The Pontifical
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North American College M
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THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH
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EDITORIAL STAFF
The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
Editorial Director Nicholas Vaskov ‘09 Diocese of Pittsburgh
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial Assistant Matthew Wiering ‘10 Diocese of New Ulm Layout and Design John Sheridan ‘09 Diocese of Youngstown Design Assistant David Carrano ‘10 Diocese of Madison Photographers Daniel O’Mullane ‘10 Diocese of Paterson & Brian Soliven ‘10 Diocese of Sacramento
For more information about the North American College, or to learn about opportunities for memorial gifts, contact Mary DiDonato at our Washington, D.C.
Office of Institutional Advancement:
Tel: (202) 541-5411
Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: nac@usccb.org or visit our website at www.pnac.org
FRONT COVER The Christmas creche in front of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter
RECTOR’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THE U.S. Michael Bruno ‘10 8 SECOND CYCLE SPOTLIGHT Rev. Lucas Tomson ‘07 SERVING OUR TROOPS Rev. Mr. Patrick Riffle ‘08
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LIFE AT THE COLLEGE
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A PILGRIMAGE IN ROME Rev. Thomas Ferland
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THE COLLEGE’S MAUSOLEUM
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FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mary DiDonato
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ECONOMO’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89
FEATURES
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AT THE BEGINNING - Most Rev. William Callahan
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THE 2007 CONSISTORY - Gregory Rannazzisi ‘09
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CASA SANTA MARIA - Rev. Timothy Laboe C‘09
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THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - Robert Kennedy III ‘10
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CHRISTMAS IN ROME - Jamie DeViese ‘09
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FAITH OF OUR FATHERS - Rev. Mr. Ryan Moravitz ‘08
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CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: GREGORY C. JEWELL - Mary DiDonato
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SAVE THE DATE: RECTOR’S DINNER 2008
BACK COVER
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WINTER 2 0 0 8 INSIDE
Bishop Callahan Reflects
Christmas in Rome by Jamie DeViese ‘09
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Immaculate Conception
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Consistory 2007
by Gregory Rannazzisi ‘09
by Robert Kennedy III ‘10
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Faith of our Fathers
by Rev. Mr. Ryan Moravitz ‘08
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE CHAIRMAN Most Rev. Edwin F. O’Brien C‘76 Archbishop of Baltimore
VICE CHAIRMAN Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell ‘63 Archbishop of Hartford
TREASURER Most Rev. John J. Myers ‘67 Archbishop of Newark
SECRETARY Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek ‘75 Bishop of Amarillo
A photo of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter at dusk from the roof of the College.
RECTOR Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97 VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89 VICE RECTOR FOR SEMINARY LIFE Rev. Msgr. Robert Gruss ‘94
Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila C‘90 Bishop of Fargo
Most Rev. Tod D. Brown ‘62 Bishop of Orange in California
Most Rev. Alexander J. Brunett ‘59 Archbishop of Seattle
Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran ‘62, C‘63 Bishop of Rockford
His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan ‘58, C‘63 Archbishop of New York
Most Rev. Victor B. Galeone ‘61 Bishop of Saint Augustine
SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. Msgr. Francis Kelly ‘64
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless ‘73
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mrs. Mary DiDonato
Most Rev. Francis R. Reiss C ‘84
Bishop of Sioux City
Most Rev. Glen J. Provost ‘74 Bishop of Lake Charles
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan ‘65, C‘71 Archbishop of Santa Fe
Most Rev. William C. Skurla
Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic of the Ruthenians
Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97
Diocese of Camden Rector
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RECTOR’S CORNER ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
ne of the blessings of spending Lent at the Pontifical North American College is that the seminarians and priests are able to participate in the ancient tradition of the Lenten Stational Churches. The early Christians began to venerate the places of burial or death of the early martyrs and eventually this led to the custom of having processions to these sacred sites. By the fourth century, historians tell us, each day during Lent the Bishop of Rome would visit a different Church in the city of Rome to venerate the saints and celebrate Mass with the local faithful. This tradition endured for centuries. During the past few decades, the North American College has continued this tradition as each day of Lent, the seminarians and priests are offered the opportunity to go on pilgrimage, early in the morning, to one of the Churches of Rome for veneration of the saints and Holy Mass.
As we continue on the path of our priestly formation as seminarians, or ongoing formation as priests, we are reminded as we visit these Churches honoring the different saints who have gone before us, that each one of us, in addition to the call to priesthood, needs to examine our response of the call to be saints, the universal call to holiness. Afterall, we all want to be good and loving priests of Jesus Christ for service of His Church, but ultimately we desire to spend eternal life with Him in heaven. We need to become saints! Visiting the saints inspires us to answer this call wholeheartedly. This past November, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged all of us striving on this path to sainthood at a general audience. “The saints are not people who never made mistakes or sinned but who repented and were reconciled. Hence, also among saints are oppositions, discords and controversies. And this,” the Holy Father said, “is very consoling for me, as we see that the saints have not ‘fallen from heaven’. They are people like us, with complicated problems. Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, the willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. And we can all learn this way of holiness.” What a beautiful reminder for us all about what we should be particularly focused on throughout this Lent. During this holy season, we each strive by our extra works of charity and penance to turn from evil of any sort and grow in personal holiness so that we might better reflect the pastoral charity of Christ Himself. Each day this Lent, be assured that we pilgrims here in Rome will carry you and your intentions with us to the Stational Churches and the sites of the early martyrs and saints. We are very grateful for your prayerful support of our mission to provide holy, healthy and happy priests for service in our home dioceses. Your prayerful support allows us to be about our challenging tasks here!
