Roman Echoes 2021 – Volume 25, Issue 2

THE PONTIFIC AL NORTH AMERIC AN COLLEGE

roman echoes In a Spirit of Thanksgiving

JANUARY 2021 VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2 7 Roman Echoes Anniversary 16 Thanksgiving 25 History in the Choir Loft 30 Lake Charles Hurricane

Contents 16 7 Features 6 Msgr. Millea 7 Roman Echoes Anniversary 10 Messages from Past Editors 12 Teach What You Believe 13 As the Penitent, so the Confessor 14 Voices of NAC 16 Thanksgiving Traditions 20 New Man/Deacon Toast 21 Gratitude Leads to Generosity 24 Hall Prayer 25 Choir Loft 28 Serving Those Who Serve 30 Lake Charles Hurricane 34 Fr. Cush Interview 35 A New Cardinal

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Updates 5 Rector’s Corner 22 Snapshots 36 ICTE 37 Faculty Corner 38 Office of Institutional Advancement

The Pontifical North American College 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194

30 25 From the Editor It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

In this edition of Roman Echoes, we are giving

always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy

thanks for the ways that God has blessed the

Father, almighty and eternal God. These words, which

community of The Pontifical North American

begin almost every preface and which we hear at almost

College. We give thanks for the many

every Mass, when you stop and think about it, are quite

traditions, the rich history, and the

something. We have an obligation, a duty, to give thanks.

countless people that make our life here

Being thankful is not optional. Yet, we know all too well

what it is. It is our hope that you will join

that being thankful is not always easy, especially when

us in our thanksgiving, and that you,

life presents challenges and suffering. It is a good exercise

too, will give thanks to God

for each of us to look for the hidden blessings in our life,

for the blessings he has

the small ways we see God’s providential care, and to

worked in your life.

give thanks. I cannot help but think of the times when a family member or friend unexpectedly calls, sends an email or a card just to check in and say hello. Whenever

Aaron Kelly ’22, Diocese of Rochester, Editor-in-Chief

this happens, my response is an immense gratitude which initiates a desire to pay it forward to someone else.

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Contributors EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aaron Kelly '22, Diocese of Rochester

ASSISTANT EDITOR Ismael RodrÍguez Jr. '22, Diocese of Dallas ASSISTANT EDITOR Taylor Colwell '23, Archdiocese of Washington LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR Alexander Wyvill '22, Archdiocese of Washington ASSISTANT LAYOUT & DESIGN EDITOR Matthew Prosperie '23, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Administration

of the Pontifical North American College RECTOR Very Rev. Peter C. Harman ‘99 VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION Rev. David A. Schunk ‘10 VICE RECTOR FOR SEMINARY LIFE Rev. Adam Y. Park ‘05 ACADEMIC DEAN & ROMAN ECHOES FACULTY LIAISON Rev. John P. Cush ’98, C’15 SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA Rev. James J. Conn, SJ DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION Rev. Edward Linton, OSB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mark Randall, CFRE For more information about The Pontifical North American College, subscription questions, or to learn about ways you can financially support “America’s Seminary in Rome,” please contact Mark Randall, CFRE, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement.

Tel: (202) 541-5411 Fax: (202) 470-6211 Email: pnacdc@pnac.org Website: www.pnac.org This publication is written, edited, and photographed by the students of The Pontifical North American College.

COVER: Seminarians from the Diocese of Arlington enjoy each other's company as they share the Thanksgiving meal.

THIS PAGE: A statue of St. Teresa of Avila within St. Peter's Basilica. Visited by seminarians at the College now more than usual on account of limited travel, the now-quiet Basilica has been an even more profound place to pray and draw inspiration from the lives of the saints.

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Rector’s Corner Give Thanks: His Love is Everlasting

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ive thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting” (Ps 118:1).

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This issue commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the publication of Roman Echoes. I am very proud of the quality of our magazine. I hear from many of you as alumni, generous friends, and parents of seminarians how much you appreciate getting your quarterly update from Rome and the College. Many of you also comment that for the size of our institution, we produce one of the best of such magazines. I am very grateful to God for that.

But my gratitude to God really goes deeper than the pages of the magazine and the quality of the pictures. My gratitude is in the genuine love which each page so beautifully illustrates. Firstly, the magazine is produced with love and pride in the College. It is our seminarians who design the magazine’s theme, layout, take the pictures, and write the articles. It is not the product of an outsider third-party fund-raising organization—it is the seminary’s community itself who wants to share with you our life, a little insight into the vocation stories of our men, and the beauty of the seminary and Rome. Secondly, I am grateful for the warm reception its arrival into your home receives. You email and write me that it brings back memories of your time here, either as an alumnus, family

member, or guest. You tell me that meeting our seminarians gives you joy and hope for the Church.

Personally, there is nothing anyone can say to me for which I could be more grateful!

In these last months we have been unable to share with many of you our daily life on campus in person due to the travel restrictions in place. I cannot wait until you can visit us again. In the meantime, I am grateful for your support and generosity across the miles, which Roman Echoes helps foster.

I am grateful that the College has been able to meet the challenges that the COVID pandemic has given us. I am humble enough to know that the safety, health, and unity of our community is no accident and it is not luck. God’s providence has been with us at every turn, and I know you have kept our men and their health in your prayers.

Please know that we remember you, your families, and your intentions every day.

Thanks for your support!

Very Reverend Peter C. Harman, STD ’99 Rector

I am grateful that the College has been able to meet the challenges that the COVID pandemic has given us. I am humble enough to know that the safety, health, and unity of our community is no accident and it is not luck.

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Msgr. Millea’s Twenty-Seven Years of Service to the College G U I L L E R M O J I M É N E Z L A Í N E Z ’ 2 2 , D I O C E S E O F B R I D G E P O RT

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Seminarians at the various Pontifical Universities have to take various seminars during the course of their studies. Seminars differ from normal classes because they are more discussion based, rather than lecture. Seminars give students an opportunity to engage course material on a deeper level. All seminarians at the College, whatever university they attend, take a seminar in United States Catholic Church History.

Msgr. Millea’s love for the College is reflected in his twenty-seven years of teaching the first-year seminar, a tenure which came to a close with the 2019-2020 academic year.

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ut of everything I learned while preparing to depart for Rome, the information I found most interesting was that I would be having an in-house seminar taught in English during my first year—one that would, in a sense, repeat everything I would learn that year at the Pontifical Gregorian University. To make things more interesting, the professor would be a priest from my diocese, Msgr. William V. Millea (’80, C’89). All this led me both to look forward to the seminar and to wonder why it was necessary in the first place.

Once the seminar began, however, it all became clear. It was not simply a repetition, but rather an opportunity to synthesize and deepen our understanding of all the theological concepts to which we were being introduced in our other classes. For instance, it served as the perfect setting to connect what we learned in Christology to what we learned in Patrology. The ultimate goal was, as Msgr. Millea explained, to seek “mastery of the material through questions and discussions,” something not available during the Roman-style lectures.

The many years Msgr. Millea taught this seminar reflects the importance he places in making this setting available to students at the College, where they can both deepen and integrate the material learned in class, as well as see how it relates to their spiritual life and apostolic work. He began teaching the seminar in 1993. Even though he was particularly busy that year, both because it was his first year serving as a Papal Master of Ceremonies and because of his position at the English Language

Monsignor William V. Millea '80, C'89 (Bridgeport) introduces the topic of the day's seminar to his students.

desk of the Vatican Secretariat of State, all it took to convince him to teach the seminar were the words: “It’s for the College.”

Msgr. Millea’s love for the College is reflected in his twenty-seven years of teaching the first-year seminar, a tenure which came to a close with the 2019-2020 academic year. This is simply one of the many ways he has expressed his dedication and support for both the mission of the College as well as that of the Pontifical Gregorian University.

