NAC Magazine: Spring 2004

Spring 2004

The Pontifical

North American College M

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SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE ROMAN EXPERIENCE

Inside - Lessons in Rome: “The Ange Route” - Unico Grande Amore: The Passion of Soccer - Brother Randal Riede, CFX

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MAGAZINE STAFF Editor Adam Park Archdiocese of Washington, DC Class of 2005 Assistant Editors Michael McClane Diocese of Trenton Class of 2006 Andrew Roza Archdiocese of Omaha Class of 2007 Casa Santa Maria Editor Rev. Joseph Johnson Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Class of 1998 Layout and Design Christopher Romaine Diocese of Baton Rouge Class of 2005 John McDonald Diocese of Birmingham Class of 2007 Photographers Zachary Weber Archdiocese of Cincinnati Class of 2006

E PA RT M E NT S

The Rector’s Corner

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by Rev. Msgr. Kevin McCoy ’81, C’86

College Traditions

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The Cortile: An Orange Tradition

by Bryan Babick ’06

Vocation Stories

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An Extraordinary Call from an Ordinary Routine

by Timothy Hall ’06

Development Office

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A New Endowment Helping Future Priests

by Tricia Lloyd

The Economo’s Corner

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by Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ’92, C’97

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Planting Seeds in Young Minds

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by Michael Ludeman ’06

Fr. John O’Donnell, SJ

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Esteemed Professor and Dean

by John Barno ’06

Seamus Griesbach Diocese of Portland Class of 2007 For more information about the North American College, or to learn about opportunities for memorial gifts, contact Tricia Lloyd at our Washington, DC Office of Development:

Nova et Veterna Incarnate

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NAC and ICTE

by Rev. Msgr. Robert Evans ’73, C’89

Hidden Treasures of the College

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An Investigative Report

by Matthew Glover ’05

STUAC: Not Just a Nifty “NACronym”

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by William Vit, Jr. ’05 Tel: (202) 541-5411 Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: nacrome@aol.com or visit our website at www.pnac.org

A Bridge Between Life and Faith

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by Rev. Erik Pohlmeier ’98

A Communion Rooted in Diversity

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by Rev. Michael Olson

The Crown of the Janiculum Campus

by David Carter ’05

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EAT U R E S

Feast of Faith A Seminarian’s Christmas in Poland

by John McDonald ’07

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Calling Upon the Better Angels of Our Nature

L’Uomo di Cultura

by Michael McClane ’06

Brother Randal Riede, CFX

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by Phillip Cozzi ’06

12 Lessons in Rome Part I: “The Ange Route”

by Jeremy Leatherby ’05

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Unico Grande Amore

by Rev. Mr.Thomas Fitzpatrick ’04

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Board of Governors Chairman Most Rev. Edwin F. O’Brien ’76 Archbishop of the Military Services, USA

Vice Chairman Most Rev. William J. Levada ’62, ’69 Archbishop of San Francisco

Secretary Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek ’75 Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio

Treasurer Most Rev. John J. Myers ’67 Archbishop of Newark

Most Rev. Leonard P. Blair ’75, C’78 Bishop of Toledo

Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran ’62 Bishop of Rockford

Most Rev. Walter J. Edyvean ’65, C’71 Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan ’58, C’63 Archbishop of New York

Most Rev. Victor B. Galeone ’63 Bishop of St. Augustine

Administration Rector

Most Rev. John R. Gaydos ’69 Bishop of Jefferson City

Rev. Msgr. Kevin C. McCoy ’81, C’86

Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec ’62

Vice Rector for Administration

Bishop of Nashville

Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ’92, C’97

Most Rev. Anthony M. Milone ’58

Vice Rector for Student Life

Bishop of Great Falls-Billings

Rev. Peter McGuine ’90

Superior, Casa Santa Maria Rev. Msgr. Steven Raica ’95

Most Rev. Richard E. Pates ’69 Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Director of Development

Most Rev. Michael J. Sheridan C’77

Mrs. Tricia Lloyd

Bishop of Colorado Springs

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“...the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:11) Rev. Msgr. Kevin C. McCoy ’81, C’86 Diocese of Sioux City Rector

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continue to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the “new” seminary building and the dedication of the Casa Santa Maria as the graduate residence for priests. But these buildings – as important as they are for our mission of priestly formation – are insignificant without the lives of the priests and future priests who make them their home. Thanks be to God that so many have been able to consider the College a “home” over the years.

Of course, the College is but a station along the priestly journey for the seminarian or for the graduate student priest. The confluence of men from throughout North America who come to Rome for formation find that here under the shadow of St. Peter’s, their hearts grow in

their significance in our life until they are gone from this earthly life. One such individual is Xaverian brother Randal Riede. Brother Randal served the College for twenty-six years, and I dare say, he formed a good many of us to see the face of Christ in our neighbor. May he rest in the peace of Christ.

Yes, the College is so much more than the buildings that house us; it truly is about the people – the seminarians, priests, religious, staff, and people like you, our supporters and benefactors. Enjoy the magazine – and once you have done so, please pass it along to a friend or neighbor to tell them about your extended family, the Pontifical North American College. Thanks for your support, and may you have a blessed Easter!

“…the College is so much more than the buildings that house us; it truly is about the people - the seminarians, priests, religious, staff, and people like you, our supporters and benefactors.” pastoral charity. Steeped in this pastoral charity, they all – after a short while – return home to shepherd the people of God. Here they are formed by their experiences, by the people with whom they live and study, and by those many men and women who have given their lives to the service of the Gospel. Certainly, our men delight in telling how an experience of prayer at the tomb of St. Peter, prince of the apostles, has strengthened their resolve to follow Christ the High Priest. But then, they readily will tell you of the filial affection they possess for our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, as he daily gives witness to the Gospel of Life. I could go on and on.

But it is the alumni who remind you of just what impact a particular faculty member may have had on his life here in Rome. And often times, we do not reflect upon

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FEAST OF FAITH A Seminarian’s Christmas in Poland

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oming from rural Alabama to the North American College, I had a certain feeling that my first Christmas away from my family would be a hard time for me, as well as for my family back home, who spend most of their time worrying what will happen to me “way over yonder across the water.”

“Their material poverty, however, did not in any way limit their desire to provide hospitality.”

As with everything, though, the Lord in His goodness provided for me beyond the scope of my imagination.

As I began to get settled in Rome, I received a phone call from the secretary of my home parish. She had

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phoned me to tell me she and her entire family were coming to Katowice, Poland for the Christmas holidays to visit her in-laws, as well as to bring her children to see their grandparents. At first, I thought how wonderful it must be to have family in Poland, but immediately, my thoughts changed as my friend invited me to come and spend the holiday with their lovely family.

