Roman Echoes 2023 - Volume 27, Issue 4

From the Editor

At the end of May and in early June, deacons begin to return home for their ordination to the priesthood. For many it marks the end of their time in Rome, so their departure is a bitter-sweet moment (especially because many of us can’t be present for their ordinations!). On one hand, we are sad to see our brothers leaving. On the other hand, we are happy that they can finally begin their lives as priests.

To mark the departure of a man who has finished formation at the NAC, we have a clap-out. Before travel was as easy as it is today, a man would come to Rome and leave only after he had completed his formation four years later. The clapouts mark the end of his time in seminary and the beginning of his life as a priest.

As we do our annual report (page 13), we thought it was fitting to show a clap-out on the back cover and an ordination on the front cover. Our formation in seminary is directed toward making the promises of prayer, celibacy, and obedience at ordination. And then life as a priest is structured by keeping these promises. Because these promises are so essential to the life of the priest—and therefore to seminary formation—we chose it as our theme.

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Ludwig '24, Archdiocese of St. Louis

Contributors

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matthew Ludwig '24, Archdiocese of St. Louis

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Will Robbins '25, Diocese of Beaumont

PHOTO EDITOR

Aaron Salvan '24, Archdiocese of New York

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Chukwuma Odigwe '25, Archdiocese of Washington

Administration of The Pontifical North American College

RECTOR

Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers '97

VICE RECTOR

Rev. David A. Schunk ‘10

CARL J. PETER CHAIR OF HOMILETICS

ROMAN ECHOES FACULTY LIAISON

Rev. Peter John Cameron, OP

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: On Saturday, May 27th, Bishop Michael Burbidge (Arlington) ordained Rev. Mr. Elder Maldonado to the priesthood. It was the first ordination in our Immaculate Conception Chapel in 25 years.

THIS PAGE: Rev. Mr. Ryan Glaser '23 (Saint Paul and Minneapolis) carries the newly lit Easter Candle during the Easter Vigil. The light is a reminder of Christ's victory over death and his promise to us of eternal life.

BACK COVER: Rev. Mr. Zane Langenbrunner (Fort WayneSouth Bend) says goodbye to the College community at his "clap-out" before flying home to prepare for his ordination to the priesthood.

RECTOR’S CORNER

Dear Friend of The Pontifical North American College,

A lay friend of mine recently asked me how we prepare our seminarians to make the promises of celibacy, prayer and obedience. He was a bit surprised when I responded that we don’t. I told him, instead, that our formation program prepares men to keep the promises they will make.

In our increasingly secular society, a lot of people make a lot of promises that they do not intend to or are unable to keep. Anyone can make a promise; but not everyone is true to the promise one has made. As Rector, I ask each seminarian during his last evaluation before diaconate ordination if he is resolved not just to make, but to live out faithfully the promises of celibacy, prayer and obedience. It is always inspiring when each candidate responds with a resounding, “Yes!”

When making and keeping their promises, our men rely entirely on the Lord and his grace, because they are living them out with Jesus in joyful freedom. In living out their promise of chaste celibacy, they will love as Jesus loves, giving themselves totally and with an undivided heart to his Church. In living out their promise of prayer, most especially their faithful and daily commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours, they will pray as Jesus prays, hearing the Father say, “You are my beloved Son.” In living out their promise of obedience, they will obey as Jesus obeys, submitting themselves to God’s divine will, desiring only what he desires.

Please pray for our seminarians and especially for those men preparing to make – and keep! – their promises this fall when they are ordained deacons, and be sure of my prayers and the prayers of this community.

Thank you for your continued support, for which we are deeply grateful.

Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers ‘97 Rector

When making and keeping their promises, our men rely entirely on the Lord and his grace, because they are living them out with Jesus in joyful freedom.

Please pray for our seminarians and especially for those men preparing to make–and keep!–their promises this fall when they are ordained deacons.

A Happy Life in Christ: An Interview with Rev. Elder Maldonado

WILL ROBBINS ’25, DIOCESE OF BEAUMONT

“Please make this focus on God’s work through my life,” soon-to-be Fr. Elder Maldonado ’23 said three days before his priestly ordination at the Pontifical North American College. “Everything has been grace from God.”

Sitting down with the Roman Echoes staff on a patio at the College on a sunny, Roman afternoon, Maldonado recounted his journey from Honduras to Arlington, Virginia, and, finally, to Rome. Through this journey, he encountered God, grew in faith, and was formed for the priesthood.

Maldonado grew up in Honduras. He was the fourth of nine children in a family that lived and worked on a coffee plantation. Though he was baptized into the Catholic Church as a child, his family did not practice the faith on a regular basis.

After moving to Arlington at age 17, Maldonado remembers starting to wonder in his early 20s, “What am I doing in this world? What is happiness?” These questions sent him searching for answers. Answers that he would soon find thanks to an invitation to Sunday Mass from a friend. He said, “A friend invited me to find the answers I was seeking at church. At first, I was critical of church people, but, one Sunday, I paid attention to all of the words, including the prayers to an eternal God. This mystery was striking and attractive.” This mystery called to Maldonado, because he knew happiness was stable and unending, like God. Soon after, he began catechesis with the local pastor.

