roman echoes THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE I VOLUME 30 I ISSUE 3 I 2026
Full of Grace Page 6 Knowing Jesus
Page 12 Ordinary Time
Page 18 Jesus Is Doing a Good Work
Page 30 The Saints Are Alive
Contents
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6 Full of Grace 6 Knowing Jesus 7 Humbled by Grace 8 Risen, Ascended, Exalted 18 New Homilies
Seminary Life
20 Recent & Upcoming Events 22 31st Annual Rector’s Dinner
10 Letter from a Levite 12 From His Side 14 The Mother of All the Living 16 Auspice Maria
Nova et Vetera
24 Thirty-Three New Acolytes
32 Alumni Association Newsletter
28 Study Corner
33 Alumni Member Update
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Student Art
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24 18 From the Editor Grace is always a bit mysterious. It’s hard to pin down or to capture in a definition, even when we’ve experienced it in powerful ways. Mary was filled with it, angels announced it, prophets foretold it, and apostles never stopped preaching it. We touch it in the sacraments; we hear it in the scriptures. Blood and water poured down its side, and from its fullness we have received, grace upon grace in Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 1:16-17). In this issue of Roman Echoes, we are excited to share some of the ways that we’ve experienced God’s grace, and especially how we’ve experienced his grace through Mary, who is full of grace and full of Christ. Please remember us in your prayers. With gratitude, Graham Fassero ‘27 Diocese of Richmond
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Contributors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Graham Fassero ‘27, Diocese of Richmond ASSISTANT EDITORS Liam Daigle ‘28, Diocese of Worcester Christian Howlett ‘28, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis PHOTO EDITOR & PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Both ‘28, Diocese of Austin
Administration
of The Pontifical North American College RECTOR Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers ‘97 VICE RECTOR Rev. Michael Pratt ‘11 CARL J. PETER CHAIR OF HOMILETICS ROMAN ECHOES FACULTY LIAISON Rev. Peter John Cameron, OP DIRECTOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. Msgr. William V. Millea ‘80, C‘89 DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION Rev. Edward Linton, OSB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mark Randall, CFRE For more information about The Pontifical North American College, subscription questions, or to learn about ways you can financially support “America’s Seminary in Rome,” please contact Mark Randall, CFRE, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement. Tel: (202) 541-5411 Fax: (202) 470-6211 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org This publication is written, edited, and photographed by the seminarians, deacons, and student priests of The Pontifical North American College.
Board of Governors
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Most Rev. Robert P. Reed ‘85, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston Most Rev. John S. Bonnici ‘91, Auxiliary Bishop of New York Most Rev. William J. Waltersheid ‘92, C‘96, Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh Most Rev. Adam J. Parker ‘00 (Secretary), Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore Most Rev. James F. Checchio ‘92, C‘97 (Treasurer), Archbishop of New Orleans Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas C‘90, Bishop of Toledo Most Rev. Robert J. McClory ‘99, Bishop of Gary Most Rev. Scott E. Bullock ‘91, Bishop of Rapid City Most Rev. John E. Keehner C‘99, Bishop of Sioux City Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes ‘01, C‘05, Bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann C‘85, ICTE F‘99, Bishop of Orange in California Most Rev. Austin A. Vetter ‘93 (Chair), Bishop of Helena Most Rev. Gregory W. Gordon ‘87, Auxiliary Bishop of Las Vegas Most Rev. Frank Dewane ‘88, C‘89 (Vice Chair), Bishop of Venice in Florida Most Rev. William C. Skurla, Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
RECTOR’S CORNER Dear Friend of the Pontifical North American College, Any pilgrim in Rome will notice on day one that the Eternal City is filled with hundreds of beautiful fountains. What brings the fountains to life is the gallons upon gallons of water that flow through them. Without water, even the most beautifully sculpted fountains would be missing something essential.
Like water is to a fountain, the Holy Spirit is to our souls. He is the life of our soul, that wells up, overflows, and fills us constantly with his grace.
Like water is to a fountain, the Holy Spirit is to our souls. He is the life of our soul, that wells up, overflows, and fills us constantly with his grace. Because of his intense love for us, the Holy Spirit chooses to dwell in our souls. It is not just that he is willing to dwell within us; he wants to dwell within us. He also works differently, tenderly, and personally in each one of us. We see this at Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles, which tells us “there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them” (Acts 2:3). That is, the Holy Spirit did not descend as one large flame; rather, he operated uniquely for each of the disciples, just as differently as one flame is from another. We see this profoundly when the Archangel Gabriel greets Mary as “full of grace” and tells her that, through the extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit, she will bear the Son of God. Indeed, the Blessed Mother shows us what perfect docility to the Holy Spirit looks like. While you and I, as sinners, have not reached that perfection of docility, we can certainly model Mary in our own way and remain docile to the Spirit and to all the wonderful works he wants to do for, in, and through us. We ask Mary to help us remember that growth in the spiritual life occurs when we surrender to the Holy Spirit in docility. For holiness is never our work alone; it is the work of the Holy Spirit, whose love is infinitely more powerful than anything we can do by our own wisdom or our own strength. Be assured of my prayers and the prayers of the entire community of the Pontifical North American College, especially that each one of us, with the Blessed Mother as our guide, may open our hearts to the immense grace the Holy Spirit wants to give us. Sincerely yours in Christ,
COVER: Seminarians pass through the Arco dei Banchi on their walk to school. OPPOSITE PAGE: The College’s Lourdes grotto. BACK COVER: Seminarians pray the Rosary together.
Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers ‘97 Rector
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Knowing Jesus
ANTHONY NGUYEN ‘29, ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND IN OREGON It was the Feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle. I sat in my third-grade pew and whispered to a friend, “The priest is talking about my great-grandfather!” My friend didn’t buy it and replied, “Saint Matthew wasn’t Asian, and your great-grandfather definitely didn’t know Jesus.” When I got home and asked my parents, they told me my friend was right. My fourth-great-grandfather was not Saint Matthew the Apostle—as I had thought from the family stories growing up—but Saint Matthew Nguyen Van Phuong, one of the Vietnamese Martyrs canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II. Saint Matthew Phuong was born in Quang Binh, Vietnam, in 1801. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by a Catholic priest in the village and went on to marry and to raise his eight children in the Catholic faith. Serving as the right-hand man of the priests in the village, he catechized the people, brought the Eucharist to the sick, and organized the sacraments. During the time of persecution, he sheltered priests in his home and invited parishioners for underground Masses. Eventually, Matthew was arrested and tortured for months. Despite repeated demands to renounce his faith and to trample upon a crucifix, he remained firm in his belief in God’s love. Saint Matthew Phuong was martyred by beheading on May 26, 1861. My friend was right in a sense: My great-grandfather did not walk the roads of Galilee or sit at the table of the Last Supper. But as I learned the story of Saint Matthew Phuong, I realized that, in every way that truly matters, he knew Jesus intimately. He knew Jesus as he brought him to the sick. He knew Jesus in the breaking of the bread at those secret, candlelit Masses in his home. He knew Jesus as he was tortured and held in his prison cell. It was only through this deep knowledge of Jesus that Saint Matthew Phuong found the strength to give up his life, his family, and everything he had. The saints and martyrs all share a common trait: They are ordinary people who came to know Jesus in a way that changed their lives. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” I have been specially blessed to have a canonized saint in my bloodline, but this encounter with the Lord is a legacy that we are all called to inherit. We may not all have a “Saint” in our family tree, but we all are blessed with the same inheritance: The opportunity to know Jesus. n
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Humbled by Grace CASEY BURGESS ‘29, DIOCESE OF MANCHESTER
One afternoon, needing some fresh air, I went for a walk with no plan. As I neared the Church of San Girolamo della Carità, which only opens for a few odd hours each day, I remembered that it would be open soon. For months I had wanted to go to this small, backstreet church, where Saint Philip Neri had founded his first Oratory congregation. At first, I was enthralled by the peaceful beauty of the church and imagined the saint’s footsteps here centuries ago. However, the awe soon faded into annoyance. Visitors milled about, sometimes chatting noisily. The tabernacle lacked a lamp, so I was unsure of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Then, some forty boys filed in. In fairness, they were very respectful, but the peaceful, prayerful silence I had been seeking was now out of the question. God then countered my frustration with two graces. First, as I prayed the Joyful Mystery of the Nativity, a religious sister and a priest processed in with a tabernacle lamp and the Eucharist. As in Nazareth, Jesus arrived, not waiting for everything to be perfect and ready, but rather hallowing the place by his presence.
left: Saint Matthew Phuong (Photo: Kaden Nguyen). right: Pilgrims pray at San Girolamo (Photo: Casey Burgess).
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GRACE SHARING
Second, when the boys returned from their tour of the old Oratory, they knelt and prayed a whole Rosary, and I prayed with them. They chanted the Salve Regina perfectly and then sang one of the most beautiful polyphonies I have ever heard. Moments ago, I had assumed they had no appreciation of the spiritual significance of the place. As it turns out, they were an Oratory boys’ choir on pilgrimage to their saintly founder, who must have rejoiced from heaven at the sight of his church filled with his children at prayer. Humility, prayer, song, the saints, and Christ’s presence: far fresher air than I expected. n
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Risen, Ascended, Exalted REV. THOMAS O’DONNELL ‘25, ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE Our crucified and risen Lord pours out his grace on the world, on the Church, and on my life. I’m reminded of this by three works of art hidden throughout the Pontifical North American College. I’ll begin on the fifth floor, where obscure art can always be found. Just outside the Cardinal Cooke Suite hangs a clay relief by an unknown artist, marking the 1983 Jubilee of Redemption. “Open the doors to the Redeemer,” reads the victorious banner of Christ. He bursts forth from the tomb and invites me to open the doors of my fearful heart. I’m reminded of those hopeful words preached by the saintly Polish Pope to a despairing world: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man.’ He alone knows it.” When I open the doors of my childlike heart to his grace, I become a son, set free from the dominion of sin and death. In this depiction of the Resurrection, no Roman guards lie sleeping. Instead, instruments of war lie scattered at Jesus’ feet. Even when weapons are wielded in self-defense, their continued existence is a reminder that creation longs for the day when death, conquered on the Cross, will at last be destroyed. I cannot identify the interesting figure on the left side, a female saint holding tools or sheaves. But on the right is Our Lady of Częstochowa, the great patroness of Poland, a country still under Soviet control when this was sculpted. God’s grace brings freedom from all kinds of oppression. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (Rom 16:20).
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Descending to the Assumption Chapel, I come to the final resting place of Count Enrico Galeazzi (1896–1986), the Vatican architect who cared for the scavi under Saint Peter’s Basilica and designed the College’s new home after World War II. When I celebrate Mass at this altar, I am surrounded on three sides by colorful vines in the mosaics by Giorgio Quaroni (1907–1960), who was also responsible for art in the Immaculate Conception Chapel and in the O’Toole Refectory. The right wall depicts the Resurrection; above the altar, the Virgin Mary prays for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church at Pentecost. To my left is Count Galeazzi’s sepulcher, and above it, a lively depiction of Mary with apostles and disciples, joyfully witnessing the Ascension of Jesus. As I pray for his soul’s repose, I hope that Count Galeazzi’s body will one day rise and take its place in the heavenly kingdom. “Being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Ti 3:7). Further down, on the lowest level of the College, I come to the North American Martyrs Chapel. Its massive stained-glass wall, artificially lit, was designed by Maria Laetitia Giuliani Melis (1908–1985). Her father Giulio Cesare Giuliani (1882– 1954), founded the Trastevere-based Vetrate d’Arte Giuliani, a workshop still designing and producing art for churches worldwide. The central image depicts Jesus our High Priest, flanked by two angels, displaying his glorified wounds, eternally interceding for mankind. Below stand the courageous men who offered their lives as an oblation for the people of the North American continent. All those who pray in this Chapel beg for a share in the fire of charity that engulfs the martyrs. May our formation in Rome be an offering for the salvation of those who live in North America today. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). n
“Aperite Portas Redemptori,” clay relief by an unknown artist, from the College’s fifth floor.
GRACE SHARING
top: Mosaic by Giorgio Quaroni, from the College’s Assumption Chapel; bottom: Stained glass by Maria Laetitia Giuliani Melis, from the College’s North American Martyrs Chapel.
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Letter from a Levite CARTER ANDERSON ‘29, DIOCESE OF HELENA
A veil of incense rising, a sacrifice of prayer How often I entered that Holy of Holies The sweet sacred air The inner court echoed, ages of prophet and priest “Why is this night so different?” A son would ask on our feast A man of solitude as you, would surely have ears to hear “God Is My Strength” they call him His voice robust and clear “From the barren womb of Horeb, expect the springtime dew” This old man’s heart thought not For my hopes in this life are few His angelic anger aroused, God’s promise still sweet in the air I should have sung in exultation! As did your betrothed so fair …and yet I did not My kinfolk say you sleep well, I suppose all dreamers do Remaining awake to the world beyond Hearing the God-man coo I think of you often, you know, of the years that lie ahead Perhaps we’ll even speak one day Of the Word and all he said The apex of history’s wandering: my wife and your young bride On a fruit so sweet they linger To repel the one that lied In the end, sealed lips are fitting, to recount the angel’s “Hark!” Courage, my friend! Be steadfast And protect your newfound ark
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The meeting of Zechariah and Joseph, fresco detail from the sanctuary of the College’s Immaculate Conception Chapel.
