nac magazine: fall 2009

M A G A Z I N E

FA L L 2 0 0 9

RECEIVE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

WHOSE HERALD YOU HAVE BECOME

18909_Fall_2009 Magazine-R2.indd1 1 11/12/09 10:41:47 AM

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editorial DirectorJoseph W. McQuaide, IV ‘11

Diocese of Wilmington

Editorial AssistantsAnthony R. Dill ‘12

Diocese of Harrisburg&

Andrew P. Hart ‘12Diocese of Little Rock

&Quan D. Tran ‘11

Diocese of Orangein California

Layout and DesignJeffrey Eirvin ‘12

Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

Design AssistantsH. Ray Cho ‘11

Archdiocese of Newark&

Frederick W. Gruber ‘12Diocese of Pittsburgh

&Luke Millette ‘12Archdiocese of

Galveston-Houston

PhotographersMark Payton ‘11

Archdiocese of Perth&

Matthew J. Grady ‘12Diocese of Venice

&Carmelo Morales ‘12Diocese of Amarillo

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

C O N T E N T S

RECTOR’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. James Checchio 3

ANNIVERSARY FEATURE: THE HOUSE ON THE JANICULUM 4

SUMMER APOSTOLATE IN CHINA Patrick Arensberg ‘12 6

DIACONATE ORDINATION 8

COLLEGE BIDS FAREWELL TO BISHOP-ELECT HEBDA 11

SECOND CYCLE FOCUS: THE LENS OF THE LITURGY Rev. Nicholas Vaskov ‘09 12

CASA SANTA MARIA: LESSONS IN PRIESTLY FRATERNITY Rev. David Pignato ‘01, C‘10 13

DIOCESES REPRESENTED AT THE COLLEGE 14

A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS: ORIENTATION Alex Roche ‘12 16

NEW MEN IN ASSISI Eric Bennett ‘12 18

ANNUAL CLASS RETREATS 19

WELCOME NEW FACULTY Luke Dundon‘11 20

WORKSHOPS & FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT 21

LIFE AT THE COLLEGE 22

YEAR FOR PRIESTS: VOCATION STORY Andrew Young ‘12 24

VAL J. PETER SCHOLAR 25

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Mary DiDonato 26

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE: PIAZZA DEL POPOLO Rev. Mr. Chase Hasenoehrl ‘10 28

ECONOMO’S CORNER Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg 29

SAVE THE DATE: ALUMNI REUNION BACK COVER

The Martyrdom of St. Peter by Caravaggio, Santa Maria del Popolo

FRONT COVERArchbishop Carlson hands on the Book of the Gospels to one of the ordinandi while saying,

“Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become.”

18909_Fall_2009 Magazine-R2.indd2 2 11/12/09 1:14:48 PM

11Farewell to

Bishop-elect Hebda

FALL 2 0 0 9

I N S I D E

24Vocation

Story

16New Man

Orientation

6Summer

Apostolate in China

8 Diaconate Ordination

Statue of St. John Vianney, patron of priests, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

RECTOR

Rev. Msgr. James Checchio ‘92, C‘97

VICE RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION

Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89

VICE RECTOR FOR SEMINARY LIFE

Rev. Msgr. Robert Gruss ‘94

SUPERIOR, CASA SANTA MARIA

Rev. Msgr. Francis Kelly ‘64

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Mrs. Mary DiDonato

BOARD OF GOVERNORSOF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE

CHAIRMAN

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

VICE CHAIRMAN

Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell ‘63Archbishop of Hartford

TREASURER

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

Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila C‘90Bishop of Fargo

Most Rev. Robert H. Brom ‘64Bishop of San Diego

Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran ‘62, C‘78Bishop of Rockford

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

Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless ‘73Bishop of Sioux City

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

Most Rev. Francis R. Reiss C‘84Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

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

Most Rev. William C. Skurla Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic of the Ruthenians

Most Rev. Michael J. WarfelBishop of Great Falls-Billings

Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl ‘67Archbishop of Washington

Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek ‘75Bishop of Amarillo


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RECTOR’S CORNER

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

The concurrent celebrations of the North American College’s sesquicentennial anniversary and the Universal Church’s observance of the Year for Priests make this

a wonderful time to be at the College and here in Rome. These two year-long events complement each other and aid us in fulfilling our mission of forming priests after the heart of Jesus Christ. In announcing the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict XVI stated that the year’s purpose is “to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.” Certainly, this is also our hope in celebrating the 150th anniversary of our beloved College as well, for we not only recall with gratitude the past and all the accomplishments of Alma Mater, but we also look to the future and recommit ourselves to the very same noble mission of forming shepherds for this “forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel.”

We are grateful for the wonderful blessings we have been experiencing during these year-long celebrations which will aid us in this mission:

❖ 30 men ordained priests of Jesus Christ this summer in their home dioceses❖ 42 new deacons ordained for the service of our Church❖ The nomination of Monsignor Bernie Hebda ‘89, adjunct spiritual director at the College (1997 to

present), as Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan, and the nomination of Monsignor Robert Evans, former ICTE director and formation advisor (2002 to 2006), as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island

❖ 10 doctoral defenses by priests from the Casa Santa Maria last spring❖ 27 new student-priests this fall at the Casa Santa Maria, making it a house of 72❖ 57 new seminarians at the College, bringing our total enrollment up to 225❖ 22 priests on sabbatical this Fall in our Institute for Continuing Theological Education

Additionally, over the summer, extensive works continued on the College facilities at both campuses. Expeditious work has continued on the renovation of the Casa O’Toole as the new home for our sabbatical program for priests, as well as the building of a new convent for our Carmelite Sisters. We added another new faculty suite in the seminary to accommodate our larger faculty and restoration work progresses on the exterior of the Casa Santa Maria. Also at the Casa, we established a new student lounge for priests and refurbished the Hans Jakob and Ingela Gram Rare Books Room. The renewal of these facilities during our 150th anniversary celebrations gives visible encouragement to us that the College will persevere in its service to the Church in forming shepherds with hearts molded after Christ’s, for another 150 years at least.

As we commenced this new year of studies and formation, we blessed a newly carved wooden statue of the patron of priests, St. John Vianney, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Griener of Oklahoma City. We are grateful to our Holy Father for naming him the patron of all priests and that we have this saintly Cure d’Ars as a model for us, both before us throughout this year in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and also throughout our lives, as all of us at the College recommit ourselves to deepen our interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world. We thank you for the generous financial support you offer us which allows us to continue with our mission, but even more so, we are grateful for your prayers, which sustain us. Both are very much appreciated and needed! Enjoy this edition of the NAC Magazine, which is designed, edited, and formatted by our seminarians, as we share our life with you.


ANNIVERSARY FEATURE

The House

on the

Janiculum

In 1859, when Pope Pius IX inaugurated the Pontifi-cal North American College, it was at the Humility

Street house, now known as the Casa Santa Maria. At that time, the house on the Janiculum did not exist. In its first year, the College had only twelve seminarians, but that quickly changed as enrollment steadily increased. By the 1920s, the administration was in search of a larger property to accommodate the growth of the College.

During this time, a Methodist minister, Dr. Bertram Tipple, was attempting to build a “counter Vatican” atop Rome’s Monte Mario, which was to tower 200 feet above St. Peter’s Basilica. While the Italian government ruled against Dr. Tipple’s plans, concerns arose that another anti-Catholic group may try to realize similar goals using another property for sale on the south side of the Vatican, the Janiculum Hill.

