Spring/Summer 1999Rector's Corner

"When a guest comes,Christ comes."

By Rev. Msgr. Timothy M. Dolan, Rector, Class of 1976,Archdiocese of Saint Louis

The phrase, I'm told, goes all the way back to St. Benedict: Venithospes, venit Christus - "When a guest comes, Christ comes."Hospitality is a celebrated Christian virtue, and the North AmericanCollege ranks right up there with Benedictines in carrying out thisnoble mandate.

As you know, millions of visitors come to the Eternal City everyyear. From its founding in 1859, the College has been an oasis ofwelcome for American pilgrims. In fact, the College administers the"Bishops' Office for U.S. Visitors to the Vatican," that is housed inour graduate residence, the Casa Santa Maria, on the viadell'Umilta, and is ably directed by Msgr. Roger Roensch. Last yearalone he assisted 52,000 American visitors to Rome, helping themsee the Holy Father and enjoy the spiritual treasures of Rome, andhe is creatively preparing for the throngs expected for the Greatjubilee of 2000.

There are always guests at the College. As I write, the officers ofthe National Conference of Catholic Bishops are with us for theweek in Rome consulting with various offices of the Curia. Lastweek we hosted cardinals and bishops here in Rome with The

Papal Foundation, a group of benefactors who support the Apostolic See. And we welcomed the wonderfulfolks who came here as participants in the College's Second Annual Pilgrimage, plus 432 guests at theEighth Annual Dinner, all served by our Seminarians. Yesterday at Sunday Mass we had a group fromKansas led by an alumnus. Next week, at the request of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples,we will welcome thirty missionary leaders from the Third World.

And then there are seminarians from home, vocation directors and alumni, parents and friends who stop by.Last week we even welcomed a distinguished group of Jewish leaders from America who presented us witha Menorah for our courtyard.

We welcome them all as we would Christ It is good for our priests and seminarians to keep in touch with thepeople from home, whom they arc preparing to serve once they leave the College; it is good formation,since, as parish priests, they will daily make people feel at home in the Church, welcome them at baptism,feed them at the family table at the Holy Eucharist, and bid them farewell at their death. A good parish priesthas to be hospitable! And, it is good for the College, as well; so many people are impressed with the caliberof our men and the soundness of our program.

I sometimes joke that I spend half my life saying "welcome," and the other half saying "good-bye." But it isso rewarding to see how people enjoy their visit to the College, how impressed they are, and how eager theyare to help us. And, we treasure them - their interest, time, support, and presence mean a lot. After all, theyare "Christ."

Rev. Msgr. Timothy M. Dolan, '76

Celibacy

Falling in Love:A New Priest Tells Why He Is Celibate

BY Rev John R. Cihak, Class of 1998,Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

My high school class of 1988 was holding its ten-year reunion. At abarbecue, amid the clinking of microbrew bottles and the chatter ofwhat-have-you-been-doing-with-your-life?, I ran into anacquaintance whom I had known since the third grade. He was nowa journalist for a West Coast newspaper... and a non-Catholic whowas genuinely delighted to hear that I had just recently beenordained a Catholic priest. His reporter instincts kicked in and hebegan firing questions. Soon we were discussing the priests freepromise of celibacy. Having found myself a tightening rod forridicule or anger about this issue before, 1 was surprised anddisarmed by his engaging and respectful approach.

I launched into the litany of sound theological and pastoralarguments. His response ran something like this: "All right, theseare good reasons for a priest to be celibate, but why are YOU acelibate? Didn't you go out with Hilary? Weren't you at the winterformal with Laurie over there? Didn't you and your brothers havethat rock band that cranked out the tunes at the annual chickenbarbecue and street dance?" His questions, beginning now to seempushy, forced me to think more deeply. Why would a Generation"X"er, whose life to the casual observer probably didn't seem thatdifferent from his fellow students at a public high school in the mid-1980s, voluntarily choose celibacy? In retrospect, I realize thatthere is really only one answer to his question: I am celibatebecause I have found Jesus Christ and fallen in love

Father John Cihak is currently working on aLicentiate in Fundamental Theology.