The Shepherd Leaning In REV. MR. THOMAS KOLLASCH ‘26, DIOCESE OF SIOUX CITY “What’s he look like? What’s he do?” Is he donning black eyes or blue? Shining stars or deep pools? Excuse me, good sir. And please, fair lady. Do not keep silent about your baby. What’s he look like? What’s he do? Does he counsel in wonder? Does peace come to you? Has he a spirit fire-warm or icy-cool? What’s he look like? What’s he do? Does he brim with might and princely hue? Is he dim with the brown of any old fool?
… Both, you say? Both?! The warm and the cool? The light and the dark? The leaf and its root? The star and the pool? The bright and the stark? The tree and its fruit? Both?! …
STUDENT ART
Excuse me, good sir. And please, fair lady. Do not keep silent about your baby.
“I am small, and I am everything,” he will come to say.
Mary and Jesus, statue from the College’s Casa O’Toole.
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Crucifix
Ordinary Time
BRUCE CARGILL ‘27, DIOCESE OF METUCHEN
REV. MR. THOMAS KOLLASCH ‘26, DIOCESE OF SIOUX CITY
... It was on a day in Ordinary Time when a man called out to me. He asked for my number before he asked for my name. I forgave him. He was funny. It was Ordinary Time. I was just fishing: it was Ordinary Time. And he looked me in the eyes. And he said to me, “Where are you?” And I realized. And I said, “I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.” And he said, “Come to me, you who labor and are burdened.” And I wept. And he said, “Come follow me.” And I said, “Here I am.”
“From his side there came forth blood and water.”
And he said, “This is my body, given up for you.” And I wept.
—John 19:34b
All in Ordinary Time.
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Crucifix carved by Bruce Cargill ‘27 (Metuchen).
STUDENT ART
The Good Confessor, pencil on paper, by Michael Santos ‘29 (Saint Petersburg).
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Country Grace GRAHAM FASSERO ‘27, DIOCESE OF RICHMOND
My mama grew up as a country girl in a country town in the country hills; times were hard, like the times are still. She learned to work, she knew how to sing, baked homemade bread and pulled up weeds; she played, and prayed, and ran around in the leaves. When the day is over and the sun goes down and the crickets chirp in the dark, she’s standing in the moonlight with her head up in the stars. She loves the quiet ‘cause her name is Grace, doesn’t mind the dark ‘cause she got a flame burning in her heart for a lonely day— That’s all she needs— She’s a country girl. She grew up fast and loved a man who made a living working with his hands, and they married young, like the pure in heart can. She’s right beside him through a long day’s work, never been afraid of a little dirt, got a flower in her hair, and dust on her skirt. When the day is over and the sun goes down and the crickets chirp in the dark, she’s standing in the moonlight with her head up in the stars. And stars explode, and galaxies twirl, fireflies sing, and treefrogs purl, and her children think she’s the queen of the world— And you know they’re right— She’s a country girl. All the stories I’ve ever heard say my mama was always a country girl till the day she left for another world. She closed her eyes and breathed her last; all the angels stared when she went past, saw her walking barefoot in the Lord’s green grass. So when you get to heaven and you’re looking for home and it’s time to end your travels, she’s waiting for you at the end of a road that’s paved with golden gravel— Won’t you tell her I miss her, I’m coming home fast as my prodigal legs can run, even if I’m late, I’ll hold out hope— I’ll spend forever— with a country girl.
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The God-Man and His Mother CHRISTIAN HOWLETT ‘28, ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Your royal poverty for us was spent. How shall we ever contemplate this mystery? Your gentle fiat changed the turn of history— Cold hearts now break and melt and can repent. Hail, Mary, full of faith, the Lord is with thee. Today, great silence on the earth—Who is He? Our Jesus every barrier has rent; How shall we ever contemplate this mystery?
You are as one: His victory is your victory. We are as one: Our Mother you are sent. How shall we ever contemplate this mystery? Have mercy, mercy, mercy, Lord, upon me. Surpassing is this Sacred Sacrament. Hail, Mary, full of love, the Lord is with thee: How shall we ever contemplate this mystery?
STUDENT ART
And how can we still harden hearts so cruelly, Still break the reed, still put our love for rent? Hail, Mary, full of hope, the Lord is with thee.
“She is the mother of all the living.” —Genesis 3:20b
Celestial Empress, acrylic and ink on paper, by Rev. Mr. Mateusz Puzanowski ‘26 (Providence).
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Auspice Maria JACK KRISTENSEN ‘27, ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK
When I Awake and Behold JORDAN DAMEWOOD ‘29, ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE 16
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Mosaic of naturally colored wood and epoxy. The letters “AM” stand for Auspice Maria, meaning, “Under Mary’s Protection.” This symbol is the emblem of the Sulpician Fathers who run seminaries around the world.
When I awake and behold his beautiful face oft hid by smoke and fire and dark of heart and mind and body, Will I weep or sigh for joy or still and silent remain, not to miss one moment by sound and tears’ distortion?
My Jesus holding me, thine with thy own silent heart’s gift of stillness and peace perfect Forever to behold your smile, Thine own light reflecting in mine.
Auspice Maria, wood and epoxy, by Jack Kristensen ‘27 (New York).
ETHAN SICKING ‘28, ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON–HOUSTON
STUDENT ART
The Tree of Life “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. The city was pure gold. The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” —Revelation 21:2a, 18b, 23 “The river flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life… and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” —Revelation 22:1-2 “The water that I give will become a spring welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:14b “The bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” —Exodus 3:2b The Tree of Life, acrylic on canvas, by Ethan Sicking ‘28 (Galveston–Houston).
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Jesus Is Doing a Good Work REV. SAMUEL HILL ‘25, DIOCESE OF RICHMOND
The gospel reminds us that Jesus’ work is good (Mk 3:22-30). Satan wants us to believe that Jesus Christ is not good, that he can’t do a good work in us, that the work happening in us is not of God. And when we lose faith in the good work of God, we allow Satan to have his way, and we remain captives. But the good news is that God’s work is good. We’re all here for a reason. No matter where we’re at, we can be renewed by God’s work, and renewed in the Holy Spirit, recaptured by faith in his good work in our lives. The work that Jesus does—and calls us to—is good, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus does. n
Known by Jesus REV. MR. STEPHEN HOWARD ‘26, ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
Jesus comes to me—the blind man—and he asks, “What can I do for you?” (Lk 18:35-43). And I say, “Lord, let me see!” When I look at this gospel, I wonder why he even asks the blind man, “What can I do for you?” It’s pretty clear what he can do! Why does he wait and let this drama happen? Why is there so much anticipation and waiting? Well, the answer isn’t that he’s quizzing me for the “right” response. He’s not testing me, to see if I’m confident, competent, and capable. He’s not waiting for me to work out some puzzle. The answer is, he’s asking because he wants to know me, and he wants me to know him. It’s not just that he loves me in a distant sense, but that he actually likes me—he enjoys my sense of humor, he likes the way I think, he likes the way that I look. And he wants to be involved in my life. When he comes to ask me, “What do you want?”—he wants to know. Jesus is passing by. Let him know you. n
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The Holy Spirit, mosaic from the sanctuary of the College’s Immaculate Conception Chapel.