The northern summit of the Janiculum Hill spanned 26-acres and was the former estate of the Gabrielli family. It was too large for the North American College to purchase alone, and the Province of Rome would not agree to sell only a portion of the land. By providence, the Urban College also happened to be looking for new land to expand. Therefore, the Vatican authorities suggested both colleges go in on the deal together.

The American bishops agreed to purchase the ten acres of land on the Janiculum Hill. They were able to do so thanks to a recent generous bequest by a friend of the College, Angela C. O’Meara Gormully of Chicago, who had died in 1920. The deal was made in 1926, securing the historic Villa

Gabrielli and the land for the future seminary of the North American Col-lege. Financial hardships and political unrest postponed construction of the new College for nearly three decades. The impressive campus was finally

Above: The ground-breaking ceremonies on October 18, 1948. From left to right are Most Rev. Martin J. O’Connor (Rector), Count Enrico Pietro Galeazzi, and Francesco Silvestri. Right: The new Janiculum campus is completed in 1953.

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

DECEMBER 8TH, 2008 - DECEMBER 8TH, 2009

completed in 1953, serving as an oasis for the students in the midst of the chaos of Rome. Count Enrico Pietro Galeazzi, Pope Pius XII’s archi-tect, designed the House on the Janiculum with a rich simplicity to coincide with the Roman environment of discipline, study, and recollection. The noble simplicity was carried over into the design of the Chapel of the Im-maculate Conception, which included a striking mosaic of Our Lady. Sitting quite literally in the shadows of St. Peter’s Basilica, the campus boasted green space, trees, and sports facilities. Forty-eight orange trees dotted the outline of the cortile to represent the United States as it existed that year. American priests had already taken up residence in the newly-renovated and renamed Casa Santa Maria, the new home of the College’s graduate department.

The Janiculum Hill campus was officially dedicated on October 14, 1953. Pope Pius XII accepted the invitation of the rector, Bishop Martin J. O’Connor, to participate in the joyous celebration and blessed the building in person. The Holy Father was joined by

fifteen cardinals, six archbishops, and twenty-four bish-ops who also visited the campus that day to witness its inauguration. “Its completion lights a stronger flame of hope for the Church in the United States of America and in the world,” announced Pope Pius XII.

Through the years, many im-provements have been made to the facility. Of greater note are the addition of an artificial turf sport’s field, the restoration of the original villa, and the contruction of a new convent.

Above: The “cortile” or courtyard as it appeared in 1953. Right: As it is today – notice how the orange trees have grown.

A current view from the top of the Janiculum campus over looking the courtyard towards St. Peter’s Basilica.

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APOSTOLATE FOCUS

This past summer, Victor Ingalls ‘12 (Mobile), Colin Wen ‘13 (Sacramento), and I had the unique op-

portunity to spend six weeks in China – working with Catholic missionaries and learning about the culture, the people, and the relationship between them and the Cath-olic Church. We were hosted by Maryknoll priest Father Brian Barrons. He had planned for us to help him teach English at the Medical College in Jilin, a city in north-eastern China. However, due to the H1N1 flu pandemic, the Medical College cancelled our teaching assignments a week before we were to arrive. Though unsure as to exactly how our time would be restructured, he expressed trust in divine providence and invited us to make an act of trust. As Father Barrons put it, “We will trust in God and see what happens.”

When we met Father Barrons in Beijing, we discov-ered that we would go to Hong Kong for four weeks, where we could operate more freely, and then head up to Jilin for the remainder of the time. In Hong Kong, we stayed at the Maryknoll retreat house in Stanley. There

we learned from other Maryknoll priests and mission-aries about the history and hopes of the Church in China. The experience of the Church in China is quite different from our own, and this period of study helped orient our trip. After the communist revolution in China the Catholic Church was banned due to its allegiance to a foreign authority, and was replaced by the “Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.” Some Catholics chose to go underground rather than to join the nationalized association. The patriotic community is supported by the Chinese government and has a compli-cated relationship with the Vatican. The underground community has more allegiance to the Vatican but is more oppressed by the government. This is a focus of continued dialogue to try and unify the two bodies.

Father Bob Asterino, co-founder of the Union of Cath-olic Asian News, explained the difficulties and dangers of gathering and distributing the news on the Church in China, as well as possible solutions for unification within the Chinese Church. Father Mike Sloboda introduced us to the Diocese of Hong Kong’s Holy Spirit Center

ChinaS U M M E R A P O S T O L A T E I N

by Patrick Arensberg ‘12 Archdiocese of Mobile

Victor Ingalls ‘12 (Mobile) and Colin Wen ‘12 (Sacramento) sit down for lunch with fishermen in a rural village in Northern China.

From left to right: Fr. Michael Sloboda, Colin Wen ‘12 (Sacra-mento), Cardinal Zen, Victor Ingalls ‘12 (Mobile), and Patrick Arensberg ‘12 (Mobile).



whose mission is to study and store data about China’s ever-changing mainland to aid in the implementation of appropriate Christian responses. During our visit, Father Sloboda introduced us to Bishop Tong of Hong Kong, who spoke with us regarding the Church in China and later, even though he just celebrated his seventieth birthday, taught us a lesson in humility on the basket-ball court! Afterwards, Father Sloboda took us to the cathedral where he introduced us to Cardinal Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. His Eminence spent fifty minutes with us, speaking very frankly about the problems in China and his hopes for the future.

Our last two weeks in Hong Kong were spent teaching English to a group of exchange students from China’s mainland. As nearly all of the students were non-Chris-tians, our teaching also served as an opportunity for evangelization. For the remainder of our time in China, we ventured north to Jilin, where we spent two weeks living with Chinese Catholic seminarians and visiting many poor villages. To our surprise, the villages had a strong Catholic identity. One village was 95% Catholic and had two hundred people regularly attending 5:30 a.m. daily Mass!When I first considered going to China, I knew that the Church was oppressed in some ways; I hoped to learn how she operates in such an environment. I now real-ize how serious the demands of the Gospel are: prayer, openness, hard work, and a deep love for God – ex-pressed by laity and clergy alike. This realization was greatly facilitated by each Maryknoll and Chinese priest I met, who have dedicated their lives to Christ in the hope that one day the underground and patriotic Church will be united.

This experience also showed me how great an impact one priest can have. This was most clearly seen in Father Barrons, who hosts his students for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has a radio show, and serves as counselor for the school. Father Barrons’ commitment to being a “good shepherd” has borne fruit: he baptized over seventy students this past Easter alone!

The summer was also an experience of God’s amazing Providence. Had we stayed with our original plan, we would have never been able to meet all the amazing peo-ple we did or experience all the opportunities that opened up for us. This summer instilled in us a missionary spirit: to go out to places and people in our own dioceses where the Church is not known, welcomed, or wanted and to preach the Good News.

Above: Victor Ingalls ‘12 (Mobile) dances in a traditional Chinese celebration. Below: Colin, Victor, and Patrick spend time with students in a village in Southern China.

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With joy and thanksgiving to God, the Pontifical North American College celebrated the ordina-

tion of thirty men to the diaconate in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter on October 8, 2009.