During his journey towards God, Maldonado had a career as both a carpenter and a car mechanic. He built a stable life and even thought of returning to Honduras, but throughout

it, God continued to call him to a life with Christ. Through worshiping God, he began truly discerning what path would bring him the true happiness God desired for him. He recounted, “I really sought happiness and knew it would be in being a priest.” He entered the seminary for the Diocese of Arlington and completed his philosophy and Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Universidad Ecclesiastica San Dámaso before studying dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome while at the Pontifical North American College.

After his diaconate ordination in St. Peter’s Basilica, Maldonado ended the academic year by being ordained a priest of Jesus Christ by Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at the College. Maldonado excitingly and joyfully exclaimed, “ A new life will begin after the ordination liturgy. I am confident God will continue to call me to holiness and happiness in ministry.”

The first priest ordained in the Immaculate Conception Chapel in twenty-five years, Maldonado says, “I am joyful, because it shows God’s love for me.” At the same time, he showed a tinge of sadness to not be with the faithful of Arlington for this joyous day. With several Arlington priests traveling to Rome for the ordination, Maldonado says, “The priests from Arlington have been true fathers and brothers, not just in words but in deeds.”

As the interview came to a close, Maldonado was clearly filled with joy, peace, and happiness as he prepared for his priestly ordination and rested in the God of happiness and love who has filled him with grace in his journey of faith. n

After moving to Arlington at age 17, Maldonado remembers starting to wonder in his early 20s, “What am I doing in this world? What is happiness?” These questions sent him searching for answers.

Right after his ordination to the priesthood, Rev. Elder Maldonado Zavala '23 (Arlington) gives his mother, Mrs. Pastora Zavala, his first priestly blessing.

VOICES OF NAC

How has God kept his promise of mercy to you during your time at the NAC?

I experience God's fulfilment of his promise of mercy to me in the internal peace which I have enjoyed here. This is motivated by the family structure of the seminary: the spiritual fatherhood of the Rector, the wonderful guidance of my formators, the fraternity of other seminarians, and the hopes from my Diocese. I'm in the right place at the right time. This is an action of God—a sign of his confidence in me. God is here.

God often shows mercy during travels, and this happened to me in Spain while catching a long-distance train. My group left early to get to the station but ended up in the wrong spot; it’s highly inconvenient when the train station and a nearby hill happen to have the exact same name. The only person around was a jogger who directed us to the station, and we boarded the train with literally thirty seconds to spare.

Tristan

Schubert

Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

The word promise comes from the Latin prefix pro meaning “to push forward” and mittere meaning “to send.” This means that inherent to every promise is a mission. God’s promise to us, then, is fulfilled in the salvific mission of Jesus Christ. This mission has not only saved me, but also sent me forward—in this moment to Rome, and soon, to also take up this saving mission as a priest.

Noah

Studying at the North American College, I have seen God's promise of mercy in the opportunities for growth and learning, in the guidance and support of mentors and fellow students, and in the ways that God provides strength and sustenance during times of challenge and uncertainty. Ultimately, God's mercy is a gift that is freely given to all who seek him, and it is a reminder of his unchanging love and faithfulness.

Rev. Mr. Oscar Marquina Romero ’23, Diocese of Salt Lake City

Da Silva ’24, Diocese of Providence

’25,

Martin Umeatuegbu ’26, Archdiocese of Santa Fe

INTERVIEW WITH DEPARTING FACULTY

CHUKWUMA ODIGWE ’25, ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON

As the year comes to a close, the NAC community says goodbye to five members of the formation team. The College is grateful for their valuable work in the formation of future priests. As they depart, we interviewed them, asking about their experience at the College:

Rev. David Schunk '10 (San Francisco), Vice Rector

What advice do you have for the seminarians of the NAC as they prepare to make the promises of the priesthood?

Our diaconate and priesthood ordination promises are not static. The challenges and graces that will arise with them will always be different, as our circumstances and times of life will change. But our model for the promises, our savior Jesus Christ, must be firmly planted in our lives so God’s grace will allow us to faithfully live out the promises as our lives change.

Rev. Schunk will return to his home Archdiocese of San Francisco to serve as pastor of St. Monica-St. Thomas the Apostle.

Rev. Christopher Mahar, ‘04 (Providence), Adjunct Spiritual Director

What will you miss the most about serving at the NAC?

It has been a privilege to be a spiritual director at the NAC, especially since the interior life is the key to priestly fruitfulness. What I will miss most about this ministry is helping seminarians to discover the work of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Their growth and renewal in prayer has been my joy in spiritual direction.

Rev. Mahar will return to his home Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island to serve as pastor of St. Augustine Parish.

Rev. Kenneth Malley '97 (St. Petersburg), Spiritual Director

What did you enjoy the most about being a Spiritual Director at the College?

My first day at the college was thirty years ago in August of 1993. I had no idea how much I was going to learn on my first journey at PNAC and I think it will

take some time to realize how much I have learned in my past three years here. The work of being a spiritual director has allowed me to have a “front row” seat, noticing how God was moving, so uniquely, in each individual person. I am most grateful for experiencing a sense of God’s love, and trying to convey that to each directee.