When a Child Falls Down REV. MR. REED ROBINSON ‘26, DIOCESE OF NASHVILLE
In the movie The Passion of the Christ, one of my favorite scenes is when Jesus has just fallen under the weight of the Cross. When Mary sees him, she runs to him, and as she’s running, there’s this beautiful flashback to when he was a little child, a little boy, who had fallen and scraped his knee and was crying. And Mary runs up to him, and scoops him in her arms, and says, “I’m here. I’m here.”
He Gives More than We Hope For
STUDENT HOMILIES
My brothers, she does the same for us. Today, as Jesus calls us, Mary is close by, waiting to help us follow her son. Mary runs to us when we call, saying, “I’m here.” She takes us in her arms, in her embrace, to carry us to her son for healing. So our task is not to work harder or to do better: Our task is to call out for help in our fallenness. When we fall, we look to our mother Mary and say, “Remember, Mother, that no one who seeks your help is left unaided. So fly to us, and bring us to your son, who waits for us with his loving mercy.” n
REV. ROBERT WILLIAMS ‘25, DIOCESE OF TULSA He lay there unable to move, this paralytic (Mk 2:1-12). How could he hope for anything different? His only chance of being healed was if someone else would bring him to a place where he couldn’t go by his own strength. For us, too, our holiness has almost nothing to do with our own strength. When we notice how we are paralyzed—paralyzed by fear, paralyzed by self-reliance, paralyzed by discouragement at the state of the Church, the state of our grades—we can ask for help, and God provides. He’s always giving us more than we could ever hope to receive.… And his greatest gift—the gift of our life— is to become a beloved son or daughter of God—to receive a beauty, a hope, that’s beyond what we dare to hope for. n
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RECENT AND UPCOMING
Events
March 1 Institution of Acolytes: Second-year class
MARCH
March 14 Saint Patrick’s Day party March 15 Basketball tournament March 19 Carl J. Peter Lecture by His Eminence Arthur Cardinal Roche March 29 Palm Sunday: Easter break begins
APRIL
April 13 Classes resume
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April 16 Rector’s Dinner April 24 – 25 NAC Play: The Play That Goes Wrong
The Pontifical North American College
A crucifix, in gratitude to alumni of the Diocese of Providence, overlooks the Kardos Family Campo Sportivo.
May 3 Softball tournament & cookout May 8 – August 8 Priestly ordinations in home dioceses
May 17 Day of Eucharistic adoration May 22 Closing Mass & dinner
June 1 Exams begin
• Summer assignments in home dioceses
JUNE
June 6 Summer departures begin: • International apostolates: Second-year class • New priest assignments
July 19 Orientation team returns
July 26 “New Men” depart for Italian language schools in Assisi and Siena
JULY
July 22 Welcome early arrivals to the College
NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE
MAY
May 12 Marian procession
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The Rector’s Dinner THE EDITORS On the evening of April 16th, the Pontifical North American College was blessed to host over four hundred and fifty friends of the College for the 31st Annual Rector’s Dinner. During dinner, in gratitude for their faithful service to the Church and their support for the formation of seminarians, the College presented the 2026 Rector’s Award to Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and to Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Michaelann Martin. While she is known best for her service to the Holy See and Vatican City State since 2005, Sister Raffaella is also a beloved friend of the College. She often joins us for Masses and events at the College, and she offers a formation class every year for third-year seminarians, inspiring us with her special reverence for the sacred gifts of the ordained priesthood and the Eucharist. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have also supported the formation of many seminarians. In 1998, they founded the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), which now has fifty thousand alumni serving in parishes and communities across the world. Many of us at the College have discerned our vocations to the priesthood because of an encounter with Christ brought about through FOCUS. We are delighted to have been able to honor Sister Raffaella and Mr. and Mrs. Martin for the grace that God has given through them. If the Lord—through these three witnesses—has filled our lives with so much grace and gratitude, then we can only imagine what great things he is surely doing through four hundred and fifty faithful hearts who love his Church. n this page top, from left: Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Martin; Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers ‘97, Rector; Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E.; and the Most Rev. Austin A. Vetter ‘93, Chairman of the Board of Governors; center: The 2026 Rector’s Awards; bottom: Bishop Vetter greets guests during dinner. opposite page, clockwise from top left: Guests arrive at the College for the Rector’s Dinner; Brandon Smith ‘29 (Beaumont), Ethan Rice ‘29 (Austin), and John Harrison ‘28 (Charlotte) perform folk classics before dinner; The Rector announces the award recipients; Sr. Raffaella speaks after dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Martin speak after dinner.
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Institution of Acolytes THE EDITORS Thirty-three men of the Class of 2028 were instituted as acolytes by the Most Reverend Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, on March 1st during Mass at the Pontifical North American College. Acolytes are commissioned to serve at the altar and to distribute the Eucharist with “sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially the weak and the sick” (Ministeria Quaedam, no. 6). Institution as an acolyte is a major milestone in a seminarian’s priestly formation, and the last before his ordination as a deacon. n
Newly instituted acolytes: Mr. Neal Anderson, Diocese of Saint Cloud Mr. Andrew Beine, Archdiocese of Milwaukee Mr. Ryan Both, Diocese of Austin Mr. Nathaniel Boyd, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Mr. Christopher Braden, Diocese of Orange Mr. Rubén Castañeda Sebastián, Archdiocese of Mobile Mr. Christian Cimorelli, Diocese of Nashville Mr. Liam Daigle, Diocese of Worcester Mr. Christopher Dixon, Diocese of Columbus Mr. Carter Domingue, Diocese of Lafayette Mr. John Harrison, Diocese of Charlotte Mr. Noah Hernandez, Diocese of San Angelo Mr. Christian Howlett, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Mr. Michael Johnson, Diocese of Lafayette Mr. Joseph Kelly, Diocese of Lansing Mr. Kevin Kelly, Diocese of Austin Mr. Andrew Ketch, Diocese of Nashville Mr. Gabriel Lugo, Diocese of Charlotte Mr. Jacob Miller, Diocese of Metuchen Mr. Jacob Mutchler, Diocese of Scranton Mr. Ronan Ostendorf, Diocese of Charlotte Mr. Michael Rhatican, Diocese of Columbus Mr. Alexander Richardson, Diocese of Providence Mr. Kyle Rohan, Diocese of Green Bay Mr. Joseph Schon, Diocese of Bismarck Mr. Jamie Severson, Diocese of Helena Mr. Ethan Sicking, Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston Mr. Dylan Stefanich, Diocese of Evansville Mr. Patrick Sweeney, Archdiocese of Washington Mr. Blake Thamer, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon Mr. Michael Tupta III, Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston Mr. John Ungarino, Diocese of Austin Mr. Anthony Vera, Diocese of Sioux City
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“Grant that they may be faithful in the service of your altar and in giving to others the bread of life.” —Prayer of Institution of Acolytes
Anthony Vera ‘28 (Sioux City) receives the paten from Archbishop Sangalli.