As an alumnus of his seminar, I am thankful to Msgr. Millea for his service to the College and for his important contribution to my own academic formation. Even though Msgr. Millea’s high academic expectations made the seminar one of the most difficult classes that I have ever taken, it prepared me well to succeed in my remaining years of formal studies. I am not alone in this opinion: as one classmate recently remarked, “Msgr. Millea’s seminar proves to be the best class we have taken, time and time again.” n

Celebrating

25 YEARS

rom a n e c hoe s “I was always flabbergasted at how unknown the North American College was among Catholic Americans. Our idea was to begin an attractive, colorful publication to change that. At the time we had men talented in journalism and marketing who were generously willing to help produce it. From the beginning it was very popular among alumni, benefactors, and the wider public. When people became acquainted with the College — after a visit to Rome, because their parish priest had prepared there — they ‘felt at home,’ ‘part of the family,’ and wanted to stay in touch. Glad it’s still going strong!”

Photo credit: Archdiocese of New York

His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan ’76, Rector ’94-’01 • Archbishop of New York ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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To Tell a Great Story: R E V. M R . S E T H L E M A I R E ’ 2 1 , D I O C E S E O F L A FAY E T T E

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veryone loves to tell a great story, something that will captivate and keep the attention of those who are willing and eager to listen. But whether that story is based on some experience we have had in the past, or perhaps something significant that we have learned in our lives, a good story takes work, a bit of finesse, and sometimes a great deal of editing as time goes on.

This was my experience as the Editor-in-Chief of Roman Echoes: to tell the story of the seminarians, the faculty, and the College itself.

It was not so much about what we do here but the story of who we are: men being formed for the priesthood

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of Jesus Christ in the very heart of the Church, Rome. Men and women spend their entire lives on a journey to “cross the Tiber,” as it were, and we do so every day, just on our morning walks to and from class.

As you look through the digital archives of Roman Echoes, you find that this magazine itself is a story that has been told, year by year, issue by issue, with its own history, its own story. What was once known as NAC Magazine in 1996, over time came to acquire a new face, taking on a new cover design in 2002 and once again in 2009, 2012, 2016, and now in 2020, developing over time just as the College

itself has developed. Even its name changed—to Roman Echoes in 2012 in homage to the title of the old College yearbooks produced in the 1950s.

But then, you open the cover, and the story begins. Article after article, the story gets told, our story gets told. The pride of seeing the story take form in each issue of Echoes is matched only by an equal amount of humility in being the one entrusted to tell the story, a task the Roman Echoes team takes on each year. By commissioning articles, interviewing seminarians, faculty, and alumni, and gauging the community’s response in our “Voices of NAC” segment, we see the goal

Celebrating 25 Years

before us: to tell our readers how the men of the College are growing closer to Jesus Christ, by telling them the story of what we do, and more importantly, who we are.

This was perhaps the most impactful part of my time as the Editor-in-Chief, to be able to listen to the voices (or perhaps the Echoes) in the College, the stories they told. After all, every article and photograph is created and chosen by the very men within the College. Of course, there are extra hands involved to whom we are extremely grateful, such as an outside graphic designer for the magazine itself, but even in this design process

much of the direction comes from the students. And all of this, simply to tell the story of the College.

My own experience as editor of Roman Echoes was, of course, unique during its time. The COVID-19 pandemic was no stranger to the College, and with it we were only able to cover half of the year properly.

But the inspiring thing is that even though the full spread of issues was unable to be published throughout the year, the story continued to develop. Men remaining at the College and those who returned home both continued to be formed, continued to grow, and continued to

pray for each other, for all of you, and for the College itself, that its purpose remain constant and firm as her motto emphasizes, Firmum est cor meum.

Everyone loves to tell a great story.

And this story gets told to thousands of alumni, benefactors, visitors, parents, bishops, and members of the College, who in their dedication and support are eagerly waiting to listen, learn, and grow with the experiences that we are eager to share. This is what NAC Magazine, Roman Echoes, and the story of The Pontifical North American College have done, are doing, and will continue to do, all for the glory of God. n

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Messages from past editors

On Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Roman Echoes What is your favorite memory or article from your time as Editor-in-Chief of NAC Magazine or Roman Echoes?

"The story we published about the beatification of Pope St. John Paul II in May 2011 stands out as one of my favorites from my time as Editor-in-Chief. As the College’s magazine, we felt very privileged to be able to convey to our readers the energy and excitement that filled the city and the seminary over those few days."

Rev. Andrew Hart ’12, Diocese of Little Rock

“My favorite article from my time as editor is: ‘Ad Multos, Infinitos, Annos!

A Tribute to Three Spiritual Fathers’ (Winter 2012). We detailed the passing of three beloved priests who attended and/or served on faculty at the College. Gathering the tributes by three priest-alumni of the College and seeing the endearing pictures of these kind and devoted priests (one of whom I knew well as an archdiocesan brother), I was so moved and felt a deepening love for the priesthood, and a strengthened desire to be a good and holy priest, myself."

Rev. Charles Samson ’13, C'18, Archdiocese of St. Louis

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“I have two favorite memories in my time as editor, both reflected in the Winter 2002 issue which was the first I spearheaded. The first memory was helping Fr. Scott Duarte (postulator of Frank Parater) put together the article on his cause for canonization. The second was the ‘look’ of the magazine which we revamped to give it a more distinctive feel, echoing the black and white of our clerical attire."

Rev. Carter Griffin ’04, C'10, Archdiocese of Washington

“One evening during a year I was on staff, I visited the Roman Echoes archives in the library to learn more about the history of the magazine. I found that the Echoes was originally an academic journal in the years before the Second World War, and then later an annual yearbook. As I recall, right after the close of Vatican II, the Echoes took a very artsy turn for about 2-3 years, and then vanished from the record until the NAC Magazine appeared in the 1990s, a newsletter that eventually morphed into the magazine Echoes we have today. It was a fascinating window into College history. One of my favorite finds was an essay from the 1930s describing the flea market in Campo di Fiori. Some of the characters had changed but the scene and spirit were still very recognizable to an Angelicum student in the 2010s walking to and from class. Around the same time, there was also a fleeting mention of a newly acquired property on the Janiculum Hill, and speculations about what its use might be."

“2003 was a memorable year to be in Rome, and a privileged time to be editor of the NAC Magazine. During that year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II. Days later after that celebration, the Holy Father celebrated the Beatification Mass of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. To cap off such momentous occasions, the College itself celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on the Janiculum Hill. Capturing these moments for the NAC Magazine was certainly exciting, but I was particularly grateful to share these formative moments living in the Eternal City."

Rev. Adam Park ’05, Archdiocese of Washington

Rev. Christian Huebner ’19, Archdiocese of Washington ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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Teach What You Believe: Homiletics Practica

JACO B L I V ECC H I ' 2 3, D I O C E S E O F TO L E D O

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n the second year of theology, formation grows more intense and focused on learning skills for the future—one such skill is preaching.

I was excited to start learning how to preach this year, especially since it will be such an important part of my ministry as a priest. At the same time, I found it a little surreal. After four years of formation, beginning homiletics practica helps me realize how close I am to ordination.

The practica began in September with a week of workshops taught by Fr. Randy Soto. First, he taught us what the Church desires in a homily,

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Jacob Livecchi '23 (Toledo) delivers a practice homily during a Thursday Night Formation session in one of the third floor practice chapels.

In 1999, the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics was established at The Pontifical North American College through the generosity of the family of the late Fr. Carl J. Peter. Fr. Peter was an alumnus and faculty member of the College. Fr. Randall Soto C’96, C’02 currently serves as the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics and oversees the College’s preaching workshops, practica, and the annual Carl J. Peter Lecture. One aspect of the homiletics program is that seminarians, over the course of two years, prepare and deliver twenty-one practice homilies to their peers and a faculty moderator.

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what a homily is not, and different styles of preaching. He explained that the homily’s purpose is to attract people to follow Jesus by explaining the mysteries of our faith. Second, he taught us that a homily needs to be fed by prayer and delivered with good rhetoric. For me, this preparation involves connecting my personal prayer with the Scriptures and the liturgical celebration, as well as considering the assembly to whom I am preaching. Since this is practice, I picture my home parish as the assembly. Throughout this year we will deliver a total of twelve homilies.

