of Humility before? Through the years I have painted many variations of Our Lady of Humility. However, each is painted in a new way, specific to the commission.
The theology of the icon is based on the Incarnation—the revelation of the Image of God in the human form of Jesus Christ. An iconographer both participates in the mystery of creation and asserts the reality of Jesus’ humanity through the person and
Through this icon, we are reminded of Mary’s powerful intercession and remember that she reflects humble acceptance of all things as exemplified by her humility at the Annunciation.
By bringing us in contact with the Blessed Mother or any saint portrayed in icons, we are invited to imitate them as we strive for transformation and sanctification.
What is the most challenging aspect of iconography?
What is the difference between a painted work of art and a written icon?
While there are classic forms that iconographers rely on, icons become individualized after the iconographer goes through a time of internship. The aim of painting or writing an icon is not to be different, but to be better.
What did you consider most important for this icon?
Is there anything you would like to highlight about this icon?
Studying iconography, like any art, takes much time, effort and prayer. Prayerful and faithful communities of individuals come together to participate in a special way to help each other on the road to sanctification through iconography.
In iconography, the artist is not so concerned about exterior resemblance to the subject. The goal is to capture the essence and spirit of the person or event portrayed. There are rules or canons about subject matter and specific techniques that give a timeless and universal quality to the icon, which expresses the mystery of the divine.
iconographers for this special charism of painting holy icons.
The original image of Our Lady of Humility
There are many names for this type of icon in the East and West. It is a variation of the Eleusa or Our Lady of Tenderness. This means the depiction of the Virgin is compassionate and conveys intimacy, gentleness, and grace to her children. She is Our Loving Mother.
What was your experience writing this icon for the College? What a great honor to be asked to paint Our Lady of Humility for the North American College. After praying to Our Lady to guide my hand, I offered each brushstroke for the College, its staff, and seminarians. One must be in a state of inner peace and have a strong prayer life in order to participate in the graces given to
It is a real responsibility to paint icons that will be used as a bridge of prayer between God and the human person—to paint an icon that allows the viewer the occasion to be in the divine presence. Icons of the sacred not only set an atmosphere for prayer, but by contemplating the holiness of the person represented in the icon, one can experience the presence of God.
What do you enjoy most about this work? There is still, even after twenty-five years of painting icons and teaching others about iconography, a joy and excitement with each new commission. There is a deepening of faith and prayer, and an understanding of lives that were lived as an example to us all, each in their unique way. Icons encourage us to live a life in communion with Christ, our Mother Mary, and the saints. The image brings the viewer into a living encounter with the person it represents. It becomes a door into sacred time and space. n
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Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C'82 (New York) (left of center) smiles with the Casa Santa Maria community of 2018-2019, his last year as its superior. 30
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Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi: In Memoriam REV. JAMES PLATANIA '13, C'22, DIOCESE OF PATERSON
The community of The Pontifical North American College mourns the passing of Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi, who faithfully and joyfully served as superior of the Casa Santa Maria from 2014-2019. A Memorial Mass was offered at the Casa Santa Maria, concelebrated by resident priests and attended by lay staff and New York state seminarians. The following is adapted from the homily preached by Fr. James Platania.
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sgr. Ferdinando Berardi was born in 1950 in the village of Ruvo di Puglia, Italy. He emigrated with his family to Staten Island when he was eight years old and was ordained to the priesthood in 1977. He studied at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo, worked as Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York, and then as a parish priest in the same archdiocese. He was Superior of the Casa Santa Maria and finished his days on the same island where he arrived as a child from Italy—this last time as the spiritual father of many children. Today, we are gathered together to remember his service and to offer our prayers for him. Msgr. Berardi had a joyful soul and a positive outlook. He died as he lived—at the service of the Church and close to his family. On the last day of his life, he celebrated Mass for the parish school, hosted nearly twenty priests and deacons for a fraternity meeting, spoke with his sister on FaceTime, and then, surely after having prayed, he fell asleep, never to awake again. Msgr. Berardi was fond of the first verse of Psalm 133, and he liked to quote it in Latin: Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum: “How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” He always recited it and sometimes would even sing it. He deeply believed in these words of Holy Scripture. They were his guide and his hope for our community. I remember a certain community dinner that took place when morale was a little low. At its conclusion, he stood up and offered a fervorino (a brief speech offered to inspire
"How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together in unity" (Ps. 133:1). Smiling in the spirit of his beloved psalm-verse, Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C'82 (New York) welcomes the New Men of 2017 to the Casa Santa Maria.
fervor in the faithful) as only he knew how. He thanked everyone, but especially the residents, for our service, our priesthood, and our community life. He always tried to sow a harvest of joy. This joy came from his life of prayer and deep love of the priesthood. He regularly prayed a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and was very devoted to the Eucharist. This is the image that most characterizes Msgr. Berardi: seated in the chapel of Santa Maria dell’Umiltà with his community, breviary and rosary in hand, before the Lord whom he served throughout his life. I pray that our humble prayers will somehow help his eternal adoration of the Lord in heaven, united with the community of saints and singing the praises of God forever. n ROMAN ECHOES 2022 • VOLUME 26: ISSUE 3
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Interview with ICTE Participant Rev. Anthony Sorgie MICHAEL NORIEGA ’24, DIOCESE OF AUSTIN
Could you tell us a little bit about your background? I am priest of the Archdiocese of New York, Bronx-born, and a first-generation Italian-American. Being in Italy is like “coming home” for me. I attended St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, and will be celebrating my 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood this year. I was the pastor of Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady Parish in Westchester County prior to coming to Rome for the ICTE program.