Rev. Malley will go on to be the Pastor of St. Scholastica Parish and St. John Paul II Catholic School.

Sr. Maria José Acosta, O.P., Head Librarian

What will you miss the most about serving at the NAC?

I served at the North American College for three years as Head Librarian. I loved every minute of it, and I will miss all of the wonderful Faculty, Priests, Seminarians, and Staff. It has been a true privilege serving these good, faithful men who are in love with Jesus Christ and dedicated to their vocations of preaching the Gospel. I am very grateful to God for his goodness in having provided this opportunity to me.

Sr. Maria José will go on to teach Theology at JSerra High School in Orange County, California.

Sr. Dominica Hooper, O.P., CSM Librarian

What surprised you the most about your experience serving at the NAC?

What has surprised me is the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the men studying for the priesthood at the PNAC. United together in Christ they form a faithful brotherhood through the daily formation of the Eternal City ready to serve the Universal Church. It has been an amazing experience to interact with them whether it be over pranzo, amidst their research for studies, or in the streets of Rome.

Sr. Domenica will go on to teach mathematics at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri.

REV. KENNETH MALLEY REV. DAVID SCHUNK SR. MARIA JOSÉ ACOSTA REV. CHRISTOPHER MAHAR SR. DOMINICA HOOPER

LIVING IN ROME

THE ITALIAN OPEN

There are only two places that I have experienced silence in a gathering of thousands of people: mass and a professional tennis match. At the beginning of May, a few of us went to the Italian Open—a tennis tournament featuring the top players of the world played in Rome each year. After years of playing and coaching tennis, I still had never seen a professional match live. That changed when, at center court in the historic Foro Italico, we watched Novak Djokovic take down a young Argentinian named Tomás Etcheverry in straight sets on a beautiful red clay court.

The silence struck me most. Thousands of excited fans were in the crowd, but they wouldn’t make a sound as long as the ball was in play. There was a reverence and an awe for the game. Like stepping into St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time, it really takes you by surprise. It makes me so grateful that God knows what will blow us away, and watching the Italian Open did just that.

STUDYING THE CHURCH

The highlight of my studies this year was my seminar: A Patristic Synthesis of Theology. It beautifully tied together all the fields of theology we have covered in our three years of studies at the Gregorian university. While the Church Fathers formed the core, we read authors from the Scholastic period, the Reformation, and the Second Vatican Council. The goal of the course has been to show the development and continuity of Catholic belief from the early Church into our own time.

FATHERS IN ROME

We were immersed in the Catholic tradition beyond simply discussing writings. After our class on Mary, we took a trip to the town of Gaeta and prayed in the Cappella d’Oro, where Pope Pius IX spent hours in prayer before beginning the process that would end with defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. For our final meeting of the year in May, we gathered for Mass in the Pantheon and celebrated the confirmation of one of our classmates. It was an image of the course’s theme: What was good and true in the past continues even now to be a means of encountering the grace and truth of the Lord.

Max Vetch ’25, Dicoese of Rapid City

Andrew Westerman ’24, Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

Members of the seminar are pictured here in the Cappella d'Oro, where Pope Pius IX prayed almost 200 years ago.

Novak Djokovic, currently the top player in the world, prepares to serve on Center Court at the Foro Italico.

Let's Go Bowling St. John XXIII Bowling Lanes

BEN BRALOVE ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON

Less than a decade after opening its Janiculum campus, the Pontifical North American College received a most unusual gift from His Holiness Pope John XXIII. The saintly pope received two bowling alleys complete with state-of-the-art automatic pinsetters from the American-based Brunswick Corporation. Realizing two such alleys would receive little use within the walls of the Vatican, he donated them to “that new seminary on the hill.” In 1961 construction began to fit the North American College with the first automatic pinsetters in all of Rome. Construction was completed in 1963 and for almost the past half century one could walk the halls to the sound of pins crashing.

The automatic pinsetter was a complex machine with thousands of moving parts. Unfortunately, with decades of use it began to malfunction frequently. Because the machine was now long out of production, repairs were difficult and highly specialized. Despite a series of refurbishments, the machine became too costly to operate. For nearly 15 years, the bowling alley has remained closed.

Thanks to the generosity of Norman and Darlene Ferenz, the entire bowling alley was able to be restored. The gift allowed for the replacement of the old machines with modern, easy to maintain string pinsetters. Furthermore, components original to the alley including the wooden lanes, machine hoods, ball-return, benches, and tables were restored to their former glory. Finally, the space was redesigned with fusion of 1950’s and 60’s Americana and Italian styles. Since the blessing of the St. John XXIII Bowling Lanes by the rector Monsignor Thomas Powers on May 17th, 2023, the space has been used frequently as an opportunity for leisure and fraternity and will continue to be for decades to come. n

Sr. Dominica Hooper, OP, bowls during the Grand Opening.

The Rector, Rev. Msgr. Powers '97 (Bridge- port), blesses the new bowling lanes.

Pope St. John XXIII donated the bowling lanes to the NAC in 1961.

The St. John XXIII Bowling Lanes before their restoration this year.

After restoration, the bowling lanes officially opened on May 17th, 2023.