I deliver the homily to three of my classmates and a faculty member, who together provide feedback and advice on what went well and what needs improvement.

Preaching these practice homilies has been formative and fruitful, especially in developing a style of preaching and becoming more comfortable with public speaking. Since this is a process of trial and error, of discovering what works and what does not, it can also be nerve-racking.

What has been most fruitful for me, though, is seeing how preaching has affected my discernment and formation. There is a certain fatherly love that motivates and forms my preaching. I am discovering it as a way to give of myself, to pour out the gift of myself and the fruit of my prayer for those I am called to serve.

This experience has cultivated a deeper desire for the priesthood and an excitement for ordination. n

As the Penitent, so the Confessor R E V. M R . LU K E P OW E R S ‘ 2 1 , D I O C E S E O F M A D I S O N

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here is a saying in the seminary: “As the seminarian, so the priest.” While I have thought about this phrase many times during my years in formation, it has recently taken on a new light. In this final year before priesthood, I have begun practicing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Of all sacraments we practice in the seminary, this one may be the most daunting. There is a rite, or rubrics, to follow in each sacrament, but in Confession there is another variable present—namely, the penitent. This

may seem obvious, but the only person I have ever heard confess is myself! I have my own particular way of approaching our Lord to receive his mercy, and so does every other person.

To be invited, even called, to bring the love and mercy of the Trinity to the penitent is a great gift. This call I do not take lightly; rather, I desire to approach every penitent in the same manner that Christ himself does.

The life a man is living in seminary will greatly reflect his life in priesthood, and I believe that the way a seminarian approaches our

Pope Francis goes to Confession during a Penitential Service at St. Peter's Basilica on March 28, 2014 before hearing confessions himself. Foto ©Vatican Media

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The life a man is living in seminary will greatly reflect his life in priesthood, and I believe that the way a seminarian approaches our Lord in confession will be revealed in who he is as a confessor.

Lord in confession will be revealed in who he is as a confessor. If I want the People of God to run into the arms of our Lord, then I must run with them. Approaching Reconciliation in this context has helped me move beyond just my own needs to see this sacrament as an even greater gift, one that brings restoration to the Body of Christ.

It is truly humbling to see priests go to confession before they themselves step into the confessional. I have seen this most profoundly here in Rome when our own Holy Father Pope Francis publicly received this Sacrament of Penance in Saint Peter’s Basilica. I hope to imitate the Holy Father in serving as a bridge of compassion for our people and not a wall blocking God’s grace. n

The third floor of the College’s tower, which was completed in 2015, contains four practice chapels where fourth year deacons can practice celebrating the Mass. The practice chapels look much like a regular chapel and contain an altar, ambo, and all of the vessels needed for Mass. What sets these rooms apart are the mirrors on the back wall, which allow for the deacon to see himself as he is doing the gestures required by the rubrics of the Roman Missal.

Students log in early in the morning for a Zoom seminar.

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VOICES OF NAC

Who is a person in your life that you are thankful for? What role has this person had in bringing you to this moment and helping you answer God’s call?

As I approach ordination to the priesthood, I am grateful to the many people who have been at work in my life and have helped me to answer God’s call. I give thanks to God for my family who has supported me through every step of my vocation, beginning with introducing me to our Lord. I am also grateful to the priests in my diocese with whom I will share a sacramental bond after my own ordination. They have done so much to help me on my own journey through their priestly ministry and by their fatherly example. I cannot wait to be welcomed into this brotherhood and to serve the people of God side by side with them.

Rev. Mr. Peter Srsich ’21, Diocese of Denver

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"I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

A few years before entering seminary, I visited my former fourth-grade teacher, Sr. Mary Jo Witucki, by then confined to her religious order’s home for the elderly. As soon as I entered her room, I was greeted with the same joy that I encountered my first day of fourth grade. Though I did not consider the priesthood until much later, Sr. Mary Jo’s witness to the love of Christ inspired me deeply as a child. Her stories of Pope John Paul II made me grateful to be a Catholic (and proud to be Polish!).

Though she may have had higher expectations for class conduct, it was because she had high regard for our dignity as children of God. The brief visit would be the last time I saw Sr. Mary Jo before she died in 2015, but her joy at seeing her students will always remind me that whoever receives one child in Jesus’ name receives him.

David Nowicki ‘24, Diocese of La Crosse

One person that I am thankful for is my father. I think that probably goes without saying, however, my father has played a huge role in my vocation. His influence on my vocation started from a very early age. When I was growing up, he would ask me if I was thinking about the priesthood, which I would often answer quickly with a “No.” Little did I know what God had in store for me. Ever since entering seminary, I have always been comforted by his encouragement and understanding when I have faced different challenges. His constant support has truly made my time in seminary much smoother. I can’t imagine what seminary would be like if I didn’t have him encouraging me along the way.

Michael Mahoney ‘23, Diocese of Des Moines

Growing up we lived three hours away from my grandmother. St. Mary of the Angels makes up the most significant part of the one street comprising Wien, MO, and I always knew that walking to Mass there would be a part of our trip.

Apart from the hills, farm animals, and fishing, I more than anything enjoyed being around my family at my grandmother's. Four years ago, my grandma moved in with my parents. This has caused no little stress for my family, but the joy of being with and taking care of my grandmother has made the stress worth it. I have begun to realize that the peace and joy I experienced at my grandmother's farm as a child was not simply a result of nature or animals, but it was the result of a person that my grandmother loves and believes in more than anyone I know, Jesus Christ.

Paul Sappington ‘22, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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Sharing gratitude as brothers

Thanksgiving 16

Traditions

The Pontifical North American College

“Over the Top” Thanksgiving Day

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ver the top” is just one phrase that gestures towards what Thanksgiving Day at the College is like. In order to fit all of the events in, the day requires an early morning start. Before the sun is up (and most of Rome for that matter), some seminarians and faculty, and even some expats from study-abroad programs, lace up their shoes for the only five-kilometer run to circumnavigate a sovereign nation, Vatican City. As the runners contend for the quickest time or the most creative costume, back at the College each hallway morphs into a kitchen, dining room, and living room that rivals the crowded streets of Naples.

Hall breakfast takes what is usually the smallest, quickest meal of the day and transforms it into an event that rivals the Thanksgiving banquet itself in terms of food and fraternity. Later in the morning, the sacred liturgy magnifies what is usually a daily Mass into something closer to a solemnity.

The morning of Thanksgiving could constitute its own day, yet it still pales in comparison to the Thanksgiving banquet. Each state decorates its table according to its own customs: cows carved out of butter, cowboy hats and boots, cheese meant to be worn on the head, and some candlesticks for propriety’s sake. The meal itself, a

found Black Friday worth celebrating).

The class lectures still go on during that otherwise anonymous Thursday, though there may or may not be the same number of listeners. All the more, if we are honest, perhaps such an “over the top” celebration may merely be an attempt to make up for what is felt to be missing. Far from family and friends celebrating a most American holiday back in the nation we call home, the gap we feel beckons to be filled with something.

Joseph Brodeur '24 (Providence) ices the cinnamon rolls for his hall's Thanksgiving Breakfast, while wearing a turkey hat.

full traditional Thanksgiving course of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, is preceded, as only can happen in Italy, by pumpkin-filled ravioli. The student priests not only provide the pumpkin pies, but also a song, which is usually as comically cringe-worthy as the pie is delicious. The evening closes with a showing of a 1950s-era Person to Person episode spotlighting the College, which illustrates the fact that, while the people change, the College remains the same.

Naturally the question arises, must Thanksgiving be celebrated this way?

Why must it be so “over the top?”

In some ways, it is necessary on Thanksgiving to break out of the rhythm of the Eternal City, which naturally passes over the American holiday in silence (yet, ironically, has

And so, is Thanksgiving at the College a bit of overcompensation?