- Rev. Msgr. James Checchio WINTER 2 0 0 8
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At the Beginning
College Spiritual Director Bishop William Callahan reflects on his ordination to the episcopacy and the ministry in which he will share
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very human being wants to make something good of his or her time on earth. For Christians, it is the knowledge of Truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and the living out of that Truth in a good and holy life that provides us with contentment here and the firm hope of the Vision of God forever in Heaven. It is the task of the Church to maintain that hope in every person’s heart and to ignite it where it might not yet be kindled. That task is accomplished through the authentic living and preaching of the Gospel and the celebration of the Holy Sacraments. The responsibility falls to the Bishops and Priests who, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders and the Call of the Church, receive the grace for leadership and the charisms necessary for this stewardship among God’s People. As I am ordained to the Order of Bishops and consecrated for this Pastoral ministry, I pray that I may be open to the gifts that God first gave me to become a priest; that the desire and zeal for souls does not leave me. That the virtues and standards of goodness found only in the Heart of Christ may continue to be the source of all that I try to do and all the Bishop Callahan poses for a photo on the roof of the College. good that I may accomplish. I pray that I may be a faithful co-worker and colleague with my brother bishops, and especially of service to Archbishop Dolan and his vision and leadership for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the people of Southeastern Wisconsin. I pray to remain and grow deeper in priestly fidelity to Christ in fraternity with the priests of the Archdiocese; and as a bishop, with those same priestly brothers, to support and nurture the People of God by the Proclamation of The Word and faithful celebration of The Sacraments of the Catholic Church. I pray for the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me to have good and faithful friends, both among priests and the laity. That God will continue to bestow and help me to recognize people whose strength and goodness become extensions of my ministry and thus true building blocks for the living Church.
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I pray that those who are home-bound, and suffering in hospitals and nursing homes, may anoint my ministry in a special way by uniting their Ministry of Suffering with me as a means of expressing the Glory of God through the Mystery of the Cross. The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
BISHOP CALLAHAN
I pray to be grateful and humble in the midst of what may appear to be glory and honor; always mindful that the servant does not surpass the Master. God cannot be outdone in generosity. No sacrifice of mine can outweigh the Glory of Christ and Him Crucified! It is His Church. They are His People. I am His servant. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise you; because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world! Right: The Coat of Arms of Bishop Callahan.
Below: Bishop Callahan shares a moment with guests from the College at his Ordination. From left, Mr. John Paul Shimek and his brother, Rev. Joseph Shimek ‘07 (Archdiocese of Milwaukee), Rev. Lucas Tomson ‘07 (Diocese of Spokane), Rev. Michael Carlson ‘07 (Archdiocese of Hartford), Rev. John McDonald ‘07 (Diocese of Birmingham), Rev. Jay Mello ‘07 (Diocese of Fall River), Bishop Callahan, Rev. Scott Duarte, Director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education, Rev. Kenneth St. Hilaire ‘07 (Diocese of Spokane), Rev. Peter McGuine ‘90 (Diocese of San Diego), Rev. Michael Triplett ‘07 (Archdiocese of Baltimore), and Rev. Michael Romano ‘07 (Dicoese of Camden)
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THE 2007 CONSISTORY by Gregory Ranazzisi ‘09
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Two Americans join the Sacred College of Cardinals
n Saturday, 24 November 2007, Pope Benedict XVI created twenty-three new the newest members of the College of Cardinals were two Americans: His Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication and current Grand Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Cardinals of the Catholic Church. Among Eminence John Cardinal Foley, PresidentMaster of Equestrian Order of the Holy Galveston-Houston.
First and foremost the members of the College of Cardinals are the chief advisors to the Pope in matters of Theology and the governance of the Church. They help to coordinate the daily functions of the Holy See, which include a wide-range of responsibilities and offices. Finally, and perhaps more famously, they are the body charged to elect a new pontiff during the sede vacante. For Cardinal DiNardo these new responsibilities will coincide with his already tremendous task of shepherding GalvestonHouston’s faithful. Cardinal Foley, on the other hand, assumes the responsibilities of shepherding the international order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
In the days leading up to the Consistory, the entire College of Cardinals met with the Holy Father for several sessions where they discussed numerous topics regarding the life of the Church and its relationship with other Christian confessions and nonChristians. Forecasts of rain prompted the Consistory and the subsequent Mass of the Rings to be moved inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Both liturgies were attended by enormous crowds of well-wishers coming from around the world to celebrate their nations’ newest “red hats.” At the Consistory, each cardinal received the biretta from the Holy Father as well as their assigned titular church in Rome. The assignment to each Cardinal of a church in Rome signifies their close relationship with the See of Peter and their role as guardians of the Eternal City. During the Mass of the Rings the following day, Pope Benedict placed a ring on each newly-created cardinal’s hand depicting the crucifixion of Christ with the Blessed Mother and St. John the Beloved Disciple. This scene signifies the charge each new cardinal has in defending the Faith, even to the point of shedding his blood, and of growing in their witness of love.
We at the North American College were honored to host the new American cardinals and the hundreds of guests that came to share in this joyful moment for the Church in America. Seminarians and faculty alike worked tirelessly to be sure that the celebration for Cardinals DiNardo and Foley reflected the enthusiasm and esteem that the College community has for these Princes of the Church. Our sincerest congratulations to John Cardinal Foley and Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. Ad multos annos!
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The American cardinals in attendance for the consistory gathered in the Red Room at the College to celebrate with Cardinals DiNardo and Foley.
The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
Top Right: His Eminence John Cardinal Foley stops for a photo as he arrives at the College for a reception following the Consistory.
CONSISTORY 2007
Bottom Right: The red hats arranged to be received by the new Cardinals.
Below: His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo poses with wellwishers from Galveston-Houston.
Interview with His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
Assistant Editor Matthew Wiering ‘10 (Diocese of New Ulm) had the opportunity to sit down with His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and ask a few brief questions about vocations and studying in Rome. Following is a transcript of the interview:
MW: Your Eminence, as Bishop of Sioux City and now as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, you’ve sent men to study theology here at the North American College. What would you say is the benefit of studying theology here in Rome for a diocesan priest who will return to the United States?
CD: You’re close to the Holy Father. You study theology with people who come from every part of the world. You learn the basics of what it is to study and to pray theology. Plus you study with Americans from throughout the country. Can a man from GalvestonHouston learn something from a man from LaCrosse? You bet. Can a man from LaCrosse learn something from the massive immigration issues a man from Galveston-Houston faces? You bet. MW: What advice would you have for someone preparing to be a priest in the United States in this third millennium?
CD: Make sure you are a friend of Jesus, that is, he has invited you to intimacy with him. If you are not an intimate friend of Jesus you will most certainly face challenges in your priesthood, no matter how many talents you have. Stay close to the Lord Jesus, stay close to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, then God will show you the way to use some of your talents, which may be theological or pastoral, and help you develop them.