ACO LY T E I N S T I T U T I O N
top, from left: Charlotte seminarians Gabriel Lugo ‘28, John Harrison ‘28, and Ronan Ostendorf ‘28 after their institution; middle, center from left: Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Powers ‘97, Rector, Archbishop Sangalli, and His Eminence James Cardinal Harvey ‘75 with the new acolytes; bottom: Carl Berner ‘27 (Denver) leads Andrew Beine ‘28 (Milwaukee), Neal Anderson ‘27 (Saint Cloud), and other members of the Class of 2028 into the chapel.
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Carl J. Peter Lecture LIAM DAIGLE ‘28, DIOCESE OF WORCESTER
On March 19th, the Pontifical North American College welcomed His Eminence Arthur Cardinal Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, to deliver the College’s annual Carl J. Peter Lecture. As part of the College’s homiletics program, the Carl J. Peter Lecture is a time of encouraging and instructing the community for the task of preaching and evangelization. Since each seminarian and priest is called to be a missionary in the everyday world, this lecture prepares students to return to their homes as fishers of men and sowers of God’s Word. Cardinal Roche completed his theological studies in Spain and Italy, afterwards serving as a priest in the Diocese of Leeds, England. He later assisted in welcoming Pope Saint John Paul II to the city of York, served the Archdiocese of Westminster as auxiliary bishop, and currently serves as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
In his address to the College, Cardinal Roche reflected on Saint John Henry Newman’s approach to evangelization in his lecture entitled, “Cor ad Cor Loquitur: A Preacher’s Calling.” Newman, recently named by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the thirty-eighth Doctor of the Church and the co-patron of education alongside Saint Thomas Aquinas, offers potent and precise advice to the parish priest. Cardinal Roche reminded the College that this pastoral insight comes from Newman’s years of ministry as an Anglican before his conversion and from his prayerful study of Scripture. His profound grasp of the Gospel reminds contemporary society that the heart searches for the infinite amid the complexity of the present moment. Newman’s earnestness in his search for truth gave him an eloquence that he did not intend. Moreover, the message of his preaching was well received by his hearers, because his congregation was convinced of his dedication and care for them. By knowing his people, said Cardinal Roche, Newman was able to speak, not only about theology, but about the people themselves and their experience. Such insights, among many others, reminded the seminarians of the College of the pastor’s call to provide light and comfort to the People of God by the spoken word. n top: Cardinal Roche speaks at the College on March 19th; bottom left: Seminarians listen during the lecture; right: Thomas Cain ‘29 (Saint Paul and Minneapolis) asks a question after the lecture.
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VOICES OF NAC
What is an unexpected grace of your time in Rome?
One of my favorite graces of being in Rome is the profound realization that the Church is bigger than my own parish, state, or country. I have come to see and feel, in a tangible way, that the Church truly is universal.
Rev. Javier Ebertowski ‘25, Diocese of Corpus Christi One unexpected grace is being able to interact with pilgrims that come to Rome from my diocese. Several families have come, and I’ve been able to join them for events with the Holy Father or to enjoy lunch with them. It’s a real blessing and grace to get to meet them and know them in this unique way.
Nathan Lirette ‘29, Diocese of Shreveport Experiencing the diverse witnesses of people who come to study in Rome from all over the world and seeing how their love for Christ develops in places foreign to my own home. The Church truly makes a dwelling for all.
Luke Parlow ‘27, Diocese of Austin One unexpected grace of being in Rome has been encountering the universality of the Catholic Church. Being able to meet seminarians, religious, and lay faithful from all over the world has helped me see how God has blessed the Church around the world.
Michael Rodgers ‘28, Archdiocese of Sydney One unexpected grace of living in Rome has been growing in my devotion to Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Reading the stories about his own time studying in Rome has been a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration.
Rev. Mr. Nicholas Waldron ‘26, Diocese of Rockville Centre
Priests and seminarians of the College pray by candlelight.
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S T U DY C O R N E R
Christ Foreshadowed in the Pentateuch
Mary & the Resurrection Kyle Rohan ‘28, Diocese of Green Bay
Andrew Lehnen ‘29, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Last semester, I particularly appreciated our detailed study of the Pentateuch, which reminded me of the living vibrancy of the Scriptures. At the center of Scripture, the symbol of our life, salvation, and eternal happiness is the Cross. He who hung on that Cross and rose victoriously is he who is our life, salvation, and eternal happiness. By the power of his Holy Spirit, God granted us the unthinkable privilege of relationship with himself, not only by sharing in the eternal exchange of love, but also by tangible means. In the beginning of Genesis, we already share in his freedom by our image and likeness to him, and by this freedom we are able to respond to him who first loves us and brought us into existence for that purpose. We may often wonder how we who are so limited can respond to a God who is beyond our imagination—a “brilliant darkness”—and rightly so. For our sake, he who is God became man and showed us how he has related to us from the beginning of creation. In Exodus, the scene of Moses in exile both begins the epic of deliverance from the oppression of Egypt and foreshadows the narrative of Jesus who saves us from the exile and oppression of our sin. While Moses is patiently waiting for the time of freedom to come, he sees a bush on fire but not consumed, and from within, a voice speaks to him and reveals God’s identity and name as a promise of relationship with us: “I am who am”— which can mean “the one who is, who was, and who is to come.” Similarly, the Virgin Mary, filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, conceives the Eternal Word who is the image of God, and reveals his identity—Emmanuel, “God with us”—and his name—Jesus—who reveals the infinite within the finite so that we might forever experience the perfect love of God.
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A Dutch priest once told me that many people in his country—even some of his parishioners—do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. This is not a new concern. In the earliest years of Christianity, we find Saint Paul addressing it in his missionary efforts: “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:13-14). Last fall in a course on Mariology, I spent some time pondering the Assumption of Mary into heaven. By the merits of her Son, Mary is—body and soul—in the heavenly realm at this very moment. Not many others can claim that—I can think of only three! It strikes me that she is a testament to the reality we are destined for: a life of beatitude in Christ, soul and body, upon the resurrection of the dead. She reminds me daily to keep my mind raised to heavenly things, to my destiny. Not insignificantly, I am from a diocese where Mary has appeared since her Assumption. Along with the counsel and consolation she imparts in apparitions—such as at Champion, Wisconsin—she also gives to us in these moments, in her very person, a reason for hope and a spotless example of the power, goodness, and mercy of God, who desires our life and our love for all eternity. As a friend recently and succinctly put it, “God is good, and Mary appears (in some places).” Thanks be to God for Mary’s presence as a constant sign of hope for the resurrection.
The Tree of Life, from the chapel of the College’s Casa O’Toole.
CSM
CASA SANTA MARIA
The Casa Santa Maria is a house of continuing formation and residence for English-speaking priests who are assigned to pursue graduate-level studies in Rome. Below, Rev. Benjamin Sawyer C‘17 (Wichita) reflects on Mary’s humility before the mystery of Christ.