What about the ICTE experience has been most impactful for you? Two words come to mind: “grateful heart.” Every day of these three months I have had a grateful heart because this experience is so full, in every sense of the experience. From celebrating the liturgy in common with the other ICTE priests, to the classes and professors we have had,
the opportunity to tour Rome, Italy, and Europe, and the conversations with the other priests here—this experience has filled me with much gratitude. I know Rome well, and it has been a gift to be back in the Eternal City and discover more of it. Having a community of fifteen priests in this semester’s program has given me life in being able to pray and converse together. I have learned much from them. Fr. Linton is a very good director who is present, directive, and participatory, bringing a wealth of knowledge.
I understand that you were involved in seminary formation in the past. What has it been like for you being back in a seminary environment? I was involved in seminary formation at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie for fifteen years, so this feels “like a duck in water.” The tease is, you never stop being a faculty member in the parish and even in the ICTE program
Rev. Anthony Sorgie in the chapel of the Casa O'Toole, ICTE participants' residence.
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here! Because of my seminary work, we have always had students at the College, and I have many close friends who have done ICTE. I’ve known a lot about the College but am not an alumnus, so it has been a gift to participate in the life of the College. I have been very impressed with the seminarians, and the opportunities we have had through ICTE are a microcosm of those that the seminarians of the College have in four years here. It has been a blessing to have a taste of this experience.
What would you say to a priest considering the ICTE program? I have had several close priest friends do the ICTE program and was a close collaborator with His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O’Brien. I remember the day when he left New York to become Rector of the College, and he, too, spoke highly of this sabbatical program. Needless to say, this program was highly recommended to me by many. There are a variety of reasons for why my brother priests and I have come here to participate in ICTE—some to renew and refresh, some to update their academic learning, some in transition between assignments. I’d recommend the ICTE program to any priest seeking a sabbatical for any reason, whether to rest, refresh his academic knowledge, or simply to meet priests from a variety of diocesan and religious backgrounds. Any priest would get a lot out of this program in many different ways. n
Learning Theology for the Sake of God and His Church: Intellectual Formation at the College REV. JOHN P. CUSH '98, C'15, ACADEMIC DEAN
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e are truly blessed to have the opportunity to study theology here in Rome. No matter what level of theology we are studying, whether bachelor, licentiate, or doctoral degrees, we are studying for one reason: we have fallen in love! Yes, we have fallen in love with Christ and his Church, and, as such, we want to know everything we can about the Lord. Those studying here at the College, the Casa Santa Maria, or ICTE program aren't just seeking intellectual knowledge. At the root of theological study is the desire to grow in holiness: wanting to be in the presence of God, recognizing who we are in the order of creation, and converting our lives to that end. Holiness leads to good theology, which in turn leads to good pastoral practice. There is an old Scholastic axiom, Nemo dat quod non habet, which means, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” One aspect of formation builds on the next. If we are striving to be an integral man, we will have a healthy spiritual life (in relation to God, others, and self) and an active intellectual life (rooted in the fonts of Divine Revelation). We will desire to transmit the love we have received from the Lord into concrete service of God and neighbor.
Holiness leads to good theology. When a man or woman of faith is armed with human learning acquired from years of study and filled with the Holy Spirit’s gift of true wisdom, he or she is capable of truly being a theologian. 20th-century Canadian theologian Bernard Lonergan prescribes these “transcendental precepts”: Be attentive! Be intelligent! Be reasonable! Be responsible! Be open and receptive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit! According to St. Bonaventure, one is conformed to the likeness of Christ by knowledge and love of the faith. The human soul comes to know the God who reveals and is transformed in this knowing. For Bonaventure, theology is an affective science, located between the speculative and the practical. Theology proceeds rationally in faith according to the object, who is Christ, and our own relationship with that object. Therefore, the culmination is not simply knowledge but wisdom. Theology, according to Bonaventure is a science whose very nature is determined by the love of its object. Christ and human reason must be transformed by grace into a reason suitable for theology. Thus, theology is really all about a passage from knowledge, to wisdom, to holiness.
Rev. John P. Cush ‘98, C’15 (Brooklyn), Academic Dean of the College.
