Roman Echoes 2015 – Issue 10

1ROMAN ECHOES 2015 • ISSUE 106 Building Dedication 12 Thanksgiving 16 Mass with Pope Francis

The Blessing of a New Building

THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE • 2015 • ISSUE 10

32 ROMAN ECHOES 2015 • ISSUE 10The Pontifical North American College

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITOR IN CHIEFKevin Staley-Joyce ‘16Archdiocese of Boston

LAYOUT & DESIGN MANAGERAlexander Padilla II ‘16Diocese of St. Petersburg

MANAGING EDITORMichael Zimmerman ‘17Archdiocese of Boston

ASSISTANT EDITORSPaul Haverstock ‘16Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis

Grayson Heenan ‘17Archdiocese of Detroit

Michael Casey Sanders ‘17Archdiocese of Louisville

LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITORSCorey Tufford ‘16Diocese of San Diego

Andrew Showers ‘17Diocese of Madison

PHOTOGRAPHERSMichael Lund ‘16Diocese of Pembroke

Kyle Manglona ‘16Archdiocese of Seattle

Daniel Hart ‘17Diocese of Alexandria

Content

2 The Pontifical North American College

5 Rector’s Corner 6 Building Dedication 12 Thanksgiving 14 Immaculate Conception Feast 16 Mass with Pope Francis 18 Apostolate Spotlight 20 Student Reflections 22 News Bytes 23 Lector Installation 24 Campus Photos 26 Alumni Profile 28 Casa Santa Maria 30 Marriage Presentation 31 George Weigel on Pope Francis 32 Institutional Advancement 33 Economo’s Corner

The Blessing of a New BuildingThe Pontifical North American College marks a new chapter in the history of the Janiculum campus.His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Cardinal Secretary of State to the Holy See, blessed each of the new addition’s ten floors during the dedication ceremony on January 6.

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Ministry of LectorFirst-year men receive the ministry of Lector.Gregory Parent ‘18 (Green Bay) and Drew Olson ‘18 (Madison) kneel before Most Rev. William Murphy ‘65, C ‘74, Bishop of Rockville Centre

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The College’s Feast DayEach year on December 8, the College celebrates its patronal feast.His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, celebrates Mass in the Immaculate Conception chapel on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

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Cover: The completed new building, seen from the far corner of the Kardos Family Campo Sportivo.

Spaghetti Bowl TournamentThe New Men achieved an historic victory in the yearly competition.

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Life at the CollegeAn inside look at seminarian life at the North American College.Rev. Mr. Stephen Prisk ‘15 (Paterson),

Rev. Mr. Darin Schmidt ‘15 (Sioux Falls), and Douglas Krebs ‘16 (Bismarck)

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28Casa Santa Maria

An update from Rev. Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C‘82

The 2014-15 Casa Santa Maria Community.


Rector’s Corner

t was with much joy that the North American College community celebrated the dedication of the new addition to our Janiculum Campus on the Solemnity

of the Epiphany, January 6. His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State for Pope Francis, officiated at the blessing of our new building and later celebrated Mass for the community and gathered guests.

The Pontifical North American College has, for over 150 years, provided priestly formation for seminarians from the United States, Canada, and more recently Australia, in the heart of the Church. For the first time in over forty years, the College has seen capacity enrollment for four straight years. The seminary’s enrollment now stands at over 250 students. This is a blessing and a challenge. At the time of the Janiculum building’s design and construction, no one could have anticipated the formation requirements established during the past twenty years, as foreseen by Pastores Dabo Vobis, the USCCB’s Program for Priestly Formation, and more recently the Apostolic Visitation of the seminaries of the United States. Over the years, the College has refurbished rooms throughout the seminary in an ongoing attempt to meet these require-ments. With increased enrollment, however, along with other pressing needs in the area of technology, the seminary required larger and better-equipped classroom spaces, as well as practice chapels and additional administrative office space.

In order to update our facilities, an overall plan was produced for our campuses, and the new building is

the first major element of that plan. Through the generosity of a few donors from the United States—including Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mulva and their family foundation, whose donations paid for this new building—and with the full support and guidance of our Episcopal Board of Governors, the College has addressed these physical space needs for priestly formation. This new addition to the College is 36,000 square feet and includes four adequate, state-of-the-art classrooms, as well as upgrades to the technology of both campuses. The expansion also provides administrative offices and meeting rooms, as well as ample space with the latest technology for students’ Mass and homily training, elements vital to priestly formation. Also included in the new building is a large reading and study space for students’ intellectual formation and relaxation.

As you will see in the photos in this edition of Roman Echoes, the new building adjoins the existing seminary building and the materials used in construction are in continuity with the façade of the College, thus not significantly altering the campus appearance. It is equipped with the most modern systems of energy saving and biocompatible materials, ensuring maximum consistency with modern energy-saving principles. The project also included the installation of a vertical and a horizontal plate of photovoltaic collectors that will generate energy sufficient for the entire new wing.

The Pontifical North American College is grateful to the Supreme Pontiffs for their support throughout our 155-year history, and we are grateful for the current care of Pope Francis. We were delighted to have his Secretary of State

Icoming to bless the new building. Before I returned home for Christmas, Pope Francis invited me to the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he blessed and bestowed on the College a brick from the Holy Year door at St. Peter’s as a sign of his unity with us and our formation program. We had a fruitful discussion about priestly formation and the College, among other topics he raised in conver-sation. Priestly formation, of course, is at the heart of the New Evangelization called for by our Holy Fathers. It was evident to our Board and our generous benefactors that this new edifice was needed, and that it will advance the mission of priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College.

We thank you for your prayerful support of the work of this College. We depend upon your prayers, and at the same time, we assure you of our prayers of thanksgiving for your generous financial and prayerful support, which sustains us and our mission. Finally, enjoy this edition of Roman Echoes, by which our students hope to share some of our daily lives with you. Vergine Immacolata, aiutateci!

Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97Diocese of CamdenRector

CHAIRMANMost Rev. John J. Myers ‘67Archbishop of Newark

VICE CHAIRMANMost Rev. John C. Nienstedt ‘73, C‘84 Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis

RECTORRev. Msgr. James F. Checchio ‘92, C‘97

VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIONRev. Msgr. Michael Farmer ‘95

VICE RECTOR OF SEMINARY LIFERev. Brian P. Christensen ‘99

SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIARev. Msgr. Fred Berardi C‘82

DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUINGTHEOLOGICAL EDUCATIONRev. James M. Sullivan, O.P.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENTMark Randall, CFRE

A stained glass window at the College portraying an image of Our Lady.

Donald Cardinal Wuerl ‘67Archbishop of Washington

Most Rev. Robert J. CarlsonArchbishop of St. Louis

Most Rev. Gerald Nicholas Dino C’72Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Holy Protection of Mary

Most Rev. Robert C. Evans ‘73, C’89Auxiliary Bishop of Providence

Most Rev. Jeffrey M. Monforton ‘93, C’02Bishop of Steubenville

Most Rev. William M. Mulvey ‘75Bishop of Corpus Christi

Most Rev. William F. Murphy ‘65, C’74Bishop of Rockville Centre

Most Rev. Joseph A. Pepe C’76Bishop of Las Vegas

Most Rev. Glen J. Provost ‘75Bishop of Lake Charles

Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain ‘78Archbishop of Seattle

Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan ‘65, C’71Archbishop of Santa Fe

BOARD OF GOVERNORSOF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE

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) 722-8804Email: [email protected] • Website: www.pnac.org

4 The Pontifical North American College

TREASURERMost Rev. Frank J. Dewane ‘88, C‘89Bishop of Venice

SECRETARYMost Rev. Joseph M. Siegel ‘88Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet


BY JOHN WILSON ‘16 , ARCHD IOCESE OF NEW YORK

The Blessing of a New

His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State to the Holy See, blessed each of the new addition’s ten floors on January 6 in a procession that began on the rooftop terrace overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica and concluded with the entire community singing “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” by the College’s main entrance.

On each level, the procession was met by a different group of seminarians and student priests, most of whom were gathered in the classrooms where their weekly formation conferences would henceforth take place. The prayers of blessing, composed specially for the occasion by Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, the College’s Director of Liturgical Formation, highlighted the students’ future priestly ministry and asked that the spaces be worthy instruments of their training.