I was overjoyed! All at once, I would be in the midst of a family Christmas so far from home, and my mama and daddy would not Top: A scene of the Vistula from the Bell Tower of Wawel have to worry about what I Cathedral, Krakow would do for the holiday.

The next thing I knew, I was Above: St. Mary’s Church, Krakow

Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

on a plane to Krakow, hurtling northward to meet my extended family in Christ.

Arriving finally in Katowice, a mid-sized mining town between Krakow and Czechtohowa, I came to the home of my friend’s family and was immediately received as a beloved son. The grandmother and grandfather, like most elderly Polish people, have a struggle to make ends meet. I was told by my friend and her husband that their parents survive on roughly fifty U.S. dollars a month, in addition to what their son can send them from the United States. However, their material poverty did not in any way limit their desire to provide hospitality. Though nothing in their home was rich or fancy, everything was immaculately clean and in order. At every turn, their ingenu-

Above:The Christmas market in the Main Square, Krakow Left: Cheeses sold by mountain people in the streets of Krakow Below: John McDonald ’07 with the Rataj family in Katowice, Poland

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ity could be seen in the most everyday things.

All the Christmas decorations had been so carefully hand-crafted, and many of the decorations on the tree were candies and confections made at home.

The kitchen, the heart of the home, was the most fascinating place. Many days of preparation for the Christmas Eve dinner were finally coming to an end. Cakes of all kinds sat in a pantry lined with preserves, pickles, and all sort of goodies. Kielbasas hung from the top of the pantry, and orderly sacks of potatoes lined the floor.

In this atmosphere of joy, in which I was Above: The Sukennice, the Medieval Cloth Hall at the center of the old city of Krakow able to celebrate the Incarnation of the Savior, I witnessed an important truth. Despite our material poverty, our faith can abound, and our good God continues to bestow His riches upon us in ways “we can neither ask nor imagine.�

by John McDonald Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama Class of 2007

Above: The Medieval gate in the old city wall of Krakow

Above: A handmade Polish Christmas ornament Right: The famous domes of Wawel Cathedral in Krakow

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C a l l i n g Up o n t h e B e t t e r A n g e l s o f O u r Na t u re

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the United States is currently embroiled in a war on terrorism, we remember that the College began its history representing a nation at war. On December 8, 1859, as the first class of seminarians was inaugurating their stay here in Rome, the nation was poised for war. In a little over one year eleven southern states would secede from the Union, thus beginning the bloodiest war in American history. Because of the Union blockade on Southern ports, during the course of the war only three students from southern states were able to make the voyage to Rome for their studies. One of these three, who arrived on October 20, 1864, was Harry Northrop from the Diocese of Charleston. Harry’s brother Claudian was already at the College and had previously told his brother not to bring politics with him because “we don’t talk about such things here.” In fact, this was official seminary policy. Rev. Dr. William G. McCloskey, rector from 1860 to 1868, actually forbade the students from discussing contemporary American politics. His job was made easier by the fact that the College also had a rule against reading secular newspapers, and only allowed students to read the Catholic papers, even though the news they carried was always old news by the time it arrived. The students prayed three Hail Marys for peace each evening, and according to Robert F. McNamara’s history of the College, there was no lack of charity and no division among the students. As McCloskey remarked to Bishop Patrick N. Lynch of South Carolina on November 28, 1863, “were it otherwise I do not know what I should do.”

The American College hosted Archbishop John Hughes from New York for six months in 1862. This was probably the most visible role the College played during the war.

Hughes was in Europe trying to convince the European powers to remain neutral toward the war. Pope Pius IX himself referred to this as a “most important mission” and said regarding Hughes’ selection by Lincoln that “we may justly feel proud.”

Hughes received guests constantly during his stay at the College. continued on page 9

Top: Rev. Dr.William G. McCloskey, rector of the College Left: The first class of the North American College, 1859; Claudian Northrop (standing, 5th from the left) Background: Pope Pius IX, pope during the US Civil War

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C O L L E G E T RA D IT I O N S “I received from the Lord what I handed down to you...” (1 Cor 11:23)

The Cortile An Orange Tradition “The health of the Church is closely linked to the health of Her seminaries.”

she and her followers took the rule of Saint Dominic. Within the Order of Preachers is a tradition that Dominic brought the first orange grove from Spain to Italy. It became custom, then, that wherever Dominicans were located, nearby would be oranges

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his is just one of four quotes that one finds on the western wall of the inner cortile at the North American College. The cortile (Italian for “courtyard”) is located at the heart of the physical layout of the “house on the hill.”

While many stories exist about the Cortile, few are recorded. One of its most eyecatching features is the many orange trees found there – 48 in all, each representing one of the United States as it existed when the College was completed in 1953. The sheer number of trees is striking, and leads one to wonder: “why were orange trees selected?” The answer lies in the College’s tradition.

In 1633, a pious young Tuscan named Francesca Baglioni was widowed.

She desired to start a community of women who could live out their acts of piety and devotion to Our Lord and Our Lady, but, finding no place to do so in Tuscany, moved to Rome where she founded a small community at what is now the Casa Santa Maria. There

Above: Inscription found on the western wall of the Cortile Left: The Cortile fountain with fifty year old orange grove growing. Thus, when Baglioni founded her community in Rome, they lovingly planted oranges in the courtyard. When it came time to decorate the large open space of the cortile on the Janiculum, the designers chose to use trees. To create

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

continuity in the transition between Humility Street and the hill, orange trees were chosen since there had been an orange grove in what had served as the North American College for over 100 years. Thus, today we on the Janiculum enjoy the beauty of a tradition that dates back to our beginnings across the city.

With the gentle sound of water flowing from its fountain, as well as a plentiful supply of majestic orange trees growing atop lush greens, the cortile is a striking sign of vitality. Perhaps it was this that moved its designers to place the above inscription on her wall. For the seminary to be healthy, and thus the Church, her heart must be so as well. And with a heart as lush and vibrant as our cortile, linking our local residence and our chapel, the universal home of Catholics throughout all places and times, the North American College is on the road to good health.

by Bryan Babick Diocese of Charleston Class of 2007

Above:.The present day Cortile in contrast to the Cortile in its first year, 1953

Above: The war damaged cathedral in Charleston during the US Civil War continued from page 7 When some southern Catholics in Rome accused him of being responsible for keeping England and France out of the war, and thus from aiding the Confederacy, Hughes responded, in his typically assertive style, “I hope the accusation is true.”

Bishop Lynch also traveled to Rome on a diplomatic mission in 1864, this time to garner support for the Confederacy from the European powers. He wrote a letter in October 1862 informing his seminarian Claudian Northrop that his older brother Lucius had been wounded in his eye during a battle and had lost his sight. Furthermore, the Northrop brothers’ father, Claudian Sr., was tragically killed just a couple of months before the end of the war. A brilliant lawyer and zealous Catholic in his earthly life, he was hanged in the woods near Lancaster, South Carolina, apparently by a group of Union troops.