Michele Marconi, the Economo, and Rev. Kurt Belsole OSB, attend the Grand Opening on May 17th.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2023

Rev. Samuel Anderson, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Rev. John Bilenki, Archdiocese of Baltimore

Rev. Jared Clements, Diocese of La Crosse

Rev. Taylor Colwell, Archdiocese of Washington

Rev. Timothy Courtney, Diocese of Arlington

Rev. Alex Fry, Diocese of Dallas

Rev. Ryan Glaser, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Rev. Joshua Hill, Diocese of Bismarck

Rev. John Lado, Archdiocese of Washington

Rev. Zane Langenbrunner, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Rev. Joseph Lapeyrouse, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Rev. Nicholas Le, Archdiocese of Atlanta

Rev. Jose Lim, Diocese of Metuchen

Rev. Elder Maldonado Zavala, Diocese of Arlington

Rev. Augustine Mang, Diocese of Nashville

Rev. Michael Nugent, Diocese of Arlington

Rev. Isaac Pecha, Diocese of La Crosse

Rev. Raymond Pendleton, Diocese of Corpus Christi

Rev. Ben Pribbenow, Diocese of Green Bay

Rev. Matthew Prosperie, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Rev. Patrick Ryan, Diocese of Providence

Rev. Daniel Scanlan, Diocese of Venice in Florida

Rev. Matthew Schilmoeller, Diocese of Lincoln

Rev. Daniel Sessions, Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama

Rev. Richard Sofatzis, Archdiocese of Sydney

Rev. Kelby Tingle, Diocese of Shreveport

Rev. Krzysztof Tyszko, Diocese of Paterson

Rev. Steven Vetter, Diocese of Bismarck

Rev. Oscar Marquina Romero, Diocese of Salt Lake City

2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Priestly formation is a journey in which the four dimensions of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation are woven together to conform the heart of the seminarian to the heart of Christ (PPF 6th Edition, 11-12).

The newly-ordained Rev. Maldonado '22 (Arlington) poses with his Bishop, His Excellency Michael Burbidge (Arlington), concelebrating priests, and all who served at his first Mass on Pentecost Sunday in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

HUMAN FORMATION

The human personality of the priest is to be a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the human race.

As the humanity of the Word made flesh was the instrumentum salutis , so the humanity of the priest is instrumental in mediating the redemptive gifts of Christ to people today. The disciple of Jesus Christ is a person who is free to be who he is in God’s design (PPF 6th edition, 182).

top to bottom Rev. Alex Wyvill '22 (Washington) and Rev. Mr. John Bilenki '23 (Baltimore) play music in the student lounge; Students from the Gregorian University beat the students from the Angelicum in this year's University Softball Tournament.

A Letter to an Incoming NAC Seminarian

BRYCE BAUMANN ’24, DIOCESE OF DALLAS

Dear ________, Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Before you begin, I offer a few pieces of advice from my experience these past three years to ensure you take full advantage of your human formation at the NAC.

First: develop good friendships! Since you will be away from family for a few years, your brothers at the College truly become just that—your brothers. They will be there to rejoice with you, to pray with you, to console you, and you will do the same for them because that is what family does for each other. These friends will be your best friends and priest brothers for life, so prioritize time with them since you will only have so many years together before ordination.

Second: travel! The NAC affords you so many opportunities to see all the different cultures found in Europe. While it takes energy and effort, some of your greatest memories will be on trips with your brothers, so travel whenever you can. Don’t forget to go to Ars and Lisieux to visit the relics of your saintly friends and intercessors John Vianney and Therese. It will strengthen you in your vocation.

Third: keep up with your family and loved ones back home in the States. Calling Mom and Dad every Sunday will be a consistent source of consolation, and staying in contact with diocesan brothers and priests will also be worth your time since staying connected with the diocese is essential. You will be able to share with them the ups and downs of life here, receive their advice, and they will remind you why you are in the seminary—to love the Lord and serve people like them in the diocese. Finally, be gentle with yourself. It will take a while to adjust and find your rhythm of exercise, recreation, and learning in Italian. When life gets especially wild, simply return to the routine again when you can, trusting that the Lord sees your good desires for these things and will provide the grace to fulfill them in his time. It won’t always be smooth, especially at the beginning, but the ways in which God will help you grow into the man he created you to be are so worth the crosses that come with moving to the Eternal City. Ordination will be here soon enough, so in the meantime, enjoy the journey.

In Christ through Mary, Bryce

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

The seminarian is called “to live in intimate and unceasing union with God the Father through his Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit.” This is the foundational call to discipleship and conversion of heart. Those who aspire to be sent on mission, as the Apostles were, must first acquire the listening and learning heart of disciples (PPF 6th edition, 226).

top to bottom After the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, the College community processes down to the Assumption Chapel for a time of prayer before the altar of repose as the Holy Triduum begins; The crucifix is displayed in the Immaculate Conception Chapel for veneration after the Good Friday liturgy.

At his ordination to the diaconate, a seminarian makes three promises—prayer, celibacy, and obedience—and takes an oath of fidelity. Before making these promises, the third-year seminarians reflect on them throughout the year. We share pieces of their writings below.