In addition to Cardinal Parolin, present for the dedication were James and Miriam Mulva, whose generous donation made the new addition possible; His Eminence, Agostino Cardinal Cacciavillan, former

Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Econ-omy; His Eminence, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington; His Eminence, James Cardinal Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls; and His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and former rector of the College. Also present were Most Reverend John Myers, Archbishop of Newark and President of the College’s Board of Governors; Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville

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Centre; Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange, and Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin. The procession also featured a schola from the seminary choir, which sang Epiphany hymns as the ceremony moved from floor to floor.

BUILDINGhe Solemnity of the Epiphany is a fitting time for receiving gifts, and the students, faculty, staff, and friends of the North American College marked the day by giving the seminary’s new building a grand welcome.

The climax of the dedication came in the new building’s new chapel –named for Pope St. John Paul II–where, with Cardinal Parolin presiding, the Blessed Sacrament was reserved for the first time. The same floor also features four new soundproof practice chapels for preaching workshops and liturgical study.

In addition to classroom and chapel space, the new addition, which encom-passes an area of around 36,000 square feet, includes a reading room with a panoramic view of the city, guest rooms, and administrative offices.

After its dedication, the new building was put to immediate use. The classrooms were used for formation conferences the very next week, with students expressing particular appreciation for their spaciousness and brightness. The Saint John Paul II Chapel, which has brought the Blessed Sacrament much closer to the seminary’s residential halls, has been occupied at all hours by seminarians in private prayer.

Stephen Gadberry ‘16 (Little Rock), who will be ordained a deacon this month, says that the convenience of the practice

chapels has encouraged him to prepare more for his future ministry at the altar.

“I come out of the Blessed Sacrament chapel, and there’s the Missal already open in the chapel across the hall,” he said. “I’ll be ordained before Holy Week, so I’m looking especially at the liturgies for the Triduum.”

After the dedication ceremony, Cardinal Parolin presided at Mass for the Epiphany.

In a brief talk with reporters before Mass, he spoke of the expansion in context of the rise of vocations in the United States.

“What strikes me is the number of seminarians that are studying at this college, which means that at least in some areas, the number of vocations is growing,” he told Catholic News Service. “Looking at the world situation, this is very encouraging news.”

He also expressed gratitude for the College’s presence in Rome.

“I think they are also giving something to the universal Church—if you see, for instance, the beauty of this liturgy,

I think that this is something special [that the Americans do]… and also the way they are really giving their lives to the Church. That is something that I perceive in this atmosphere.”

At a banquet following Mass, Mr. and Mrs. Mulva were made Knight and Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. Mr. Mulva went on to express his and Mrs. Mulva’s gratitude for their role in the College’s mission.

“Bricks, mortar, buildings: They are not all that important, but in a way they are important because this institution, this building—and now the new building—is so helpful in the formation and the growth and the development of the young men who are our future priests.” n

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, celebrating the Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord with the College community after the Dedication of the new building • His Holiness, Pope Francis, blessing a brick from the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter during a recent meeting with Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97 (Camden), Rector, left, and Rev. Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo C‘00 (Newark), Spiritual Director, right. THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva address the North American College community at the banquet which followed the Building Dedication and Mass of the Epiphany. • His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, blessing the new Liturgy Classroom during the Dedication of the building addition. To his right: Rev. Mr. Conrad Murphy ‘15 (Washington). To his left: Master of Ceremonies, Nathan Ricci ‘16 (Providence). • Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva at pranzo in the Red Room with the seminarians they generously sponsor; Archbishop John Myers ‘67 of Newark, Chairman of the College’s Board of Governors; Rev. Msgr. James Checchio, ‘92, C‘97 (Camden), Rector; Rev. Brian Christensen ‘99 (Rapid City), Vice Rector for Seminary Life; Rev. Austin Vetter ‘92 (Bismarck), Spiritual Director and Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89 (Tulsa) former Vice Rector for Administration.


Dedication of the New Building

Pope Francis and the Rector Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92 C‘97 (Camden), Rector, presents His Holiness, Pope Francis, with an image of Our Lady of Humility, Patroness of the North American College, shortly before the dedication. His Holiness blessed a cornerstone brick that now resides on the new building’s first floor.

Spectacular View A view of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter from the terrace on top of the new building.

Before Mass Douglas Krebs ‘16 (Bismarck) and Rev. Mr. Conrad Murphy ‘15 (Washington) prior to the Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord.

Addressing the College Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva speak to the North American College community during the banquet that followed the dedication and Mass.

The New Building’s Patron Mr. James Mulva greeting His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, during the banquet following the Building Dedication and Mass.

Prior to Dedication Their Eminences, James Cardinal Harvey ‘75, Donald Cardinal Wuerl ‘67, George Cardinal Pell, and Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76; Their Excellencies, Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez ‘84 of Austin, Most Rev. Kevin Vann C ‘85 of Orange, Most Rev. William Murphy ‘65 C‘74 of Rockville Centre, Rev. Msgr. Robert Murphy, and Rev. Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., Director of Liturgy, on the 6th-Floor Terrace prior to the dedication of the building expansion.

Blessing His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, blesses one of the new classrooms during the Dedication of the new building. From left: His Eminence, James Cardinal Harvey ‘75; John Kuchinski ‘16 (Harrisburg); Daniel Sedlacek ‘16 (La Crosse); Stephen Gadberry ‘16 (Little Rock); Master of Ceremonies, Nathan Ricci ‘16 (Providence); and Rev. Mr. Tyler Bischoff ‘15 (Gaylord).

Blessing His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, blessing the new Liturgy Classroom. Assisted by Rev Mr. Conrad Murphy ‘15 (Washington), left, Rev. Mr. Tyler Bischoff ‘15 (Gaylord), behind, and Master of Ceremonies, Nathan Ricci ‘16 (Providence), right.

A Papal Honor for the Mulvas Most Rev. John Myers ‘67 of Newark, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College, informs the Mulvas of Pope Francis’ decision to name them Knight and Dame of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Dedication Liturgy From left: Daniel Sedlacek ‘16 (La Crosse), James Morin ‘16 (Lincoln), Daniel Connealy ‘16 (Phoenix), Daniele Russo ‘16 (Sydney), Gregory Gerhart ‘16 (Austin), Rev. Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., Director of Liturgy, and Rev. Msgr. Robert Murphy, Secretary to Cardinal Parolin, during the Dedication of the new building.

Banquet Mrs. Miriam Mulva greets His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, during the banquet following the Building Dedication and Mass.

Knight and Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92 C‘97 (Camden), Rector, presenting the Papal Honors to Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva.


Dedication of the New Building

Post-Dedication Banquet Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92 C‘97 (Camden), Rector of the College, addresses the community at the banquet following the building dedication and Mass.

Dedication Mass Their Eminences, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See; James Cardinal Harvey ‘75, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls; Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76, former Rector of the College; Donald Cardinal Wuerl ‘67, Archbishop of Washing-ton, D.C.; and George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy of the Holy See, during the Mass of the Epiphany of Our Lord.

Rooftop Terrace The terrace on top of the new building, offering a panoramic view of Rome.

Classroom One of the classrooms in the new building.

Reading Room The new reading room, located on the 10th floor of the new building,

offers quiet study space and a panoramic view of Rome.

Liturgy Classroom The new Liturgy

Classroom, located on the 4th floor

of the new building, is specially equipped for

liturgical formation.

Prayer During the Dedication From left: Shawn Roser ‘17 (Venice), Robert Adams ‘16 (Lexington), Rev. Mr. Joseph Delka ‘15 (Salt Lake City), Rev. Mr. Conor Steadman ‘15 (Perth), Phillip Dufour ‘18 (Providence), and Michael Bissex ‘17 (Rockville Centre) during the Dedication.

Dedication Begins James Morin ‘16 (Lincoln), right, leads the procession from the 6th-floor terrace to the new building entrance.

Blessing of the New Floors From left: Rev. Kurt Belsole, O.S.B.; Rev. Msgr. Robert Murphy; Their Excellencies, Most Rev. William Murphy ‘65 C‘74 of Rockville Centre, Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez ‘84 of Austin, Most Rev. Kevin Vann C‘85 of Orange; Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92 C‘97 (Camden), Rector; Mr. and Mrs. James and Miriam Mulva; and His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76 during the dedication of the new building.