This response may take the questioner by surprise. "You're celibate because you've fallen in love?" For St.John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, the priesthood is "the love of the heart of Jesus." We only knowlove to the degree that God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit has revealed Himself to the world. He has done sototally and concretely in Jesus Christ, especially in His passion, death and resurrection. Jesus is divine lovein the flesh. When a man has tasted love, especially divine love, and lets it penetrate his heart, he cannothelp but be changed. Jesus offers his love to me as a priest concretely in a "call," a call to love Him in anutterly specific way, a vocation requiring my free "yes."

He has called me to celibate love of Him and all those whom He came to save (everyone!). Celibacy takesroot through the action of the Holy Spirit. He floods a man's heart with the gift of profound love of God andthe Church, a love which cannot be contained; and He harnesses that love in a sacramental presence in theChurch, a love for the sake of building the Kingdom. The gift and the call to celibacy become one.

Priestly celibacy isn't a rule to be endured, arbitrarily imposed on a man's life. Rather, it is a highly visibleexpression of love, a provocative witness of one striving to give himself totally in love. I've gladly promised

expression of love, a provocative witness of one striving to give himself totally in love. I've gladly promisedlife-long celibacy not because I've been judged psychologically deficient or lack passion, but because I'vefallen in love. just as anyone who knows what true love require, thus do I willingly share in the breathlessexhilaration and painful sacrifice of love, a love which is celibate. The priest, through his celibacy, can trulygive himself away in love to God and others, joyfully bearing witness in his own flesh to the comingResurrection, willingly sharing in the cross of the Savior of the world. Celibacy is a needed fragrance waftingthrough a world severely congested with selfishness. When people realize that the point of human existenceis not sex but divine love, not self-promotion but self-giving, they will no longer see the celibate priest as aspectacle to deride or a baffling enigma to ignore, but as one whose heart is on fire with love for God and forthem.

At my next high school reunion ten years from now, I imagine my reporter friend will be married. I alsoimagine he'll still have the same question for me: "Why are you celibate?" And I'll ask him, "Well, why didyou get married?" He'll likely respond, "Because I fell in love." My answer will be, "I did, too."Book on the Pope

The "Witness to Hope"By Edward Horkan, Class of 2002,

Diocese of Arlington

In 1995, Pope John Paul II asked George Weigel, a Senior Fellow at the Ethicsand Public Policy Center, to write his biography. That biography, "Witness toHope" will be published in October 1999. The following article is based upon arecent interview with Mr. Weigel.

According to Weigel, "'Witness to Hope' will be the first comprehensive biographyof John Paul 11 that takes his Christian discipleship as the entry-point for itsanalysis. Others have portrayed a great statesman who is, almost incidentally, aChristian, a priest, and a bishop." By contrast, Weigel insists that "everything KarolWojtyla does . . . is within the horizon of his conviction that Jesus Christ is theanswer to the question that is every human life." Mr. Weigel described the Popeas more concerned with culture than politics. Thus, he stated that, "As a youngman, Karol Wojtyla became convinced that culture, not politics or economics, wasthe driving force of history." In Mr. Weigel's words, the Pope has long believedthat "the crisis of the twentieth century ... is a crisis in the order of ideas andculture: defective humanisms that have wrought havoc with our times. TheChurch's answer to that, he is convinced, must be the articulation of a vibrantChristian humanism, capable of re-attaching modernity's great aspiration -freedom - to truth and goodness."

A long similar lines, Mr. Weigel stated A long one of the Pope's greatestaccomplishments has been "reviving Christian humanism by, among other things, creating the mostcompelling alternative to the sexual revolution on offer in the world today." For example, Mr. Weigel believesthat, "No theological proposal of the last 20 years has the breathtaking scope and implications of the HolyFather's "Theology of the Body." And, in general, Mr. Weigel said that John Paul's reign "has been apontificate of extraordinary theological creativity, and this creativity is John Paul's primary response to theproblem of dissent."