More than two thousand family members and friends of the ordinandi gathered at the Altar of the Chair for the ordina-tion liturgy. The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, was the or-daining prelate and cel-ebrated the Mass along with many bishops, pas-tors, and priest-friends of the ordinandi, as well as the twelve men of the class of 2010 who were previously ordained in their home dioceses over the summer. They were joined by various digni-taries and guests of the College, including the Honorable Miguel Díaz, the new Ambassador of the United States to the Holy See.

At the College’s vigil of prayer the evening before the or-dination, Father Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., the Director of Li-turgical Formation, encouraged the soon-to-be deacons to take to heart the words of Psalm 16: “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup…I keep the Lord

ever before me.” In his homily the next morning, Arch-bishop Carlson similarly exhorted each man to remem-ber that it is his relationship with the Lord that grounds his active ministry: “A man called to the diaconate must abide in Christ if he is to bear fruit. This means he must be holy. Without personal holiness it will be possible to hold the office, but the fruitfulness of the ministry will be compromised.”

Archbishop Carlson also reminded the new deacons that, in addition to preaching the Gospel and serving at the altar of the Lord, they must also be ready to act as ministers of charity in the surrounding world. “Never have to be told how to touch the hearts of your broth-ers and sisters,” for the service of charity “obliges us to be a positive influence for change in the world…so that society may be renewed by Christ and transformed into the family of God.”

DIACONATE ORDINATION

Archbishop Carlson hands the Book of the Gospels to Rev. Mr. Matthew Wiering ‘10 (New Ulm) as Rev. Mr. Adam Young ‘10 (Providence) looks on.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson imposes hands on Rev. Mr. Jason Schumer ‘10 (St. Louis).

2009




With hearts full of pride in their acceptance of the Lord’s call and with a deep sense of hope in the fruits that their ministry will bring, the Pontifical North American Col-lege congratulates the Class of 2010 on their ordination to the diaconate and offers its prayers as they continue to prepare for priesthood. In the words of Archbishop Carlson, “may you truly imitate Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve.”

The ordinandi prostrate themselves in humble prayer as the assembly kneels to sing the Litany of Supplication, where the Church on earth joins with the saints in heaven to beseech God on behalf of the Elect.

DIACONATE ORDINATION – CLASS OF 2010Vincent Arong Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonLuke Austin Diocese of BurlingtonMatthew Bartulica Diocese of Kansas City-St. JosephEfrain Bautista Diocese of San DiegoNicholas Bellotti Archdiocese of NewarkJacob Bertrand Diocese of San DiegoFrederick Boni Archdiocese of MobileLlane Briese Archdiocese of AtlantaJohn Burns Archdiocese of MilwaukeeDavid Carrano Diocese of MadisonNicholas Desimone Diocese of WorcesterCharles Gallagher Archdiocese of WashingtonJustin Huber Archdiocese of WashingtonGregory Ihm Diocese of MadisonThomas Kelly Diocese of Venice

Anthony Lickteig Archdiocese of WashingtonNolan Lowry Diocese of TylerJames Morrison Archdiocese of MobileBrian Noel Diocese of PittsburghDaniel O’Mullane Diocese of PatersonDavid Rivera Diocese of CamdenFernando Sáenz Archdiocese of Santa FeDwight Schlaline Diocese of HarrisburgJason Schumer Archdiocese of St. LouisMichael Silloway Archdiocese of AtlantaJoshua Stengel Diocese of Little RockJeremy Trowbridge Diocese of RockfordCraig Vasek Diocese of CrookstonMatthew Wiering Diocese of New UlmAdam Young Diocese of Providence

ORDAINED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DIOCESES

Michael Bruno Diocese of Brooklyn Matthew Kuhn Diocese of St. CloudPaul Carlson Diocese of Peoria Ian McDole Diocese of CovingtonChristopher Cicero Diocese of Youngstown Michael Novajosky Diocese of BridgeportPeter Finney, III Archdiocese of New Orleans Scott Pogatchnik Diocese of St. CloudChase Hasenoehrl Diocese of Boise David Schunk Archdiocese of San FranciscoAndrew James Archdiocese of Sydney John Sheridan Diocese of Youngstown

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Above: Rev. Mr. Matthew Wiering ‘10 (New Ulm) receives the stole and dalmatic. Top Left: Rev. Mr. Justin Huber ‘10 (Washington) places his hands between those of Archbishop Carlson and promises respect and obedience to his Ordinary. Left: Rev. Mr. Llane Briese ‘10 (Atlanta) distributes the Precious Blood during the Ordination Liturgy.

Above: Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B., and Rev. Mr. Thomas Kelly ‘10 (Venice) enjoy the ordination reception in the College’s courtyard.

Left: Rev. Mr. Dwight Schlaline ‘10 (Harrisburg) poses for a picture with Sr. Mary Lou Wirtz, F.C.J.M. (left) and Sr. Susan Hooks, O.S.B. Above: Rev. Mr. David Carrano ‘10 (Madison) smiles as he embraces classmate and diocesan brother, Rev. Mr. Gregory Ihm ‘10 (Madison).



On Friday, October 16, the College com-

munity gathered together to observe the beginning of the new academic year. The joy of being together again was increased this year as we also celebrated the recent nomination of Monsignor Bernard A. Hebda ‘89 (Pittsburgh) as the fourth bishop of Gay-lord, Michigan.

After his time at the Col-lege as a seminarian, the Bishop-elect returned to Pittsburgh for priestly ministry, as the bishop’s secretary, in team ministry at Prince of Peace Parish, and as director of campus ministry at the Slippery Rock University Newman Center. He also served on the Canonical Advisory Council, the Priest Coun-cil, and the Priest Person-nel Board.

In 1996, Bishop-elect Hebda was appointed to work in the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legisla-tive Texts, which is responsible for the interpretation of the Church’s laws. In 2003, he became the Council’s Under-secretary, or 3rd ranking official.

While in, Rome Bishop-elect Hebda also served as an adjunct spiritual director here at the College and as a confessor for the postulants of the Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa) and the Sisters of

that community working at a home for unwed mothers.

During the press conference in which he was introduced to the diocese, he remarked, “I am both humbled and honored by our Holy Fa-ther’s decision.”

Our celebration began in the chapel with Evening Prayer, presided by Bishop-elect Hebda. He exhorted us to reflect often on the words of Psalm 145: “The Lord is faithful in all his words and loving in all his deeds.” Later, during the banquet which followed, Father Nicholas Vaskov ‘09 (Pitts-burgh) toasted the Bishop-elect, thanking him for his ten years of service to the College, both for his coun-sel in spiritual direction and for his priestly example to all of us with his ever-ready words of encouragement.

As a small token of our appreciation for Bishop-elect Hebda, the College and student body presented to him a pectoral cross engraved with the College’s coat of arms and a crosier, featuring an image of the Good Shepherd. To the new shepherd of the Diocese of Gaylord, Bishop-elect Hebda:

Congratulations,

Bishop-elect Bernard Hebda!

Having spent four years with Bishop-elect Hebda at the College as students, Rev. John Costello ‘89 (Brooklyn) and Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89 (Tulsa) stand with their classmate again, all having returned to the College to serve on the faculty.

ad multos annos!

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It would seem today that the most regular contact the people of God have with the life of the Church is the

Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. It is here, at the Mass, that they are fed by the Word of God in Sacred Scripture and nourished by His Sacred Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Filled with these gifts, they are sent forth to share Christ with others.