St. John Paul II Chapel The St. John Paul II Chapel on the 7th floor of the new building.

Practice Chapel A Mass practice chapel on the 7th floor of the new building.

Bishops’ Lounge The new Bishops’ Lounge, located on the 9th floor of the new building.

Post-Dedication Banquet

Their Eminences, George Cardinal Pell, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien

C‘76, James Cardinal Harvey ‘75, Bernard Cardinal Law, and Donald Cardinal Wuerl ‘67; His

Excellency, and Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez ‘84 of Austin, during the

Post-Dedication banquet.


BY DAN FERRAR I ‘18 , D IOCESE OF PATERSON

Our First Thanksgiving

have believed it. But there I was, in all my furry red glory, prepared to participate in the fifth annual Turkey Trot, advertised as “the only 5K race to go around an entire sovereign nation.” I was not the only runner in costume—it is a unique race—as we sped around the Vatican’s Leonine Wall. I would find the challenge quite strenuous so early in the morning, but a whole lot of fun. This was but one of the many events of Thanksgiving weekend at the College that would turn my first Thanksgiving away from home into one I will never forget.

Homesickness Creeping In The thought of celebrating Thanksgiving away from family and the usual American traditions felt daunting from the moment I knew I would move to Rome to continue my seminary studies. As Thanksgiving neared, I could sense the tremors of homesickness creeping in, and was almost dreading the arrival of the holiday. Thanks be to God, then, that Thanksgiving weekend is perfectly designed by the College to counteract

homesickness, supplying its seminarians and faculty with fun, festive traditions of its own that truly make Thanksgiving in Rome memorable and special.

Hall BreakfastAfter finishing the Turkey Trot I joined some other characters—the lively men of the fourth-floor, convent-side corridor on which I live—for “hall

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breakfast,” a tradition carried out by all residential hallways at the College on Thanksgiving. We used the seminary’s fifth-floor kitchen to prepare a delicious American-style breakfast, yielding left-overs for days.

Celebration of the Mass

Next was a beautiful celebration of the Mass in the Immaculate Conception

as Seminarian Expatriates

f someone had told me that, at sunrise on Thanksgiving 2014, I would be dressed up as Elmo, standing outside the Pontifical North American College in Rome, preparing for a race around the Vatican with a small army of seminarians, priests, Italian locals, and a seminarian’s mother, I would never

Chapel, where Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P. reminded us in his homily of the United States’ rich tradition of expressing gratitude to Almighty God for all his blessings upon our great nation. Mass was followed by a pranzone where not a single traditional Thanksgiving dinner item was missing—not even the pumpkin pie. The turkey was exceptional and the stuffing was quite possibly the best I’ve ever had! The tables in the refectory were organized according to region, keeping with tradition, meaning I would proudly join the New Jersey table. The fifth-year priests did a superb

job orchestrating and serving the meal. Afterward, the New Men were invited by our beloved Rector, Rev. Msgr. James Checchio, for digestivi in the Red Room. This was a relaxing time where I felt overwhelmed with appreciation for the fellowship and fraternity that had so naturally formed within our new class in the four short months since our big move overseas.

After Thanksgiving FestivitiesThe days following Thanksgiving were equally enjoyable and eventful. Friday night was our “New Man dinner,” where we gathered for an incredible meal cooked by the most talented chefs among our classmates. This was yet an-other opportunity to further deepen our bond as a class. Saturday night found us entertaining the seminary in the annual “New Man Show,” where skits, short films, song, and even dance parodied life at the seminary, earning a great deal of laughter from the community.

Sunday was the annual “Spaghetti Bowl” flag-football game between the New Men and the upperclassmen. It proved a welcome experience of competition and sportsmanship, nurturing unity and fraternity for the entire community.

In spite of my initial concerns about being away from home—especially for distinctly American moments like Thanksgiving—I am blessed to say that my experience of Thanksgiving in Rome was nothing but new and uplifting. n

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE Rev. Brian Baker ‘14 (Atlanta), Rev. Mark Baumgarten ‘14 (Perth), Rev. Garrett Nelson ‘14 (Great Falls-Billings), Rev. Aaron Qureshi ‘14 (Washington), Rev. Joseph Langan ‘14 (Baltimore), and Rev. Peter Van Lieshout ‘14 (Rochester), singing for the community during Thanksgiving pranzo. • The Honorable Kenneth F. Hackett, United States Ambassador to the Holy See, delivering the Presidential Address during Thanksgiving pranzo. • His Excellency, Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia, Assistant Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, giving the homily during the Mass of Thanksgiving.

THIS PAGE Rev. Mr. James Hansen ‘15 and Michael Bissex ‘17, seminarians of Rockville Centre, enjoying Thanksgiving pranzo together.


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • BY CLARK PH IL IPP ‘17 , ARCHD IOCESE OF ST. LOU IS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

A Timeless Celebration of the College’s Patroness

or the many seminarians who call the Eternal City their home, devotion to the Blessed Mother is hard not to practice. Among the ancient ruins and baroque

architecture that fill the city, we are surrounded by images of Our Lady that look down at us from so many street corners, restaurant walls, and side altars in the innumerable churches that line every block.

New Appreciation for the MosaicOn the eighth of December, as the men of the Pontifical North American College began to fill the Immaculate Conception seminary chapel for the feast day Mass of our patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, we gained new appreciation for what has long been a source of comfort and pride to the College—the Immaculate

Conception mosaic, which stretches across the entire back wall of the chapel. It was to Mary under the title of Immaculate Conception that Blessed Pope Pius IX entrusted the fledgling American seminary in Rome when he formally inaugurated it on the same day in 1859, just five short years after he himself had solemnly declared the dogma of the Immaculate

F“For one hundred and fifty-six years now, she has and will continue to watch over, guide, and form into priests the many American seminarians who pass through these walls.”

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy of the Holy See, delivering the homily during the Mass of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Patronal Feast of the North American College. • From left to right: Joseph Keating ‘16 (Fort Worth), Rev. Mr. William Slattery ‘15 (Fargo), and Rev. Mr. James Hansen ‘15 (Rockville Centre) enjoying some coffee and conversation after the banquet in celebration of the Immaculate Conception. • Rev. David Gaffney (Providence) offering a toast to the Holy Father during the Immaculate Conception Banquet.

Conception—that Mary was born preserved from any stain of sin.

For one hundred and fifty-six years now, she has and will continue to watch over, guide, and form into priests the many American seminarians who pass through these walls. This feast, however, holds for our College–populated by many men temporarily displaced from our homeland–an even greater significance. Aside from being the patroness of the College, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States of America, and has been since 1847 when the same Pope Pius IX approved the petition of the twenty-two American bishops for this privilege.

Celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionOur celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception began mid-morning with Mass celebrated by His Eminence George Cardinal

Pell, and concelebrated by many of the American prelates who work and study in Rome. Following the Mass, the seminary community, along with many guests, took their seats in the refectory for a banquet. As the banquet neared completion, three men from

the College and the Casa Santa Maria offered the traditional toasts in honor of the College, the United States, and the Holy Father.

Second-year seminarian Peter Vale ’17 (Venice), offered the first, lauding the strengths of our community. Rev. Andrew Liaugminas (Chicago) spoke to the magnanimity of the American spirit, and Rev. David Gaffney, Spiritual Director at the College, raised his glass to remind us of the unique opportunity we have to be sons to Pope Francis while living next door to him at the College. Later in the evening, as the sun set over Rome, we once again gathered before the Blessed Sacrament, beneath the gaze of the mosaic of Mary Immaculate in the chapel, ending our celebration by praying Vespers, offering God that divine office of glorifying him and sanctifying the entire world, that divine office which was immaculately completed at every moment of our Blessed Mother’s life. n

THIS PAGE Greg Gerhart ‘16 (Austin) leads the recessional at the conclusion of Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • BY KEV IN LEAVER ‘17 , ARCHD IOCESE OF BOSTON • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Mass with Pope Francis

Celebrating La Guadalupana with El Papa

particular blessing that comes from studying in

Rome is the occasional time a seminarian

is selected to serve a Papal Mass–an

honor that evokes excitement, joy, and humility. This blessing came for Deacon Fernando Camou of the Diocese of Phoenix, on December 12, 2014, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When asked a week in advance if he would chant the gospel in Spanish, he gave an enthusiastic “Yes.” Camou had expected

that the liturgy rehearsal with the other deacons would be a tryout, and so was surprised to learn that he had already been selected. Both his background as a Mexican-American and his experience in choir and as a cantor at the College made him a perfect fit for the task.