Maybe. However, the fruits of the traditions of Thanksgiving Day at the College are tangible. To put it quite simply, it forges bonds of fraternity and memories that last longer than any turkey trot, meal, or class lecture the day after Thanksgiving. It takes hard work to pull off such a day. The race in the morning that finishes in minutes takes weeks to plan. The cooks for hall breakfast usually rise just as early as the runners. Dignified praise of our God in the liturgy comes only from prayer and preparation. The banquet provided by our generous staff and the pies from the hands of the student priests (for better or for worse, at least they try) do not happen by accident but emerge from sacrifices of time and ego that bear fruit in relationships. We do not have to do Thanksgiving this way, yet we choose to, and that makes it all the more special, “something over the top.” n

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The Show Must Go On D I L LO N B R U C E ’ 2 2 , D I O C E S E O F R I C H M O N D

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Members of the Class of 2024 perform a song at that end of the 2020 New Man Show.

ver since I learned that St. John Paul II was a playwright and an actor, I have been amazed by the connection between the arts and a priest’s ability to preach and connect with others in ministry. One of the clearest expressions of this at the College is the annual New Man/Old Man Show.

Capping off a week of Thanksgiving festivities and traditions, the show gathers the men of the house together for an evening of fraternal entertainment. A blessing of living in a large

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community is the opportunity to witness the creativity and talents of my brother seminarians. This show is one of my favorite events of the year, and I am awed by the acting, writing, and video-editing skills of the men in the house. The skits and videos range from Saturday Night Live parodies and movie-trailer spoofs to musical numbers and original sketches.

While the content and subjects of the acts are diverse, they often focus on good-humored commentary about seminary or life in Rome.

It is a big night for the New Men because this is one of the first times they come together to work on a

project and share their class’s talents and personalities with the rest of the community. The pressure is on for them to entertain the Old Men—leave even a moment’s silence between acts, and the crowd might begin to make animal noises! The Old Men also have a chance to amuse with skits and videos influenced by their experiences from years already spent at the College. In the end, both groups put a lot of time and effort into preparing, practicing, and presenting the show, which provides us all with a moment to laugh and relate in a way unique to men preparing for the priesthood. n

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Thanksgiving List N I C H O L A S S E L L E R S ’ 2 4 , D I O C E S E O F E VA N SV I L L E

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t is time for the carrying of the turkey!”

My dad echoes these words early each Thanksgiving morning as the preparations for the savory and sweet feast are being laid out. A few years ago, my dad decided to start a family tradition in which he would process the Thanksgiving turkey throughout our house for all to see before he put it in the oven. It sounds goofy, but that is my family.

We love traditions because good family traditions make for good memories, and good memories mean the gift of time together.

The thought of not having time with my family this Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks my heart. I have currently been away from home for longer than I ever have before, and it has certainly been a challenge.

But it is also a beautiful gift. In fact, the primary emotion that wells up within my heart so often here in Rome is gratitude. I am learning that I am blessed to be missing something so much because it means that a real love was and is there.

As I lean into this longing for home in the midst of my seminary formation and theological studies, this Thanksgiving takes on a whole new light. My thoughts and prayers have been turning to the Eucharist, the true gift of thanksgiving in our lives. It is there that we find our

fulfillment, and the thirst to be seen, known, and loved is quenched. That is something worth celebrating!

In more grateful news, I am beginning to realize that there are numerous friendships and memories to be made here. As soon as I began hearing about the Thanksgiving traditions of the College, I was hooked. This place begins to feel more like a home each day, and our week of Thanksgiving festivities definitely helps with that. It is the joy and sweet smell of pumpkin pie filling these halls that make this a special time of year. Additionally, wonderful traditions like the New Man/Old Man Show, Thursday morning hall breakfasts, and the community Thanksgiving meal unites us all as brothers. There is something

special about a house full of men, who share the same goal of giving praise and thanksgiving to God, sharing this Thanksgiving together.

Back home, my family also has a tradition of making a “Thanksgiving List” that sits on our kitchen counter, and all day long on Thanksgiving, we walk by and write down who or what we are thankful for. I sure hope I make the list this year in Fort Branch, Indiana, and you better believe I will be making a list this year in Rome, full of all the gifts with which the Father has blessed me. Even amid these challenging times and the difficult steps along the journey, there is always something for which to be grateful, because we know who our Father is and the home that one day awaits us. n

Nicholas Sellers '24 (Evansville), kneeling second from left, with Fr. Vincent Ferrer Bagan, O.P. (Province of St. Joseph) and the College's Angelicum softball team, after its Thanksgiving week victory over the College's Gregorian and Santa Croce teams.

This year, the softball tournament was moved from the spring to Thanksgiving week.

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A Toast to Tradition: The New Man Toast R E V. M R . R E E D F LO O D ’ 2 1 , D I O C E S E O F D E S M O I N E S

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s I stood at the podium three years ago and stared into a sea of clerical attire, I thought of the past few weeks. Fresh off of the plane from Fiumicino Airport, I had just hauled a small suitcase with my belongings for the next several years. I had fought off jetlag, seen the College, and realized that the greatest adventure of my life had begun. These thoughts flooded my mind immediately before giving the New Man Speech at the College.

Every year, the new seminarians elect a man from among their classmates to speak on their behalf at the College’s opening banquet. When I spoke for the first time, it was exhilarating!

My speech was mostly energetic and filled with excitement. I felt I

had very little wisdom to offer—only gratitude towards the upperclassmen who welcomed me.

The tradition of the New Man Speech is a long one. What makes the speech truly special, however, is what comes

Rev. Mr. Reed Flood '21 (Des Moines) delivers the toast on behalf of the Fourth Year Class at the Opening Banquet.

afterwards. After four years, that same nervous New Man will stand up once more and deliver the Fourth-Year Speech at the same opening banquet.

I was still trembling at the podium when I gave the Fourth-Year Speech, but this time it was different. The crowd was not just a sea of unrecognizable seminarians, but a cheerful gathering of my closest friends and comrades. I truly knew these men, and that made all the difference.

Speaking to the College a second time was humbling. Not because I was nervous or scared, but because I was speaking to a group of good and holy men. n

Speaking Like Myself JA M E S M U S C AT E L L A ’ 2 4 , D I O C E S E O F R O C H E ST E R

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henever I am asked to prepare a speech, it takes a decent amount of time and thought to get myself ready to speak how I normally do, without planning. For this year’s New Man Toast at our opening banquet, my classmates chose me to represent them. It only seemed right, then, to speak in the way they expected of me.

As the New Man giving this toast, I had my next-door neighbor Deacon Reed Flood as my Old Man counterpart.

As he delivered his own speech, I saw and appreciated an Old Man (younger than me, in fact) speaking

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like himself. Knowing that I may be slated to give another toast like his in the future, when I am in my fourth year, I hope to grow a bit wiser and a good deal holier over those years. I hope those qualities will show when I speak, too. In some ways, I hope to become a bit like Deacon Reed.

I also realize that even as I grow during my time here, it is probably right for me to keep speaking like myself. For this toast, after some scraped preparation, I tried to speak the way I usually do. G.K. Chesterton, my strong preference for Upstate New York, and what some

James Muscatella '24 (Rochester) delivers the New Man Toast at the 2020 Opening Banquet after being elected to speak on behalf of his class.

have called a “distinctive accent” all made their appearance. I hope that, by what I said, I at least shared how grateful we New Men are to be here, by the grace of God, among all of the good people here at the College. n

Gratitude Leads to Generosity R E V. M R . E DWA R D G O D E F R O I D ’ 2 1 , A R C H D I O C E S E O F ST. LO U I S

Fourth year deacons, who serve on the leadership team of St. Lawrence Outreach, pause for a photo after their monthly meeting.