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EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES by Michael Bruno ‘10
Diocese of Brooklyn
n the newest edition of the Program of Priestly Formation published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2006, the bishops asked that each American seminarian during his formation for the priesthood take a course on the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. Specifically, they asked that the course be taught “in a way which reflects her multicultural origins and ecumenical context.” To respond to the call of the bishops, Fr. James Quigley, O.P., who holds the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics at the College is teaching The History of the Catholic Church in the United States this year for all the upperclassmen of the College. The class is being offered during the fall semester at the Gregorian University and in the spring semester at the Angelicum University.
After only a few sessions of the course, the historical richness of the Church in America is evident. The Catholic Church has grown from a small, initially disenfranchised and persecuted minority, to the largest religious denomination in the United States. Fr. Quigley’s class does not only seek to track that growth, but also to examine the recurring dynamics that have continued into our own time. These dynamics include a constant wave of immigration, perseverance in faith despite adverse conditions, and an ongoing dialogue between Catholicism and the American ethos. For instance, the question of how one can be both American and Catholic has been answered by many, from Bishop John Carroll to President John F. Kennedy, and is still the topic of much dialogue and reflection. It is in understanding the historical situations of the past, therefore, that we gain crucial insights into the questions that face the Catholic Church today in the United States. Another key element of the class is to understand how the Church in the United States has been enriched by the lives of many holy men and women. There are numerous biographies one can cite of priests, religious and lay people whose holiness of life and selfless sacrifice has led to the recognition of their sanctity by the Universal Church. Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, Frances Xavier Cabrini, Theodore Guerin, Rose Philippine Duchesne, John Neumann, and Katherine Drexel are just a few of those many figures whose lives have helped to shape the Catholic Church in the Unites States. Their outreach to the poor, sick, and disadvantaged can be seen in the many Catholic institutions, organizations, and programs that continue their work today. As John Paul II commented in his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America, “The evangelization of America is not only a gift from the Lord; it is also a source of new responsibilities.” In studying the history of the Church in the United States, therefore, the bishops have asked seminarians not only to understand the questions, situations, and developments of the past, but also to use them as we embrace the responsibilities that await us in our future priestly ministry.
Rev. James Quigley, O.P. lectures during his course on the History of the Church in the United States at the Gregorian University.
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The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
SECOND CYCLE SPOTLIGHT STUDYING THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH by Rev. Lucas Tomson ‘07
Diocese of Spokane
Whenever a student of theology wants to gain insight into the roots of the Catholic faith, he or she would most often turn to the Fathers of the Church. These men, who wrote and taught in the first generations after Jesus’ life and ministry on earth, laid the formal foundation of Christianity. Most of the Church Fathers were bishops who were struggling to uphold the teachings of Christ and his Church against innumerable dissidents and heretics who wanted to deny the manhood or the Godhood of Jesus. Many of the Fathers were even martyred as they fought to keep the faith of Christ alive.
The study of the Fathers of the Church not only allows one to gain insight into the lives of the Fathers themselves, but also into the life of Jesus Christ. Writing and teaching such a short time after Christ, the Church Fathers understood the context in which the Gospels were written and offered stunning exegesis on Sacred Scripture. It is owing to this work of the Fathers that in Dei Verbum, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council encouraged the “study of the holy Fathers both East and West” in order for the Church to “move ahead toward a deeper understanding of the Sacred Scriptures so that she may Rev. Lucas Tomson, S.T.L. ‘07 studying the Fathers. increasingly feed her sons with the divine words” (23). As Dei Verbum points out, the Fathers of the Church were both of the East and the West, offering a wide range of viewpoints and experiences, as well as texts of the Fathers written in both Greek and Latin. In order for students to study the original texts of the Church Fathers, the program of Patristic Studies involves a propaedeutic year of classical studies in these two languages. After that year, students take twenty additional courses focused on different areas of patristic theology before they submit a thesis and take a comprehensive theological examination designed to demonstrate general competence in the area of patristic theology. In December I completed the requirements for a license in patristic theology. In my thesis I examined five pieces of St. Augustine’s personal correspondence, the exchange of letters begun in 411 or 412 AD, when Augustine wrote to Volusianus, the pagan proconsul of Africa living in Carthage. Augustine invited Volusianus to read the words of the Apostles and Prophets and ask him any questions he had regarding the Catholic faith. During that same period of time, Augustine received a letter from a Catholic, mutual friend. The letter informed Augustine that Volusianus was struggling with the Incarnation, as well as the fact that, in the proconsul’s view, Christ’s miracles were less impressive than those of other pagan miracle workers. Furthermore, he asked how Christian Emperors, following the Sermon on the Mount, could adequately defend the State against barbarian invaders. These inquiries compelled Augustine to write what is perhaps his greatest work, The City of God. Personally, the study of the Church Fathers has fostered in me an intimacy with the Church’s Tradition. Concretely, this study has influenced my preaching, my prayer, and the way in which I discuss the faith with other people. I have learned from the Fathers that an authentic integration of faith and reason yields new and timely insights into the Gospel. It amazes me how something written by the Fathers eighteen or nineteen centuries ago can apply to situations in the world today. It is for this reason that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has recently been devoting his teaching during Wednesday General Audiences to the works of the Fathers of the Church. The study of the Church Fathers has reminded me every day that we belong to a Church that is always ancient and yet ever new.
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by Rev. Timothy A. Laboe C‘08
Archdiocese of Detroit
had arranged for a car to pick me up at the airport, or so I thought. Because I was going to a different country to start my new assignment of study at the Angelicum University, I had tried to cover as many bases as possible for my transition into a foreign land, yet the car and driver never showed. As I waited and waited, contemplating my next move, I ran into a priest and seminarian from the North American College at the airport who had come, completely unexpectedly by me, to pick up other seminarians. They graciously offered me a ride to the Casa Santa Maria, which would be my new home for the next few years. “OK, God,” I thought, “you took care of that one for me.” Although my first moments here seemed rather unpromising, there was still the unmistakable sense of God’s presence and providence as I began to live, pray, and study among a large number of priests from the United States and beyond. When Cardinal Maida asked me to come here to the Casa, it was an unexpected request. I was a pastor in a parish with many wonderful people and had no idea that this new assignment was on the horizon. God seems to work that way in my life, doing things that I do not expect and filling my life with surprises that I never foresee. In my assignments in the Archdiocese of Detroit I was always a very busy parish priest. The demands of parish life can make it difficult to be reflective, because as soon as one thing is done another demands attention. The smaller number of priestly vocations leaves many priests alone in parishes and less able to enjoy the richness of priestly support. However, after eight years as a priest I now find myself in a place that affords me the opportunity to grow in a new way, so that I may be of greater service when my time here is The Chapel of the Casa Santa Maria decorated for a recent forty hours devotion. complete.
