Clean the Hill

REV. MR. PATRICK RYAN ‘23, DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE

Early this year we decided that enough was enough—our beautiful Janiculum Hill lay marred by an unseemly layer of garbage. The situation called for a cleanup, so some men of the College organized a project called “Clean the Hill.” On a cool, Friday afternoon in November, the men picked up all kinds of garbage—wrappers, broken bottles, bags, and cigarette butts. Others swept the sidewalks and pulled weeds, much to the surprise and often delight of passersby. Many offered a “grazie” or “buon lavoro” to the men cleaning this common space frequented by so many.

The cleanup followed Pope Francis’s call to better care for the earth, our common home. Our concrete concern for the area outside our walls lined up wonderfully with the ideals put forth by our Holy Father; our positive experience underlines the goodness and truth of his teaching. To clean the Janiculum fulfills the basest of responsibilities that accompany our privilege of living here. We can care for our home and find joy in this caring. n

Soccer in Rome

REV. MR. NICHOLAS LE ‘23, ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA

Playing soccer internationally at the North American College has been a sort of “dream come true” for many of us. Putting on the red, white, and blue jersey with teammates from across the country (and Australia) to represent the USA as we play other seminaries and religious communities from across the world will be a memorable cap to a lifetime of playing soccer. I’ve had the chance to play in the Clericus Cup (the “World Cup” of priest, seminarian, and religious communities here in Rome), and we’ve hosted numerous teams to our beautiful pitch at the NAC.

These games always remind us how close we are as a Church. We may be from different countries and speak different languages, but we are united in our Catholic faith and service of the Church. It’s been a joy each week to play alongside brothers, to see guys of other classes and dioceses you might not otherwise meet, and to form friendships and memories with the future priests of our Church. n

Fall Pilgrimage

REV. PETER JOHN CAMERON, OP, CARL J. PETER CHAIR OF HOMILETICS

This year, the fall pilgrimage went to Montecassino. It included a visit, tour, and Mass at the Abbey of Montecassino, a presentation about the World War II Battle of Montecassino, and a chance to pray for the dead at the nearby Polish and German cemeteries. The pilgrims saw Aquino and Roccasecca, the birthplace of St. Thomas Aquinas, in addition to the St. Scholastica Chapel, on the site where Saints Benedict and Scholastica spent their last day together. n