Theology with Our Lady of Humility REV. BENJAMIN SAWYER C‘17, DIOCESE OF WICHITA Engaging in doctoral studies while in community at the Casa Santa Maria affords the priest-student with the consolation of studying and praying under the patronage of Our Lady of Humility, whose image adorns our chapel. Praying each day under the gaze of the Madonna dell’Umiltà only reinforces the connection between the altar on which the Word is eucharistically offered, and the desk at which one contemplates the Word, indeed through the human words of the Evangelists, Doctors, and theologians that have been handed down to us.
Yet, in humility before the mystery, she believes, and keeping all these things in her heart, she ponders the mystery in love and is led into understanding. She surrenders to the mystery in faith and in love, allowing herself to be contained and held by it. Indeed, in her humility, Mary models for us what it means to do theology in a contemplative mode, a mode which has been modeled by the greatest saints and theologians alike.
Doing theology under the gaze of Our Lady of Humility is learning to ponder the mysteries of God with the one who was the first to receive the revelation of God’s Trinitarian life: “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). In humility, she ponders all that God is doing and contemplates the mystery of God that is truly beyond her understanding: the Holy Spirit overshadowed her; her child is the Son of the eternal Father; her son is the Savior of the world.
Saint John Henry Newman, whom Pope Leo XIV recently named a Doctor of the Universal Church, encourages us to do theology in precisely this manner—in a spirit of humble receptivity with a heart that ponders the mysteries of God’s love revealed. In one of his sermons preached before the University of Oxford while still an Anglican, the young Newman held up Mary as “our pattern of Faith, both in the reception and in the study of Divine Truth.” In her humility before the revealed mystery, she models faith that seeks deeper understanding, Newman suggests, “not indeed reasoning first, and believing afterwards [like Zechariah], yet first believing without reasoning, next from love and reverence, reasoning after believing.” Newman had discovered that the study of theology, like contemplative prayer, is primarily a discipline of the heart; cor ad cor loquitur—“Heart speaks to heart.” God draws the heart of man to himself, inviting him to believe, and into a relationship of love, from which comes the gift of knowing God and proclaiming him to others. Keeping all these things and pondering them in her heart, Mary, in her humility before the mystery, shows us the way: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name” (Lk 1:49). n
Our Lady of Humility, painting from the chapel of the Casa Santa Maria.
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ALUMNI Rev. Denis Nakkeeran ‘20 (Boston), reflects on how studying in Rome has brought him into friendship with the saints, including Saint Peter, Saint Thérèse, and our Blessed Mother.
The Saints Are Alive REV. DENIS NAKKEERAN ‘20, ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON
When people ask what it was like to study in Rome, one highlight that I am always excited to talk about is the closeness that we developed with the saints. For many Catholics in the United States, the saints can often seem like mythological figures that we read about and see in our stained glass windows. I have to admit that I was one such Catholic for a long time. Growing up, saints did not mean anything beyond a vague moral message that one could take or leave. Rome, however, has a habit of changing people.
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In Rome, and indeed the rest of Europe, history is incredibly tangible. Even centuries after these saints lived, just walking in their footsteps and seeing the context of their lives is enough to feel the echo of their holiness. You can’t help but come to understand that they were real people and come to love them in a whole new way. When I see the bones of Saint Peter underneath the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, I don’t see a vague memorial to his witness, but the very bones of the man whom Jesus called to follow him and who was martyred for our faith. One of the most vivid experiences of grace in my life happened on a trip to Lisieux in France. Until this point, I had not cared much for Saint Thérèse and found her somewhat off-putting. Brought to this small French town by my friends who excitedly wanted to visit her, I decided to at least play nice and pray at her tomb. There, God’s voice resounded palpably in my heart say-
ing, “Get to know her.” I immediately bought an English copy of her autobiography, Story of a Soul. For the next several weeks, I could not put the book down and was caught up in the beauty with which Thérèse could express the depth of the spiritual life. She helped me love God better, and she has been an important companion ever since. My reluctant visit to a tomb led me to encounter a real person who has forever changed my life. The Church in heaven and the Church on earth are truly part of the one Church of Jesus Christ. He connects us all in his one Body. Again, this is not a sentimental saying, but a substantial divine truth. The saints—and our Blessed Mother in particular—are active in our lives, and we can come to experience that closeness and activity if we give them and God the chance. I see it happen every day as a priest. For, as much as we want to become holy, the joy of being already in heaven with God makes the saints desire the same joy for us—even more than we desire it for ourselves. So, like good friends, they help us toward God. Through our holy friendships with the saints in heaven, God does amazing things! n
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OFFICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Why You Give MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT The 31st Annual Rector’s Dinner was, once again, a wonderful evening and a real cause for celebration. We were especially honored to present the Rector’s Award to Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., along with Curtis and Michaelann Martin, in recognition of their friendship with the College and their generous support of the Church (see story on page 22). One of the best parts of the evening is always the people. Each year, hundreds of guests join us—some visiting the College for the very first time, others longtime friends and loyal supporters. What they all share is a clear understanding that supporting the Pontifical North American College is an investment in the future of the Catholic Church in the United States. Throughout the night, it is a joy to see guests spending time with our seminarians, deacons, and student priests—something most don’t often have the opportunity to do. It is in those interactions that the impact of any financial support has real and lasting meaning. First, your generosity directly supports the formation of our seminarians—humanly, spiritually, intellectually, and pastorally. While bishops cover tuition, room, and board, those resources do not fully meet the cost of forming a priest in Rome. Donor support makes possible the unique experiences that define the College: living at the heart of the Church, engaging with the Holy See, and encountering the universal nature of Catholicism in a profound way. Second, your gifts help care for and improve our historic campus. The College is more than a place to live and study—it’s a sacred environment where vocations are nurtured. Ongoing needs like chapel restoration, infrastructure updates, and maintaining shared spaces ensure that future seminarians can be formed in a setting worthy of their calling. Finally, your support strengthens the Church back home. The men formed here go on to become effective pastors and leaders. The impact is lasting—stronger parishes, vibrant communities, and a renewed witness to the Gospel. To those who attended the Dinner this year, and all of our lay and alumni benefactors: We are deeply grateful for your past and future support of our mission. n