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I cannot put into words what a gift it is to live among brother priests from all over the United States. These are truly good men with a deep passion for God, a love for our Church, and hearts disposed to serve. Their examples encourage my own resolve to serve, and their friendship dispels any temptations to believe that I am isolated or without support. While I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the last eight years as a priest, and it is a blessing to live among so many good and holy priests here at the Casa, Rome itself is a gift. Her place in the history and life of our Church is indispensable, and living here has helped me to realize that I am a part of the Church of Rome and that she is a part of me. It helps me to expand my understanding of the Church—as my other experiences of priestly min- Above: Rev. Timothy Laboe next to the statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate istry have helped me—whether working among the Conception in the courtyard of the Casa Santa Maria. poor in Brazil or Mexico or serving the great diversity of people in my own archdiocese. All of these gifts are part of the experience of studying as a priest in Rome. After only a few months here, I realize that God has again given me a unique opportunity. Sometimes people ask me why priests are sent away when there is a need for them in parishes. I tell them that I see its great value in the same way I have understood all my assignments as a priest. Each has changed me, and I have shared the fruits of those experiences so as to enrich the lives of others. A priest’s given assignment might not seem like it is part of God’s plan at the time, but eventually from a larger perspective its great value is understood.
Members of the College’s class of 1958 gathered in Rome in December to celebrate their 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Celebrating Mass on Gaudete Sunday at the Casa Santa Maria are from left: Rev. Msgr. James Checchio, Rector; Most Rev. James Moynihan ‘58, Bishop of Syracuse; His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Stafford ‘58, Major Penitentiary; Rev. Msgr. Roger Roensch ‘58, Director of the U.S. Bishops’ Visitors Office for Pilgrims in Rome; Most Rev. Anthony Milone ‘58, Bishop Emeritus of Great Falls-Billings; and Rev. Msgr. Francis Kelly, Superior of the Casa Santa Maria.
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SERVING OUR TROOPS by Rev. Mr. Patrick Riffle ‘08
Archdiocese of Washington
ach weekend two deacons and two third year men set off from Rome and head south along the Italian peninsula to the US Navy base in Naples to assist the Catholic chaplains there in ministering to the spiritual needs of American military personnel and their families. For over a decade, men from the North American College have braved the Italian traffic on the busy autostrada between Rome and Naples for the privilege of serving in an active American parish. Over the last several years, the Naples apostolate has grown to become one of the largest apostolic ministries at the College. For the twelve men who have been assigned to this particular ministry it is an opportunity to serve in a fully-functioning parish with an active community life, religious education program, and young adult ministry. In addition to the opportunity for ministry, the apostolate offers a chance for us to learn about military chaplaincy and what military life is like for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families. While most of us who serve at this apostolate will never serve as a military chaplain, the exposure to military life and ministry will help us in ministering to military personnel back in our home dioceses. On a typical weekend, we arrive at the base in time for the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening. One of the deacons preaches, the others assist the pastor, and then it is off to individual family homes. The Catholic families in Naples take turns hosting seminarians, offering us not only a place to spend the night and a great home-cooked meal, but more importantly, a chance to participate in the life of their family. This allows us to see the beauty and real-life struggles of the married couple trying to live out their vocation. It also gives us the opportunity to share our own vocation story with them and their children.
The men of the Navy Apostolate in Naples. First row (from left): Rev. Mr. Jeremy Rodrigues ‘08 (Diocese of Providence); Rev. Mr. Gregory Loughney ‘08 (Diocese of Scrantion); Philip-Michael Tangorra ‘09 (Diocese of Paterson); Rev. Mr. Paul Fasano ‘08 (Diocese of Rockford); and Jesse Burish ‘09 (Diocese of LaCrosse). Second row (from left): Rev. Mr. Patrick Riffle ‘08 (Archdiocese of Washington); Rev. Mr. Ronnie Floyd ‘08 (Diocese of Fall River); Adam Rust ‘09 (Diocese of Memphis); Rev. Dennis Yurochko, Director of Apostolic Formation; David Schunk ‘10 (Archdiocese of San Francisco); and Chase Hasenoehrl ‘10 (Diocese of Boise).
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APOSTOLIC FORMATION Left: Rev. Mr. Paul Fasano preaches during Mass at the Navy Base in Naples.
Below: Rev. Mr. Gregory Loughney and Jesse Burish spend some time discussing their experiences at the Navy Apostolate.
Sunday morning, like in any parish, is the busiest part of the weekend. One of the deacons assists at early Mass, while the others help with the religious education program. The seminarians assist the catechists with their lessons and lead the annual Confirmation retreat and other special programs that occur throughout the year. Following religious education, it is off to the chapel for the main community Mass. Again, one of the deacons preaches, while the third-year men assist as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. Occasionally one of the deacons will have the opportunity to baptize a baby; for many of us it is the first time that we will welcome a new member into the Church through this sacrament. The work of the apostolate is not simply confined to work done in Naples. Throughout the year many service men and women travel to Rome with their families to visit the sacred places of the Eternal City. When they do come to Rome, it is our chance to repay the kindness and hospitality shown to us by giving them tours of the city and inviting them to the College for Mass and pranzo. Over the years, the friendships that have been formed through this apostolate have endured. Many of the seminarians and their host families continue to stay in touch even after the family transfers from Naples or the seminarian returns home to his diocese. This past summer a “mini-reunion� was held in the Washington, D.C. area in which several former host-families, current seminarians, and priests who once served on the apostolate gathered to renew friendships, offer thanks for the blessing of the ministry in Naples, and encourage vocations to the priesthood. The mission of the diocesan priest is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ so as to build up the Body of Christ, the Church. While seminarians at the College look forward to returning to their home dioceses to begin priestly ministry in parishes, the Naples apostolate gives some of us the unique opportunity to minister to American men and women in an American parish during our own seminary formation. The faith and love for the Church found in our military families is an inspiring witness that aides in our formation as future priests. What a blessing it is to serve these men and women as they serve us and our country! WINTER 2 0 0 8
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Vergine Immacolata Aiutateci IMMACULATE VIRGIN HELP US by Robert Kennedy III ‘10
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Diocese of Arlington
n 8 December 1854 Pope Pius IX promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus, which defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. In so doing, the Holy Father sought not to propose some new truth, but rather to defend and protect a truth already implicit in Sacred Scripture, clearly attested to in the teachings of the Fathers, conserved by the successors of St. Peter, and expressed in the liturgy of the Church: Mary, the Mother of God, was conceived without the stain of original sin.