Claudian Jr. left Rome without ordination “to a country reduced to poverty and to a strange land,” only becoming a priest back home two years later. His brother Harry was ordained in Rome on June 25, 1865.

Today the College continues to educate with a message of peace for a world at war. The College holds fast to the emphatic words of John Paul II delivered at the beginning of this year: “Peace remains possible.

And if peace is possible, it is also a duty!” We are inspired by our brothers of the past who have yearned for peace in the midst of tragedy. They testify to the fact that we have a Savior who redeems us and who shows us how to live according to the better angels of our nature.

Sia lodato Gesú Cristo!

Sempre sia lodato!

by Michael McClane Diocese of Trenton Class of 2006

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PLANTING SEEDS IN YOUNG MINDS

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ne of the greatest challenges facing Church ministers in the Third Christian Millenium is teaching the Catholic faith in an accessible, enthusiastic and interesting way to a busy and complex world. Each week four seminarians from the North American College distill the theological wisdom learned at the Angelicum and Gregorian universities and present it to elementary age school children at St. Francis International School.

"We in turn bring concepts, elements and ideas of our theological studies to young and open minds eager to learn about the mystery of God and His Church."

St. Francis International School is an elementary school in northern Rome where children are instructed in English. Many of the children are sons and daughters of diplomats serving in Rome and mainly come from Europe, the Indian Subcontinent and East Asia. The four seminarians each teach religion to one grade, first through fourth.

In an era when more and more children grow up in single-parent families – even in Italy – teaching elementary school has become more challenging. Much time and energy is spent simply managing behavior.

Fortunately, many of the students at St. Francis are motivated and ask probing questions that force us to provide palpable and practical answers. The Holy Spirit continues to inspire and energize us in the process. We in turn bring concepts, elements and ideas of our theological studies to young and open minds eager to learn about the mystery of God and

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

Above and Left: Michael Ludeman ’06 teaching his lesson at the school and answering a student's question.

Above: Michael Voithofer ’06 and Marc Lenneman ’06 offer a musical lesson to the class

His Church. For instance, Isaac Orozco, a second-year theologian from the Diocese of Fort Worth, taught second graders the Hebrew alphabet to help supplement his discussion of the Israelites in Old Testament times. Orozco’s instruction of the Hebrew alphabet has made the Israelite

culture and history more tangible for the second-grade children.

While at times it may seem that the children are not learning enough about the Catholic faith, our regular presence is a positive one for the children of St. Francis International School. It is good for young children to be with young seminarians. In the end, our presence and our words are planting seeds in young minds that will one day bear fruit for God’s kingdom.

by Michael Ludeman Diocese of Portland in Oregon Class of 2006

Above and Right: Jason Cargo ’06 helping one of the students and teaching his class

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L’Uomo di Cultura Brother Randal Riede, CFX (1917-2003) “May he rest in peace”

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November 7, 2003, Our Lord called home Brother Randal Riede, Xaverian brother and former librarian-extraordinaire of the North American College. Brother Randal came to the North American College on September 1, 1971 and remained for 26 years until he retired in 1997. During that time the library more than doubled in size. He did such a

“Brother was much more than a librarian.

First and foremost, he was a man of the Church.” fine job that on January 10, 1999, His Eminence James Cardinal Hickey, C’51, dedicated the library in his honor.

But Brother was much more than a librarian. First and foremost, he was a man of the Church. Msgr. Kevin C. McCoy, rector of the College and student while Brother

Brother Randal Riede, CFX, June 28, 1917 - November 7, 2003

Randal was here, states, “Brother Randal had a very deep faith; he was wholly committed to the Church. He was pious in a good sense, and had good daily devotions.”

Without exception, he would visit the chapel daily and pray before the Blessed Sacrament on his way to and from the library office.

Not only was he pious, but Brother Randal was very well-educated. Father Biegler, director of Apostolic and Pastoral Formation who also knew Brother Randal as a student, states, “Brother Randal was seen as a uomo di cultura, that is, he was a strong believer in a good classical education. He was a walking archive, and a world traveler.” Brother Randal promoted education among the seminarians, but not only a classroom education.

He encouraged the seminarians to travel as much as possible. Father Biegler notes, “Brother Randal, speaking tongue in cheek, would tell us to ‘beg, borrow, or steal’ in order to travel.”

Msgr. McCoy states, “Among the students there Above: Sr. Rebecca Abel, OSB, James Cardinal Hickey, and Br. Riede at the dediwas no hesitation to express their minds to him. He cation of the new library

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

often looked over the top of his glasses and said, ‘Brother knows,’ or ‘Now be prudent, my boys.’

Around exam time he was fond of saying, ‘In the library work room we serve coffee, tea, and sympathy.’” In addition, he kept up with them after they graduated. Father Biegler relates, “When I was in the parish, Brother Randal wrote to me a couple of times, telling me to be good to the parishioners.”

However, it was not only seminarians and young priests who benefited from his sage advice; the employees of the house also formed close relationships. Maria Luisa Silvestri, secretary to the librarian, worked for Brother Randal. She remembers, “He was like a father to me. When I first started working here, my parents were still in the States. We became good friends, and often, like the seminarians, I would ask him for advice.

It was always nice to listen to him; he knew so much about so many different things, and he always had interesting stories to tell.” As Father Biegler said so well, “The people around Brother Randal all respected him immensely and looked up to him as a mentor for how to become a good person.”

So, whether it was his Rudolph Valentino haircut and gray suits, his deep piety and limitless knowledge, or his highly regarded counsel and amusing aphorisms, Brother Randal Riede will be sorely missed by all those whose lives he touched at the North American College. As Our Savior says in the Gospel of St. John, “. . . [T]his is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (Jn 17:3). We are confident then that “Brother knows.”

by Phillip Cozzi Diocese of Arlington Class of 2006

Right: The College library, dedicated to Brother Riede in 1999

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Fr. John O’Donnell, SJ ESTEEMED PROFESSOR AND DEAN

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ather John O’Donnell is a Jesuit priest of the Maryland province. He was born in Baltimore into a faithful, Irish Catholic family. At the age of seventeen, Fr. O’Donnell had a good sense of his vocation and, with the full support of his parents and his own deep appreciation for his Jesuit high school education, entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained in 1974. With a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Fordham University and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from Oxford, Fr. O’Donnell is an “His rich academic back- accomplished scholar.

He also has much ground and life experience practical experience serve as a valuable prerequi- in counseling as well site for his new position as as religious and parish work, teaching Dean of the Department of at the Gregorian cerns, Fr. O’Donnell participates in periodic meetings of the Theology.”