Regarding the home front, according to Mr. Weigel, the Pope "thinks that the Church in the United States ison the brink of a great revival of evangelical fervor if we have the wit and the will for it.... [The Pope] knowsthat any revival of American public life and culture will come primarily through American Christianity."Travel

PASSPORT

By Paul Halladay, Class of 2000,Archdiocese of Mobile

AFRICA

It was at the Alumni Association Meeting in January that I tried tospeak to him. I wanted to write an article on travelling and I couldn'tthink of a better person to quote than the Baron of Blue Guideshimself, Br. Randal Riede. It wasn't going to be easy though. Hiscompany was in high demand and by those who had a much morelegitimate claim on this venerable man's time than a fourth yearseminarian looking for a good quote. It happened just after thededication of the library in his honor: I managed to steal a fewprecious seconds to ask him his thoughts on travelling. With thatknowing smile and his wizened old voice, he said: "My boy, my wordswill be the words of Montaigne: 'Travel is the best teacher."' On thebasis of previous conversations concerning this topic, I don't think ourbeloved librarian would disagree with the added exhortation: So be agood student!

ITALY

If Montaigne is right, then, and if my addition to the thoughts ofBr. Randal are equally correct, we can say that NACers havebeen diligent students of the best teacher for decades now. FromAthens to Accra, Zagreb to Zanzibar and all points in between,students from the North American College have visited there, andtheir reasons have been as diverse as their itineraries. Some go togive succor to the suffering, some to succor their souls, others tosee legendary sights they have dreamed of since childhood.Some return telling of fives changed, some return renewed in spiritand confirmed in vocation and some come back with just plain oldgood stories of camaraderie that enrich the soul, strengthen thebonds of friendship, and bring a smile to the face for years tocome.

AUSTRIA

Yes, travel has taught the NACer about God, his fellow man,and how to live with and respect both. What else could you ask ofthe best of teachers?

SWITZERLAND

ISRAEL

Religion

Teachings on PreachingBy Charles W. Bell

Weekend News and Viewsreprinted from

NY DAILY NEWS November 21, 1998

Washington Downstairs, the leadership of the U.S. Catholic Church 'as making its way through an agendathat ran from racism to religious garb and from abortion to everyday evangelism. Upstairs, in the GrandTeton suite of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, there was only one item on the agenda.

"I call it a summit meeting on preaching," said Msgr. Timothy Dolan, rector of the North American College,the American seminary in Rome. And so, in a way, it was. For a full day this week, 15 leading Catholichomilists (or preachers) shared opinions and suggestions on ways to teach seminarians to speak moreeffectively from the pulpit. This is a big problem, and not just at the North American. Catholics often complainabout the poor quality of homilies, and the Grand Teton suite was filled with men and women who think theycan do something about it.

The reason, for the workshop, said Dolan, 48, one-timediocesan priest in St. Louis and North American grad,was that the seminary is establishing an endowed chair ofpreaching. Virtually all seminaries provide at least onecourse in preaching, but, despite the avalanche ofcomplaints from the pews, almost none of them makehomiletics paramount in priestly education. One reason,possibly, is that it is Communion, not the sermon, that iscentral to Catholic worship. Most homilies run 10 or sominutes, tops, which often does not allow for much in theway of anecdotes, reflections and so on. So, thanks to agift from the family of the late Rev. Carl Peter - atheologian who taught at Catholic University here - NorthAmerican is going to establish a homiletics program in hishonor. Msgr. Timothy Dolan, '76, listening attentively to

recommendations for enhancements to the preachingprogram at the College.

"So," said Dolan, "talk to me." One by one, the 13 priests and two nuns did just that, starting with an eight-minute answer to the question, "If you were charged with structuring a homiletics program at the NorthAmerican College, what would it look like?" "Teach them to use a mike," said the Rev. Alfred McBride, of

Weston, Mass., "and teach them to make eye contact with the congregation." More seriously, McBridesuggested that homilies contain only one point - "It's the hardest thing to do," he said - and that priests speakin simple, every-day language.

Sister Barbara Reid, a Dominican who 'teaches New Testament studies at Aquinas College in Adrian,Mich., called preaching an art. "So," she said, "teach an appreciation of the arts." Also, she said, teachseminarians to speak of Jesus and God as if they actually had heard of them, not just read about them. TheRev. Eugene Hemrick of Washington ran down a list of groups that he said priests rarely address in homilies-gays and lesbians, addicts, the never-married, latchkey kids, etc. "Whom are you preaching to?" he asked."Preach to them."