Before Mass the Holy Father greeted those who would serve. As Camou recounted, “I didn’t know what to say.

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“I was in profound awe of being at the altar over the bones of St. Peter, behind the successor of St. Peter, as Jesus Christ became present in the Eucharist.”

Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix)

THIS PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix) proclaiming the Gospel during the Papal Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter. © Fotografia Felici • Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix) processing with the Book of the Gospels during the Papal Mass of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter. © Fotografia Felici

I kissed his ring and, in Spanish, I said, “Thank you for this opportunity.’ Kind of a silly thing to say, I thought immediately afterwards. But I was at a loss for words. What does one say to the successor of St. Peter? I felt so blessed simply to be in his presence and shake his hand.”

As Mass progressed, Camou was not nervous, instead remaining relaxed amid his excitement. Although the feast has increased in popular recognition in recent years, Camou did not have many memories of celebrating it growing up. “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” he said, “is an icon of the motherly care and guidance I have received from the Blessed Mother through the highs and lows of life. She also symbolizes the community of believers to whom I have felt united in filial devotion and who have been instruments of grace in my life.”

The building excitement of chanting the gospel reached its pinnacle when the papal master of ceremonies directed Camou to Pope Francis to ask his blessing before the preaching of the Gospel. As His Holiness recited the prayer “Dominus sit in corde tuo…” Camou recalled he was “impressed by the deliberate care

THIS PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix) receiving a blessing from His Holiness, Pope Francis, during the Papal Mass of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter. © Fotografia Felici • Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix) greeting His Holiness, Pope Francis, prior to the Papal Mass of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter. © Fotografia Felici

and prayerfulness with which he said [those] words.”

Although chanting the gospel was a great privilege, Camou says standing behind the Holy Father during the Eucharistic prayer was the highpoint of the Mass.“I was in profound awe of being at the altar over the bones of St. Peter, behind the successor of St. Peter, as Jesus Christ became present in the Eucharist. I realized this was probably one of the holiest places I would ever be

in my life.” Camou received yet another grace at the sign of peace, when he was able to exchange the liturgical embrace with the Holy Father. “It was easily the most striking moment of the Mass. It was a moment of intense grace to share such an intimate moment with the Holy Father.”

Deacon Camou’s filial devotion to the successor of Peter was forever deepened that day at the Mass of La Guadalupana with el Papa. n


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BY MATTHEW PROCH ILO ‘16 , D IOCESE OF ROCKV ILLE CENTRE

BONES OF ST. PETERGuiding Pilgrims to the

t the end of the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, while the new Holy Father and the cardinals who elected him were leaving the

balconies of St. Peter’s Basilica, two cardinals lingered for a while gazing out over the city. When later questioned at a press conference, one of

students from the Pontifical North American College get to do just that about once a week. Each year, ten to fifteen students are selected to serve as tour guides for the Ufficio Scavi, or excavations office, of St. Peter’s Basilica. The guides prepare for about five months, studying primary and secondary sources, visiting the site, and participating in a training course. Once approved to give tours, the guides meet groups from all over the world who come to visit the excavations of the Vatican Necropolis and the tomb of St. Peter beneath the Basilica.

Necropolis RediscoveredThe emperor Constantine ordered that a basilica be built over the grave of St. Peter in the early fourth century to honor Peter and Christ, and though an ancient Roman necropolis existed there, the basilica was built over the

top of the necropolis. Gradually, over the centuries, what was beneath the floor of the basilica was forgotten. That is, until 1939, when, during a renovation of the grottoes of the basilica, the necropolis was rediscovered. Over the course of the second half of the twentieth century, a research project excavated and authenticated the tomb of St. Peter, and later opened the site to the public.

Giving Tours is a PrivilegeFor the College’s student guides, each occasion of giving a tour is a privilege. They begin on the south side of St. Peter’s Basilica which, 2,000 years ago, would have been the center of a circus built by the emperor Caligula. It was in the center of that circus that St. Peter was executed.

After a short walk into the grottoes-level of the Basilica, the visit leads two flights down to the excavations, and a series of mausolea dating back to the first century, A.D. The tour concludes at the tomb of St. Peter, where visitors have an opportunity to reverence the site and pray. It is here that they are able to see that St. Peter is not only the rock on which Christ built his Church, but also literally the rock foundation on which the basilica is built. The location of the tomb is directly beneath Michelangelo’s great dome, which serves as a steady reminder to the city of Rome of its most important point: the tomb of a poor Galilean fisherman, through whom Christ has changed the world. For many visitors, this encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the Scavi guides from the Pontifical North American College, it is just another week in formation. n

THIS PAGE Michael Bissex ‘17 (Rockville Centre) introducing the Scavi Tour near the traditional location of St. Peter’s crucifixion just outside of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter.

THIS PAGE Michael Bissex ‘17 (Rockville Centre) explains some of the history of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter during a Scavi tour.

Athose two cardinals, His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, then the Archbishop of Chicago, stated that he was marveling over the ruins of the ancient city of Rome and thinking of how extraordinary it was that centuries after the Roman emperors had fallen, the successor of a poor, Galilean fisherman whom they executed was alive and well. To be sure, Rome’s continued prominence as a world city is uniquely joined to the presence of Peter, the rock foundation on which Christ has built his Church.

Of the millions of visitors to Rome and the Vatican each year, very few have an opportunity to see that rock foun-dation up close. However, a team of


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • BY JOSEPH SCHOLTEN ‘17 , D IOCESE OF S IOUX FALLS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Student Reflections

Monastic Renewal During Christmas Break

hile living in Rome means we remain

in Europe and away from home during

the Christmas season, it affords students at

the Pontifical North American College the opportunity travel during the break before exams begin in January. Alumni of the College have told me that some of the most important moments of their formation occurred while traveling with friends from the seminary—advice that has so far been confirmed by my own experience. This year, I spent my vaca-tion with five classmates, first staying at a Benedictine monastery in Switzerland

for a few days of prayer. After Christmas day with the monks, we took trains through Austria, stopping in Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna.

Einsiedeln AbbeyOn the first night of our stay at Einsiedeln Abbey, we witnessed a beautiful picture of brotherhood as the monks there lived and worked together. The key, their abbot told us,

was prayer. A community must take time together in silence before the Lord. These monks, despite their varying ages, opinions and backgrounds, live in the unity and love of a family, spending time together every day in the presence of their heavenly Father. Their union with God and with the saints forms the bedrock of their love for one another. This was expressed very profoundly every evening when, after vespers, the

WTHIS PAGE LEFT TO RIGHT The seminarians pray at Peterskirche in Winterthur, Switzerland • Clark Phillipp ‘17 (St. Louis) in Innsbruck, Austria • Joseph Scholten ‘17 (Sioux Falls), Michael Steger ‘17 (Milwaukee), Luke Syse ‘17 (Madison), and Tim Wratkowski ‘17 (St. Paul-Minneapolis) enjoying a day of skiing while in Innsbruck.

entire community would process together, in song, to a statue of Our Lady. The music was beautiful, but to me their common identity and purpose resounded even more clearly than their voices.

Christian brotherhoodI not only saw a great example of Chris-tian brotherhood at Christmas: I also had the chance to live the experience

alongside my brothers as we traveled together. We too developed our own harmony in the course of our travels. We too were able to sing and pray together in churches, hotel rooms, and even train coaches. Our prayer flowed into our behavior, and I was moved by the generosity of my brothers as they contributed to the trip, each in his own way. Some planned train routes, others

helped with reserving rooms, while others shared the histories they had read. One seminarian especially enriched our trip (and our taste buds) with his extensive knowledge of Austrian chocolate.