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he Roman Church found itself under great persecution in the third century under Emperor Valerian. Pope Sixtus II, knowing his impending martyrdom, decided to ordain and appoint his trusted friend Lawrence as archdeacon, an appointment that gave Lawrence charge of both the Church’s wealth and its outreach to the poor. Soon, Lawrence, too, was captured and commanded to hand over all the Church’s riches. After he spending the next few days gathering all the poor, afflicted, and suffering people of the city, he returned to the Emperor’s palace claiming, “Here is the true treasure of the Church.” This act sent Emperor Valerian into a rage and led to Lawrence’s martyrdom, in which he was set ablaze on a grill.

St. Lawrence’s story lives on through the Church’s countless ministries, religious orders, and charities that care

for the poor around the world. Here at The Pontifical North American College, St. Lawrence’s story lives on in a special way through the St. Lawrence Outreach program, which helps seminarians minister to the poor of Rome. Our goal in facilitating this encounter is to continue the ministry of the great archdeacon of Rome. We carry out this ministry by keeping a well-stocked food pantry, providing pamphlets with resources for the poor, and initiating projects at Christmas and Lent.

Our Christmas project, which begins in late November, is a student-led campaign that provides toiletry kits and sleeping bags that will be distributed to the city’s poor. While this can seem little in the grand scheme of poverty, a sleeping bag on a cold winter night can be the difference between life and death.

We at the College are thankful for many gifts we have been afforded, and one way we show our gratitude is to be generous ourselves, giving from our hearts; this effort to care for the poor at Christmas is part of that, and it is always edifying.

The St. Lawerence Outreach is just one way the College reaches out to those in need. We also have a partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in which men donate money for items CRS distributes throughout the world to those most in need.

Gratitude for the things that have been bestowed on us serves as a reminder of our need to be generous, especially toward the poorest of the poor, for they are the true treasures of the Church. n

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Snapshots

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Priests from the Casa Santa Maria line up together for their annual house photo.

The three new members of the faculty sign their Oath of Fidelity to the Church before the whole community.

Rev. Mr. Nicholas Case '21 (San Francisco) preaches at the Mass of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

The fourth-year team (together with student priests) celebrates after securing their fourth consecutive class victory in the Ultimate Frisbee tournament.

Jacob Magnuson '22 (Bismarck) throws a pitch on behalf of the Angelicum at the University Softball tournament.

Rev. Mr. Michael Ledesma '21 (Tyler) and Nicholas Shelton '24 (Tyler) enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at the highly-decorated Texas table.

The Pontifical North American College

Priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together.

Seminarians from Iowa unveil their annual "butter cow," a tradition inspired by the infamous butter sculptures found at the Iowa State Fair.

His Eminence George Cardinal Pell poses for a photo with David Lee '24 (Nashville) and Isaiah Fischer '24 (Bismarck).

Michael Maloney '24 (St. Paul and Minneapolis) throws a pass while Rev. Mr. Brendan Blawie '21 (Bridgeport) guards.

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Koinonia: Tuesday Hall Prayer and Grace-Sharing R E V. M R . RA N DY H OA N G ‘ 2 1 , A R C H D I O C E S E O F P O RT L A N D I N O R EG O N

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The hallway is one important aspect of community life at the College. Members of the hallway, in addition to gathering each Tuesday for Hall Prayer, gather for other social events at various times throughout the year. For example, on Thanksgiving morning each hall community gathers for breakfast.

Each hallway has its own traditions and customs which distinguish it from the other halls of the College.

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n a setting of over 150 men, one can easily find himself lost in a crowd of people. Out of the wisdom of our forefathers, many traditions have sprouted within the walls of the College to alleviate that isolation, one of which is the tradition of our weekly Tuesday Hall Prayer.

Once a week on Tuesday evenings, instead of gathering as an entire community for evening prayer in the Immaculate Conception Chapel, each corridor assembles in their respective lounge for fraternity, prayer, and to share how the Lord is working in our lives.

It is an opportunity for the men in the corridor to press the pause button on the busyness of life and live in the moment surrounded by brothers, some of which they have not seen throughout the week because of different schedules and responsibilities in and outside of the house.

In recent years, the men of the corridor of Fourth Hospital (named for its view of the

The men of Fourth Hospital ("Fourth NASA") join together for their weekly "koinonia" gathering, complete with various snacks and fellowship.

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Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital which it overlooks, and fondly known as “Fourth NASA” at the seminary) have developed a tradition of our own to gather prior to Evening Prayer for food and fraternity.

These evenings are hosted by one of the five deacons of the corridor. What was previously simply an excuse to hang out with each other has now transformed into what we call in Greek, koinonia.

This year in particular, the corridor has come to a fuller embodiment of koinonia. For some, koinonia is understood as fellowship; but in Sacred Scripture, it is so much more.

In the biblical sense of the word, koinonia is communion. It is a coming together and becoming one, a oneness in charity and mission. This is evident in the relationship that the saints have with our Lord. In the recesses of the spiritual life, our Lord calls us, forms us, and sends us. The process of formation involves many factors used to prepare men for ordination as priests of Christ, and the fellowship we share in the corridor is an evident way in which we are indeed forming each other during day-to-day life.

For the corridor of Fourth Hospital, Tuesday Hall Prayer has become much more than an opportunity to gather for prayer and sharing. It is now an occasion for us to deepen our sense of brotherhood and ultimately grow to exemplify Christ’s mission with which we have been entrusted. n

H i s t o r y, told by the

CHOIR LOFT

Years of history written in our walls—and on them ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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Choir Lo

NAC Chronicles: Written on the Choir Loft Wall SA M U E L BA S S ‘ 2 2 , D I O C E S E O F AU ST I N

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ne of the delights of study in Rome is the traces of history, both sacred and secular, that surround us.

Students at the College have witnessed many events that made history during the past 161 years, and some of these are recorded in a surprising place: the wall of the choir loft in the Immaculate Conception Chapel (ICC).

The tradition began when the College was still located in the present-day Casa Santa Maria. After the devastating earthquake of 1915, a student recorded the event on the wood panel of the organ: “Earthquake 1/13/15 7:52 AM.”1 Later entries include the entry of Italy into the First World War, and the departure of the students and closing of the College after the outbreak of the Second World War.2

Several decades after the College reopened at the Janiculum campus, in the early 1970s, students began the tradition anew, chronicling events of note on the wall of the choir loft in the ICC. Some entries record momentous events in the Church and the world.

Take for example the following inscriptions: “Pope John Paul II shot and wounded in St. Peter’s Square, May 13, 1981”; or “Peace in Vietnam, January 27, 1973.” There are also amusing details of life in Rome: “December 31, 1972: Italians have 1

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2

been forbidden to throw junk out of their windows at midnight”; “1 December 1973: Pasta Strike, Milk Strike, Truck Strike (Student Strike).”

Along similar lines are entries recording memorable events at the College, such as a surprising victory in soccer: “Una cosa mai vista! [something never before witnessed] North American Martyrs stun Venerable English College 4-2, January 16, 1988”; and unexpected entertainment, “21 November 1973, European premier of ‘Godspell’ shown in NAC auditorium.” There are also moving tributes to departing members of the community, such as the farewell to former Director of Liturgical Music Mr. Leon Griesbach, and to his “dear family, especially to Dietrich, Augustine and Blaise, who were born at the College and will always be sons of Alma Mater.”

The style varies, depending on the era and student chronicler—from scrawling pencil in the early chronicles, to the comic book style illustrations of some later, more adventurous entries. Looking across the wall, one glimpses the arc of life at the College over the past fifty years—a time period spanning nine U.S. presidents and five pontificates, from the end of the Vietnam War to our current era. The last entries record some of the unusual events of

Alex Fry '22 (Dallas) records recent events on the wall outside of the choir loft in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

the past year, such as the departure of most students last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and (happily) the return of the Old Men and arrival of the last New Man in October of this year.