While the gifts we receive from God in the Mass are many, there is a great richness contained within the lit-urgy itself, both the Eucharist and the other sacramental rites of the Church. The liturgy, the celebration of the sacred mysteries of Jesus Christ, draws us ever more deeply into the understanding of that mystery through word and action, symbol and mystagogy. These aspects are intrinsic to the liturgy of the Church, but are height-ened and highlighted when celebrated properly and fully.

This is the mission of a license program in Liturgical The-ology: to foster a greater understanding of the capacity of the liturgy in the life of the Church. The program is not focused solely on rubrics and prayers. Rather, it offers a dogma-centered degree that looks at the Catholic faith through the lens of the liturgy, recognizing the liturgy as a natural teacher.

The course work is full, with classes focusing not only on the rites of the individual sacraments but on all as-pects of the liturgy, including inculturation, the liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Churches, and the role of Sacred Scripture in the liturgy. Each course adds to the student’s overall understanding of the liturgy – the celebration, the theology, and the work of the Spirit.

Why is studying the liturgy in light of the truths of the faith so important for the Church today? Returning to my original thought, the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is the only chance many Catholics have to encounter the faith. It is therefore of the utmost importance to come to

understand the intimate relationship between the liturgy and the faith and to celebrate the liturgy in such a way that the faith will be fruitfully transmitted.

As a newly-ordained priest, my participation in the litur-gical theology program has had a great effect on me and the way in which I approach the celebration of the sacred liturgy. I have a greater understanding of the liturgy as the work of Christ in and for the Church and the respon-sibility I have to celebrate the sacred mysteries in a man-ner that does not detract from their effectiveness in the lives of others. I have also noticed myself approaching the celebration of the Mass with greater trust in the Holy Spirit, knowing that it is the Spirit who is truly at work to make Christ present in the Word and on the altar.

To study the liturgy is truly a blessing and I pray that the Lord will give me the gifts to share with others the awe-some power and understanding of the sacred mysteries celebrated in the liturgy.

THE LENS OF THE LITURGYby Rev. Nicholas Vaskov ‘09 Diocese of Pittsburgh

Rev. Nicholas Vaskov ‘09 (Pittsburgh) incenses the altar during his Mass of Thanksgivng at St. Bernadette Church in Monroeville, PA.

SECOND CYCLE FOCUS



Being assigned to advanced studies at the Casa Santa Maria can enrich the life of a priest in different ways,

many of which help prepare us for the work that awaits us in our home dioceses. One of the most signifi-cant effects of living at the Casa might be the power-ful reminder of how im-portant priestly fraternity is and how real unity is achieved in a presbyterate.

Living together with 72 priests, we know well the

importance of maintaining a healthy atmosphere in the house and the obligation each of us has to contribute to the fraternity among us. We also know that divisions can easily occur, even among priests, especially when unity is sought in something less than what is most important. When this happens, the unity that results is only superfi-cial and not very long-lasting.

The best, most authentic, and most durable fraternity among priests occurs when we encourage each other in the aspects of our lives that best define who we are, and I’m happy to report that this happens often among the priests here at the Casa Santa Maria. Whether by in-spiring each other to live with integrity and fidelity to our ordination promises, reminding each other to main-tain the priority of our spiritual lives through daily Mass, prayer and regular confession, or encouraging each other to persevere in self-discipline on our sometimes arduous academic projects as a service to Christ and His Church, the priests here at the Casa do an admirable job of foster-ing real fraternity.

Great things happen when priestly fraternity is rooted in and built on the right priorities, and one of the results

here at the Casa Santa Maria is the mood of joy that lin-gers in the house. This atmosphere is detected in the edi-fying and often entertaining conversations at meals, the ready willingness to offer both comic relief and pledges of prayerful support, and the frequent encouragement to join in healthy recreation or to go together on pilgrimage to the many spiritual sites in and around Rome.

Each of us here knows that we were ordained into a pres-byterate in our home dioceses, and that we are obliged to contribute to the unity of that presbyterate, just as we try to build fraternity here at the Casa. God-willing, each of us will bring home to our own diocese and our own presbyterate the contribution of a valuable academ-ic achievement. I suspect that one of the greatest things we will bring home is a better understanding of how we can contribute to real priestly fraternity and true unity with our brother priests.

by Rev. David Pignato, ‘01, C‘10 Diocese of Fall River

CASA SANT ARIAAM

Priests of the Casa Santa Maria make time amidst their many respon-sibilities to enjoy each other’s company and encourage one another.

L E S S O N S I N P R I E S T L Y F R A T E R N I T Y

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DIOCESES REPRESENTED AT THE PON

Diocese of Fresno

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Diocese of Monterey

Diocese of Oakland

Diocese of Orange

Diocese of Sacramento

Diocese of San Diego

Archdiocese of San Francisco

Diocese of Colorado Springs

Archdiocese of Denver

Diocese of Boise

Diocese of Great Falls-Billings

Diocese of Grand Island Archdiocese of

Omaha

Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Diocese of Salt Lake City

Diocese of Lubbock

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Diocese of Dallas

Diocese of Amarillo

Diocese of Sioux Falls

Diocese of Tulsa

Diocese of Bismarck

Diocese of Fargo

Diocese of Tyler

Archdiocese of Sydney

Archdiocese of Melbourne

Archdiocese of Perth

Archdiocese of Adelaide

Diocese of Wagga

Wagga

AUSTRALIA

Diocese of Kansas City

Diocese of Lincoln

Diocese of Crookston

Diocese of Oklahoma City

Archdiocese of Portland

Diocese of Rapid City


TIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE

OVERSEAS DIOCESES AT THE COLLEGE

Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, ScotlandArchdiocese of Split-Makarska, CroatiaDiocese of Lancaster, EnglandDiocese of Northampton, EnglandDiocese of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AT THE COLLEGE

Canons of Klosterneuberg, Austria (Augustinian)Holy Cross FathersSociety of Mary

Archdiocese of Mobile

Diocese of Venice

Diocese of Harrisburg

Diocese of Pittsburgh

Diocese of Scranton

Diocese of Green Bay

Archdiocese of Atlanta

Diocese of Savannah

Archdiocese of Chicago

Diocese of Joliet

Diocese of Peoria

Diocese of Rockford

Diocese of St. Petersburg

Diocese of Gary

Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Diocese of Davenport

Archdiocese of Dubuque

Diocese of Des Moines

Diocese of Alexandria

Diocese of LafayetteArchdiocese of New Orleans

Archdiocese of Detroit

Diocese of Kalamazoo

Diocese of Lansing

Diocese of Saginaw

Diocese of Duluth

Diocese of St. Cloud

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Diocese of Winona

Diocese of Kansas City-

St. Joseph

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Diocese of ManchesterDiocese of Rochester

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

Diocese of La Crosse

Diocese of Arlington

Diocese of Burlington

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Diocese of Dallas

Diocese of Sioux Falls

Diocese of Charleston

Diocese of Cleveland

Diocese of Toledo

Diocese of Tulsa Diocese of Little Rock

Diocese of Birmingham

Diocese of Lake Charles

Diocese of Charlotte

Diocese of New Ulm

Diocese of Sioux City

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Diocese of Covington

Diocese of Tyler

Archdiocese of Boston

Diocese of ProvidenceDiocese of Fall RiverDiocese of Springfield

Diocese of Worcester

Archdiocese of HartfordDiocese of Bridgeport

Archdiocese of New York

Diocese of Rockville CentreDiocese of Brooklyn

Diocese of PatersonDiocese of Trenton

Diocese of WilmingtonDiocese of Camden

Archdiocese of Baltimore

Archdiocese of Newark

Archdiocese of Washington

Diocese of Kansas City

Diocese of Crookston

Diocese of Greensburg

Diocese of Jefferson City

Diocese of Madison

Diocese of Memphis

Diocese of NashvilleDiocese of Oklahoma City

Diocese of Youngstown

Diocese of Knoxville

Diocese of Orlando

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

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“

When the fifty-seven New Men entered

the Immaculate Conception Chapel for the first time as a class, the bells of the Col-lege announced their arrival to the city of Rome while the applause of the faculty and second-year men announced the joy of the college com-munity to welcome its new-est members. Their “clap-ping in” began their time at the North American College the same way it will one day end. When these men leave the NAC for the final time, however, the applause will be encouragement for their mission, and the bells will an-nounce their return to their dioceses to preach the Gos-pel. So the formation pro-cess at the North American College begins: a process that will in four short years culmi-nate in a new generation of holy priests of Jesus Christ, eager to do His work.