Sharing New ExperiencesBeing on the road with this group gave me the chance to try things I otherwise would not have experienced. I can still hardly believe that I went skiing in the Alps. Coming from the plains of South Dakota, I am confident that I was one of the least experienced people on the slopes that day! Despite my ineptitude, my classmates gave me reason enough to go, and encouragement to keep working at it. I’m glad I did. A few days

afterwards, another member of our group arranged for us to attend a small concert in Salzburg. Thanks to him, I discovered a new liking for a classical composer. The next night, another classmate cooked a dish for us that he had learned to make here in Italy. Sharing this and other meals together

reminded me again of the monks’ common life, centered around the Eucharistic Lord, who gives life and integrity to the whole community. I thank God for these experiences of life together, and I hope, as a priest, similarly to build up the Christian communities I’ll be sent to serve in South Dakota. n

THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE From left to right: Michael Steger ‘17 (Milwaukee), Joseph Scholten ‘17 (Sioux Falls), Tim Wratkowski ‘17 (St. Paul-Minneapolis), Fr. Abbot Urban Federer, Abbot of the territorial abbey of Einsiedeln (Switzerland), Fr. Paschal, Max Nightingale ‘17 (Kalamazoo), Clark Philipp ‘17 (St. Louis), and Luke Syse ‘17 (Madison). • From left to right: Max Nightingale ‘17 (Kalamazoo), Luke Syse ‘17 (Madison), Michael Steger ‘17 (Milwaukee), Tim Wratkowski ‘17 (St. Paul-Minneapolis), and Clark Philipp ‘17 (St. Louis) enjoying a fun night of fraternity over Christmas vacation. • The Benedictine territorial abbey of Einsiedeln (Switzerland).

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News Bytes

THIS PAGE John LoCoco ‘18 (Milwaukee), right, receiving the Lectionary from the Most Rev. William F. Murphy ‘65, C‘74, Bishop of Rockville Centre.

Ultimate Frisbee Greg Gerhart ‘16 (Austin) and Rev. Mr. Andrew Mattingly ‘15 (Kansas City – St. Joseph) playing Ultimate Frisbee on the Kardos Family Campo Sportivo.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Rev. Mr. Mark Horn ‘15 (Rapid City), left, and Rev. Robert Blyman (Rockville Centre), House Psychologist, right, enjoying the banquet in celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Champions

The New Men, Class of 2018, Champions of the 2014 Spaghetti Bowl, after their historic victory.

National Flags Stephen Gadberry ‘16 (Little Rock), Trevor Tibbertsma ‘17 (Melbourne), Rev. Bryan Shackett ‘14 (Detroit), and Joshua Meier ‘18 (Denver) carry the nations’ flags on the Kardos Family Campo Sportivo after the singing of the national anthems of Australia, Canada, and the United States of America.

Enjoying the Thanksgiving

Banquet Paul Bechter ‘16 (Dallas), Matthew Tatyrek ‘16 (Fort Worth), and Clark

Sample ‘16 (Galveston-Houston) having a good time at the

Thanksgiving Day banquet.

Lector Installation

n the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, forty-four members of the seminary community were installed to the

Ministry of Lector by the Most Rev. William Murphy, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Center. At one level, it is a ministry that we are all familiar with. We see lectors proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture in the context of the liturgies of the Church, and most preeminently during Holy Mass. Because of this familiarity, the Ministry of Lector can perhaps appear commonplace, limiting our appreciation of what a gift this ministry is to the Church in all ages.

Lifelong ServiceDuring his homily at the installation, Bishop Murphy cautioned the new lectors against falling into the mindset that the moment was a mere formality. When the Church confers this ministry upon a candidate, she is calling the new lector to a particular and lifelong service. As Bishop Murphy reflected, those entrusted with reading Sacred Scripture in the public worship of the Church are charged with the duty to grow in their love of God and his divine word via an intimate, faith-filled understanding of Sacred Scripture. We cannot grow in a love of God if we are lacking in such an understanding. If our love of God

becomes lukewarm, then we fail the work of the Holy Spirit, who makes the word of God living and effective.

The Lector gives voice to the Word of GodThe Church upholds the importance of this office, affirming that what the lector does is not simply reading—as though the proclamation of Sacred Scripture in the liturgy were similar to reading the newspaper. In fact, as the lector gives voice to the words of Sacred Scripture, in the readings of the day and in the psalm, he is acting as God’s instrument. His words invite those gathered to enter into the liturgy that is celebrated. In this privileged setting God speaks to his people through his Word. Most especially in the celebration of the Mass, the words proclaimed by the lector direct our hearts and minds to Christ, “since it is He who speaks when Scripture is read in Church (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 52).” This is because the divine word has only one purpose, the Holy Eucharist. Indeed, the divine word and the Eucharist are so deeply bound together that we need the one to understand the other. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “The Eucharist opens us to an understanding of Scripture, just as Scripture for its part illumines and explains the mystery of the Eucharist (Verbum Domini, 55).” The lector thus gives voice to the word

of God so that the faithful may be prepared in heart and mind to receive the grace and mystery of the Eucharist. Just as Christ himself engaged the Scriptures during his public ministry and demonstrated how he fulfilled them, so too is the lector charged in his ministry with directing the hearts and minds of the faithful towards Christ.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord offered a fitting context for the instal-lation of new lectors. Everything that St. John the Baptist preached pointed not to himself but to Christ—the one greater than him, who was to come after him. For St. Augustine, John the Baptist “is the voice that lasts for a time; from the beginning Christ is the Word who lives for ever. Take away the word, the meaning, and what is the voice? Where there is no understanding, there is only meaningless sound. The voice without the word strikes the ear but does not build up the heart.”

For instituted lectors, and, indeed, for priests, voice must be in service to word. The Word ought to grow and the voice diminish. Thus St. John the Baptist becomes the example for him who is charged by the Church with proclaiming the divine word. We must decrease while he must increase. n

OA Milestone on the Path Toward PriesthoodBY ALAN MART INEAU ‘18 , D IOCESE OF WORCESTER


Life at the College

Thanksgiving Morning From left: Robert Adams ‘16 (Lexington), Rev. Robert Blyman (Rockville Centre), House Psychologist, Mitchell Brown ‘18 (Gallup), Nathan Ricci ‘16 (Providence), Anthony Stewart ‘18 (Nashville), and Joseph Furnaguera ‘18 (Newark) enjoying breakfast together on Thanksgiving morning.

Pilgrimage Rev. Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C‘83 (New York), Superior of the Casa Santa Maria, with seminarians during a recent pilgrimage to Livorno, Italy.

Concert Sean DeWitt ‘16 (Austin), Brian Lenz ‘16 (Lansing), and the choir perform at the College’s annual Evening of Sacred Music for Advent and Christmas.

New Classroom Rev. Austin Vetter ‘93 (Bismarck), Head Spiritual Director, presents a formation conference to the third-year men in one of the new classrooms in the building addition.

All Souls’ Day

Members of the North American College community pose for a picture after the Mass for All Souls’ Day at the Monumental Cemetery of Campo Verano.

Christmas Party

Joseph Squillacioti ‘18 (Orange) and Michael Steger ‘17 (Milwaukee) during the annual Christmas Party.

Pilgrimage to Livorno

His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien C‘76, former Rector of the College, with seminarians

during a recent pilgrimage to Livorno, Italy.

Australian Alumni His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy of the Holy See, and Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97 (Camden), Rector of the College, with alumni priests and seminarians from the dioceses of Australia.

Spaghetti Bowl Jeffrey Hebert ‘18 (Little Rock) blocking for Tyler Sanders ‘18 (St. Joseph) during the Spaghetti Bowl football tournament.

Spaghetti Bowl John LoCoco ‘18 (Milwaukee) runs the ball during the Spaghetti Bowl.

Post-Christmas Party

From left: Rev. Mr. Fernando Camou ‘15 (Phoenix), Rev. Mark Baumgarten ‘14 (Perth), Rev. Jared Twenty ‘14 (Rockford), Joseph Rampino ‘16 (Wash-ington), and Stephen Gadberry ‘16 (Little Rock), perform for the community after the annual Christmas Party.

Thanksgiving DinnerDavid McCanless ‘16 (Charlotte), Peter Ascik ‘17 (Charlotte), and Michael Schuetz ‘16 (Raleigh) enjoying Thanksgiving pranzo together.