Prayer

DAVID LEE ’24, DIOCESE OF NASHVILLE

The cultivation of the interior life is essential for the priesthood because it demands such a radical gift of self. If I do not know myself and am not absolutely confident in my identity as a beloved son of God, then I will be unable to be the spiritual father that I believe the Lord is calling me to be.

Prayer allows me to see myself in my poverty and moves me to cling more confidently to Christ: “Prayer, properly carried out, will have as its effect the gradual revelation to the soul of this disease of self-love which so intimately penetrates the very fibers of its being" (Leen, Progress through Men-

tal Prayer). Through prayer the Lord reveals to me and invites me to surrender those places of my heart that I have not yet fully given to him. This gradual surrender is the essence of the prayer life in which I must decrease and Christ must increase.

In my own prayer life, I see the call to celibacy tied to my call to priesthood. While they are not identical, I see them as two parts of the same calling. If God is calling me to be his priest, then he is calling me to give my whole self to him through the gift of celibacy. A

Obedience

priest makes this promise in order to more fully give himself to God and to his Church. Celibacy frees a priest to work with people in the Church and to be obedient to his bishop in a way he could not be with a family—either

PAULO SALAZAR ’24, DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN

As I entered seminary, I saw the promise of obedience as simply obeying the bishop—something black and white. However, as I continued, my perspective became more nuanced. There are many layers underneath the simple phrase, Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my

NICHOLAS

The Oath of Fidelity, while not one of the canonical promises, is more important and more demanding than the promises themselves. More important because it concerns not my own salvation, but that of those entrusted to

successors? I do not solely give obedience to my bishop, but also to the will of God acting through him. As a baptized man, I am created to have a filial relationship with God the Father. This filial relationship is expressed in an extremely tangible way through my relationship with my bishop. The

the Church or his family would suffer, or both. A priest promises celibacy in order to fully devote himself to the Church and the people he is called to serve. The promise of celibacy allows me to imitate Christ in a radical way.

promise reminds me that my bishop may be my boss, but he is also my spiritual father. Obedience is not a loss of self or freedom but is basking in that freedom and perfecting one’s sonship by ultimately being obedient to God the Father through my bishop.

Oath of Fidelity

my care. More demanding, because it requires that I live with an implicit faith and commit myself even to those things which I do not yet know. Yet, I profess every day that I believe everything the Church teaches is revealed

by God who can neither deceive nor be deceived. I want nothing more for my life than to always remain in union with the Pope and the universal Church, for fidelity to the Church is always fidelity to Christ himself.

MICHAEL MALONEY ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS Celibacy

SHELTON ’24, DIOCESE OF TYLER

INTELLECTUAL FORMATION

Disciples are learners. The first task of intellectual formation is to acquire a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the fullness and completion of God’s Revelation and the one Teacher. This saving knowledge is not acquired only once but rather is continuously appropriated and deepened, so that it becomes more and more part of the disciple (PPF 6th edition, 263).

For the first three years of formation in Rome, a seminarian studies at one of these three universities (left to right): The Gregorian Univeristy, The University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), or Santa Croce.

All seminarians preparing for diaconate ordination complete the Bachelors in Sacred Theology (STB) degree. One of the requirements for this degree is a large term paper. Below are small summaries of research completed by three seminarians who will be ordained this fall.

Passing on the Faith ZACHARY

One of the questions many parents wrestle with today is how to pass on the faith to their children. I focused on this question in my term paper. Recent research by Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk studied this question from a sociological perspective. I studied their book, Handing Down the Faith, and put it in dialogue with the thoughts of St. John Henry Newman on belief and St. John Paul II on the family.

GALANTE ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE | GREGORIAN

The argument is deceptively simple. Research shows that parents play the most important role in making the faith real and important in the lives of their children. The influence of the parent is tied in part to a healthy parenting style, but more to the parents' own lived experience of the faith. Examples of this include the parents' own commitment to attending weekly

Sunday Mass, making prayer a part of daily life, and by speaking regularly and casually about topics of faith in relation to the ordinary realities of life. Through these practices, parents implicitly communicate to their children that faith in God is real, important, and worthy of making one’s own. We must invest in the evangelization and formation of parents to best help children come to know and love God.

Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church

JOE BRODEUR ’24, DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE | ANGELICUM

With the ongoing Synod on Synodality about to reach its pinnacle next year, there have been many calls for us to become a “listening Church” that hears and heeds what the Spirit is saying (Rev. 2:29). Pope Francis has written much about the “instinct of faith–sensus fidei” which gives the Christian faithful “a certain connaturality with divine realities, and a wisdom which enables

them to grasp those realities intuitively” (Evangelii Gaudium 119). This concept has developed much since John Henry Newman first began exploring it, yet there remains much to be clarified. How the Church understands this concept determines what the Church listens for and who she invites to the discussion table.

My research seeks to understand the sensus fidei in its authentic manifesta-

tion by using the four causes: efficient, material, formal, and final. Stemming from and relying upon the supernatural virtue of faith, this “connaturality for divine realities” is the means by which the Holy Spirit imparts to us the mind of Christ, shaping our own natural faculties and dispositions in accordance with his wisdom and will (1 Corinthians 10:16).