During their first several weeks at the Pontifical North American College, the newest seminarians sent by their

bishops to study here in the Eternal City were able to receive a taste of the incredible blessings that would be at their disposal for the next four years. The New Men became better acquainted with the center of Christendom by attending Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, taking a guid-ed tour of the Scavi below the Vatican, and travelling to Castel Gandolfo for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. They were taken on various pilgrimages around Rome, including visits to the other three major basili-cas and the tomb of St. Monica in the Basilica of St. Augustine. Finally, they were introduced to the Swiss Guard barracks and the Pontifical Gregorian University.

While becoming acquainted with the sacred, beautiful, and historic side of Rome was a fundamental part of orientation, it did not end there. The new men spent four weeks in intensive Italian stud-ies, completed all of their immi-

gration paperwork with the Italian government, and even took a Saturday off for a class trip to the beach.

A New Journey Begins:

Orientationby Alex Roche ‘12 Diocese of Scranton

“May your time here in Rome deepen your integral understanding of our faith and strengthen

in you the desire to be consistent in word and deed, following the heart and mind of our Lord.

Upon each of you present and your families, I invoke God’s blessing of peace and joy!”

– Pope Benedict XVI addressing the North American College New Men on Sunday, August 30, 2009

The New Men, along with Msgr. Checchio, listen with great excitement as the Holy Father delivers his Sunday Angelus at Castel Gandolfo.



“

Perhaps most importantly, however, orientation was a time for these New Men to make the College their new home, form new friendships, hear from the faculty about the formation program, and settle into a life of prayer and study here in the shadow of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Amidst all of the tours and welcome banquets, Italian classes and formation conferences, this new class was able to begin to make its mark on this great College. The Holy Father himself offered encour-agement when he addressed the fifty-seven New Men: “May your time here in Rome deepen your integral understanding of our faith and strengthen in you the desire to be consistent in word and deed, following the heart and mind of our Lord.”

With these words, a new chapter in the story of the North American College was begun. May it be a chapter that is filled with God’s abundant blessings!

The New Men enjoy their tour of the Swiss Guard’s barracks in the Vatican.

NEW MEN – CLASS OF 2013Francisco Aguirre Archdiocese of WashingtonBrian Baker Archdiocese of AtlantaNicholas Barnes Diocese of ArlingtonBrendan Bartlett Diocese of ArlingtonRyan Browning Diocese of RockfordBrian Buettner Archdiocese of Oklahoma CitySimon Carian Archdiocese of Santa FeMichael Casey Archdiocese of HartfordJason Christian Diocese of CharlotteJohn Connaughton Diocese of BridgeportMichael Cornell Archdiocese of PerthTimothy Daniel Archdiocese of WashingtonJason Doke Diocese of Jefferson CityKinneth Easter Diocese of NashvilleDavid Esquillano-Diaz Diocese of Sioux CityMichael Gallacher Archdiocese of MelbourneDaniel Gallagher Diocese of PittsburghMichael Garry Diocese of DuluthJohn Gibson Archdiocese of MilwaukeeElias Gieske Diocese of DuluthChristopher Gray Diocese of Salt Lake CityAlan Guanella Diocese of La CrosseChristopher Heanue Diocese of BrooklynPeter Heasley Archdiocese of New YorkSpencer Howe Archdiocese of St. Paul and MinneapolisPreston Huck Diocese of PittsburghScott Jablonski Diocese of MadisonDamian Jellett Diocese of Wagga Wagga

Krzystof Kuczynski Diocese of BridgeportJoseph Langan Archdiocese of BaltimoreJunHee Lee Diocese of BrooklynChristopher Little Archdiocese of BaltimoreJohn Lovitsch Diocese of JolietBrandon Macadaeg Diocese of OaklandThomas Macdonald Archdiocese of BostonDouglas Marcotte Archdiocese of IndianapolisDaniel McCaughan Archdiocese of SydneyThomas McNally Diocese of KalamazooMatthew Morelli Diocese of GreensburgNicholas Nelson Diocese of DuluthJohn Norman Archdiocese of OmahaRoss Parker Diocese of Des MoinesMichael Pawlowicz Diocese of JolietMichael Pierz Diocese of Springfield in MassachusettsJames Platania Diocese of PatersonJustin Raines Diocese of NashvilleNicholas Roberts Diocese of Kansas City-St. JosephMartin Rodriguez Archdiocese of IndianapolisGregory Rupik Diocese of RochesterCharles Samson Archdiocese of St. LouisEric Scanlan Diocese of VeniceChristopher Seiler Archdiocese of St. LouisBrennan Sia Archdiocese of PerthMatthew Stehling Diocese of TylerDaniel Ulishney Diocese of GreensburgPeter Van Lieshout Diocese of Rochester

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Like the classes before them, the Class of 2013 went on a pilgrimage to Assisi as part of their Orientation.

Although it was a return visit for many of the men who had studied Italian there during the summer, it was a new experience for all. The faculty, New Men, and mem-bers of the second-year orientation team came together in prayer, fraternity, and communion with the saints to grow in unity at the start of the new year. Monsignor Checchio began the pilgrimage by celebrating Mass in the Basilica of San Francesco. He exhorted the men to look to the example of St. Francis in order to help abandon themselves to God’s will during their years of formation.

Each evening, a conference was held to assist the New Men in adjusting to the challenges of being in Rome and suggestions were made to help them during their years of formation in the future. Monsignor Gruss encouraged the men to value the experience of being in seminary as a gift and to offer themselves generously to the forma-

tion process. Another conference was given by a new faculty member, Fatherr Michael Hickin, who shared some of his experiences as a priest and the many mo-ments of transition in his own life that brought him to priestly ordination.

One of the blessings of the weekend was to have our own Franciscan faculty member, Father David Songy, O.F.M.Cap., celebrate Mass at the hermitage of St. Fran-cis on Mount Subiaso. The arduous hike to the site was well worth the experience of celebrating Mass where St. Francis lived and prayed. That afternoon was filled with opportunities to pray at the many holy sites. Our time in Assisi concluded on Sunday morning at the altar of St. Clare, another witness to the joy of following God’s call to holiness. We left Assisi having prayed with two saints whose examples reminded the New Men – and all of us – what God is asking from each of his seminarians: to give their lives for the love of God in the service of His Church so that His will may be done.