University's Strategic Planning Group. Some of the current topfrom 1984-1994 and ics being discussed include the establishment of a more interdis2001 to the present. ciplinary approach to education, particularly in the second cycle, His rich academic background and life experience serve as a valuand the fostering of increased interactivity between students and able prerequisite for his new position as Dean of the Department professors. The latter goal is particularly challenging because of of Theology, which became effective March 24, 2003. the large number of people at the University, Being the Dean of the Gregorian can be which is now over 2,800 students, and the demanding, but Fr. O’Donnell has adjusted diversity of languages which they speak. quite well and feels rewarded by his ministry, Fr. O’Donnell highly regards the particularly because it allows him to interact structure of the academic program at the with so many students. A typical day begins Gregorian because it truly gives a synthetic with teaching the first cycle Christology class vision of the faith. The first cycle focuses on and includes attending meetings, processing Christ in the first year, the Church and a large amount of administrative work, and Sacraments in the second and anthropology providing office hours to students who make in the third. The European approach to thefull use of his “open door” policy. Through ology at the Gregorian differs from the the Chaplaincy program at the Gregorian, American approach. Fr. O’Donnell believes Fr. O’Donnell also offers counseling and the theology is more universal as opposed to spiritual direction to interested students each inculturated, i.e., the essentials are given with day – an excellent outreach, particularly to less reference to certain ethical or contempothe ever-increasing lay population which comprises roughly 30% of the University rary issues that are indigenous to a particular and does not have the typical formation sup- Fr. John O’Donnell, SJ, Dean of the Depart- country. The experience is also universal by port system of a seminary. ment of Theology at the Gregorian default because of the University’s internaIn addition to handling immediate con- University tional student clientele.

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Nova et Vetera Incarnate NAC and ICTE

As

I write this article, I am preparing to welcome my sixth group of Institute priests to the Institute for Continuing Theological Education. By the time this session ends, I will have been honored to assist 210 priests from six countries to go away for a while with the Lord. I can say honestly and happily that the renewal I have witnessed confirms my unalloyed enthusiasm for this sabbatical experience that unfolds sub umbra Petri.

In acknowledging that “(P)ermanent formation is necessary in order to discern and follow the constant call or will of God” (#529), the bishops of the United States, in their 1992 Program of Priestly Formation, singled out sabbatical programs for special commendation: “They provide priests with much needed rest from their labors and enable them to return refreshed to their ministry” (#571).

Of particular interest is the dynamic that unfolds when seasoned priests, with their age in the mid-50s and the average of 25 years of ordination, interact with seminarians as young as twenty years of age. A generation or more separates what has been described as “Vatican II priests” and “John Paul II priests.” In truth, as we well know, there is only one priesthood taking its origin from the High Priest. Nevertheless, the intergenerational encounter evidences the diversity in formation peculiar to these generations. The Institute priests, by and large, hail from a time when the Church was on fire with the hope of the New Pentecost of Blessed Pope John XXIII; today’s seminarians are fired by that extraordinary witness to hope and genuine renewal of the pope “from a far country.” It is my conviction that each group takes

Regardless of whether one has an American or European education, seminarians must, suggests Fr. O’Donnell, personalize their education by taking the material from class and assimilating it into their lives. He recommends that North American College seminarians, in particular, do their best to gain an appreciation of the internationality of the Church so

Group photo of the Spring 2004 Institute priests from the other much to ponder: the seminarians see in the Institute priests those who have faithfully borne the heat of the noonday sun, and the priests see in the seminarians the bright hope of the future.

The sabbatical participants’ three-month sojourn, in addition to providing theological updating, an experience of priestly fraternity, an introduction to the glories of Rome, and the spiritual and cultural patrimony of the Church, serves to familiarize them with priestly formation as described in current church documents, especially “Pastores Dabo Vobis.” It is no exaggeration to say that the North American College is preparing men to be priests of the new millennium according to the mind of Christ and the heart of the Church. No Institute priest can fail to appreciate the courage and commitment of these seminarians who await the day to do that which the priests of the Institute did a generation or so ago when, on their day of priestly ordination, they pledged without reservation their personal totus tuus to the High Priest.

by Rev. Msgr. Robert C. Evans, JCL Diocese of Providence Class of ’73, C’89

that they might, with a diversified perspective of the world and their theological education, better serve the people of God.

by John Barno Archdiocese of Newark Class of 2006

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HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE COLLEGE: AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

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he North American College – an institution dating back nearly 150 years. The present site of the College on the Janiculum Hill – a fifty-year-old building. And the property upon which the present College rests, the old Villa Gabrielli – a villa dating back over 250 years from the present day. With all that history, there are bound to be hidden treasures.

Rumors abound and urban legends are passed down from one generation

“Under the umbrella of the great Tradition of the Church, smaller traditions of the history of the College create an aura of mystique, an ambiance of the unknown.” of students to another. Under the umbrella of the great Tradition of the Church, smaller traditions of the history of the College create an aura of mystique, an ambiance of the unknown.

With a property this old and expansive, there are bound to be passageways and doors that were gradually used less and less and, over time, were eventually for-

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gotten… almost. We set out to shed some light on three of these commonly unknown “hidden treasures” of the North American College: the underground tunnel, the secret cellar, and the hidden loft.

was reserved for the nuns’ presence at the sacred Mass. The loft now stands only as a reminder of days past.

“But how might these religious sisters commute from the convent to the College?” one might ask. Simple: the underground tunnel. Leading from a back corridor in the laundry room to some unknown location within the convent itself is an underground tunnel. Looking towards the back corner of the laundry room, one might never suspect such a thing. Walking along the College’s property, one never wonders whether or not there is a secret tunnel below. But it does exist. With such a vast expanse of property, we can only speculate... if there is one underground tunnel, could there indeed be more?

Perhaps not, but somewhere underground is another of the College’s hidden treasures. Along the

Above, Left, and Below: The College wine cellar

Somewhere between the Economo’s office and the kitchen lurks an unmarked door. Inside, mounds of shipping boxes and bubble wrap conceal the real treasure: a small stairway leading off to the right. And at the end: the hidden loft. One soon realizes he is looking out over the main chapel through a grate that must be standing somewhere above the entrance but below the choir loft. Indeed, this room

Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

Above: The inside of the hidden loft

grassy knoll area in front of the main chapel, one can discern what appear to be two raised rectangular concrete structures with green lids, many yards apart from each other. One is an entrance, and one is an exit: to the secret cellar. Once perhaps a vegetable cellar from the property's days as a psychiatric facility, the only function of this cellar’s present existence is to perpetuate rumors regarding its past. Many stories have been told (even one wherein the cellar was allegedly used to hide Jews during the Nazi occupation of Rome), but very few, if any, are verifiable. One thing alone do the students know that the College has on its property – a perfectly adequate wine cellar with no wine in it. Alas, it has yet to actualize its full potential.