The Lay Vocation DAVID NOWICKI ’24, DIOCESE OF LA CROSSE | SANTA CROCE

One of the points of discussion in the Church today is determining a precise definition of the lay vocation— one that doesn’t resort to a via negativa that would define it as “not the priesthood” or “not consecrated life.” This lack of a definition presents a difficulty in living the lay vocation, since the laity live in the world but are not of the world. Two temptations can occur: first, the cares of the world overwhelm the layperson, rendering a spiritual life seemingly impossible;

second, the vocation to holiness excludes any interaction with the world, though this is inherently inimical to Christian holiness.

These temptations can be seen in less extreme cases as well, such as those whose work in the Church becomes either, on the one hand, a frenetic activism or, on the other hand, an overly spiritual endeavor devoid of any engagement with the world. For the lay vocation, one’s spiritual life provides

what one needs to go into the world and bring about Christ’s work of redemption. More importantly, growth in union with Christ in the lay vocation makes the division between “church life” (prayer, Sacraments, evangelization, etc.) and “real life” (family, work, etc.) less distinct, since they are not two parallel and separate trajectories, but rather two complimentary elements of the same lay vocation.

PASTORAL FORMATION

The goal of pastoral formation is to form shepherds of God’s People; this goal requires men who are not self-centered, aloof, judgmental, or self-imposing but instead are characterized by a “serene openness” and capable of listening and collaboration. True shepherds must have a desire to understand the hearts of others and engage in attentive accompaniment (PPF 6th edition, 367).

top to bottom Steven Lang '26 (St. Paul and Minneapolis) and Mauricio Romero '25 (San Angelo) eat dinner with college students who are studying abroad in Rome during the NAC's College Night; Gerard Gayou '25 (Washington) speaks with a pilgrim during the Seven Church Walk during Holy Week.

Visiting Christ in Prison

RYAN ASHER ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT

At Regina Coeli Prison, our ministry takes various forms because we meet with inmates who have all sorts of needs. Each situation is different and each moment calls for docility to the Holy Spirit. One day an inmate was having a noticeably rough time. He was experiencing intense isolation as he suffered the daily monotony of the prison. I tried to offer a few words of consolation, but I realized quickly that my words, nice though they were, were more like pious platitudes.

I stopped and in a brief moment asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. A thought came to me. When human words are insufficient, turn to the Word of God. “Let’s turn to Romans 8.”

Romans 8 is a thunderous proclamation of the Gospel and the victory won

for us by Jesus. It’s worth knowing line-by-line. I asked the inmate to open to the chapter and to start reading aloud at verse 18: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. As he was reading it, in slow, somewhat broken English, it was as if I was seeing the Word of God work on him. His tone changed as he read. His voice grew stronger. The Word was taking root in his heart and mind. He read all the way to the monumental conclusion: I am convinced that neither death, nor life,... nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

After he finished, he paused. Then he said in a quiet voice, “Wow, this is great.”

I can think of no better response to the good news of the Gospel—that we are freed from the chains of sin and death because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. The Gospel had not eliminated the inmate’s suffering, but it had transformed it. Now he suffered in hope, because of Jesus.

That day the inmate taught me something of what it means to receive God’s promise. God’s promise is eternal life, and eternal life is to know the one true God and Jesus, the One he sent. That day I had the great privilege of seeing someone receive the Gospel truth, the Word of God, into his mind and heart. And in doing so, he received some small part of the hope and life that is God’s promise to us.

This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one you sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:3).

2022-23 STUDENT REPRESENTATION

Where do our seminarians and student priests come from?

This past year, more than 50 dioceses were represented by 106 men in formation at the Janiculum Campus, plus another 56 priests at the Casa Santa Maria for graduate studies. Their years in Rome foster a deep sense of community and embrace the diversity of experience and knowledge that each man holds. In a unique way, the College offers a broad view of the Universal Church, not only in Rome, but within the community itself.

The Swiss Guard at the NAC

A group of Catholic young men in their 20’s and 30’s have left home to live in Rome. They are choosing to lay down an important part of their lives to serve God and the Church.

While these words could describe the seminarians, deacons, and priests at the Pontifical North American College, they also apply to another group of men in Rome: the Vatican’s Swiss Guard.

These men leave their native Switzerland and pledge to serve the Pope for a term of a few years. Having undergone military training and learning the Italian language, they live and work in the Vatican to provide security and protection for the Holy Father and Vatican City. Every year on the 6th of May, the new members swear an oath to serve the Pope. The text of the oath reads as follows:

I swear I will faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors and I dedicate myself to them with all my strength. I assume this same commitment with regard to the Sacred College of Cardinals whenever the Apostolic See is vacant. Furthermore, I promise to the Commanding Captain and my other superiors respect, fidelity and obedience. I swear to observe all that the honor of position demands of me.

The Swiss Guard is perhaps most known for the Renaissance-style colorful uniforms and fancy, plumed helmets. Their unique connection with the NAC, however, is probably not as well known. A few times per month, the Guard comes to use the College’s sports field for physical training and testing. While we don’t often interact with them, we may see them as we head off to classes in the morning. In the past, the seminarians have hosted the Guard for sports and other gatherings.