New Men in Assisiby Eric Bennett ‘12 Archdiocese of Boston

The New Men and the accompanying priests prepare for the celebration of Mass at the hermitage in Assisi.

The New Men taking a break outside of St. Clare’s Basilica during their trip to Assisi.



After a summer of apostolic work both in the United States and around the world, seminarians are given

the opportunity to refocus their prayer lives, before re-suming their studies, with a weeklong silent retreat. The students are separated by class and are sent to retreat houses outside the city and away from the noise and dis-tractions of Rome.

The New Men went to the mountain town of Greccio for a retreat preached by house spiritual director Monsi-gnor William J. Lyons, which featured different aspects of sanctity, such as heroic courage, reverence, and pov-erty. Greccio is notable for its connection to the life of St. Francis of Assisi because it was here that he venerated the first Nativity scene and served as a deacon at the first Midnight Mass. One first year man described the retreat as a great balance between prayer and inspirational talks. Second year students were introduced to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesu-its. Each day, the Director of Spiritual Formation, Fa-ther Joseph Hanefeldt ‘84 (Omaha) gave them focused meditations for their daily prayer.

The third theology class made their retreat in the context of the beauty of God’s creation at the shore in Santa

Marinella. Stephen Vrazel ‘11 (Mobile) commented on this location: “Not only did this retreat allow for spiri-tual renewal and self-reflection, but thanks to the beach, it also allowed for relaxation.” For this retreat, a team of ten Jesuits personally directed each of the seminarians and suggested daily meditations.

Fourth year men were also given a retreat with private direction. This retreat occurred a week before they were to be ordained deacons and, therefore, took on greater importance. It gave the men a privileged opportunity for intense communication with God before they promised themselves to Christ in service to His Church. The annual retreats are always a great way of emphasizing prayer as the center of a seminarian’s life. They would not be possible without the help of our benefactors. We want to especially thank the Serra International Founda-tion for their generous support, and all our benefactors, for their help in forming us to be priests after the heart of Jesus!

Annual CLASS RETREATS

Ted Martin ‘11 (Kalamazoo) prays during the 3rd Year Retreat.

Left to right: John Woodward, Executive Director of Serra International, Fred McNair, Vice President of Membership for Serra International, Rev. Msgr. James Checchio (Rector), and John Baycroft, Treasurer of Serra International in the College’s courtyard after the Diaconate Ordination.

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Father Jeffrey Burrill ‘98, of the Diocese of La Crosse, joins the faculty of the Pontifical North Ameri-can College as Director of Apostolic Formation. He is the youngest of six chil-dren and did undergraduate work at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. While in Rome, he obtained an S.T.B. from the Gregorian

and an S.T.L. in Ecumenism from the Angelicum. Upon returning to Wisconsin, he served as the diocesan Ecu-menical Officer and as a Vicar Forane, as well as serving on the Pastoral Planning Committee and the Presbyteral Council. Father Burrill taught high school religion for two years and later served as the pastor of three parishes in west-central Wisconsin before being assigned to the College. As the Director of Apostolic Formation, he will oversee the seminarians’ various apostolic works and co-ordinate their summer assignments. In his free time he enjoys fishing, hunting, and coin collecting. He fondly remembers his time here at the College and is looking forward to assisting in the formation of future pastors of the Church. Father Michael Hickin, of the Diocese of Fargo,

will serve as a spiritual di-rector in the College. The eldest of five children, he graduated from Christen-dom College in 1985 and served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1989. He subsequently lived for a few years in France. After earn-ing an S.T.B. at the Angeli-cum, he entered formation

for the Diocese of Fargo and was sent to Catholic Uni-versity of America for licentiate studies in systematic the-ology. Ordained a priest in 1997, he returned to seminary life a few years later at the Pontifical College Josephinum to serve as a spiritual director, the Director of Pastoral Formation, and the Dean of Men. He also completed the three-year Seminar for Spiritual Directors program given by the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. His hobbies include calligraphy, stamp collecting, golf, and “anything French.” As a spiritual director for the College, he looks forward to being a witness and guide to the seminarians’ intimate life with the Holy Trinity.

Father Brendan Hurley, S.J., of the Maryland Prov-ince of the Society of Jesus, will also serve as a resi-dent spiritual director for the College. Hailing from the same parish in Colling-swood, NJ, as Monsignor Checchio, he graduated from Rockhurst University with a degree in business and later entered the Soci-

ety of Jesus in 1982. While in formation, he spent three years teaching in Chile, increasing his desire to serve as a priest. Completing his studies at the Weston School of Theology, he was ordained in 1993 and sent to George-town University to direct retreats and RCIA preparation. From 2004 until his arrival at the College, Father Hurley served in Baltimore as an associate pastor and spiritual director, work which allowed him to experience the life of diocesan priesthood. He recognizes that his diverse background will be a good preparation for his new role as a spiritual director for diocesan seminarians. To our three new faculty members, the North American College offers a hearty welcome!

Welcome New Facultyby Luke Dundon ‘11 Diocese of Arlington



During the month of September, the New Men take Italian classes to introduce them to the culture and

prepare them for the University classes they will be tak-ing. But the New Men are not the only ones who are busy; the other classes spend this time in workshops and conferences to prepare them for their future ministry as priests of Jesus Christ.

The second year class was presented conferences on priestly identity and celibacy. They, as well as the third year stu-dents, also spent a week focusing on the task of preaching.

In addition to homiletics work, the third year class was introduced to pastoral counseling. Bishop Daniel E. Flores C‘00, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, presented on the topic of Hispanic ministry. He impressed upon the stu-dents the effect that the various Hispanic communities are having and will have on the mission of the Church in the United States.

The fourth year men were trained in the liturgical func-tions of a deacon. Also, Dr. Joann Heaney-Hunter, of St. John’s University, returned this year to offer a semi-nar on marriage and family counseling.

These formative conferences and workshops serve to refocus the students on the reason we find ourselves in Rome: to be formed into priests of Jesus Christ.

Formation Workshops

Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores C‘00, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, presents sessions on Hispanic ministry to the third-year men.

Facilities ImprovementsWork continued on both the Janiculum and Casa

Santa Maria campuses this summer. On the hill, a new suite was constructed to accommodate a new fac-ulty member and two storage sheds were built within the old handball courts. The pavement on the main floor was also replaced with porcelain tiles, giving it a new, clean look. Restoration of the exterior of the Casa Santa Maria is still ongoing, hoping to be finished by the end of November. The Casa O’Toole continues to be under construction, though the scaffolding is coming down for the first time in two years! The entire project is expected to be finished in January.

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Life at the

College

Top to bottom (left to right within photos): [1] Rev. Mr. David Rivera ‘10 (Camden), Rev. Mr. Jacob Bertrand ‘10 (San Diego), Rev. Mr. Craig Vasek ‘10 (Crookston), and Rev. Mr. Gregory Ihm ‘10 (Madison) kneel in prayer on the eve of their ordination. [2] Quan Tran ‘11 (Orange) chats with Benjamin Ross ‘12 (Gary) during a break in classes at the Angelicum. [3] Jeffery Walker ‘13 (Toledo) takes notes with fellow students during a lecture at the Gregorian. [4] Seminarians enjoy a football game on the Kardos Family Campo Sportivo. [5] Rev. Mr. Adam Young ‘10 (Providence) and his mother look on at the Holy Father’s weekly audience.