From underground tunnels and cellars, to lofts and littleused passageways, the hidden treasures of the North American College may never be all discovered. There are so many rooms and seemingly unnecessary hallways and stairwells. As Msgr.

McCoy said, “This place is kinda like Hogwarts, you know, in the Harry Potter series…” If you keep looking, you never know what you are going to find.

Above: The loft is located below the three relief images Left: The dark underground passageway Below: The stairway leading to the underground passageway

by Matthew Glover Diocese of Little Rock Class of 2005

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STUAC NOT JUST A NIFTY “NACRONYM”

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fter a full day of studies, meetings, and work assignments the seminarians of the Pontifical North American College typically find solace in the Student Lounge. Whether they play a game of pool or darts, browse the video collection, or just sit and chat, near- Above: left to right, William Vit ’05 (Treasurer), Matthew Glover ’05 ly every student enjoys a treat from the snack bar. The sat- (Student Lounge Manager), Stephen Doktorczyk ’05 (KNAC Manager), isfaction of holding a cold drink in one hand and a treat in Zachary Weber ’06 (Assistant Treasurer), and Jason Makos ’05 (“STUAC King”) the other is enough to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. However, this purchase fulfills much more than an appetite for sugar.

The Student Lounge and the more expansive store, affectionately named KNAC, are both managed entirely by the students. The Lounge provides various snacks while KNAC offers a wide range of school supplies, health products, and various other items. All products have a small markup to help fund a wide variety of student services. Not all the students realize the full extent to which their purchases help the College and their fellow students.

The furniture, pool table, dartboards and video collection are all paid for and maintained with the proceeds from student sales. The Lounge also offers three different daily newspapers to help everyone keep abreast of world news and perhaps expand one’s Italian skills for those who read the Italian newspaper. Other areas that benefit from these student stores include the fully furnished and newly renovated student kitchen, student workroom, and the fitness center. Yet, the money raised is used for more than daily conveniences.

Perhaps the most remembered events at this College are the various parties and celebrations throughout the academic year. These annual events are forever Above: Joshua Guillory ’07 etched into the memobeing crowned “King Mardi ries of all the students of Gras” by Joshua Waltz ’07 at the the North American STUAC Mardi Gras festivities College, and they Right: The Student Lounge contribute to the decorated for Mardi Gras, one College’s positive and of the many STUAC festivities energetic atmosphere. held throughout the year They include All Saints Day, Epiphany, Mardi Gras, Saint Patrick’s Day, the Spaghetti Bowl, and

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

Right: Zack Weber ’06 playing for the Old Man team at Spaghetti Bowl 2003 Below: left to right, David Carter ’05, Tyler Miller ’06, and Daniel Wathen ’06, members of the impromptu College band entertaining the fans during halftime at the Spaghetti Bowl 2003

the much anticipated Spring Beach Day. A recent innovation is the renowned International Night where the students sample various cuisines found throughout the world, prepared by culinary champions from within the student body.

While these events allow the students to enjoy fun times with friends and classmates, the crowning achievement of the proceeds we collect at this College is the annual charitable gift. This donation is the largest individual expenditure of the student organization. Last spring, $3,200 was given to Catholic Relief Services to help fund humanitarian aid in post-war Iraq.

The Student Activities Committee, or STUAC, oversees this entire operation. This committee is made up of store managers, activity coordinators, representatives from each class, an appointed treasurer, and the “STUAC King” who is elected by the entire community. These students work together to determine what services to offer, and to plan and execute various activities.

This organization empowers the students with leadership possibilities and the opportunity to manage fiscal resources.

Both functions prove very useful to the students once they are ordained as they find themselves fulfilling similar roles in their parish assignments. It is only through the grace of God (and the creativity of man) that all of these benefits are made possible through the purchase of a fifty-cent can of Coke!

by William Vit, Jr. Diocese of Sioux City Class of 2005

Above: Students enjoy fun in the sun while playing volleyball at Beach Day 2003 Left: Rev. Mr. Matthew Hewitt ’04 enjoying a game of pool on our newly acquired pool table

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L ESSONS

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T HE A NGE R OUTE

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

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he education that the seminarians receive in Rome goes far beyond what they receive at the universities. There are many lessons one can learn by merely walking through the city, and the seminarians have that opportunity every day on their way to class. There are actually five routes to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. To speak of a singular “Ange Route” is somewhat deceptive. But by the phrase “Ange Route,” all the seminarians understand that this could refer to various paths.

The simplest, fastest, and primary route, yet also the most hectic and populated, is that of the “Corso.” Once a seminarian reaches the bottom of the Janiculum Hill and crosses the bridge over the Tiber River, he simply continues straight ahead, veering right when he reaches the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, one of the main Roman roads. This road is nearly a direct path to the Angelicum. Though a noisy route, the historic churches found along the way certainly make it worthwhile. They include the Chiesa

Nuova, which houses the remains of Saint Philip Neri, the “Second Apostle of Rome” and founder of the Oratorians, and the

“While the walk requires an additional five minutes, the historical and cultural wealth it offers makes it worthwhile.”

Gesú, at which site Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, lived, died, established his society, and is now buried. continued on page 22

Opposite Top: The ceiling of Chiesa Nuova Above: The exterior and interior of the Gesu’ Left: Ponte degli Angeli (the Bridge of Angels) over the Tiber river with Castel Sant’ Angelo in the background

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continued from page 21

On the journey either to or from school, both of these churches are great stopping points to invoke the intercession of such exemplary priests.

If the Corso is the primary route, the Via Giulia is a close second. Instead of continuing straight after crossing the bridge, one turns right, passing in front of the Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini. Walking along the Via Giulia, a seminarian can turn left on any street he so desires, as long as he eventually reaches the Piazza Venezia. The route is often chosen because it is quieter than the Corso,

Above: The Bridgettine Convent in Piazza Farnese Left: An archway along the Via Giulia route Below: The column of Trajan found in Trajan’s Market

and thus, more conducive to praying the rosary. While the walk requires an additional five minutes, the historical and cultural wealth it offers makes it worthwhile. One such highlight is the Venerable English College. English seminarians have attended the college since the mid-sixteenth century. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became a college for training priests – potential martyrs – for the English Mission. Then there is the Church of San Girolamo della Caritá. According to tradition, the church received its

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

name because Saint Jerome (Girolamo) stayed in a house on the same site in the fifth century. St. Philip Neri founded the Congregation of the Oratory here in 1551. One also comes across the Bridgettine Convent. Here one may see the rooms and relics of the fourteenth-century foundress, Saint Bridget, a Queen of Sweden. Seminarians frequently stop by the Bridgettine Sisters’ chapel, and pray before the Blessed Sacrament, which is exposed throughout most of the day during the week. Finally, there is the Campo dei Fiori. It is a rich cultural site that should not be missed. Vendors bring their merchandise and produce here every weekday for an open-air market.