For more information about The Pontifical North American College, subscription questions, or to learn about ways you can financially support “America’s Seminary in Rome,” please contact Mark Randall, CFRE, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement. Tel: (202) 541-5411 Fax: (202) 470-6211 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org
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THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE
“NOVA ET VETERA” alumni newsletter SPRING 2026
My Fellow Alumni, Where does the time go? This year, my classmates and I mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of our ordination to the priesthood! As we reach out to one another with prayers, encouragement, and congratulations—and as we celebrate with our brother priests in our dioceses—it is striking to realize that perhaps half of my priestly life is now behind me. With gratitude for these years, I pray for the grace and resolve to press forward, to live ever more fully for Jesus Christ, and to draw others to the promise of eternal life through his Church. This jubilee invites a deeper reflection on the blessings of priestly ministry. My thoughts return to our days of formation on the Janiculum Hill, cherishing the Lenten station churches, the fraternity forged in the hallway communities of the College, particularly on Thanksgiving morning, gatherings with “diocesan brother” priests from the Casa and Institute, and the simple moments: walking through Rome to classes with our international classmates, or sharing a cappuccino and cornetto after morning Mass at Saint Peter’s with visitors—“PIT’s”—or with expatriates. All of these remain lasting gifts. In a particular way this year, I am grateful to see honored at the Rector’s Dinner Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, along with Mr. and Mrs. Curtis and Michaelann Martin of FOCUS. I recall assisting Monsignor James Cassidy during my deacon year when he celebrated Mass weekly for the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, and later, as a priest, having the opportunity to do likewise and to join them for breakfast before the day’s work. The consecrated fidelity, joy, and tireless service of the sisters, including Sister Raffaella, and the hopeful and energetic evangelization of the Martins, reflect lives given generously to Jesus in service of his beloved Church. Thank you and congratulations! These memories also lead me back to the roots of my own vocation. It was fostered in the faith my parents lived at home and in church, and in the direct question of my elderly pastor when I was a lad—“Luke, do you want to be a priest when you grow up?”—and it was nurtured by the witness and encouragement of the religious sisters who taught me in my parish grammar school. As we mark this jubilee, our prayers also turn to our classmates who have gone before us. We entrust them to the mercy and peace of the Lord, confident in faith that we remain united with them in the Communion of Saints. Is this not, in part, the purpose of our Alumni Association? To encourage one another in the mission we have received, to cherish the graces, friendships, and memories of the past, and to remain united in prayer at the altar, and yes, even through WhatsApp! At the same time, we look ahead with hope, attentive to the ways the Lord will call us to bring his light, his peace, and his mercy to his people. Thank you to all who contribute to these alumni updates by sharing news from your class, diocesan gatherings, or circle of friends. Thank you for the photos you send. Thank you as well for your prayerful and financial support of the College, for your encouragement of vocations, and for your generosity. The overwhelming majority of dues and donations supports the annual Alumni Association Christmas gift to the formation team—assisting with travel home for the holidays—and Mass stipends for each of our deceased brethren, remembered through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for them at the Pontifical North American College. To the Class of 2001 on our silver jubilee, may the Lord bring to fruition the good work he has begun in us, and may he renew us in hope through the Holy Spirit for many years of faithful priestly service ahead. Ad Multos Annos! Fraternally in Christ, Monsignor Luke M. Sweeney ‘01 Executive Director, PNAC Alumni Association 32
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MOST REV. PAUL S. LOVERDE ‘66 (Arlington) recently celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his priestly ordination. He reports that he is using a walker, but is rather healthy and getting around well. He continues to assist his diocesan bishop with Confirmations and gives spiritual direction and retreats. He also shared that he relishes being a priest and would do so all over again in a heartbeat. REV. MSGR. CHESTER L. BORSKI ‘68, F‘01 (Galveston–Houston) is living in residence and helping with sacramental ministry at Saint Faustina Church in Fulshear, Texas. He is also serving as adjunct spiritual director at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Houston and giving retreats for priests and permanent deacons and their wives. REV. BRUCE M. HENNINGTON C‘71 (Madison) is enjoying retirement. He summers in Madison, Wisconsin, and winters in Fort Myers, Florida. MOST REV. EDWARD B. SCHARFENBERGER, STL, JCL, JD, DD, ‘73, C‘78 (Albany) had his resignation from his position as Bishop of Albany accepted by Pope Leo XIV. Most Rev. Mark W. O’Connell C‘01 (Albany) was appointed to succeed him. HIS EMINENCE TIMOTHY CARDINAL DOLAN ‘76 (New York) had his resignation from his position as Archbishop of New York accepted by Pope Leo XIV. He will celebrate his golden jubilee of priesthood June 19th, and his silver anniversary as a bishop on August 15th.
from left: Rev. Msgr. Luke M. Sweeney ‘01 (New York), Rev. Leo Patalinghug ‘99 (IVD), and Rev. Msgr. Roger Landry ‘99 (Fall River) visit the altar of repose at Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in New York City on Holy Thursday.
REV. JEAN-PIERRE RUIZ, STD, ‘82, C‘89 (Brooklyn) Professor of Biblical Studies at Saint John’s University, New York, has been elected Vice President of the Society of Biblical Literature for 2026 and will become President in 2027. With more than 7,000 members worldwide, the Society of Biblical Literature is the oldest and largest scholarly organization dedicated to the critical study of the Bible across academic disciplines. REV. MSGR. BRIAN J. MCNAMARA ‘84 (Rockville Centre) retired on January 26th, after forty-four years of service in the Air Force Reserve and in the New York State Air National Guard. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
REV. MICHAEL G. WENSING, STL, C‘85 (Sioux Falls) has published a new book: Death and Afterlife in the Bible and the Church: Developing Traditions in History and Our FINAL Hope, available on Amazon. MOST REV. JOHN S. BONNICI ‘91 (Rochester) was appointed Bishop of Rochester. MOST REV. JAMES F. CHECCHIO ‘92 C‘97 (New Orleans) celebrated his first Mass as Archbishop of New Orleans at Saint Louis Cathedral on Ash Wednesday, February 18th.
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REV. MSGR. JASON A. GRAY ‘97 (Peoria) is Executive Director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation and is assisting in the planning of Sheen’s beatification in the fall of 2026. REV. JOHN P. CUSH, STD, ‘98, C‘15 (Brooklyn) is a professor of dogmatic and fundamental theology at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in New York. He has published two new books: A Concise Introduction to Bernard Lonergan, SJ (2025) and Your Faith has Saved You: Homilies for Sundays, Solemnities, and Certain Feasts, Year A (2026). Both are available from En Route Books & Media. He is still the Editor-in-Chief of Homiletic and Pastoral Review (Ignatius Press) and invites all alumni to check out the journal. MOST REV. STEPHEN A. HERO ‘00 (Edmonton) was named Archbishop of Edmonton and installed January 23rd. VERY REV. NICHOLAS J. ROUCH, E.V., C‘00 (Erie) is currently serving as Vicar General and Pastor of Saint Julia Parish in Erie, Pennsylvania.