The declaration of the dogma was preceded by centuries of devotion to Mary as the immaculate and ever sinless Virgin, and indeed this devotion has always been at the heart of Catholicism in America. Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore worked tirelessly to inspire devotion to the Mother of God and even declared her the patroness of America’s first diocese in Baltimore. Decades later, at the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1846, a decisive moment occurred for American Catholics. There the bishops of the United States declared Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the United States. It was devotion like this, manifested by the faithful throughout the history of the Church, which led Pius IX to declare this truth as revealed by God and to be held definitively by all members of the universal Church.
The devotion that anticipated this dogma became ever more fervent after its declaration. Three years after Ineffabilis Deus, Pius IX celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by blessing a statue of Mary in Piazza di Spagna. Since then, popes have kept the tradition of venerating this image on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and entrusting the whole world to the care of the Blessed Virgin. After a brief exhortation, the Pope places a crown of flowers on the head of the statue, and all the faithful are invited to bring flowers to adorn the surrounding area. From here, the Pope proceeds to the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the Esquiline Hill where he venerates the image of Salus Populi Romani, the oldest and most famous Marian icon in Rome. The importance of the Pope’s visit to this Basilica is most clearly understood when one remembers that the original basilica, which stood on the Esquiline Hill was reconsecrated after the affirmation of the title and doctrine of Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God) at the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431.
The connection between these two papal events on December 8 is a concrete manifestation of the theological connection Pius IX spoke of in Ineffabilis Deus. There the Holy Father proclaimed “the original innocence of the august Virgin – a doctrine which is so perfectly in harmony with her wonderful sanctity and preeminent dignity as Mother of God.” It was only Mary the New Eve who could triumph over the effects of sin that plagued humanity since the Fall, because she alone is free of original sin. It was only Mary who was the most fitting Mother and Temple for the Lord because she had already been given the grace of absolute innocence and purity. Here at the North American College we also have our own tradition of celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We pray at Mass with the many friends of the College community that our Mother will continue to protect our country and our Church. We hope that she will ever lead us on our pilgrimage to the Sacred Heart of her Son. Echoing the words spoken by the faithful in every land and in every nation, we offer our prayer: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
14 The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Above: Members of the College choir, under the direction of Mr. Christopher Berry, fill the Immaculate Conception Chapel with beautiful music during the celebration of the liturgy. Left: His Eminence Francis Cardinal Stafford ‘58 preaches during the Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Below: Concelebrating cardinals, bishops, and priests fill the sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception Chapel.
“Hence, it is the clear and unanimous opinion of the Fathers that the most glorious Virgin, for whom ‘he who is mighty has done great things,’ was resplendent with such an abundance of heavenly gifts, with such a fullness of grace and with such innocence, that she is an unspeakable miracle of God—indeed, the crown of all miracles and truly the Mother of God; that she approaches as near to God himself as is possible for a created being; and that she is above all men and angels in glory.” Pope Blessed Pius IX Ineffabilis Deus
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16 The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
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ROMAN HOLIDAYS by Jamie DeViese ‘09
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
The life-size Christmas creche in Saint Peter’s Square is always a sight to behold.
T
he winter sun shines brightly on Rome as festivities for Christmas come into full-swing. Long before Christmas Day arrives, the signs of the season appear. Christmas trees spring up all over the city, from the Colosseum to St. Peter's Square. Even the narrowest of the innumerable Roman passageways emanates the soft glow of Christmas lights, and the cold, crisp winter air is laced with the warm aroma of chestnuts being roasted. Piazza Navona fills with vendors selling everything from Nativity sets to giant ciambelloni (soft, deep-fried, sugar-coated doughnuts). It is not a rare occurrence to witness seminarians taking an extra few moments on the way home from classes to browse the make-shift shops or to sample the porchetta (roasted pork) sandwiches whose scent permeates the entire square. The sights and sounds of Christmas shops and street performers create an atmosphere of old-world charm in the midst of a busy city.
Here at the North American College, as classes wind down for the Christmas holiday, students busily prepare for any number of interesting excursions. For some, however, the most memorable experiences of Christmas happen right in our own back yard. While some men travel north to explore Europe, or south to make a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, there remains a solid contingent of students who stay to experience a Roman Christmas.
18 The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
LIFE IN ROME
The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord begins with a beautiful Christmas Vigil Mass at the College, traditionally celebrated by John Cardinal Foley. After the Mass, students, faculty, family, and friends enter into the refectory for a Christmas dinner. Immediately following the meal, seminarians and their guests head to St. Peter’s Square to wait in line for one of the most solemn liturgical events of the year—Christmas Midnight Mass with the Holy Father. As the crowds wait outside the basilica, they gaze upon the huge Christmas tree and larger-than-life-size Nativity scene in the middle of the piazza. It is such a joy to celebrate this Solemnity with the rest of the Church and to join the Holy Father in proclaiming with joy the birth of the King of Kings, our Savior!
The next morning, we listen to the Holy Father as he proclaims the birth of Christ in the traditional Urbi et Orbi address (to the city and world), and imparts to all his holiday greetings and his Apostolic Blessing in languages from across the globe. Packed into St. Peter’s Square with thousands of pilgrims and tourists, one cannot help but be awestruck by the crowd’s response as the Christmas greeting is announced in each language, eliciting cheers from all over the square. In the days succeeding, the Christmas markets pack up, lights come down, and slowly the holiday cheer begins to dissipate. Yet, until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd, the Christmas tree and Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square remain in full view, reminding all who look upon it that we ought not forget the birth of Christ so soon after December 25th. Being in Rome for Christmas is a gift and privilege that we at the North American College are blessed to receive. We recall the memories of Christmases past and look forward to what new opportunities or experiences may present themselves. At the very heart of it all, in being able to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord in the presence of the Holy Father, one cannot help but proclaim that indeed “There is No Place Like Rome for the Holidays!”
The Christmas market in Piazza Navona draw crowds of young and old alike.