Hungry seminarians can grab something to eat

Above: Italians shopping at Campo dei Fiori's open market Left: One of the many flower stalls at Campo dei Fiori whose name literally means “field of flowers” Below: The final stop along the Ange Route: the University of St.Thomas

before or after class, or pick up any variety of goods that they may need.

The list of places to visit and things to see goes on and on. All this and more can be seen on the daily walk to school and back! These are lessons that no one should miss in the classroom of Rome.

by Jeremy Leatherby Diocese of Sacramento Class of 2005

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A BRIDGE BETWEEN...

In

1895, a group of Italians made their way from the province of Ancona to a plantation called Sunnyside on the southern tip of Lake Chicot near Lake Village, Arkansas. After many years of struggle, those Italians established their lives in the Above: Fr. Erik Pohlmeier ’98 and the First Communion class United States and shaped their new home according to their Catholic faith. Today, the Italians of Lake Village live a blend of Italian culture and southern life. Spaghetti sauce, for example, is commonly called “red gravy.” Their presence has made the little town of Lake Village a Catholic stronghold in a region that is less than three percent Catholic.

The experience of studying in Rome certainly deepened my appreciation for the history of this Italian community. Yet, it has also helped me to welcome the latest group of immigrants: this time, from Mexico. As Extension Magazine reported recently, Arkansas has benefited from a Hispanic Catholic growth rate of 337% since 1990.

Obviously, this influx brings many challenges, but also much excitement. The international setting of the universities in Rome gave me the perspective to understand and adapt to the challenges of different cultures. I still have much to learn and am grateful for the opportunity to see God’s hand at work among His people.

Our parish consists of the community in Lake Village and two missions in the towns of McGehee and Dumas.

Each weekend we have six Masses with two in Spanish. Moreover, to add to the international flavor, we have enlisted the help of a former associate pastor from

Above: Fr. Erik Pohlmeier ’98 with some of his grade school students

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

...LIFE

AND

FAITH

India and one from Nigeria. All together it creates an interesting mix and rich soil for the work of the Gospel.

As the Italians before them, the immigrants of today find their “The international setting of the jobs primarily in agriculture. For many it is a difficult life, but the hope for a better life is strong. Also, like the Italians, they bring a universities in Rome gave me the culture that is steeped in Catholic faith. The role of the priest, perspective to understand and adapt to then, especially in mission territories, is to bridge this gap between the challenges of different cultures.” faith and life. John Paul II has dedicated his life to building that bridge, and I hope to continue to learn from his teaching and example as I work among the people of the Delta.

Farmers, regardless of nationality, seem to have a natural understanding of God’s work in the world, since their livelihood depends so directly on God’s blessing. I have witnessed this trust in God in many cases, such as the blessing of farms on the feast of St. Isidore or basic gratitude for a much needed rain.

Through efforts in teaching and preaching, I have tried to deepen that faith with a clearer understanding of the Church’s message. The response is good, as people want to know the “whys” of the faith. It is the coming together of faith and reason.

This is the new evangelization, and it is a privilege for me to be a part of it.

The opportunity for growth is here, and even though there are many challenges, history has shown that these challenges can be met.

God is working in the hearts of His people, and my job is to help them recognize it.

by Rev. Erik Pohlmeier Diocese of Little Rock Class of 1998

Above: Fr. Erik Pohlmeier ’98 testifies to the Italian history at Lake Village, Arkansas

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V

O C AT I O N

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O R I E S

“...come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt 5:19)

An Extraordinary Call from an Ordinary Routine

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iving on a farm offered many extraordinary opportunities to know, love and be loved by God. One such example of how God has called me to discern the possibility of becoming a priest is an account of a struggle that took place in bringing a newborn calf from a pasture to the barn, a task not so out of the ordinary when one lives on a farm. Even though this account would not appear to be typical for a vocation story, it did open my eyes to God’s call to the priesthood.

Carrying the calf was an awkward task – it was heavy and she kept trying to break free from the grasp of my arms.

The Holstein cow, the calf ’s mother, was more aggressive than I expected her to be as we walked toward the creek that needed to be crossed. She followed close, and I could feel her presence as she exhaled nervously, and at times she bumped into my shoulder with her nose as we walked along.

Calf in arms and shoes tied around my neck I stepped into the cold clear waist-high water, sinking gently into the sandy bottom. I stepped slowly across the strong current.

The cow traced my steps, skeptical of my ability to handle

her calf. Before I reached the other side the frightened calf let out a loud bawl to which the cow responded with a nervous bellow, and nudged me hard and square in the back. I fell into the water with the calf in my arms as the cow lunged over the top of me to rescue her calf.

“These events led me to the seminary because it is through them that I have come to know God.” The calf would be able to swim, so I was not worried about her, but I did want to maintain control of the situation, knowing that if I let go of her it was likely that I would not be allowed near it for some time. So I grabbed the calf, got out from under the cow, regained my footing and turned around realizing that the cow was within inches of me – fearful and at the same time irritated with me for dropping her calf.

I walked backward out of the cool water of the creek, knowing that as long as I kept the calf between the cow and myself she would not charge. After the three of us reached the grassy bank on the other side, we took another rest. Calf and cow were reacquainted and I had the chance to put on my shoes and socks. We then made our way home.

There have been many experiences and struggles like the one I just described in which I have discovered God in His creation. These events led me to the seminary because it is through them that I have come to know God, and in that

Left: Tim Hall tending the Holsteins on the family dairy farm

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

A Communion Rooted in Diversity

In

his apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, Pope John Paul II writes that ongoing formation for priests should include a growth “in awareness of the communion existing between the various particular churches, a communion rooted in their very being as churches which make present in various places Christ’s one universal Church.” It is very tempting to restrict one's understanding of this statement of the Pope to the safe level of a theoretical and merely abstract appreciation for diversity of opinions or cultures. The concrete experience of life and study in Rome, as a priest resident of the Casa Santa Maria, provides one with a personal opportunity to share in such ongoing formation with other priests from the United States and also from around the world.

The diversity among the residents of the Casa shows itself in such factors as age, years of ordination, parochial experience, cultural and racial backgrounds, academic areas of study, and distinct emphases in prior seminary formation. At times, this diversity can stretch a priest to be a better listener in conversation whether such conversation takes place over dinner or in the classroom.

Diversity among the priest residents also provides them with insight into the various challenges and strengths of one another’s particular local churches, in such areas as priest personnel shortage, vocations, evangelization, and immigration. This insight can lead a Casa priest to consider fresh approaches to the challenges experienced at home in one’s own diocese.