Looking back at the history recorded on the wall, I recognize myself as part of a living tradition, stretching back generations. It’s a tradition formed by the thousands of American seminarians who have gone before us—young men of zeal, occasional brashness, good humor, and genuine affection, not so different from ourselves—who have come to Rome over the past century to study for the priesthood, and in the process brushed up against many of the events which have shaped the history of the College and the world. n

Robert McNamara, The American College in Rome, 1855-1955 (New York: The Christopher Press, 1956), 449.

Ibid., 453, 556, 592.

ft History

The Casa’s Hidden Treasure

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R E V. J U ST I N G O L N A ’ 2 0, C ' 2 2 , D I O C E S E O F W H E E L I N G - C H A R L E STO N

he current location of The Pontifical North American College, atop the Hill of Janus, is a location blessed with a magnificent view of Saint Peter’s Basilica from the new tower, a state-of-the-art gym that overlooks a full-sized sports field, and well over ten acres of land that allows for ample space for the seminarians to enjoy the outdoors during a study break.

However, this flagship campus is not unique in the traditions it holds.

Rather, it has continued them from the Casa Santa Maria, the legacy campus of the College, and this is true in the hidden treasures of tradition that the College maintains.

In the choir loft that overlooks the stunning chapel of the Casa Santa Maria, there is a record of history that is maintained on its walls. However, there is a difference between the two traditions. While the choir loft walls

Markings on the organ of the Casa Santa Maria record important events in the life of the College.

that took place in this chapel, and similar such events, which all revolve around the most important part of a seminary—the liturgy.

Historic photo of a seminarian examining the engravings on the organ in the chapel of the Casa Santa Maria.

of the Janiculum campus incorporate a number of secular events that occurred during its existence, the walls of the Casa Santa Maria opt to pass on to future generations the liturgical rituals that occurred in the majestic chapel below. Instead of news of presidential visits, messages such as, “This organ was played for the first time in 9 years during a Solemn High Mass—1949,” adorn the small space around the organ. Of course, in a prominent place is the memory of the final liturgical moments that seminarians experienced in these walls, such as “Last Solemn High Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Martin J. O’Connor, Rector,” and “Last Benediction given after 94 years of existence before move to new campus.” Etched on the walls of the Casa’s choir loft are the names of deacons who performed their roles for the first time, descriptions of discord when the choir was moved to a new location, accounts of the various episcopal consecrations

Studying in Rome all these years, I have read more than my share of inscriptions and plaques, however there is a greater weight when one reads the history that men, who have walked through the same halls as I and have persevered to the priesthood, thought was important enough to carve into the wooden panels surrounding our organ. In maintaining this tradition, and in noticing that the liturgy was so central to their lives that it occupied the majority of inscriptions on the wall, those of us who study at the Casa are graced with a privileged view into the past. n

Photographed here is the most recent section of the College's history, written on the walls of the choir loft; it records the timeline of events around the departure of students from the College due to COVID-19.

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Co-sponsored seminarians of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, Bradley Easterbrooks '22 (San Diego) and Peter Ludwig '22 (Lansing), pose for a photo after Rev. Mr. Madison Hayes '21 (Anchorage) and Rev. Mr. Patrick Costello '21 (Green Bay) were ordained to the diaconate at St. Peter's Basilica.

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Serving Those Who Serve M I C H A E L N U G E N T ’ 2 3, D I O C E S E O F A R L I N GTO N

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n 2010, I graduated from college and moved to New York City to begin a career on Wall Street. I believed I was on the path to lasting happiness: a great job, a vibrant city to explore, and the promise of more and more disposable income. Quickly, however, the bright fantasy collided with drab reality: number-crunching late into the night; pretending to understand the term “collateralized debt obligation” in front of clients; sweating over the annual bonus rankings; and developing conceited opinions about neckties. I was underwhelmed: was this it? Is the objective of life just to serve myself?

In the search for something deeper, I turned to my Catholic faith. Working across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, I found refuge in daily Mass and the Rosary.

With guidance from many holy priests, including two who had served as Navy chaplains, I slowly began to listen to God’s voice. I started reading more about the spiritual life and the examples of the saints. As I began to seriously discern a priestly vocation, one book in particular captured my attention.

The Grunt Padre details the heroic life of Servant of God and U.S. Navy chaplain Vincent Capodanno, a Maryknoll priest killed in action in Vietnam while ministering to wounded Marines. Father Capodanno posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Here was a man who, in humble imitation of Christ, had truly lived for others.

The Most Rev. William Muhm, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, gives a presentation to first year seminarians about the work of the Archdiocese and military chaplaincy.

After moving back to my home state of Virginia and discerning more deeply for a few years, I felt an abiding call to both the diocesan priesthood and the military chaplaincy. I have a deep affinity for our military men and women and their families: my father served in the Navy for over thirty years, and I grew up in military communities across the country. Three of my family members currently serve in the military and several more are veterans.

It is a great privilege to be a co-sponsored seminarian with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) and the Diocese of Arlington. The AMS is entrusted with the pastoral care of 1.8 million Catholics worldwide, including men and women serving in the U.S. military and their families, patients in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and government employees working overseas. With a co-sponsorship

agreement, the AMS and a geographic diocese share the cost of a seminarian’s formation. After the man is ordained for three years, he enters active duty as an officer and chaplain in the Navy, Army, or Air Force for a time, ensuring that those who defend our freedoms do not have to go without the sacraments.

Here at the College, we are blessed to have five men in formation who are co-sponsored with the AMS and their home diocese: Madison Hayes of Anchorage-Juneau, Patrick Costello of Green Bay, Brad Easterbrooks of San Diego, and Peter Ludwig of Lansing. The world of Wall Street told me that being selfish would make me happy. That world was wrong. Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, was right: “man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” n ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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< Rev. Andy DeRouen '20 (Lake Charles) stands amid the rubble while assessing damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. Photocredit: Chris O’Brien, WUFT Gainesville

Till the Storms of Destruction Pas R E V. A N D R E W D E R O U E N ’ 2 0, D I O C E S E O F L A K E C H A R L E S

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e all knew we were signing up for suffering; it’s inseparable from the priesthood. When we boarded the exodus flight home last March after four years in Rome, we realized God was inviting us to begin priestly ministry with abrupt detachment— from things, from friends, and from expectations. And while the isolation leading up to ordination forged hearts of zeal for the Lord and his Church, the detachment he would require of us was far from over.

On August 27, exactly two months after my diocesan brothers and I were ordained to the priesthood, Hurricane Laura made landfall in our diocese as

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a category-four storm, the strongest to hit Louisiana in over a century. After sustained winds of 150 miles per hour lashed and shredded every upright structure for nearly seven of the darkest hours of late night and early morning, we would wake up to the news that it would be years before Lake Charles felt and looked normal again. The Diocese alone took on upwards of $80 million in damage, and several parishes were deemed entire losses.

Little did we know that as we began to pick up the pieces, Hurricane Delta would make landfall only six weeks later, twelve miles away from the spot where Laura came on shore. One hurricane is enough to send anyone spiraling into a pit of despair. But

two… in the middle of a pandemic?

We are no strangers to hurricanes down here on the bayou, but like many friends, this hurricane season was the first I ever weathered as an adult, much less with hundreds of parishioners entrusted to my care!

This year, I have lived in ten different places—if you define “living” as “picking up the things you still have, and moving.” Three of those places have since been destroyed by the storms. Without the sacraments, it would be utterly futile to take on my three priestly assignments. But the flexibility demanded of me since March is something I am only able to offer

s By: My First Year of Priesthood because of my formation in Rome.

From day one at the College, we learned to expect the unexpected. We could not simulate a natural disaster (although there were earthquakes), but we learned the frustration of a language barrier suddenly rendering words useless. We could not launch a daily citywide feeding of the masses, but we could prepare to feed one hungry person on the way to school. We could not invite youth groups to every liturgy at the College, but experiencing those liturgies as a seminarian would become the cornerstone for teens around the Diocese rebuilding the community by their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

One thing has become increasingly clear: Jesus wants priests who are willing to walk on the water toward him amid the storms of life. St. Peter could not do it without asking, nor could he sustain himself without grace.