Holiness begins with a yearning for wisdom and becomes a personal and moral disposition. There are three stages of study: virtue, which involves creedal knowledge, rectifying and cleansing the soul through the theological virtues; holiness, permitting the gifts of the Holy Spirit to move the soul toward God; and knowledge, the perfection of the soul moving it toward union with God. Therefore, theology is different from any other study, and it is the Lord who brings this great work to completion. Our studies are important! Pray for your priests and seminarians at the College, that their higher studies may lead them to holiness and conformity to Christ. n
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Behold, I Make All Things New MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
T
he recent exciting news of our new Rector being appointed naturally marks yet another milestone in the life of The Pontifical North American College.
Since our founding on December 8, 1859, a tremendous amount of history has taken place. New things, however, eventually become common or familiar. Combined with the cyclical nature of an academic institution, it is interesting to consider how things evolve, and how we come to appreciate both the old and the new. Take for example the new icon of Our Lady of Humility (pages 28-29). The original image of our Blessed Mother under this title existed even before the College was founded. She has been our patroness for these many years. Every seminarian is given an image of her soon after he arrives as a New Man. Now we have a new expression of her image, different and yet very familiar to us. It’s been sixty-nine years since the College moved to its current home on the Janiculum Hill. Our facility has retained its original grandeur, and visitors are always a bit in awe, I think, as they enter through Firmum Est, walk out into the Cortile, and gaze up the chapel facade. We would all agree, though, that our campus and community have greatly benefited from a major renovation in 2009, and the addition of the new tower in 2015. Just last summer, the entire kitchen was renovated thanks to the James Cardinal Harvey Household Fund, a capstone of many projects on the Janiculum and Casa Santa Maria in the last seven years. Many visitors have commented, “It’s never looked better!” Even the more than 400-year-old Casa Santa Maria, the College's original home, contains both old and new elements. Located close to Trevi Fountain in “old Rome,” the building predates Napoleon! The main chapel there is one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture in all of Rome. Still, modern times call for modern quarters, and a major renovation in 2017 provided enhanced living spaces for the student-priests who reside there. Even the formation process for seminarians has evolved over time. The Program for Priestly Formation is the guidebook used by the U.S. bishops to structure how a man is formed for the diocesan priesthood. The sixth version of that document is about to be published, but it dates back to the
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The Pontifical North American College
1990s, inspired by St. John Paul II’s Pastores dabo vobis. A 21st-century priest faces a vastly different cultural and social landscape than did his grandfather. At the College, we continue to revise our programs and methods to give our seminarians all the tools they need to be holy, courageous, and articulate men of God. Finally, I find it fascinating to see how financial support for the College has evolved over time. It took four years to secure the funding for the College, after Pope Pius IX first expressed to members of the American hierarchy his interest in establishing a national seminary in Rome to form candidates from the US. Lay Catholics, dioceses, fraternal organizations, foundations, and businesses all participated in making possible the mission of the College at our founding. Today, we add to that list our many alumni who so generously support their alma mater. While our friends have been generous to the College throughout our history, a formal fundraising office was not established until the mid-1970s. I remember finding a small box of three-by-five cards in my office when I joined the College in 2012. Each card held the name of a donor, written in pencil, with a notation of each gift made and the date. I think the late Msgr. Roger Roench ’58, one of the greatest NAC ambassadors of all time, used that system when he was raising funds for us. Today, of course, everything is computerized. We offer giving options that didn’t exist that long ago, such as our Cor Meum recurring gift program, our charitable gift annuity program, and so on. Tax and financial incentives abound to encourage charitable giving. Living in the information age with so much technology available, we are able to communicate with our stakeholders better than ever before. That said, our invitation for your support remains the same as it was 163 years ago. It is a priceless opportunity for a man to be formed for the holy priesthood in the Eternal City. The unique lessons to be learned in Rome include experiencing the unity and universality of the Church, the traditions of our faith, and the ministry of the successor of St. Peter. We invite you to join us in this noble work with your investment, which will reap untold return as these men return to the U.S. to serve the People of God. May God bless you for your generosity! n
CALLING ALL ALUMNI! Join us in sunny California for the 131st
ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION. June 21-23, 2022
Diocese of Orange – Garden Grove, CA Held on the campus of Christ Cathedral, with a tour and Holy Mass Hotel accommodations at the nearby Double Tree Hotel by Hilton ($159/night) Deadline to book: May 20, 2022 Theological Lecture by Rev. William B. Goldin, STD, C’17, (Diocese of Orange) Bum Run to the Mission Basilica of San Juan Capistrano
“We are all looking forward to welcoming you here on campus for these days of renewal of our faith and commitment to our mission as priests of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which was formed in a significant way by our time together in study and prayer in the Eternal City.” – Bishop Kevin Vann C’85, Bishop of Orange in CA
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The Pontifical North American College Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED1
NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 144 WALDORF, MD
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) 470-6211 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org
In the heart of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles lie the remains of St. Philip and St. James the Lesser. In the arch above the tomb is written in Latin: “The bodies of the saints are buried in peace, and their names will live forever."