The diversity among the residents of the Casa Santa Maria may only be properly understood when considered in light of the unity experienced by the members of the community. This unity does not come from shared ideology or politics, or even our common national identity as Americans. The source of this unity is the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, in our

knowledge I have discovered that there is a chance that I have been called to the priesthood. Now, of course there have been many people – priests, friends and family members too numerous to mention here – that have influenced my discernment to the call of priesthood. They played an important role in my vocation story. However, the depth of

Above: Fr. Michael Olson in the library at the Casa Santa Maria vocation as priests called to serve the one Church: universal and local. The celebration of these liturgical mysteries takes on an additional significance when celebrated here in Rome at the various sites of devotion and historical importance in the life of the Church.

The experience of living and studying in Rome provides a benefit in forging priestly solidarity among so many different priests from so many different dioceses in the United States and throughout the world. The setting of Rome, made holy by the blood of the martyrs, infuses one with a proportionate sense of diversity and individuality, in light of the universality of the Church made present throughout the world. The experience of Rome, with its many pilgrims from far and wide, helps one to move beyond a simply speculative understanding of universality and particularity in one’s ecclesial sensibility. It provides an even greater appreciation for the gifts and strengths of one’s own home diocese and is cause for gratitude and pride.

by Rev. Michael F. Olson Diocese of Fort Worth

my call comes from the silent language of encountering God in the events of daily life.

by Timothy Hall Diocese of Winona Class of 2006

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U NICO G RANDE A MORE

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alcio, it’s the word on everyone’s lips these days in Rome and throughout the country.

Soccer (calcio to the Italians) is more than a pasttime or season of athletics; it is part of the fabric of Italian life which manifests itself in a drama of passion that plays itself out in everyday life year in and year out. From Prime Minister Berlusconi’s ownership of the famed AC Milan to the little boys playing in the park sporting their favorite team’s

jersey, soccer is more than amusement; it is a way of life.

Here in Rome, the “sky-blues” of Lazio rival the giallorossi of Roma for the affection of the fans. The ups and downs of these two teams animate and exhilarate the city, and it is not unusual to see young fans racing their motorini down the streets holding huge banners in one hand while trying to negotiate the choked traffic at the same time,

Above: A smoke-filled stadium as the crowds cheer at a typical Roman soccer game

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Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

even when the two teams are not playing each other! They catcall each other in the streets, cross out territorial graffiti that demarcates Roma neighborhoods from those of Lazio and generally hold each other in goodnatured disdain.

Even the uniforms the various teams wear tell a story. The Reds of Perugia first wore their crimson jerseys years ago at the behest of the local Bishop, to remind the players of the glory of martyrdom in attempts to spur them on to give their all during games. AC Milan still wears

Left: The North American College (blue) playing the Roman College Below: Action shots from the many games played throughout the year by the professional Roman soccer teams

treasure. The games themselves are pure spect a c l e :

countless huge banners with slogans and likenesses of the players, hundreds of lit flares burning all at once and songs and chants that fill the stadium for the entire game. The fans cheer or moan when goals are scored, shake their fists at the referee and show their appreciation for individual brilliance by clapping politely. This contrast of emotions sums up what the game means to them: life itself.

Here at the College we play a brand of soccer that falls short of the beauty of the Italian league, but we have fun trying. Our team practices once a week, and we play as many games as the busy schedule permits. We have developed some good rivalries over the years with the Swiss Guards, Legionnaires of Christ and the Mexican College to name a few. In a broader sense, our immersion in

the black and red stripes of the Fascisti from a bygone era.

Here in Rome, the blue and white uniforms of Lazio symbolize the beautiful rhythm of Mediterranean surf. The Lazio fans love the uniforms of Roma, since they are the colors of the buses in Rome, and it provides them with a wealth of derogatory chants and songs.

The Italian love for soccer is part of their culture because it allows them to express their national identity in the game itself. The style of soccer they play is elegant, fluid and relies upon the individual artistry of the players in harmony with their teammates. It is unique among all soccer nations, which explains their successes at the international level. The Italians love their players and revere them as icons who are custodians of a national

the “beautiful game� has gone a long way toward our inculturation with the Italian way of life. It serves as a ready topic for conversation with the people we meet,and

by Rev. Mr. Thomas Fitzpatrick Diocese of Sioux Falls Class of 2004

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O F F I C E

“He is like a man building a house...upon rock” (Lk 6:48)

A New College Tradition in the US

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few years ago when Archbishop Timothy Dolan was Rector, he always shared how fortunate he was to have the benefit of a strong U.S. dollar and therefore was able to do many projects for the College at a very good value.

However, he also realized from past years that the dollar is not always strong, but one program that should never be in doubt due to a poor currency exchange was the annual September retreats that every seminarian must do as part of his formation.

This rector hoped that a million-dollar endowment could be established so that future rectors would never have to worry every year about having enough money in the budget for these crucial retreats. In June 2001 when his term was up, his good friend Gregory Jewell said he would give the first $100,000, but only if the endowment could be named for then Msgr. Dolan. How could he say no to something that would greatly help in the preparation of future priests? Neither could Mr. and Mrs. Charles Drury, who then gave the next $100,000.

Rev. Bryan Stitt ‘03 from the Diocese of Ogdensburg said, “The September retreat is a chance to experience God’s peace. It is a chance to follow the lead of Christ who ‘went up on the mountain to be by himself to pray.’ The retreat is such an essential part of the life of the diocesan priest and for those discerning that call. It is a chance for us to do just that: listen to what God wants to tell us.”

From the Diocese of Fall River, Karl Bissinger ‘05 shared that “the second-year

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Leadership Gifts $100,000 and above Mr. and Mrs. Charles Drury Missouri

Sir Gregory Jewell Florida

Founders Circle $25,000 to $49,999 Mr. Joseph Corso Sr. New York

Dan Murphy Foundation California

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Peckham Wisconsin

Most Rev. Robert Lynch Florida

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Turicchi California

The Saeman Family Foundation Colorado

The Sansone Foundation Missouri

Archbishop Benefactor $5,000 to $24,000 Koch Foundation Florida

Mr. and Mrs. William B. Guyol Missouri

The Healy Foundation Kentucky

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Sansone

retreat allowed me the extraordinary and precious opportunity to deepen, without the usual distractions, my relationship with Jesus, our Blessed Mother, and my brother seminarians through the Eucharist, the Rosary and fraternity.”

The halfway mark for the Archbishop Dolan Spirituality Endowment was finally reached thanks to Bill and Mary Grace Guyol hosting a fundraiser at St. Louis’s University Club on June 19, 2003, the namesake’s 27th priestly ordination anniversary. Archbishop Dolan told the crowd that he could not think of a better way to celebrate it than to be with good friends and helping the College.

Msgr. McCoy, our current Rector, the board and all the priests and seminarians of the College are grateful to the numerous benefactors who have contributed at all levels and would like to especially thank those in the giving circles.