But our commonality with the members of the Swiss Guard goes deeper than simply sharing a sports field. Their pledge to the Pope marks these years as ones given in service to God and to the Church. Indeed, they are willing to lay down their own lives to save the Pope’s life, if it were to come down to that. That is inspiring! As I see their commitment of service to God, I am encouraged in my own commitment to God and the Church, now in the seminary and in the future as a priest. Our years here in Rome are a precious time for us to learn how to lay down our lives in service. Perhaps we can learn something from these brave and generous Swiss men.

JOE WAPPES ’24, ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

The Promise of a Presence

NOAH HUDDLESTON ’26, DIOCESE OF GRAND ISLAND

As a cradle Catholic in the middle of Nebraska, my childhood was standard. Of course, we went to Mass, but God was far from my mind. For as long as I can remember, my greatest desire was to become a husband and a father. I wanted at least one person in my life who was constantly near me, somebody on whom I could rely. As planned, I had a consistent girlfriend for five years in high school and college. I was so thrilled to have a girlfriend that many of my other interests went by the wayside-friendships that I previously held fell away, activities that I used to enjoy no longer interested me. She was somebody who could pick me up when I was down.

In high school, my parents’ relationship was very rocky and eventually they separated and divorced. At the time, of

course, I was shaken up, but I did not understand the extent of my emotions because I buried them. Later, when my relationship with my girlfriend ended during my sophomore year of college, my whole world was ripped out from under me. I was depressed and confused—I blamed God for taking away the one person I wanted to be with.

Then, one day while I was sitting alone in my apartment, somebody that I knew from the Newman Center at my university invited me there to do homework. She knew I was hurting and looking for company. When I stepped inside the Newman Center, I was greeted with friendly faces, warm hearts, and generous spirits. I truly entered into the love of the Father and began attending Mass more frequently. I re-

I thought that if God exists, then he must love me. And if he loves me, then He must have a plan for my life. ... In times of doubt in the seminary, the Lord's abiding presence reassures me that as I persevere and follow his will, I will be cared for, known, and loved.

turned to confession and I developed authentic friendships. From there, discernment seemed like the next logical step. I thought that if God exists, then he must love me. And if he loves me, then He must have a plan for my life. I began attending retreats offered through the Newman Center which only strengthened my assurance of the Father’s love for me.

The next summer at a daily Mass, I was overcome with emotion immediately after receiving the Eucharist. It was as if the Father said to my heart, “I want you to be a priest.” The emotion was so overwhelming that I instantly agreed. I called the Vocation Director immediately to request an application, but he responded that I had missed the deadline for that year by one week. This meant I was had to wait another year to

enter. I was disappointed, and yet, the extra year provided me with many opportunities to grow. In hindsight, I recognize that year as the work of God, conforming me to follow his will even when it does not align with my plans. Eventually, I entered seminary and, although I still encounter challenges, I am genuinely fulfilled.

Previously, I looked for external relationships to fulfill my dependence. Now, the Lord assures me that the promise of his internal presence will fulfill me. In times of doubt in the seminary, the Lord's abiding presence reassures me that as I persevere and follow his will, I will be cared for, known, and loved. His presence impels me to respond with my entire heart.

left to right Noah and Michael Figura '26 (Archdiocese of Omaha) stand together in Circus Maximus after running the Rome Marathon together in March; Noah smiles as he celebrates his 6th birthday; Noah poses with his sister Erin during his time in minor seminary.

Vatican Cricket

REV. BIJOY JOSEPH ’22, ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY

Over my five years in Rome, I have had the privilege of playing on Vatican St Peter’s Cricket Team. Cricket…what’s that? If you think it’s a long and boring game played by people within the British Commonwealth you would be correct. It is, however, also an extremely popular sport with a large and devoted fanbase estimated at around 2.5 billion people. In 2014, with the initiative of Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy, and the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Vatican’s Cricket Team was established to foster ecumenical and inter-faith ties.

The team has only grown in strength since then and is now part of the newly established Athletica Vaticana. The cricket team is comprised of priests, deacons, and seminarians studying in Rome. The intersection of vocations and cricket means that most of the players hail from India, with others coming from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, and even far-flung places like Australia. Players are part of the team for 3-5 years before returning home to their respective dioceses. Our team is completely funded by donations from generous benefactors. Other teams come to Rome to play us and we also go on tour to other countries, either in the summer or winter, and play a series of matches, as well as engage in pastoral and missionary work. The “showcase” match is against the Archbishop of Canterbury’s team— Catholics vs Anglicans.

Our aim is to represent the Catholic priesthood in a unique light, building bridges with people of other faiths and secular culture. As our manager Fr. Eamonn O’Higgins LC always tells us, “we are priests, deacons, and seminarians first, and cricketers second.” The sport is just the medium by which we can encounter people who might never meet a priest in their life or who only have an idea of a Catholic priest as portrayed by an increasingly hostile media. We often have beautiful and faith filled conversations after a game!

My time as player and now as captain of the team has been one of those amazing “Roman” experiences that we who study here are privileged to have. At a primary level, it has been

enlightening to meet others studying for the priesthood who come from a completely different context. Some are missionaries who will end up working in territories in India with no Catholics! It has also been interesting to see how the Spirit can work through sport and through our being men of Jesus Christ. Many teams remark how playing the Vatican team is different from playing any other team. We always try and play in a spirit fitting of men of Jesus Christ! During my time, I have been fortunate to play in Kenya and Malta, and this July we will be going to Spain on tour. Please pray for us that we continue to spread the Gospel and present the Catholic priesthood in this unusual manner!

