Pontifical North American College

*Roman Echoes*...The final issue of the academic year is now available for reading online. You'll read about Rome from our perspective, favorite places and memories of our seminarians, many great photos, and our annual 'Year in Review'. https://bit.ly/3VOspuP

Congratulations to alumnus Reverend Scott E. Bullock '91, on being named Bishop of Rapid City. Ad multos annos!

Under a warm Roman sun, seminarians from the College attending the Gregorian University revived an old tradition recently. At a break between classes, they put out bases, divided into teams, and played two innings of Wiffle ball! With classmates and tourists gathered to cheer them on, our seminarians brought some levity to the end of the academic year.

Our Spring issue of "Roman Echoes" is now available for reading online: https://bit.ly/3wQQkkY This issue features highlights from our Lenten journey, the 30th Annual Rector's Dinner, and several articles about the blessings of living in Rome. Sign up for a free print subscription and/or our monthly email newsletter: https://bit.ly/PNACnews

The seminary year comes to a close with a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by the rector, Msgr. Powers, the singing of the Te Deum, and a celebratory banquet thanking God for another grace-filled year. A collection of chalices from the class was displayed at the banquet. We now send members of the Class of 2024 back to the US for ordination to the priesthood. Please pray for these deacons, and our departing faculty as well. +

As part of a series of post-lunch talks, the College recently welcomed Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, S.V., founding superior of the Sisters of Life, to speak about the origins of the Sisters of Life and elements of their ministry.

Our community and invited guests attended the annual NAC play recently. This year's offering was a student-directed production of "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery." The play is a humorous adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel, "The Hound of the Baskervilles," featuring over forty characters played by five actors. Bravo!

A great piece from our friends at EWTN. Take a look!

30 Years at Janiculum Hill: Celebrating the Pontifical North American College Rector’s Dinner Sign up for our newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ewtn/vaticanJoin us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Rector's Dinner at the Pontifical North Am...

The 30th Rector's Dinner was an extraordinary success! Over 450 guests joined our community to celebrate the mission of the North American College and those who support us. Alumnus Cardinal Wilton Gregory C'80 and Mrs. Lory Mondaini (secretary to seven rectors) were honored. The evening was a highlight for the hundreds of Americans who traveled to Rome for a host of various events this past week. See the complete album of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pnac/albums/72177720316172938

All ready to go!!

It's Rector's Dinner week! This Thursday we will welcome 460 guests (a record) to campus for a gala evening celebrating our mission and those who support it. Hundreds of guests have traveled from the USA to join our Italian friends and dignitaries from the Holy See. Stay tuned for more photos!

The College welcomed over 200 students from eight US university apostolates in Rome served by seminarians for a night of prayer, dinner, and festivity. Rev. Mr. Viktor Gjergji, '24 (New York) and Sr. Bernadette Morse (Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George) shared their experience of discerning God's call to priesthood and religious life.

The College was delighted to host Ms. Peggy Noonan this past weekend as the honored lecturer for the 25th Annual Carl J. Peter Lecture Series. She presented her talk, "What the Church Says in Its Sermons" to a full auditorium of invited guests, dignitaries, and the seminarians and priests of the College. Media Release: https://bit.ly/3vq4hFD

On each Friday of the season of Lent, a team of seminarians offers "Grilled Cheese Friday" from the student lounge: a lunch alternative with great food and time for fraternity.

Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P. (Secretary Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) recently instituted the Class of 2026 to the Ministry of Acolyte. The Church entrusts the men to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry and commissions them as special ministers to give holy communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick. Archbishop presented the ciborium in the hands of the candidates and said “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”

Congratulations to alumnus Msgr. Shane Kirby '04 on being named the substitute promoter of justice of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Msgr. also works as the Director of the Newly Ordained program at the Casa Santa Maria where he is in residence. Ad multos annos!

Pope Francis appoints American priest to role in Vatican’s highest court Monsignor Shane L. Kirby has been named the substitute promoter of justice of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

A great story on an ancient Lenten practice, renewed and organized by the North American College.

Lent at the Heart of the Church: The Roman Stational Liturgy Praying at the tombs and places of martyrdom of the saints and martyrs of the early Church throughout Rome truly ‘brings us into a real, living, breathing relationship with the Church through her saints.’

Recently at the College: Most Rev. Erik Varden, O.C.S.O. (Trondheim, Norway) led a Lenten Day of Recollection on the themes of "The Nature of the Priesthood" and "Pastoral Care". And Fr. Jesse Maingot, O.P. (Irish Province) gave a talk on the Eucharist and St. Manuel Garcia, part of the College’s participation in the National Eucharistic Revival going on in US.

The Pontifical North American College carries on the tradition of the Roman station churches which began in the late second century. Station church liturgies were originally celebrated by the pope for penitent pilgrims. After dying out around the 14th century, the College revived the tradition in 1975. Members of our community rise early and walk to a different church each day for holy Mass. We are joined by pilgrims from around the world. Msgr. Thomas Powers, our rector, was the celebrant for Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina.

Our First-Year seminarians received the Ministry of Lector recently. Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre was the main celebrant. As part of the rite, Cardinal Filoni placed the Holy Scriptures in the hands of each candidate and said, “Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.” Please keep our new lectors and all of our seminarians in your daily prayers.

Before leaving for a well-earned Christmas Break, the seminary community welcomed the Christmas season with a dinner hosted by the third-year seminarians, games, and fraternity. Here are some scenes from the gathering, and also a few of the highly decorated residence corridors.

An annual tradition: the NAC choir, led by Mr. Stephen J. Smith (Director of Music), recently provided sacred music for Advent and Christmas to help the seminarians and guests of the college prepare for the coming of Christ. Proceeding the night of prayerful music, the seminarians and guests gathered for light refreshments.

We are honored to announce the 25th Annual Carl J. Peter Lecturer: Ms. Peggy Noonan. The lecture will take place in Rome at the Seminary on March 17, 2024. For more information: https://bit.ly/3RhS4d3

Some scenes from our 164th-anniversary celebration on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra ('Sostituto' for the Vatican Secretariat of State) was the primary celebrant for the Mass, with other prelates and priest members of our community concelebrating. The banquet included guests from the Roman Curia, the Pontifical Universities, Embassies, and Apostolates, among many others.

Buona festa a tutti! On this day in 1859, the Pontifical North American College was founded. Our celebration today will include Holy Mass in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a grand banquet with many guests from Rome and the US.

"Friends, while in Rome, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rev. Jim Baron for a Q&A at the North American College. The NAC is very near and dear to me, and I was happy to speak with the young seminarians there."...Bishop Barron.

Q&A With Bishop Robert Barron Bishop Robert Barron answers seminarian questions on October 24, 2023, in the Corso Auditorium at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Moderated by...

Support our important work of forming priests for Jesus Christ in the heart of His Church! Since 1859, we have been "America's Seminary In Rome." Invest in the future of the American priesthood by making a gift today. Grazie! https://bit.ly/3PJGF4U

A traditional American celebration of Thanksgiving! The day began with Holy Mass celebrated by Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB, the Abbot Primate of the Order of Saint Benedict, with other priest members of our community concelebrating. Afterward, we gathered for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, including roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Our many guests included Ambassador Joe Donnelly, US Ambassador to the Holy See. Stay tuned for more images from this fun weekend!

Our Thanksgiving celebrations kicked off early Thursday morning with the running of the annual Turkey Trot: the only 5K race around an entire sovereign nation (the Vatican!) Seminarians, priests, and friends of the College joined the fun. Rev. Mr. Michael Maloney (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis) was the first-place finisher.