The same is true for priests today. No amount of perceived stability in this world could ever suffice for a life of true devotion. When we need (which is always), we must ask. Ask for help when your parish does not have a roof. Ask for help when you need to communicate details about food and supply distribution to 5,000 people without the internet. Ask for help when your weariness makes it next to impossible to pray.

There is nothing like widespread tumult to shake the heart from its lethargy, remind it of the presence of God, and move it to cry out, “Lord, save me!” In that regard, I have been blessed as a young priest with the constant reminder that God has not abandoned us. On the contrary, his abiding presence, extended to us like a hand to a sinking Peter, is an invitation to suffer with him till the storms of destruction pass by.

For all of you who have helped us by your prayers and support, thank you! If you would like to make a contribution to our relief efforts, please visit our website: www.lcdiocese.org. n

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VOICES OF NAC

Who is a person in your life that you are thankful for? What role has this person had in bringing you to this moment and helping you answer God’s call?

I’m grateful for my best friend since childhood—my sister! Blair has shown me how to be generous in showing love to others. Since arriving here in mid-August, I’ve already received from her two heartfelt letters and a package full of American comfort foods, all while she finishes an intensive dental hygiene degree and plans her wedding. Blair’s example reminds me that taking the time to appreciate those I love is uplifting for both them and me. Her caring witness not only strengthens my vocation, but also shapes it to love others as I have been so well-loved by her. God continues to work through my little sister to make me a holier man.

Bryce Baumann ‘24, Diocese of Dallas

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"I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

I am thankful for Alice and Morrie Leuthner, a married couple who have been there for me since before the beginning. Alice is the woman whom my grandmother called when she was thinking about converting to Catholicism to marry this nice Catholic farmer in Waconia, MN. Alice is the one who cared for me and my siblings during the day when I was just a baby. Alice and Morrie prayed for me daily during my time in seminary (I was one of the beads on their rosary for seminarians, and I have now been transferred to their rosary for priests). They generously supported me with substantial financial contributions during my time in seminary. Their witness to Catholicism stirs me to greater faithfulness to our Gospel call, and their witness to a loving faithful marriage truly is an icon of God’s love for us.

The number of people who have influenced my life, particularly in the discernment of my vocation, is probably far greater than I can remember. In particular, my former pastor comes to mind, Msgr. Patrick Garrity, who was assigned to my parish as I transitioned from high school to seminary life. In many ways, he exemplified to me the joy of the priestly life. He was always ready with a smile and joke to raise the spirits of everyone around him.

He was a kind man and a competent leader, who oversaw many changes to the parish while keeping the community content and cheerful. He is the example of the priest I hope to be in the parish, a person able to guide others to Christ through his actions and example. I will always be grateful for the influence he has in my life.

Rev. Clayton Forner ‘20, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Rev. Mr. Matthew Donahue ‘21, Diocese of Knoxville

I was on FaceTime with my nephew Wade and his family, pointing my phone up at the sky, trying to show them the full moon above the roof of the College. Wade is in second grade and was having trouble comprehending that it could be nighttime in Italy while the sun was still out in Indiana. He is naturally curious, and kept asking questions until he could understand it. As a Christian, I believe that it is important to keep this childlike curiosity about God and his Church. Motivated by love for God and a desire to serve his people, we seminarians in Rome are asked to take that curiosity and further our studies, so that we might grow in the love and knowledge necessary to serve as holy priests.

Just as the moon is the same over Roman hills or Hoosier fields, so Christ reigns the same in both Italy and Indiana. Thank you, Wade, for the reminder.

Keith Hart ‘24, Diocese of Evansville ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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Interview with Fr. Cush: The How-To Book of Catholic Theology T H E E D I TO R I A L T E A M O F R O M A N EC H O E S Could you give us some background on what inspired you to write The How-To Book of Catholic Theology?

How did your experiences as academic dean at the College contribute to your work?

For the past several years, I had been writing articles on theology and life for The National Catholic Register. I received an e-mail from Ave Maria Press to begin a book which would serve as an introduction to theology for beginners. Eventually, Ave Maria Press was kind enough to turn the project over to Our Sunday Visitor Press, who were incredibly helpful to me in editing this text.

I am so grateful to serve as the academic dean of the College. This ministry affords me the opportunity to engage in the intellectual life daily.

I have to keep up with what the seminarians are learning at all their various universities in order to properly do my job. Therefore, I can spend the time reading and learning daily, which is a true blessing for me as a priest and as a professor. Basically, this book is the first-year seminar that I am blessed to teach for the seminarians of the College for the first year of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Teaching this class over the past few years has been one of the highlights of the week for me and I have had some great experiences with the students. In fact, in my acknowledgements, I thank each of the seminarians who have served as my “beadle”" over the past few years: Deacon Joseph Mominee (Toledo, ‘21), Deacon Stephen Yusko (Albany, ‘21); Oscar Marquina (Salt Lake City, ‘22); and Jose Lim (Metuchen, ‘24). This year, the class beadles are Aaron Salvan (New York, ‘24) and Paulo Salazar (Brooklyn, ‘24).

What was your goal in writing the book, and how do you hope it affects your readers?

Basically, my hope is that this book will help readers to love theology. I want them to fall in love with Christ in his Church and to really embrace a spirituality of study.

Who were some of your major influences in preparing this book?

Rev. John Cush '98 C’15 (Brooklyn) and Paulo Salazar '24 (Brooklyn) pose for a photo after the New Man Banquet at the beginning of the year.

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I would have to say many of the influences come from theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Robert Imbelli, Msgr.

Richard Liddy, and the Servant of God, Matthias Joseph Scheeben. However, a great part of my theological influences come from some of my professors whom I had here in Rome as a seminarian and as a student priest: Fr. Jared Wicks, SJ; Fr. Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Cardinal Timothy Dolan (‘76); Msgr. William Millea (‘80, C’89); the late Fr. Joseph D’Amecourt, OP; Fr. Carsten Barwasser, OP; and Fr. Joseph Henchey, CSS. As a prolific writer, do you have any advice for priests and seminarians on how to remain active in the intellectual and theological life amid the busy schedule of diocesan priesthood?

My advice is fairly simple—keep reading!

Have the desire to learn not just as a curiositas (a curiosity), but as a desire to fall more in love with the Lord and his Body, the Church. Let your study move you from a mere desire for scientia (knowledge) to sapientia (wisdom) to a real sanctitas (holiness).

A New Cardinal and a Longtime Spiritual Father JA M E S M O R GA N ’ 2 2 , A R C H D I O C E S E O F WA S H I N GTO N

Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington pose for a photo with Wilton Cardinal Gregory C'80.

W

,,

ho wants to share some calamari?”

These are some of the first words I remember hearing from Cardinal Wilton Gregory. I first met him when he came to Rome in spring 2018 before being installed as the new Archbishop of Washington. He started that visit by celebrating Mass for us and ended with a familial pranzo. His openness to sharing at the table mirrored his desire to share a spiritual meal with us around the Eucharistic table; these two desires came together in a way that expressed his spiritual fatherhood.

ordination of Bishop Bill Byrne (‘94) have led me to pause and reflect on my own call to spiritual fatherhood.

During my seminary formation, these two cardinals have served as my ordinaries, and for a summer I was assigned to Bishop Byrne’s parish.

My experiences with these three men have helped me realize that the spiritual fatherhood of the priest cannot be reduced to just one concept. The Holy Spirit calls forth this fatherhood uniquely in each man and in each circumstance. While I am very different than these three men, I am grateful to have been formed under each of them.

The elevation of Cardinal Gregory (C‘80), the retirement of Cardinal Donald Wuerl (‘67), and the episcopal

When I moved to Washington in 2014 to be a missionary in southeast D.C., I was surrounded by historic

African-American parishes. In fact, I am still a parishioner at Our Lady of the Assumption in southeast Washington. This community welcomed me like family and has been a huge support in my vocation.