The Vatican Cricket Team meets with Pope Francis ahead of their tour of Kenya in 2019. Rev. Bijoy Joseph ’22 (Sydney) is third from the left.

How did ICTE strengthen you in living your ordination

PROMISES?

Rev. Horace Grinnell ICTE’23, Diocese of Arlington

I'm really thankful for my experience with the ICTE program—I continue to be blessed by my sabbatical in my everyday ministry because it bore great fruit. Spiritually, I was challenged in

the midst of some lectures on Christology to face my own issues of judgment and sinfulness. In the module on the Gospel of John, new understandings and horizons on preaching more

effectively were opened to me. Finally, the retreat in Assisi was a huge blessing spiritually which I continue to "unpack" in my current ministry.

Rev. Daniel Smith ICTE’23, Diocese of Sioux Falls

Rev. Msgr. Powers, NAC Rector, and Fr. Linton, O.S.B., ICTE Director, have woven into this program an inside and outside the classroom model, along with time alone or with

fellow priests or with seminarians. During ICTE a renewal begins, gratitude for Jesus Christ grows, and you see that Holy Mother Church affirms your priesthood. You return with a

strengthened promise to preach the Gospel, teach the Catholic faith, and help sanctify the people of God.

Rev. Daniel Robles Carvajal ICTE’22, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

ICTE gave me the opportunity to refresh my knowledge in theology and preaching and, most importantly, gave me the experience of the Universal Church in Rome. I was highly impressed with the dedication of my priest-classmates from all around the

USA. That experience inspired me in the renewal of my priestly promises—a commitment I made 22 years ago on May 24th. The inspiration from our ICTE professors, the dedication of Fr. Linton and the Chapter evaluations at the end of each module,

were the key moments for me, to evaluate, review, and renew my priestly commitment. ICTE was a great motivation to the promises I made at my ordination and I am grateful to the NAC for this excellent program.

The participants of the Spring 2023 Institute of Continuing Theological Education (ICTE) Session meet with Pope Francis after a Wednesday General Audience.

I came. I saw. I understood.

MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

“Everyone has returned to Rome – and they brought a friend!”

So quipped a friend recently, commenting on the massive crowds of pilgrims and tourists from around the world who have returned to Rome after long absences during the pandemic.

The College is honored to host the Bishops’ Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican. The office is staffed by the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, and located in the Casa Santa Maria – the original home of the College and the house of studies for American priests pursuing graduate studies in Rome. A variety of services are offered: tickets for Papal events, tours led by seminarians, advice on visiting the city, and the Sacrament of Confession. The office receives hundreds of emails each day and provides a wonderful service to thousands of visitors each year.

The office receives hundreds of emails each day and provides a wonderful service to thousands of visitors each year.

The Office of Institutional Advancement also receives many requests for similar assistance, mostly from our benefactors. Even as I write this article, I am helping our benefactor and dear friend, Theresa, with her upcoming trip to Rome. She and her late husband are also benefactors of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.

She told me, “The first time I saw the artwork and priceless collections of the Museum, I was so moved. It deepened my faith to see the beauty and history of our Church in one place. I understood why thousands of people come every day to see it. And I knew we wanted to do our part to preserve the treasures of the Museum so that future generations could experience them.”

As a fellow Catholic and having experienced the beauty she was referring to, I thanked her.

Theresa continued. “And that’s also why I support the North American College. I’ve experienced the seminary community, met the joyful seminarians, and have known several alumni who are good, holy priests. I love the College and want to make sure it’s able to fulfill its important mission.”

I was reminded of the quote from the late Edmund Cardinal Szoka C’59, “If the North American College did not exist, surely we would have to build one, so important is its work for the Church.”

Theresa is bringing some of her children and grandchildren with her on this trip. “I want to make sure they experience things like the Museum and the North American College, so their faith can be deepened like mine was.”

Which brings us back to the Visitor’s Office. If you haven’t been to Rome, or haven’t been in a while, do consider visiting. You will be welcome to visit our main campus near the Vatican. Our Visitor’s Office will be happy to assist you with tour and ticket advice. And our entire community will be grateful for your support, prayers, and presence.

www.pnac.org/visitorsoffice

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 I Fax: (202) 470-6211 I Email: pnacdc@pnac.org I Website: www.pnac.org

SNAPSHOTS

Members of the second-convent hall, affectionately known as Trailer Park, pose for a photo during the Oktoberfest party.

The 2022-2023 seminary community with the Immaculate Conception Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in the background.

Diocese of Nashville seminarians (from left to right: Christian Hamrick '25, David Lee '24, and Reed Robinson '26) stand under the Turkey Trot Sign after the race on Thanksgiving Day 2022.

Zachary Galante '24 (Milwaukee) stands at the entrance to the Immaculate Conception Chapel as the choir prepares to sing during the Diaconate Ordination Vigil in October.

In March, the Hall Ball 2023 Championship was won by the 4th floor team led by Joe Wappes '24 (St. Paul and Minneapolis).