Historic Victory Rev. Philip Halladay ‘14 (Nashville) and Rev. Mr. Joshua Laws ‘15 (Baltimore), New Man Team chaplains, celebrating the New Men’s historic victory in the Spaghetti Bowl.

2726 ROMAN ECHOES 2015 • ISSUE 10The Pontifical North American CollegeTHIS PAGE FROM LEFT Rev. Joshua Waltz ‘07 (Bismarck), Rev. Kregg Hochhalter, Rev. Jaydyn Nelson, and Rev. Josh Ehli ‘09 (Bismarck) at Lago Atitlan in Guatemala.

in moral theology for his high school’s seniors and another in Christian spirituality for undergraduates at the University of Mary, making particular use of his master’s degree in moral theology, which he received from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas while a student in Rome. He completed his S.T.B. degree during his preceding years at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Along with his academic work while at the College, Rev. Waltz reports that his travel with classmates during semester breaks also proved formative, providing a wealth of raw material for homilies and teaching. “A lot of my experience from travel influenced the way I teach,” he recalled, mentioning the stories and experiences he can summon from his time spent in the Holy Land, experiencing poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, and discovering Church history in various regions of Europe. Having thus experienced the plural nature of the human condition has aided him in his ability to explain the scriptures.

Speaking to matters more local, Rev. Waltz mentioned the unique pastoral challenges of his diocese. “One of our huge needs right now, because of the oil boom, is understanding of the melting pot of people coming into our state.” With the influx of workers from all over the United States and abroad, Rev. Waltz pointed to his training at NAC as instrumental in an ability to receive and understand people of diverse cultures. At the College, of course, seminarians have peers from nearly every American state, and some countries abroad: “At NAC, you have the opportunity to be with people from all over the United States—a broad spectrum —showing what unites us and how people are different.” Both his time in the diocese

and his years in Rome gave Rev. Waltz a “broader appreciation for the diversity of the United States.”

Dovetailing with this, Rev. Waltz is one of a handful of priests in the Diocese of Bismarck with facility in Spanish, a language he learned before studying in Rome. Once life at the College commenced, he recalls, “Italian came easily,” helping with years of Italian lectures at the Gregorian, and later with languages in the diocese.

Rev. Waltz’ road to seminary and priesthood began during his high school years. One early touchstone experience of Christian ecclesial life was his service as an altar server, which earned him recognition from the Serra Club for his liturgical skills, along with a place serving liturgies for his bishop. Still, he said, being an athlete was his priority: “Soccer was everything.” One particular moment in his soccer career changed everything: “During my junior year, everything came crashing down.” While in a crucial position to save his team from a loss in a championship game, Waltz executed a play that caused his team a sudden loss, with his block inadvertently deflecting the opposing team’s shot into his own goal. “Something broke inside of me” after this, both in his own sense of accomplishment and owing to the jeering he received from fellow teammates and opponents alike.

Realizing through this experience that “it was not all about me,” Rev. Waltz entered a period of his life when he was influenced by a number of priests, particularly Rev. Msgr. Tom Richter ‘96 and Rev. Austin Vetter ‘93. “Two priests came into my life” and gave a sense of “joy about the faith that I had never seen.” Waltz started focusing his energies on religion classes, prayer, and

study. On one occasion, Msgr. Rich-ter said flatly to Waltz that he would become a priest. Waltz resisted the idea strongly, having other plans in mind, though he continued to attend Mass and confession regularly.

Rev. Waltz’ first trip to Rome, at age eighteen, was the turning point that would solidify his sense of calling to the priesthood. Invited by several priests in his diocese to accompany the bishop on his ad limina audience with the pope, he saw Rome for the first time, and something changed. “I had always thought the Church was just for old people,” but witnessing Rome, “I started seeing the glories of the Church: the history, how it affected everything in Western civilization, and how some of the greatest minds ever came out of the Catholic Church.” With this new sense came a new idea what the priesthood was about. “There was something inside of them that lit me up.” “Whatever they have—I don’t know what it is—I want it.” “Jesus,” he would later resolve, was the answer to that question.

Before his trip to Rome came to an end, Waltz had an unforgettable series of meetings with Pope St. John Paul II. He spoke, as many do, of the radiant holiness of the pope, and in a brief conversation, asked the pontiff for prayers for himself and for his family. Returning home, he knew he had to enter the seminary, after a few years of which he ended up back in Rome again.

As he looks forward to his continued ministry in the Diocese of Bismarck, one matter that remains clear: The Eternal City has shaped Rev. Waltz’ ministry–starting with the vision of priesthood it inspired in him years before his priesthood began. n

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • BY THE ED ITORS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Alumni Profile

A Vocation Discovered in Rome

ev. Joshua Waltz ‘07, a priest of the Diocese

of Bismarck, could not have imagined

becoming a priest until a sequence of events brought him to Rome for the first time as a high school student, culminating in a firsthand encounter with Pope St. John Paul II. His Roman pilgrimage would, in the end, turn out to be a lifelong one. Since his time spent in formation at the Pontifical North American College, he has added his presence to the success of his thriving and geographically expansive home diocese.

The Diocese of Bismarck’s sixty-six thousand Catholics are served by around a hundred priests whose average

age is forty-five, compared to a national average of sixty-three. Just as important as healthy numbers, Rev. Waltz reports, is the presbyterate’s spiritual unity: “Everybody is pretty much on the same page, and when there is unity among the priests, it’s attractive.” Not unrelated, then, is the healthy number of men in formation for Bismarck: Twenty-seven seminarians are studying for the diocese, among whom three study in Rome at the Pontifical North American College.

This last figure is of particular note given Rev. Waltz’s role as vocation director, a full-time task that complements his six years spent as chaplain of St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, one of the Diocese’s three Catholic schools, each of which is served by two

priest-chaplains. His six years of work with high school students prepared him in a direct way, he said, for his work promoting vocations.

Rev. Waltz remarked that his time spent in Rome at the College has remained with him closely, preparing him in unique ways for each of his various ministries. During his time as a high-school chaplain, he led twelve pilgrimages to Rome with his students. Having been formed in Rome, he points to the city as both the focal point of Western civilization and as a living evangelical witness, marked by the presence of so many martyrs and saints.

Aside from vocation work and chaplain-cies, Rev. Waltz also teaches a seminar

R


at the same time offering them an opportunity to receive from Americans how we live out our priesthood for Christ. Another welcome change is the presence of the “fifth-year priests,” newly ordained priests who, having completed four years at the College’s Janiculum campus, come to live at the Casa to continue their studies. This allows the older priests to experience the youthful enthusiasm and energy of priests who are just setting out on their priesthood. The dynamic also allows the “veterans” to recommit themselves while still offering the younger priests insights learned during their many years of priesthood. The presence of these recent graduates of the Seminary at the Casa has also permitted greater contact between the two campuses. Their presence has forged a greater sense that all are members of the Pontifical North American College, and have helped all to commit themselves to maintaining the College’s finest traditions.

Life at the CasaLife at the Casa is still filled with great interaction, especially at meals. Since so many disciplines of theological study are represented, the conversation at table offers a variety of subjects to be

BY REV. MSGR. FERD INANDO BERARDI C ‘82 , SUPER IOR , CASA SANTA MAR IA

Fraternity and Formation at the

After all the positive experiences I had at the Casa Santa Maria thirty-four years ago, I thought I would like to relive those happy days again. I was therefore stunned last year when just that opportunity was presented to me by Cardinal Dolan, who informed me that Rev. Msgr. James Checchio, the College’s Rector, was looking for a new superior at the Casa. Would I be interested?

After serving here for a year as Superior, I could not be happier! What has been my experience here at the Casa? Like the Church, it is “ever ancient, ever new.” I have many pleasant memories of the Casa, yet I realized that I could not assume that all would be the same. There would certainly be changes. I believe, however, that the changes I have experienced not only provide for the continuity of the mission of the Casa but have reinforced its mission: to provide for the ongoing spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation of the priest-residents so that they may return to their respective dioceses and better serve the Church.