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W
e often hear it said that parents are the primary educators of their children. The education they offer is not a formal education like a teacher who stands before a class and shares with them knowledge of history, mathematics, and science, but it is rather an informal education as parents teach their children how to apply in life all that they have learned. As men studying for the priesthood, we have looked and continue to look to our fathers as examples in order to learn how to be happy and holy Christian men. Maybe we recall seeing our fathers praying at home or helping them with activities at our parishes. Whatever our memories, we are blessed to know that our vocation journey has included and been supported by our fathers in faith.
Faith
of our
Recall the image of Jesus and St. Joseph. Jesus is the Son of the Heavenly Father, but in his omnipotence, God knew that Christ would need a fatherly example during his time on earth and so he called St. Joseph to take the Virgin Mary as his wife. While the Gospels do not tell us much of the Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, c. 1635. relationship between Jesus and St. Joseph, we know that the carpenter, Joseph, taught his son, Jesus, the skills of woodworking. We can presume that St. Joseph encouraged Jesus as he learned the traditions of the Jewish faith and that he prayed for Jesus throughout his life. The father-son relationship between Jesus and Joseph is for us today a wonderful example of how we must relate with our fathers in faith. The story of my own father in faith is a little different from most, but one shared by a few other men here at the College. I have had the blessing of experiencing the familial dimension of the faith, as my family has discerned, not only my own call to the ministerial priesthood, but the call of my father, Richard Moravitz, to the permanent diaconate. My father has not just been able to share the foundations of the Catholic faith with me, but we have been able to grow in our faith together. During our years of formation we have discussed our own struggles, excitements, fears, and joys surrounding our formation. Phone conversations often included thoughts on the papers we had to write, exams to take, practice homilies we were working on, and vocational discernment. At times I would catch myself talking to my dad as though he were a brother seminarian. I came to realize we were going through many of the same experiences. These years have built a fraternal dynamic within the relationship we share as father and son. What a blessing it was when my family traveled to Rome for my Diaconate Ordination at St. Peter’s Basilica on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, 4 October 2007. It was a joyful time for all of us, and the occasion provided my father and me the opportunity to reflect on his own anticipated ordination to the permanent diaconate. How excited I was when I realized I would have the opportunity to be a deacon at his own ordination and extend to him the sign of peace as a fellow deacon!
20 The Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E
Fathers
by Rev. Mr. Ryan Moravitz ‘08 Diocese of Duluth
Above: Rev. Mr. Ryan Moravitz ‘08 (Diocese of Duluth), right, celebrates with his father after his ordination to the Diaconate in December. Right: Rev. Mr. Shane Deman ‘08 (Diocese of Sioux City) distributes the Precious Blood to his father at this year’s Diaconate Ordinate at the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter.
My dad was ordained a permanent deacon on 16 December 2007 at the hands of Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Diocese of Duluth. Now, I not only call him my father, but also my brother in Holy Orders. I am filled with joy and a deep sense of humility in recognizing this great gift from the Lord. I walk with my dad as an ordained minister of the Church. Together we share in the service of Christ. The opportunity to stand at the altar of the Eucharistic sacrifice with my own father is a great source of fraternal and familial strength for me as I anticipate my own priestly ordination. Our fathers in faith teach us, as seminarians, what it truly means to be a father, what it means to love others and to share our lives with them. These men, whether our own fathers, priests we have known, or just good Catholic men, have offered us a foundation on which to build our faith in God and then, as we mature, allow us to journey with them in faith so that we can come to know the will of God for our lives. Our fathers in faith are a blessing to us as we strive to live a Christian life in preparation for our ministry as priests of Jesus Christ.
Deacon Dads We proudly recognize the fathers and grandfathers of our students who are ordained to the permanent diaconate:
Deacon David Craig, father of Anthony Craig ‘11 (Diocese of Duluth) Deacon Mark Gallagher, father of Charles Gallagher ‘10 (Archdiocese of Washington) Deacon Wayne Lickteig, father of Anthony Lickteig ‘10 (Archdiocese of Washington) Deacon Richard Moravitz, father of Rev. Mr. Ryan Moravitz ‘08 (Diocese of Duluth) Deacon Jaime Ortiz, father of Roberto Ortiz ‘09 (Archdiocese of Newark) Deacon Donald Radlinski, grandfather of Michael Silloway ‘10 (Archdiocese of Atlanta) Deacon Raymond Vrazel, grandfather of Stephen Vrazel ‘11 (Archdiocese of Mobile) WINTER 2 0 0 8
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A Pilgrimage in Rome
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by Rev. Thomas Ferland
Diocese of Providence
begin this reflection of the North American College’s Sabbatical Program by paraphrasing the words of Mary Shelley (1819):
‘My reflections would never come to an end if I were to try to share all of the delights of a sabbatical program in Rome – Rome has such an effect on one that my past life before I saw Rome appear a blank but now I begin to live – in the churches you hear the music of heaven and the singing of angels.’ Rome has truly been the guiding force of the sabbatical program because the ‘eternal city’ provided the milieu within which the refreshment of mind, heart and spirit has taken place. The Institute for Continuing Theological Education uses the city of Rome as the stage upon which the renewal of priestly zeal and the revitalization of apostolic charity can find new voice to proclaim the gospel. The ICTE program provided an opportunity for all the participants to be intellectually stimulated and pastorally challenged by the lectures given by a wide array of theologians and churchmen. Fr. Greg Morrison expanded the breath, depth and understanding of proclaiming the gospel to our parishioners today. He opened our hearts and minds to a Biblical Narrative Method in which we are challenged to be more attentive to the Word of God. Fr. Mark Attard presented a fine challenge in the area of moral theology to help advise, guide, counsel and respect our people as we present the call to live the Christian life. Through these lectures by Fr. Attard, I was again awestruck by the great responsibility that is entrusted to me as a shepherd of souls, especially in the areas of ethics and bioethics. The lectures by Fr. John Fuellenbach, S.V.D. set me on fire. In his presentations on the Kingdom of God he stoked into flame the embers of evangelical fire. Fr. Fuellenbach challenged me to proclaim the love, the forgiveness and the presence of the Kingdom of God here and now, yet not fully realized. All the lectures by our esteemed presenters invited me and the other participants to reflect on the wonder of our call to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Scott Duarte, Director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education, cel- Rev. Robert Barron takes questions from the Institute priests during his presentation. ebrates Mass with the Institute priests at the catacombs of St. Priscilla.
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CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
The priests of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education in their Chapel, dedicated to the North American Martyrs.