Left: Most Rev. Wilton Gregory C‘80, Archbishop of Atlanta, speaks to the students on serving as a delegate to the Synod for Africa.


Top Left: (from left to right) Christopher Little ‘13 (Baltimore), Brandon Macadaeg ‘13 (Oak-land), Alan Guanella ‘13 (La Crosse), and Rev. Jeffrey Burrill ‘98 share a laugh at the Opening Banquet. Top Right: The College prays at the outdoor Marian shrine the evening before the dia-conate ordination. Right: Aaron Johanneck ‘12 (New Ulm), Brandon Bernhard ‘11 (Tyler), and Philip Zubrod ‘11 (Fargo) enjoy a coffee break at the Gregorian bar.

More than two thousand family, friends, bishops, and priests gather at the Altar of the Chair in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter for the diaconate ordination of thirty men of the Class of 2010 on October 8, 2009.

The Pontifical North American College congratulates the Most Reverend J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Titular Archbishop of Oregon City

and the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments.

Ordained a bishop over the summer in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., the College was pleased to welcome Archbishop DiNoia for a Mass of Thanksgiving in the College’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

We offer him our warm congratulations and the promise of our prayers as he continues to serve the Holy See.

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Growing up in the plains of Mitchell, South Dakota, I had the dream of every young child to become

a fireman, policeman, or a doctor. It was not until I entered the fourth grade and began serving at Mass that the idea of becoming a priest entered my mind. As I

went through middle school and high school, I really did not think too much about the priesthood; instead, I became more focused on other ave-nues in life. Upon graduation from high school, I received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in An-napolis, Maryland, which be-

gan an entirely new and adventurous ten years of my life. Before I departed for Annapolis, I went to say goodbye to my grandmother, whom I loved dearly and has since passed away. She told me that “life is a journey” and that you have to follow where your heart takes you. These words have stayed with me ever since.

During my four years at Annapolis, I grew in military knowledge, demeanor, and maturity, but I also grew in my faith and love for God. I began to trust more in God and less on my own abilities. I began to live out my faith, regularly going to Mass and receiving the Sacraments. While at the Academy, I again began to discern the pos-sibility of becoming a Catholic priest and felt a strong calling to do so, but that would have to wait until I had fulfilled my five year military commitment. Upon gradu-ation in 1999, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps…ooorahhh! My six years as an active duty Marine were years that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Once a marine, always a marine! These years provided me with the opportunity to grow even deeper in my love for Christ, to abandon myself to His will in very difficult situations, and to learn

from my fellow marines what it means to sacrifice one’s life for friend and country.

While serving in the Marine Corps, I was deployed twice, once to Afghanistan after 9-11 and then to Iraq for the first eight months of the war. These experiences will forever impact my outlook on life. The Holy Spirit was always with us and could be seen through the men of my unit, some of whom came to the military without any real faith or had fallen away from their beliefs. These men came back to the Church and found God – abandoning their lives to His plan.

by Andrew Young ‘12 Diocese of Sioux Falls

Life is a Journey

Andrew Young ‘12 (Sioux Falls) takes time out for prayer.

YEAR FOR PRIESTS: VOCATION STORY

During this Year for Priests, each issue of the Magazine will feature one student’s Vocation Story. This article is the first in this series.



As there were so few Catholic priests in Iraq, I was trained to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, to bring the Body of Christ to marines and sailors on Sun-days. On Easter Sunday 2003, while stationed in Sadr City, one of the sections of Baghdad, I finally realized that God was calling me to the priesthood. The Prot-estant chaplain had his Hummer loaded up to go to a camp about 15 miles away in order to celebrate the Eas-ter service for a unit of about 400 Marines. He told me that a Catholic priest had not been able to make it to that unit, so he asked if I would take the Blessed Sacrament and lead a Communion service. As we pulled up, there were two groups forming, about 50 Protestants and 150 Catholics. They wanted a priest and sadly, we could not provide one, even on Easter Sunday. We prayed together and I distributed the precious Body of Christ. As we left, about ten of the Marines came up to me asking me to bless rosaries, St. Michael medals, and other religious items. I explained that I could not, since I was not a priest; so we prayed together and asked our Lord to continue to protect them in these difficult times. God showed me why we needed priests – to serve

the people of God and to lead them to Him. At this mo-ment, it was clear that through my journey of life, God had constantly been calling me, forming me to be one of His ministers at the altar.

My “yes” finally came a year after I finished my six years of active duty with the Marines. I entered the seminary through my home diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and traveled to Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut for two years of pre-theology. I am now a second year theologian here at the NAC.

Life is indeed a journey – and you never know where it might end, especially if you follow your heart and aban-don yourself to the will of God. My story is just one of many that could be told by the seminarians here at the College. God has worked in many different ways in all our lives. We all came to answer that call in our own way and through our diverse experiences. Despite our dif-ferences, the men here at the College have one thing in common – we all love Christ and want to serve Him by offering our lives in His service.

Val J. Peter ScholarJunHee Lee ‘13 (Brooklyn) was born into a strong Catholic family from South Korea,

raised in Paraguay, and came to the U.S. when he was ten years old. In high school, he wanted to join the United States Military Academy at West Point and it was during the application process that he became deeply aware of our Lord’s presence in his life. From this unexpected awareness of God’s mercy and love, JunHee felt the call to the priesthood. After much discernment and upon entering the seminary, he found inner peace and clarity. A seminarian for the Diocese of Brooklyn, he lived at the Cathedral Seminary Residence of the Immaculate Conception studying at St. John’s University, from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude. As he continues his studies to the priest-hood at the North American College, JunHee says, “It is my desire to serve Christ and His Church with humility and trust. I thank God for this vocation everyday.”

The Val J. Peter Scholarship assists dioceses that otherwise lack the financial resources to send a student to Rome by providing annual scholarships from 25% to 75% of tuition costs depending on need. The fund is in its second year and is named for Father Valentin J. Peter ‘60, C‘68; Father Peter is the Executive Director Emeritus of Father Flanagan’s Boys Home, more commonly known as Boys Town.

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The Pontifical North Amer-ican College cares about

our benefactors and friends deeply, which is why we have been on the road so much dur-ing this our sesquicentennial anniversary year – to meet and talk to you in person, updating you about life at the College.

One recent opportunity we had to do so was on September 24th, when Archbishop Timothy Dolan, former rector of the College and cur-rent Archbishop of New York, hosted a reception at his residence on Madison Avenue. He wanted not only to say thank you to our benefactors, but also to introduce the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre and other highly engaged and supportive members of the laity of the archdiocese to his beloved Alma Mater.

Over sixty people gathered that evening to hear Arch-bishop Dolan speak about his many loves, and it was one love in particular that seemed to outshine the others

that night: “For seven years, from 1994 to 2001, I had to pinch myself daily, wondering if serving as rector of the College that had enchanted me as a seminarian was just a dream. Those years were so formative, and my own priesthood was inspired by hundreds of young men who were prepared as priests at the College, by priests who came as graduate students or on sabbatical, by devoted faculty, and by the towering presence of John Paul II. And now on Madison Avenue, when I dream, I dream of her, the College that I love.”

We learned much from our conversations with you, in-cluding some reasons why you enjoy supporting the mis-sion of the College. As one friend recently said, “We are glad to be able to help support the education of young American seminarians in Rome. What a wonderful op-portunity for them to be able to experience the Church’s theological teaching and spiritual practices first-hand, so close to the Vatican. I’m sure that their stay in the Eter-nal City produces a priceless understanding and forma-tion in these future priests.”