An international clergyIn my time as a resident priest, only Americans resided at the Casa. Now, with priests from Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries, (along with the majority of American priests), our understanding of the universality of our Church is enriched. We can benefit from witnessing how non-Americans live out the faith in their culture, while

ACASA SANTA MARIA

h, an old dream I have had: One day I would like to return to the place that helped to form me into the priest that I am today, and, in doing

so, to rededicate myself in my own priesthood and give back to the Pontifical North American College. discussed: Scripture, systematics, moral

theology, marriage and family issues, liturgy, sacraments, canon law and so many other topics. The prayerful and meditative atmosphere is fostered by the devout celebration of daily Mass, daily exposition, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, along with the communal celebration of evening prayer. There is a strong spirit of priestly fraternity and mutual support.

One constant feature of life at the Casa is the uniqueness of studying in Rome, where we are literally surrounded by the many basilicas and shrines of the saints, especially Saints Peter and Paul,

the early martyrs, and all the men and women saints throughout the history of our Church. We are reminded daily of the participation in the communion of saints, and the obligation to be like the saints by living out the call to follow Christ, witnessing to the truth of the gospel handed on to the present Church. The closeness to the pope, supreme pastor of the Church, reminds the priests of the Casa of the unity that all share in our Church, and the obligation to ensure that our unity with the successor of Peter is maintained and enhanced.

Giving backI am blessed that my dream came true: Having been blessed by my time at the Casa as a student priest, I can now give back my priesthood in serving as its Superior. There is a joy in serving as a priest for my brother priests. As a father to this community of “Fathers,” my own sense of the beauty and dignity of the sacred priesthood has grown. Pray for my brother priests and for me in this wonderful Casa that our Patroness, Our Lady of Humility, may intercede with her Son, the Eternal Priest, to bless our ongoing priestly formation. n

THIS PAGE Rev. Msgr. Ferdinando Berardi C‘82 (New York), Superior of the Casa Santa Maria. OPPOSITE PAGE One of the Casa Santa Maria’s prayer gardens, with a statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

“I am blessed that my dream came true: Having been blessed by my time at the Casa as a student priest, I can now give back my priesthood in serving as its Superior.”

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Discussion with George Weigel

n the afternoon of December 14, George Weigel, a longtime friend of the College,

addressed seminarians on the topic of Pope Francis’ papacy, offering his thoughts as well as providing time for questions from seminarians. Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has, in Weigel’s words, “been an object of projection” from all corners, especially the world of journalism. Weigel thus structured his talk around the defining characteristics of Pope Francis, along with some of the “myths” about him that have been proffered in the press and other outlets of popular opinion.

Drawing on several personal meetings with Pope Francis, both as Cardinal Bergoglio and later as pontiff, Weigel first pointed to the fact that the pope is a “radically converted Christian disciple” and as Pope Francis has described himself, he is a “son of the Church.” Pope Francis’ Jesuit roots also influence him deeply, particularly in his leadership style—one that allows for wide-ranging discussion, but still recalls his responsibility to God as pontiff.

Pope Francis, Weigel continued, is “a man of the New Evangelization,” and he approaches the Church as a permanent mission field—a view set forth in the famous Aparecida Document, released by the Latin American bishops in 2007. In keeping with this vision, it must be said that the Holy Father is in many respects a disciple of Pope Saint John Paul II. For the pope, the kind of Catholicism that has a future is not “genetic Catholicism,” but rather a lively and intentional faith brought about by evangelization. Many lay movements have demonstrated success in this area, particularly in America.

At a personal level, Weigel continued, Pope Francis has a distinctly pastoral heart, with his primary sympathies residing with those on the peripheries of society. The Holy Father was formed into the man he is in part by witnessing the indignities visited upon the poor—espe-cially circumstances which provide the poor with no means to advance them-selves economically. Clergy in particular must avoid becoming an insular social caste, set apart from the poor and their daily struggles. Solidarity with the poor has also led Pope Francis to a deep respect for the popular piety of simple people who occupy society’s peripheries.

As for Pope Francis’ role as a reformer, Weigel pointed to his unencumbered stance toward his new role as head of the Vatican City State: He came to the papacy as a relative “outsider,” and is thus free to call those responsible for Church governance to greater holiness and integrity.

Mentioning a lighter side of Pope Francis’ personality, Weigel also spoke to his literary bent. The Holy Father is a connoisseur of novels and fiction more generally, with his two favorite titles being Hugh Benson’s Lord of the World and Alessandro Manzoni’s I Promessi Sposi. Both books speak, in their own way, to Pope Francis’ worldview. Lord of the World cautions modernity against the worship of false gods under the guise of virtue, while I Promessi Sposi speaks to the tension between simple people and the powerful people who govern them. Weigel pointed to these books as evidence, inter alia, of the fact that Pope Francis does not easily fit into Western political categories.

A matter that has emerged as preeminent in Pope Francis’ papacy is his deep understanding of the many kinds of poverty that afflict modern society. There is poverty of ignorance, spiritual poverty, and the economic crisis of poverty, along with the positive kind of poverty that each Christian seeks after, in imitation of Christ. If anything is clear from his personal encounters with Pope Francis, Weigel related, it is that the pope’s emphasis on divine mercy—in view of the many kinds of poverty—is a way of helping people apprehend the truths underlying the faith. Understanding Pope Francis, then, means not dividing mercy and truth. This strategy, Weigel reasoned, will prove of eminent use for those who, in the future, will come to the Catholic faith by means of Christian witness, not just argumentation alone. n

OMeeting Pope Francis Up CloseBY THE ED ITORS

Marriage Presentation

verybody’s for marriage equality. Everybody wants whatever marriage is to be recognized on an equal basis. The real,

and prior, question to that is what marriage is—what it is that we have to recognize on an equal basis —when it’s a marriage that’s being denied recognition, and when it’s something else entirely.” So began Sherif Girgis’ analysis of the issues surrounding the same-sex marriage debate.

Girgis is the co-author, along with Robert P. George and Ryan T. Anderson, of a 2012 book fittingly titled What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense. On the evening of November 17, while in Rome for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s International Colloquium on the Complementarity of Man and Woman in Marriage, Girgis and Anderson presented a two-hour event on the subject for seminarians at the College.

The evening was broken up into three parts: two short talks, followed by a question and answer session. The first of these parts was Girgis’ opening commentary on the status quo regarding the marriage debate. He argued that there were two competing visions of marriage: the traditional view, and the view of marriage advocated by those who want to redefine marriage to include same-sex marriage.

Those seeking to redefine marriage, Girgis argued, operate as if the defining characteristic of marriage is (or ought to be) romance or “emotional union.” Two men living in a romantic relationship with one another may be considered married, while two men living as broth-ers or roommates may not be. This, he argued, fundamentally misunderstands marriage in such a way that it “can’t ex-plain any systematic difference between marriage and other forms of compan-ionship.” This vision of marriage also does not account for the distinguishing characteristics of marriage, including exclusivity, monogamy and permanence. After all, if marriage is defined by emotion and romance alone, nothing ensures that these feelings will last, or that they will be confined to one person.

In contrast, the traditional view of marriage coherently accounts for all of the properties of marriage by viewing marriage as a comprehensive union of two persons ordered toward family life. The good of the family and the need for a stable and healthy environment for children explains why the state

and society care about monogamy and permanence.

This laid the foundation for the second part of the evening, in which Ryan T. Anderson spoke on the public policy consequences of redefining marriage. At several turns, he reminded listeners that the state is not involved in the marriage business because it is concerned with romance, but because it cares about the welfare of children. Pointing to a wealth of social science evidence supporting the notion that mothers and fathers provide unique contributions to the well-being of children, Anderson argued that the push to redefine marriage pri-oritizes the desires of adults over these authentic needs of children.

After both men spoke, they opened themselves up to questions from the seminarians for more than an hour. Although the evening was a voluntary event, turnout was high, and those present were engaged. Questions ranged from the theoretical to the practical, from theories of natural law to ways of pastorally cultivating a faithful marriage culture amongst the flock. Both speakers were ready with thoughtful, cogent answers to the broad variety of questions. At the event’s end, the seminarians in attendance stood in a long ovation for Girgis and Anderson, and discussed the talk’s message for weeks to come. n

“ETimely Counsel on Marriage BY JOSEPH HESCHMEYER ‘18 , ARCHD IOCESE OF KANSAS C ITY IN KANSAS

THIS PAGE Sherif Girgis, co-author of What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense, is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at Princeton and a J.D. candidate at Yale Law School, and studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. THIS PAGE George Weigel speaking to the North American College community about His Holiness, Pope Francis.