If you would like more information about this endowment, please contact the U.S. Development Office.

by Tricia Lloyd Director of Development

Missouri

Mr. and Mrs. William LaMothe Michigan

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Peckham Wisconsin

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Schiller Pennsylvania Mrs. Helen O'Neil

Let the Development Office know if you'd like an invitation to join in next year’s U.S. celebration: (202) 541-5411

Maryland

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan Wisconsin

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Weber Wisconsin

Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

Inset: William B. Guyol, Archbishop Dolan, and Mary Grace Guyol at the St. Louis reception

The Crown of the Janiculum Campus

T

hough the exact origins of the Casa San Giovanni are lost to memory, its history before and after it became a part of the North American College demonstrates its versatility. The first record of its existence is from 1748, when it was listed as the palazzo of the Villa Gabrielli. The Villa, a twentysix acre plot of Vatican owned land on the Janiculum hill, made up what are today the campuses of the North American College and the University of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith.

In the late nineteenth century, Pope Pius IX gave the Villa as an annex to the Hospital of Santa Maria della Pietá, an asylum for the mentally ill. Passing into the hands of the provincial government of Rome in the early twentieth century, the Villa was to be bought by the Congregation Propaganda Fidei. The full twenty-six acre estate was too large and expensive for their needs, and so the North American College was offered a partnership in the purchase.

On March 5, 1926, the College bought half of the Villa, upon which stood the venerable palazzo. The building sat dormant for a number of years until 1933 when, ironically thanks to the Great Depression, it was renovated. The Depression had changed the grand (and expensive) plans to build a new and larger seminary in favor of smaller projects. The palazzo was thus renovated at a sum of around $30,000. It was made into a graduate priest residence housing twenty-one student priests and was renamed the Casa San Giovanni.

At the outbreak of World War II, the Casa remained open as a residence for American priests staying in Rome. In 1943, when the Germans occupied Rome, the Janiculum property including the Casa were utilized by the Vatican for refugees of the war and as a hiding place for Jews escaping the Nazi regime. More than a hundred people found refuge on the College’s Hilltop Villa.

After the War, in 1946, the Casa reopened as a graduate house, and it operated as such for another seven years until the new Janiculum campus of the College was built. At that point, the graduate students moved to the Casa Santa Maria. After a refurbishment, the Casa San Giovanni became what is known today as “the convent.” It housed a number of Swiss Sisters of the Holy Cross, who took charge of the domestic needs of the new college campus. Many sisters have since occupied its halls up until our present day. In 2001-2002 the Casa underwent another

Above: The front entrance to the Casa San Giovanni renovation, which included putting in a new elevator. Currently, five Carmelite sisters from India and four Benedictine sisters from Ferdinand, Indiana, reside at the Casa, indispensably aiding the College and her seminarians. Thus, even though overshadowed in grandeur by the main building, the Casa San Giovanni still serves its noble and versatile purpose atop the Janiculum.

by David Carter Diocese of Knoxville Class of 2005

Above: The Casa San Giovanni Left: A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Casa San Giovanni

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“Cleverly done! You too are an industrious and reliable servant” (Mt 25:23)

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he role of the seminary is to form priests after the heart of Christ. It truly is wonderful and grace-filled work and one in which any priest would be happy to be involved. The College is proud of our many alumni who, having been formed here near the heart of the Church, are now serving in many different dioceses in the United States and throughout the world. The men who are at the College today have a wide range of previous experiences in seminaries throughout the United States and have come together here to form this new community. The diversity of experiences they bring is beneficial to us all and helps us to grow in our understanding of the Church in our own country. In a way, our men will do the same thing with the priests with whom they will live and minister in their home dioceses upon the completion of their priestly formation.

As the month of February began I had the opportunity to witness first hand the diversity of experiences our seminarians come from. I, along with Fr. Peter McGuine, vice rector for student life, and Msgr. Robert Evans, director of our sabbatical program for priests, began traveling across the United States to visit college seminaries and pre-theologates. After the November meeting of our Board of Governors, I visited three seminaries: St. Andrews in Newark, NJ, St. John Fisher in Bridgeport, CT, and Theological College in Washington, DC. I then went to St. Charles in Philadelphia, PA, Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD, St. Pius X in Scranton, PA, St. Joseph’s in St. Benedict’s, LA, St. Mary’s in Houston, TX, Holy Trinity in Dallas, TX, and St. John Vianney in Miami, FL. Msgr. Evans visited St. Joseph and Mundelein in Chicago, IL, St. John Vianney in St. Paul, MN, Mount Angel in St. Benedict, OR, and Bishop White in Spokane, WA. Finally, Fr. McGuine traveled to St. Mark in Erie, PA, St. Paul in Pittsburgh, PA, Franciscan University of Steubenville in OH, Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH, Sacred Heart in Detroit, MI, Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis, MO, St. Gregory the Great in Lincoln, NE and St. John Vianney in Denver, CO. Through these visits, we have met with some men who have already been assigned by their (arch)bishop to continue their preparation for the priesthood here in Rome, while there are oth-

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ers considering the invitation by their (arch)bishop or vocation director.

Others do not yet know where they will study theology, but the discussions and time spent together has helped those present to better see the universal nature of the Church Christ has given to us. Of course, it is a Church which has its own challenges and unique characteristics in the United States and in each diocese, but which is unified despite the diversities found in each of these (arch)dioceses or seminaries.

Our community forms a large group with 160 seminarians, 60 graduate priests, and 35 priests on sabbatical in our Institute for Continuing Theological Education, in addition to faculty and staff. We are enthusiastic about their mission here but find ourselves in a difficult financial position at the present time. The dollar is very weak and has lost much of its value in the past two years (over 35 percent). While strong in mission, we are challenged by the reality of having to spend the weakened dollar abroad. Our recruitment efforts are likewise strong, and we are blessed with much support from our bishops, priests and alumni.

Not only do our bishops entrust students to the College, their seminary in Rome, but they also support us spiritually and financially along with so many of our lay friends in the United States.

Please know that we not only appreciate your help, but also depend upon it. The men studying throughout seminaries in the US who will come to us next year will return spiritually, intellectually and pastorally strengthened for their mission of serving and building up the Church in the dioceses to which they will return.

Pontifical North American College M A G A Z I N E

by Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ’92, C‘97 Diocese of Camden Vice Rector for Administration

Invite someone you know to consider the Priesthood...

...Please Pray for Vocations!

The Pontifical

North American College 3211 Fourth Street, Northeast Washington DC 20017-1194 For more information about the North American College, or to learn about opportunities for memorial gifts, contact Tricia Lloyd at our Washington DC, Office of Development: Tel: (202) 541-5411 | Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: nacrome@aol.com or visit our website at www.pnac.org

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