REV. JONATHAN P. MEYER, MA, STB, ‘03 (Indianapolis) has published a new book: The Stations of the Eucharist, available from Dynamic Catholic. REV. ROBERT LEWIS BELIGOTTI F‘09, F‘18 (Rochester) shares that Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Florida, is being expanded and renewed. REV. PETER HONG RAY CHO, STD, ‘11, C‘19 (Newark) completed his STD at the Gregorian University. The title of his doctoral thesis is “The Reception of Vatican II on the Priesthood in the United States (1965-2015).” REV. RYAN B. BROWNING, STL, ‘13 (Rockford) was appointed pastor at Saint Peter Catholic Church in Geneva, Illinois. REV. JASON T. DOKE, STL, ‘13 (Jefferson City) is the pastor of Saint Patrick Parish and Newman Center in Rolla, Missouri, as of July 1, 2025. REV. JOSEPH R. LARACY, STD, ‘13, C‘19 (Newark) was an academic visitor with the Faculty of Theology and Religion as well as Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, during their second trimester, i.e.,
Hilary Term, as part of his research sabbatical from Seton Hall University. VERY REV. TREVOR M. CHICOINE, STL, ‘17 (Des Moines) was appointed Pastor of the Basilica of Saint John in Des Moines, Iowa, effective January 5th, while remaining Episcopal Vicar for Divine Worship for the Diocese. REV. MICHAEL L. ZIMMERMAN ‘17 (Boston) will serve as a formation advisor at the Pontifical North American College beginning July 1st. REV. JUSTIN K. WEBER ‘20 (Milwaukee) was appointed pastor of Saint Jude the Apostle in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on September 6, 2025. VERY REV. NICHOLAS J. VETTER ‘21 (Bismark) was appointed the Rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck, North Dakota, on February 11th. VERY REVEREND DAVID M. O’LEARY, VF, STL, D.PHIL. S‘24 (Boston) has published a new book: Twelve Tough Questions and a Pastor’s Response, available on Amazon.
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DEATHS
If you plan to be in Rome that week, please let us know at admin@pnacalumni.org! Once I have a clearer sense of numbers, I hope to arrange additional opportunities for alumni to gather that week.
Most Rev. Stephen A. Hero ‘00 (Edmonton) is installed as Archbishop on January 23rd. Photo provided by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
from left: Rev. Patrick Costello ‘21 (Green Bay), Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde ‘66 (Arlington), Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio ‘77 (Military Services), and Rev. Matthew Faucett ‘19 (Green Bay) celebrate the Chrism Mass for the Archdiocese for the Military Services.
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“N OVA ET VETERA” A LU MN I N EWSLETTER • “NOVA ET VETERA” ALUMNI NEWSLET T ER • “NOVA ET VETERA” ALUM NI NEWSLETTER
Most Rev. Robert J. Banks ‘53, C‘57 (Green Bay) – January 25, 2026 Rev. William J. Cosgrove ‘56 (Rochester) – February 28, 2026 Rev. Msgr. Walter F. Kenny C‘57 (New York) – September 25, 2025 Mr. Leonard Urban ‘57 (Denver) – December 26, 2024 Dr. Jeremiah "Jerry" Reedy ‘58 (Saint Paul and Minneapolis) – May 28, 2025 Rev. Richard E. Jozwiak ‘60 S‘81 (Saginaw) – January 23, 2026 Mr. Peter J. Kearney ‘60, C‘63, C‘70 (New York) – June 19, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Douglas Hennessy ‘64 (Peoria) – November 12, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Patrick William McDonnell ‘65, S‘13 (Rockford) – March 2, 2026 Most Rev. William Francis Murphy ‘65 C‘74 (Rockville Centre) – March 26, 2026 Very Rev. Eugene Yackanich ‘65, C‘70 (Byzantine Pittsburgh) – December 19, 2025 Rev. Clyde Lewis ‘65 (Ogdensburg) – October 31, 2024 Rev. James K. Mallett ‘67 (Nashville) – March 21, 2026 Rev. Msgr. Lawrence J. McGovern ‘68 (Stockton) – December 20, 2025 Rev. John W. Acrea C‘69 (Des Moines) – September 4, 2025 Rev. Jerome D. Stluka ‘70 (Columbus) – April 4, 2026 Rev. Msgr. Jerald A. Doyle JCD ‘70 (Bridgeport) – November 17, 2025 Very Rev. Nicholas deProspero ‘71 (Eparchy of Passaic) – December 10, 2025 Rev. Thomas J. Lehning ‘71 (Arlington) – February 26, 2026 Rev. William J. Dietsch ‘72, S‘98 (Evansville) – November 10, 2025 Rev. Raymond M. Utz ‘72 (Pittsburgh) – December 24, 2025 Mr. Alan M. Lee ‘74 (Arlington) – October 13, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Roger A. Lechner C‘80 (San Diego) – March 11, 2026 Rev. G. Frederick Brucker C‘81 (Grand Rapids) – December 27, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Salvatore Manganello ‘82, C‘93 (Buffalo) – March 10, 2026 Rev. David A. Fisher ‘84 C‘92 (Eparchy Our Lady of Lebanon) – March 17, 2026 Rev. Alexander H. Bradshaw ‘84, C‘86 (Rochester) – December 12, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Donald Gilbert F‘86 (Manchester) – July 7, 2025 Rev. Msgr. Nevin J. Klinger C‘87 (Allentown) – December 4, 2025 Rev. Msgr. John A. Cippel F‘88 (Saint Petersburg) – December 1, 2025 Rev. Msgr. John Bevins F‘90 (Hartford) – October 13, 2025 Rev. John R. Price C‘92 (Chicago) – September 11, 2025 Rev. John Farren OP S‘93 (Province of Saint Joseph) – October 21, 2025 Rev. Daniel John Jurek F‘93 (Belleville) – November 14, 2025 Rev. Thomas A. Magary F‘93 (Steubenville) – November 2, 2025 Rev. George Nicholas Rice S‘94 (Louisville) – December 30, 2025 Rev. Terence Hoppenjans S‘95 (Lexington) – October 7, 2025 Rev. James Lee Neuman F‘96 (Springfield in Illinois) – February 24, 2026 Rev. Richard B. Prodehl F‘97 (Joliet in Illinois) – January 11, 2026 Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell S‘99 (Springfield in Mass.) – March 4, 2026 Rev. Fernando Heria C‘00 (Miami) – February 10, 2026 Rev. John K. Mark S‘01 (Saint Thomas) – May 11, 2025 Rev. Thomas M. Haggerty S‘05 (Brooklyn) – December 6, 2025 Rev. Maurice J. Roy S‘05 (Burlington) – February 20, 2026 Rev. James A. Houston F‘07 (Worcester) – September 17, 2025 Rev. Frank J. Wampach S‘16 (Saint Paul and Minneapolis) – May 17, 2025 Rev. Daren J. Zehnle C‘16 (Springfield in Illinois) – November 27, 2025 Rev. Bradford C. Schoeberle CSP F‘24 (Paulist Fathers) – October 21, 2025
For our next alumni gathering, we will follow a model familiar to many universities by aligning with the College’s “homecoming” of 2026 Diaconate Week. On Tuesday, September 29, Monsignor Powers has graciously invited alumni to Adoration in the main chapel at 5:40 p.m., followed by Evening Prayer, and then a reception in the Red Room from 7:00–7:30 p.m. before we head out to cena.
The Pontifical North American College Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED1
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