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Economo’s Corner

ince the last issue of Roman Echoes, so many wonderful things have taken place at the College, starting with the beautiful dedication of our new

classroom building. The event was a great way to begin the New Year and celebrate Epiphany. We are grateful for the generosity and friendship of The Mulva Family Foundation for their extraordinary generosity. Clearly, our more than 150-year history is a testa-ment to the many dedicated individuals and groups who support our mission.

Now, as our seminarians enjoy the new building, we continue to carry out other necessary work and planning for the future. We have been aided by the ever-improving exchange rate, as most of our income is in US dollars and most of our expenses in Euros. Once again, alumni and benefactors were generous in the annual December 8 Appeal; other benefactors also provided financial resources to help with restoration of the Red Room at the Casa Santa Maria, improving our Student Infirmary, and allowing for a new HVAC system for our much used student kitchen at the College. In upcoming editions of

Roman Echoes, we will include photos of some of these projects. The start of 2015 also means we are continuing to assess the College’s continued needs.

During the dedication ceremony on January 6, I could only feel joy and thanksgiving that the building had been completed. Watching the ceremony on each floor as His Eminence, Cardinal Parolin blessed the classrooms, one could see the faces of all the young men who will benefit from the structure, along with the generation of seminarians after them, who will use the building for formation classes, September pastoral workshops, Mass and Homily training, along with time spent in prayer in the new Saint John Paul II Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Having a great love of history, I am sure the same was experienced by our deceased alumni who were present

when Pope Pius IX dedicated our College on Humility Street, others when Pius XII dedicated the “New College,” and now for us, who witnessed the dedication of the “New Building”—a profound reminder of how God provides for his people and for his Church through such commitment and generosity. During the dedication, we recalled in a particular way that everything we do here at the College is “blessed and dedicated” to the Glory of God and the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the celebration of Epiphany brought to mind the public manifestation of Jesus as true God and Savior of all.

In closing, we are grateful that Our Lord has and continues to call men to the priesthood, so they can be his instruments of manifesting God’s love to the world. n

SA Sign of Generosity to the CollegeBY MONS IGNOR MICHAEL FARMER ‘95 , ARCHD IOCESE OF MOB ILE

THIS PAGE TOP The central courtyard of the Casa Santa Maria. • BOTTOM The North American College, with the new building addition.

Institutional Advancement

omeone recently commented that this is an extraordinary period for the Pontifical North American College. Indeed, of our 156 years, these recent months are

particularly memorable and worthy of mention.

Setting aside our forty-year record enrollment, the largest ever resident priest faculty, and expanding ICTE programs, the stories and photos from our new building dedication (as reported in this issue) are truly remarkable. The new addition will benefit hundreds, if not thousands, of seminarians in the years to come. Extra care was taken to ensure that the new building blends gracefully with the older building.

As I witnessed Cardinal Parolin bless the new spaces on January 6, I took particular note of the excitement and anticipation upon the faces of our seminarians and student priests. But perhaps our students who were enrolled

in 1959, the first to explore the new halls and rooms of the “house on the hill,” had a similar look upon their faces. The relocation of the College from Humility Street to the Janiculum was an extraordinary occasion too—and no less grand than the recent dedication we experienced. And further, imagine the sense of anticipation among the original thirteen students who were the very first to enter our doors in 1859. Many eras, one steadfast mission.

Smaller projects too, reflect the old saw that “everything old is new again.” In January, we unveiled a renovated website (www.pnac.org). The new site offers better navigation, more photos, and video. We have a new YouTube channel with some amazing videos, including one of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to the College in 1963 (www.youtube.com/c/PnacOrg1859). And even this magazine has been slightly updated with a more creative, engaging layout!

In Rome, the Porter’s office has been updated; the Student Kitchen has a new HVAC system; several of the administra-tion offices have been relocated and reorganized; the Red Room at the Casa Santa Maria is being refurbished; the student Infirmary will be renovated this Spring. And so it goes. Updating, renewing, expanding.

But change has not, and will not, alter our goal to form holy men for the priesthood here in Rome. Rooms, facilities, and personnel may change, but the certain reality is that the Pontifical North American College remains the only house of formation reserved for Americans in the Eternal City. And our mission today—just as it was 156 years ago—is made possible only with the generous support of our alumni and lay benefactors. Whether you are an alumnus, a parent of a current student, a sponsoring bishop, or a lay supporter, your past and future support are greatly appreciated and needed. n

The New(est) NAC Era BY MARK RANDALL , CFRE • EXECUT IVE D IRECTOR

S

1859 The first graduating class at the Pontifical North American College.

1953

Pope Pius XII during the dedication of the new seminary on the Janiculum Hill.

2015

Seminarians attend an evening formation class in one of the new classrooms.

“A thousand thanks” to the sponsor of this issue of Roman Echoes:

Alumni Association of the North American College

Interested in sponsoring a future issue of Roman Echoes? Contact our Executive Director, Mark Randall: 202-541-5411 or [email protected]

Ways to ParticipateAttend: Individual tickets start at $450 per person ($250 for alumni). Tables available from $4000.Sponsor: Various underwriting options available, and include tickets and print ads (from $5,000)Advertise: Place an advertisement or congratulatory posting in our Dinner Album (from $300)Support: Help make our event as successful as possible with a general donation

For more information or to download a registration form: www.pnac.org or contact Mark Randall, CFRE • Executive Director, Institutional [email protected] – 202-541-5403

23rd AnnualRector’s DinnerThursday, April 16, 2015Janiculum Campus, RomeCocktail reception begins at 6:30 p.m.Dinner begins at 7:30 p.m.

“Since 1991, the Rector’s Dinner has been held each year in Rome at the Janiculum Hill campus to support our mission and further enhance the formational experience of our seminarians and priests. This festive event is attended by a diverse group of participants including alumni, esteemed guests from the United States, dignitaries from the Diplomatic Corps, the Vatican Curia, the Italian nobility, and prominent members of the American and European business worlds. The presentation of the Rector’s Award enables us to recognize and thank those who have been influential in the life of the College and have done so much to advance our mission. Please celebrate our mission with us this year by attending the dinner, reserving space in our Rector’s Album, or making a general contribution to help underwrite the evening. Thank you!”

2015 HonoreesHis Eminence George Cardinal PellPrefect of the Secretariat for the Economy

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Baker of San Diego, CA

Calling all Alumni: Please make plans today to attend the 2015 Alumni Reunion. Hosted by the Archdiocese of St. Louis this June, it will be an extraordinary time to visit the city and renew old NAC friendships.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS• Vespers at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral)• Masses at the “New Cathedral”, celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali and Archbishop Robert J. Carlson• “Bum Rum” tours of the Cathedral and Missouri Botanical Gardens• Optional time for other attractions such as the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, St. Louis Zoo, etc.

HOSTS• Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis• Justin Cardinal F. Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, Former Archbishop of St. Louis• Most Rev. John R. Gaydos, Bishop of Jefferson City• Most Rev. Robert F. Finn, Bishop of Kansas City – St. Joseph

STEERING COMMITTEE• Rev. Donald Anstoetter ‘12• Rev. Philip Bene C’01• Msgr. Francis Blood ‘79 – CHAIR• Msgr. Michael Curran ’81 C’88 – Alumni Assoc. General Secretary• Rev. Robert Liss ‘62• Rev. Carl Scheble ‘83• Rev. Jason Schumer ‘10• Rev. Christopher Seiler ‘13

HOTEL INFORMATIONThanks to the Drury Family, an amazing group rate of only $100 per night + tax has been arranged at the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch! Breakfast, Wifi, and Parking included.

2015 AlumniREUNIONJune 16-18, 2015St. Louis, Missouri

For more information and to see who has already registered, please visit www.pnacalumni.org

NON-PROFIT ORG. US. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 144WALDORF, MD

The Pontifical North American College Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NEWashington, D.C. 20017-1194

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) 541-5411Fax: (202) 722-8804Email: [email protected]: www.pnac.org

23rd Annual Rector’s DinnerThursday, April 16, 2015

Janiculum Campus, Rome

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RESERVATIONS

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Documents

Roman Echoes 2015 – Issue 10