ICTE Report

Past, Present, and Future Fill us with Gratitude

REV. EDWARD LINTON, O.S.B.

Looking back over the past academic year, we at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education (ICTE) are grateful to have been able to continue serving priests amid pandemic restrictions. Despite the continuing difficulties of travel, sabbaticants came to Rome to renew their commitment to the priesthood. Their desire to draw ever closer to the Lord as priests was an inspiration to us all.

During our autumn modules, nine priests from seven different dioceses and two religious orders joined us. The theme of the autumn 2021 modules was discernment. The priests studied the art of discernment from the perspective of spiritual masters such as St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and St. Benedict. Presentations were offered on how to discern the Word of God through Lectio Divina. We considered how listening is essential to preaching. Conversations and exchanges with one another were the most formative experience for the priests during their sabbatical.

We were very grateful that the lifting of restrictions within Italy allowed us to travel more widely. We were able to take the priests on several enriching tours—for six days during the first module, we visited Naples, and for six days during the third module, we visited Florence. Both trips offered an occasion to visit incredible churches and to view breathtaking art.

Fifteen priests from ten different dioceses, three different religious orders and three different countries joined us for the spring 2022 program. It was the largest group of priests we have hosted since 2020, when the pandemic forced us to end the sabbatical early. This sign of normalcy filled our hearts with gratitude! The spring program is a general renewal course, offering a variety of classes that focus on topics from Canon Law to Pauline theology. This offers the priests a great opportunity to review various topics they studied in seminary. Their years of pastoral experience always enhance classroom discussion, but we don’t spend all our time in the classroom! Not only do we visit the churches and museums in Rome, but we are also able to make day trips to beautiful places like Subiaco, the Castelli Romani, and Tivoli. We also make a five-day preached retreat in Assisi. There is, certainly, lots for which to be grateful!

At ICTE, we are not only grateful for the past and present, but also for the promising future! In the coming autumn we have planned some great programs. Our theme for autumn will be “The Passion of Christ.” There is still some room in each of our three autumn modules.

Module 1 (September 5-30) will focus on the theology of the Passion. It will include a trip to the famous passion play at Oberammergau, Germany. Module 2 (October 3-21) will focus on preaching the Passion. It will include many trips within Rome, and we will offer an optional trip to see the inspiring crucifixes of Florence. Module 3 (October 24-November 18) will focus on art and the Passion. This module will feature presentations by renowned art historian Elizabeth Lev. She will take us on unforgettable tours of Rome. This module will also include a six-day tour of Venice, where we will visit the incredible Passion cycles in that beautiful city.

Indeed, looking behind us and ahead of us, our hearts overflow with gratitude!