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Mary DiDonato Executive Director of Institutional Advancement



And then there comes the opportunity we perhaps enjoy the most – being able to introduce and familiarize you, first-hand, with the work of the College. In early Octo-ber, fourteen friends and benefactors from all over the United States journeyed to Rome to do just that.

We only had six days to provide them with an insider’s view of the Eternal City and show how this beautiful and historic backdrop for the College is integrated into every aspect of our students’ formation: human, spiritual, in-tellectual, and pastoral. We prayed at the tombs of the saints, walked the streets of ancient Rome, attended an audience with the Holy Father, and had many oppor-tunities to meet, chat, dine, and pray with the seminar-ians and the faculty. As Mark and Beth Steigerwald from Syracuse, NY said, “It was our first visit to Rome, and what a magnificent visit it was, so steeped in history and the touchstones of Christianity!”

During that whirlwind week, Mark and Beth said, “It was truly a highlight to witness the diaconate ordination of thirty very impressive, highly accomplished, and devout individuals in the beauty of Saint Peter’s basilica.”

Richard Woltman, who with his wife has visited the Col-lege twice, said, “The men we have met are inspirational. They have the qualitites essential to serve and further build the Church in the United States. Their dedication and commitment to God and each of us is truly com-mendable. Our personal visits have been truly exhilirat-ing experiences.”

Our guests also enjoyed two unique opportunites: a pri-vate introduction to the offices of the Holy See’s Secre-tariat of State and a tour of the Swiss Guard barracks. The week ended with a day trip to the beautiful, historic hilltown of Tivoli to see the magnificent gardens of Villa d’Este.

It was truly an inspiring week for all involved. We knew that we had succeeded in deepening our benefactors’ appreciation for the great treasure that the College is and in sharing many of Rome’s unique features with them, including its fabulous restaurants. Surely, many new friendships also were forged. We look forward to meet-ing many more of you in the coming months and sharing the life of the College with you as well!

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As an intersection for the people of Rome, Europe, and the world, Piazza del Popolo has served count-

less generations in many different ways. This piazza is the confluence of three main Roman thoroughfares, Via del Corso, Via del Babuino, and Via di Ripetta. The piazza also contains the Porta Flaminia, an ancient gate-way leading northwards whose interior façade was de-signed and executed by Bernini in 1655 to commemorate the entrance of the recently-converted Queen Christina of Sweden into Rome. It was on the Via Flaminia and through its gate that pilgrims would finally reach their destination – the city of countless martyrs and saints and the home to the successor of St. Peter.

The neo-classical structure of the piazza itself was completed during Napoleon’s rule, serving as a place of execution by guillotine for those opposing his authority. Twentieth century communist leaders used the piazza as a place for rallies, attempting to bring Italy into the Soviet block. Today, Piazza del Popolo is still

used as a meeting place for many, the occasional rally or demonstration and for art exhibits and concerts. Prominently featured in this piazza is the second tall-est of the Egyptian obelisks (118 feet, the tallest being at St. John Lateran) and the basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo. Pope Paschal II commissioned the basilica in 1099 after he had received a vision of the Blessed Virgin. Such notable masters as Bramante, Bernini, Pinturicchio, Raphael, Carravaggio, and Bregno have contributed to the art and architecture of the church. Of particular note are Carravaggio’s paintings of the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul. It was in the Augustin-ian monastery attached to this church that Martin Luther stayed during his only visit to Rome in 1511.

As part of the city in which the Pontifical North Ameri-can College shares, the historic depth and spiritual rich-ness that the Piazza del Popolo contains is boundless.

by Rev. Mr. Chase Hasenoehrl ‘10Diocese of Boise

A view of the oblisk in the center of Piazza del Popolo.

Inside the basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE



Much is expected from priests today – and that’s not bad. Here at the Pontifical North American College, we strive to give our seminarians and priests the resourc-

es they need to meet the challenges they will face. Indeed, they are given much prepa-ration and formation so that they can meet the legitimate expectation to be competent spiritual Fathers for the faithful entrusted to their care.

It is for this reason that we provide quality spiritual directors, experienced and respected formation advisors, pastoral formation seminars conducted by outstanding authorities in their fields of competence, and a solid theological education by some of the best Catholic university professors in the world. It is also for this reason that we provide an environ-ment where seminarians and priests can study, develop deep priestly friendships, and

foster habits of personal discipline that will sustain them for the rest of their lives. We give them much, and when they return to their dioceses to serve the people of God, we know that much will be expected of them.

I ask you to help in this mission of priestly formation. You have a legitimate desire for priests who are competent, effective leaders for the Church. Please help us prepare them to meet your expectations by helping us meet the chal-lenges of providing a quality formation program and environment.

Much is expected of the Pontifical North American College. We are blessed with an outstanding community of nearly 350 priests and seminarians. These men of faith and commitment are entrusted to our care for their formation. We have been given the personal priestly vocations of these men, and it is our responsibility to care for them and nourish them; much is expected of us. Help us to fulfill this responsibility with your generous support.

For example, this year at the seminary we increased our staff of spiritual directors by one full-time and two part-time priests to meet the needs of our increased enrollment. This increase in staff required us to construct and furnish one additional faculty apartment and additional office space. At the graduate house for priests, we upgraded our laundry facilities and purchased additional liturgical vestments.

I mention these few simple examples of extraordinary expenses, because they total more than $100,000 and represent only a minor portion of the costs associated with providing a quality ministry of priestly formation. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to meet these financial challenges.

Your help is needed now more than ever. As you may have read in recent economic news, the U.S. Dollar has lost much of its value in recent months. For example, the Dollar declined approximately 8.5% against the Euro in just the first four months of this fiscal year alone! For us, that means an increase is our operational costs, because our income is almost entirely in dollars and expenses are mostly in Euros.

We are confident that we will meet the expectations and challenges we face. Our confidence stems from our trust in God that this ministry is first and foremost His work and not our own. Our confidence also comes from the knowl-edge that friends like you will understand the importance of priestly formation and will, by the grace of God, continue to support us with your prayers and sacrificial gifts. God bless you for being a part of our mission!

ECONOMO’S CORNER

Rev. Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg ‘89 Diocese of Tulsa Vice-Rector for Administration

“To those who have been given much, much is expected.” –Luke 12:48b

FALL 2 0 0 9 29


IN CELEBRATION OF YOUR ALMA MATER’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Join your fellow classmates in Rome for the ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION

JANUARY 7TH TO 14TH, 2010

Includes Liturgies at the Casa Santa Maria and the Immaculate Conception Chapel, the “bum run” to Villa Santa Caterina, and

an audience with the Holy Father.

For more information, and to register, contact our

Office of Institutional Advancement today!

TEL: (202) 541-5411 - FAX (202) 722-8804 - [email protected]

The Pontifical North American College3211 Fourth Street, NEWashington, D.C. 20017-1194

NON-PROFIT ORG.

US. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 144

WALDORF, MD

For more information about the North American College, or to learn about opportunities for memorial gifts, contact Mary DiDonato at our Washington, D.C., Office of Institutional Advancement:

Tel: (202) 541-5411 / Fax: (202) 722-8804 Email: [email protected] or visit our website at www.pnac.org


nac magazine: fall 2009

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