I personally found the Roman sunset to be an enthralling moment to ponder the demands of proclaiming the gospel today. The setting sun behind the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, as viewed from the roof top terrace of the North American College, gave me pause to reflect on the true universal nature of the Church. It reminded me of the truth of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ line, “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” The city did not only offer great minds of the church to help me focus on the faith but it also offered an experience of that faith in its architecture and art. It was reassuring and comforting to experience the richness of faith expressed in the early Christian churches. The Basilica of St. Clement with its breathtaking mosaics is a magnificent example of such artful theology and it moved me to a deeper and richer appreciation of the ‘Faith of our Fathers’. Such dynamic theological expression was manifested in so many of the temples built for the greater honor and glory of God and for worshiping spaces of the Christian community down through the ages. I was also led to experience the wonder of early expressions of the faith in other churches such as the Basilicas of St. Prassede and St. Pudenziana and especially in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. It was not only the Christian mosaics that enhanced my theological reflection but also the artistic expressions of great masters such as Michelangelo, Raffaello, Bernini and Lippi, to name a few, which at times overwhelmed the senses but truly nourished the spirit. The sense of awe I experienced when I entered the Sistine Chapel was at the same time both humbling and uplifting. The artful inspiration of Rome continued not merely through the visual arts but also through the sounds of Rome. The beauty that I encountered when I heard a German choir giving praise to God in St. Ignatius Church or when I heard 16th century Roman music in the 16th century church of St. Anthony allowed me to experience for a fleeting moment the music of heaven and the singing of angels. The sabbatical program was more than great lectures, beautiful art, inspiring architecture, and delicious food in quaint little restaurants. It was, most importantly, a time to be with brother priests in prayer, worship and study. One of the most important aspects of the program was participating in the communal life of the North American College. It was encouraging to pray with young men studying for the priesthood even if that meant waking up at 5:30 in the morning to join the community for Mass. WINTER 2 0 0 8
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The Mausoleum of the North American College A
Recent renovation work at the College mausoleum.
part of the North American College that probably sets us apart from most American seminarians is our mausoleum. Located in Campo Verano, a cemetery just outside of the city walls of Rome, the three story mausoleum is yet another piece of the College. While interments are rare at the mausoleum these days, the structure was a necessity when international air travel was not yet possible. Visits to the mausoleum are common, however, as groups of students travel to the cemetery to pray or celebrate Mass for the deceased members of the College community. In addition, the New Men visit the mausoleum each year during orientation and the College offers Mass there each year on the Feast of All Souls. Those interred at the mausoleum include students, faculty members, and employees of the college, with a floor of the structure dedicated for each of them. One person of note who is buried at the mausoleum is the Servant of God, Frank Parater. A student at the College in the 1910s, Frank Parater was a model of holiness and integrity who offered his life to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the conversion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He died in 1920 rheumatic fever. The cause for his sainthood is open; the local investigation having recently been granted a Decree of Validity by the Congregation for Saints. As an integral part of the history of the College, the mausoleum could not be neglected when it came time for restorations. During the past few months workers have cleaned the brick exterior of the mausoleum, fixed the downspouts, and repaired the tiles on the roof, in addition to other renovations. This work will ensure a continued peaceful resting place to those deceased members of the College community interred therein. For us, the newlyrestored mausoleum stands as an ever-present reminder to pray for those who have gone before us in this life.
Servant of God, Frank Parater
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FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
hile the replacement of the windows in the residence halls began this Fall and will continue through the Spring, the stained-glass windows in the Immaculate Conception Chapel have been undergoing a restoration of their own. Fifty years of dirt and rust have required a complete overhaul and rebuilding of the windows. The project, which began this past summer and will continue for nearly seven months, includes the removal of the windows, the cleaning of the glass and the replacement of the lead grout, the construction of new iron frames, and the application of a silicon seal upon reinstallation to ensure their stability for another fifty years. The windows, which on the left side of the chapel depict the Apostles and on the right side of the chapel depict the Prophets, are vivid representations of those who have shared the Lord with His people. The windows in the cupola of the chapel depicting the virtues will also be restored. We are grateful to the many benefactors who have assisted us in this project.
Above: The newly-restored window of St. James the Lesser.
Left: Deterioration of one of the iron frames due to rust.
Below: Build-up of dirt on the stained glass and old lead grout separating from the glass.
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The Umiltà Awards THE COLLEGE HONORS ARCHBISHOP DONALD WUERL AND SCOTT AND LANNETTE TURICCHI
The 6th annual Umiltà Awards, on November 9, 2007, was indeed a star-studded event for the Pontifical North American College. The renowned philanthropist, Alfred E. Smith, IV, great-grandson of the late legendary, Al Smith, former Governor of New York, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening in the Atrium at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Over 230 trustees, alumni, and friends of the College were in attendance as Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Msgr. James F. Checchio, Rector, proudly presented the Umiltà Awards to the Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, and long-time friends and benefactors, Scott and Lannette Turicchi, of California. Archbishop Wuerl and Scott and Lannette were honored for their dedication and devotion to our Catholic faith and their untiring support of priestly formation.
Above: Scott and Lannette Turicchi after receiving the 2008 Umiltà Award.
Top: Archbishop Edwin O’Brien presents the 2008 Umiltà Award to Archbishop Donald Wuerl.
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INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Mary DiDonato
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
A
s I write, 2007 is quickly drawing to a close and I can’t help but pause to reflect on the events over the past six months since I “officially” became a member of the NAC family.
What an awesome time it’s been!
In June, I hit the ground running just as the Vision For The Future Campaign was drawing to a close. With that came all the tasks associated with reconciling a Campaign – settlement of accounts, benefactor recognition certificates and plaques, and the very onerous task of compiling a final Campaign report with the goal of not omitting or misspelling even one benefactor’s name. Simultaneously, we began preparations for the sixth annual Umiltà Awards that were held at the Ronald Reagan Building in November. While invitations were being sent and journal ads collected, etc., a new software database system, which is now up and running efficiently, was installed. In the midst of all this frenzy, a significant new initiative – the Council for Institutional Advancement - was launched. The Council, comprised of more than a dozen highly supportive members of the laity from across the nation, will seek to maintain the momentum of the recently completed capital campaign and maximize the College’s fundraising potential through the ongoing collaboration of the laity in its mission. During a recent luncheon at his residence, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, impressed upon the members of the new Council the enormous significance of their roles as Ambassadors of the College who will actively seek to raise awareness of America’s Seminary in Rome among other laity in the United States. It’s certainly been a breathtaking whirlwind of activities, but through it all, you - our friends, alumni, and benefactors - have been there each step of the way…welcoming, encouraging and inspiring. Please know how truly grateful the seminarians and student priests are for your ongoing participation and support! By the time you read this, a new year, with new goals, will have begun. What are our goals, here in the Institutional Advancement Office, for 2008? Quite simply, to continue promoting America’s Seminary in Rome so that the Pontifical North American College will become favorably impressed in the hearts and minds of all laity throughout the United States. But we can’t do it alone…and so we hope that you will continue to sustain us through your prayers and financial support. Together, in 2008, we can make a difference in the life of the Catholic Church in the United States by supporting the mission of the Pontifical North American College.