I shared in their joy as Cardinal Gregory was named the first African-American Archbishop of Washington and continue to share in that spirit of thanksgiving now that he has recently become the first African-American cardinal.

I am thankful for this historic moment in the Church and recognize its significance for our country. I am also grateful that a man who is a true spiritual father has been recognized by the Church. n ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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A Time of Learning and Preparation REV. EDWARD LINTON, O.S.B, DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

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The autumn modules offer a lot of flexibility for busy priests to enroll in continuing formation. Each module is self-contained and may be taken on its own. Priests may also enroll in two or all three of the modules for a coherent program, as each module builds on the next. The overall theme of the autumn 2021 program will be “Listening to the Incarnate Word of God.” The modules will focus on theology, preaching, and art, especially the art of storytelling. Visit the ICTE website for more information.

OVID-19 forced the Spring 2020 Institute of Continuing Theological Education program to end early. Priests left Rome in mid-March, cutting their sabbatical short by a month. As the situation had not improved, the autumn programs were canceled, and the Casa O’Toole has been very quiet. Even so, I have been able to use this time for personal study and preparations for when priests can return to Casa O’Toole again.

Impressed by the efforts of priests to sustain their parishes during COVID lockdowns, I wrote an article entitled, “Liturgical Lessons for Social Media from Medieval Hermits” to be published by Homiletic and Pastoral Review in December. During the late summer, I spent several weeks in Modena, Italy, studying Italian.

While in Modena, I was able to investigate several sites for future ICTE programing, as well. Since returning to Rome, I have assisted in the seminary as needed and am writing an article on the role of listening in preaching. I am looking

Rev. Edward Linton, OSB stands in front of the Casa O'Toole, home of the Institute of Continuing Theological Education (ICTE).

forward to welcoming a small cohort of priests for the spring 2021 sabbatical program which will begin with a quarantine in January!

Already ICTE is looking toward the future. In autumn 2021, three modules are being planned for September 6–October 1; October 4–October 22; and October 29–November 19.

The spring 2022 ICTE sabbatical program is scheduled for January 17–April 11. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land will be offered March 3–11, 2022, as an optional part of the program.

Despite the strangeness of these days, I give thanks for the ways in which God has continued to bless this time and has been at work. I look forward with hope and expectation to welcoming priests back to Rome, to the Casa O’Toole, for a time of learning and refreshment. n

The latest news and photos from Rome.

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Interview with Michele Marconi I S M A E L R O D R Í G U E Z ' 2 2 , D I O C E S E O F DA L L A S consultation with the rector; overseeing upgrades and maintenance work, both on the Hill and Casa Santa Maria; overseeing our human resources department; and finally, overseeing operations at our development office in Washington, D.C. What are some of the current projects that you're involved with here at the College?

Michele Marconi (left) sits with Ismael Rodríguez '22 (Dallas) in the new Economato office to discuss his relationship with the College over the years.

How did you first get connected with the College?

My connection to the College is quite unique. I was actually baptized here in the Immaculate Conception Chapel

by Rev. Richard Foley '56, who served as academic dean from 1969–1974.

My mother worked at the time as an assistant to his secretary. Her first job at the College was secretary to the College’s librarian, Brother Randal Riede, CFX. Thus, growing up, I was always around the College. I attended school right across the street at the Instituto delle Suore Maestre di Santa Dorotea.

Today, the sisters rent out rooms for parents of children hospitalized at the nearby Bambino Gesù hospital.

After attending high school at Instituto Nazareth, I enrolled at La Sapienza (Sapienza Università di Roma), and pursued a major in business and economics. During my course of studies, I returned to the College and was unofficially “hired” by Sr. Rebecca Abel, OSB, College librarian from 1996–2013, as a librarian assistant in 1997. After

graduation, I was offered a job in the city, but Sr. Rebecca protested, saying, “Michele, you have to refuse this job offer and instead work here at the College.” She quickly got Msgr. Kevin McCoy (’81), then acting Economo, to make room for me in his department.

My job duties would consist of managing the library finances and helping out with the student and accounting services. After I agreed to the position, my hiring was subsequently approved by the rector Msgr. Timothy Dolan (’76). I remained in this role until I was promoted to Project Manager in 2013 for the To Echo Christ campaign.

What does your new role as Economo consist of?

My job consists of continuing the work of the Economos who have gonebefore me. Of course, this looks a bit different now, since I am the first lay Economo in the College's history. My job duties include overseeing all the accounting and finances of the College; overseeing campaigns and major projects in

This past summer we recently completed the building of our new Economato offices, a new dining area for our employees, and the renovation of both the garage and an apartment room at that Casa Santa Maria. Currently, I’m overseeing the completion of our massive ten-year project, finalizing the Information Technology program and overseeing the completion of the kitchen.

Finally, as always, we are continuing in our updating and maintenance of our two campuses as well.

Do you have any closing remarks?

I just want to say that it’s a great honor for me to work for the College. Out of all the different jobs that I have had here throughout the years, what I miss the most is direct contact with the students. Back when I was working as a librarian assistant and helping out with student services, I always thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with the seminarians. Now, as Economo, my contact with them is limited, but I still appreciate the great work that both the faculty and the students do.

Knowing that I help contribute, in an indirect way, to the forming of future priests gives me great satisfaction and joy.

ROMAN ECHOES 2021 • VOLUME 25: ISSUE 2

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Thank YOU! MARK RANDALL, CFRE • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

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onsidering the “thanksgiving” theme of this issue, I couldn’t imagine writing about something other than our deep appreciation for our many supporters, benefactors, and investors who make our mission possible.

As others have written herein, The Pontifical North American College has much for which to be thankful.

Over the past 161 years, the College has been abundantly blessed in fulling our mission. God’s blessings have manifested through the actions of people, who through their generosity and loyalty have ensured we are able to do this noble work.

has already provided for the financial needs of the College. It’s our job to invite those with the resources to join us in our work.”

Alumni have told me that spending four years of their formation in Rome was instrumental in shaping their holy priesthood.

Lay benefactors have shared their stories of visiting the College and seeing the joy and faith of our students; others know an alumnus of the College and want to help us form additional holy priests.

Trustees of foundations, responsible for distributing large sums to help In my role as the Executive Director for support the Church, understand it is the Office of Institutional Advancement, vitally important that the bishops of I have interacted with thousands of the United States have a school in benefactors, lay and clergy, who have Rome and have therefore underwritten shared with me their love for the important capital projects to help us College and the reasons they choose better serve our students. to financially support our work. This is no small point: donors today have Of course, I echo the many sentiments a myriad of worthy apostolates to of gratitude expressed in this issue of support. I often say to my team, “God Roman Echoes. But specifically, I am

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thankful for the generous souls who respond to our invitation to support the College: the widow who sends a $5 bill and a holy card in a plain white envelope; our Cor Meum sustaining donors who give every month; our alumni who loyally support alma mater via our December 8th Annual Appeal every year; our individual and family donors who have underwritten major projects, most without ever asking for public recognition; those who support the annual Rector’s Dinner to make it such a successful event; and so on.

In addition to our genuine words of gratitude in this issue, perhaps the best way we can express our thanks is to share as much as possible the good news happening in Rome. That’s why this magazine, our Facebook page, Firmum Est e-newsletter, and other communications are important. I hope you welcome these efforts and see the fruits of your generosity.

May God continue to bless you abundantly for your partnership with us. And, thank YOU! n

WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT

APRIL 15, 2021? a. It’s tax day. b. It’s ten days after Easter. c. It’s the premier of an exciting new project at the College. d. All of the above.

The correct answer is D! April 15, 2021 is also the scheduled day for the 27th Annual Rector’s Dinner. While it looks like we won’t be able to host an in-person event due to uncertainty about the pandemic, we are finalizing details for an inspiring digital project that we hope you will be part of. Watch your mailbox and inbox for details in the New Year.

The Pontifical North American College Office of Institutional Advancement 3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED1

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

The view of the Cortile degli Aranci and Immaculate Conception Chapel on a wet Roman evening.

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