Some of the members of the Council for Institutional Advancement, including Mr. Gregory Jewell; Scott and Laneette Turicchi; Most. Rev. Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; and Rev. Msgr. James Checchio, Rector, gather at the home of Archbishop Sambi with Most Rev. Edwin O’Brien, chairman of the Board of Governers of the College.
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ECONOMO’S CORNER
Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
T
Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89
1 Peter 2:4-5
Diocese of Tulsa Vice Rector for Administration
he 2008 year will bring many long-awaited changes for the North American College community. One of the most significant of these changes will be the restoration of the Casa Santa Maria’s façade on the Via dell’Umiltà. The Casa Santa Maria is more than a building; in the words of St. Peter, it really is a “spiritual house” where a holy priesthood is formed and lived. On December 8, 1859, the liturgical feast of Mary as patroness of the United States of America, Pius IX formally inaugurated the North American College as thirteen seminarians began their studies at the new seminary on Via dell'Umiltà. The Holy Father had given the American Bishops for their seminary this sixteenth-century monastery of the Visitation Sisters in the historical center of Rome. These same buildings serve to this day as the College residence for priests pursuing graduate theological degrees at the Roman Universities. It is a challenge to properly and reverently care for a building such as the Casa Santa Maria. It is a place which expresses a rich history of faith, religious life, study, art and architecture that spans more than 400 years. It is no wonder that so many priest alumni of the Casa Santa Maria have great affection for it as their alma mater. Our work of preservation begins this winter with the restoration of the principle façade and chapel entrance. A hundred years of pollution will be removed and deteriorating stucco replaced. Careful study has been undertaken with the help of an architect experienced in restoration architecture so that the building can be returned to its original appearance. Perhaps the most exciting part of this restoration will be the cleaning of the main façade of the chapel. This is a particularly important work since this façade was originally designed by the famous Roman architect Carlo Fontana. I am confident the workmen of the 21st century will approach such a monument with the respect and care it deserves knowing that they are bringing back to life a gem in the heart of Rome. The renovation of the roof is another important work being done at the Casa Santa Maria in conjunction with the restoration of the façade. The existing roof was added in the 1940’s when the Casa was transformed into a graduate house for priests and the seminary was being built on the Janiculum hill. The renovation of this roof will preserve its structural integrity for centuries. All these works are being done to ensure that the Casa Santa Maria remains a place of vibrant faith and study for the many priests who live there. We have inherited a great monument of faith from previous generations and it is with a sense of gratitude and responsibility that we now preserve that monument of faith for the future. - Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg
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Circle of Friends
THE NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE
THANKS
MR. GREGORY C. JEWELL
Whenever I hear the words to a popular song from years ago, “I’ve traveled, I’ve had my share man, I’ve been everywhere man, I’ve been everywhere….” there’s one person who immediately comes to mind – Greg Jewell. Although Greg has been a devoted and generous friend of the College for over thirteen years, for the last three years, he was also the Chairman of the Laity Division of the Vision For The Future Campaign. This meant that for three long years, Greg did travel everywhere on behalf of the College…from New York to California, from Texas to Wisconsin (and everywhere in between), and had more than his fair share of delays and cancelled flights! Thankfully, his passion for helping the College, coupled with his downhome charisma, made Greg just keep forging on until he garnered millions of dollars in support from the laity alone for Vision For The Future. Quite simply, it was Greg’s intention to meet personally with each and every major benefactor and potential benefactor to spread the good news about America’s Seminary in Rome! Because, as Greg says, “there are many, many devoted Catholics in the United States who are still unaware that we have a true treasure in Rome, even though it has been in existence since 1859.” To put this in perspective, Greg, himself, was unaware of the College until about thirteen years ago. As a devout Catholic, Greg counted many priests among his friends and in passing conversations a seminary in Rome would Gregory Jewell with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, sometimes be mentioned. But it was not until 1994, when his good friend Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and then-Rector, Msgr. Timothy Dolan (now Archbishop of Milwaukee) invited him to Rome to meet the faculty and seminarians. During that trip when he broke bread and prayed with them, he really saw the value of the College. “I realized then just how special America’s Seminary in Rome really is,” he said. After making several more visits to Rome and to the College, Greg decided that he wanted to become a part of the College’s community…to be more than a casual visitor. At that time he decided “to financially commit to the future of our priests.” Greg knew that with two campuses, one of which is more than 400 years-old and the other 54 years-old, the College surely needed financial assistance, any that was available.” Through the years, he has borne witness to many transformations, especially that “of quiet seminarians who emerge from the College as confident and vibrant young priests who are filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit and anxious to serve the Church.” “I’ve never seen holier, more humble, bright, eager young priests,” he says. They were his motivation for not only personally supporting the College, but also for traveling extensively across the country for three years to meet with potential Campaign donors. Now that the Campaign has come to a successful conclusion, Greg may not be traveling quite so extensively on our behalf, but thankfully, he is still involved in the life of the College. Just recently, during the initial meeting of the Council for Institutional Advancement, Greg summed up his feelings with his favorite line about stewardship, “Once you have decided to become a disciple of Christ, stewardship is not an option.” The College community is exceptionally grateful for all of Greg’s efforts on our behalf through the years…most especially, the past three years.
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SAVE THE DATE:
The 2008 Rector’s Dinner Thursday, 3 April 2008
CONTACT THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
The Pontifical
North American College 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 For more information about the North American College, or to learn about opportunities for memorial gifts, contact Mary DiDonato at our Washington, DC, Office of Institutional Advancement: Tel: (202) 541-5411 / Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: nac@usccb.org or visit our website at www.pnac.org
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 61 HYATTSVILLE, MD