At the end of the day, Dolan asked for one recommendation. "Hire a full-time homiletics professor," said theRev. Virgil Elizondo, of San Antonio. Every other head nodded in agreement. "If the bishops accomplishedas much today as we did," said Deacon Pat Kennedy, who lives in Lawrenceville, NJ, and is director ofdevelopment for North American, "they had quite a day."Christmas

An Evening ofLessons and Cards

By Charles Byrd, Class of 2000,Archdiocese of Atlanta

0ne of the events that marks the Christmas holiday for Americans living in Rome (as well as for numerousother friends of the College) is the annual "Lessons and Carols," which was held this year on December 20.The evening of readings and choral music is built around the Great O-Antiphons; and as the celebrationprogresses, the church becomes increasingly more illuminated by candlelight.

The chapel of the Immaculate Conception was filled to capacity with dignitaries and-guests as the Rectorspoke of our need to prayerfully consider what the coming of the Incarnate Lord means to humanity (and toour own individual lives). His words challenged His hearers to look beyond the tinsel of the holiday to the"Christ" of the "Christ Mass."

A gainst the backdrop of presidential impeachment and military actions in Iraq, Christ's message of peaceseemed all the more pressing on that night. The considerable collective musical talents of the College weredrawn upon, as antiphonal chant and polyphony echoed in the dark night; the beautiful creche wasdisplayed, and afterwards, homemade cookies and hot chocolate were offered to all. The night was just theright way to send the students away for their Christmas break.

Right: Fr. Edward P. Smith, '82, Director of Liturgy & Music.Below:Schola, shown from Left to Right, Top Row: Christopher Sahd, '01, Fr. John Cihak, '97, Paul Fontanella, '02, John Fleckenstein,'02; Bottom Row: Charles Byrd, '00, Leo Patalinghug, '99, Trevor Murry, '01, Dan Gallagher, '99, Erik Walters, '01.

Library

The Randal Riede, C.F.X., LibraryBY Daniel Gallagher, Class of 1999, Diocese of Gaylord

Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B, His Eminence James CardinalHickey, C'51, and Brother Randal Riede, C.F.X., after the dedicationceremony.

0n Sunday, January 10 amidst the festivities of Alumniweek at the college, His Eminence James CardinalHickey, C '51, dedicated the Brother Randal Riede,C.F.X. Library. "Brother was known for many things,not the least of which were his humor and hismemorable aphorisms," Cardinal Hickey said at theclosing of the mass preceding the dedication "Onesuch aphorism was always said with a smile and atwinkle in his eye: 'Brother knows!'. Well, brother, weknow too. we know how much you mean to this libraryand to this college."

"It was a great honor to have served the college for 26 years," Brother Randal said afterward. "These yearswere some of the happiest of my fife." All who had the privilege of residing at the College during BrotherRandal's long career will remember his remarkable wisdom continuing generosity and unfailinggentlemanliness.

The college was pleased to welcome His Excellency Archbishop GabrielMontalvo, the new Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, who attended theceremony along with Archbishops John P. Foley (C'65) and William J. Lavaba('62), Bishops Paul S. Loverde (166) and William F. Murphy ('64), and formerrectors of the College Msgr. Lawrence Purcell ('66), Msgr. Charles Murphy('62), Archbishop Edwin O'Brien (C'76), and present rector, Msgr. TimothyDolan ('76).

Since Br. Randal's retirement in 1997, the operations of the library have beenexpertly guided by head librarian Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B. Through anumber of terminals located throughout the library, students can locate booksin the collection and access patristic works and the Catholic Periodical Indexon CD-ROM. Sister Rebecca has also overseen an architectural reorganizationof the library to accommodate a new office, reading room, and the Pius XIIconference room. Thanks to a generous donation from the E.L. WiegandFoundation of Reno, NV, Sister's enthusiastic efforts and the assistance ofstudents and faculty, the circulation system of the library has beencomputerized through an enormous project of "bar-coding" over 40,000volumes. The E.L. Wieqanb Foundation supports programs and projects ofexemplary organizations in the fields of education, health, and medicalresearch, public affairs, civic and community affairs, and arts and culturalaffairs. The Good Shepherd welcomes all

who visit the College Library.

Sister Rebecca Abel, O.S.B, and Mrs. Maria Marconi are enjoyingthe newly installed library automated computer system.

"The library has been blessed by the generosityof our benefactors and alumni; said SisterRebecca. "With these resources, I have been ableto make the works of the library more accessible.All this would not have been possible if it weren'tfor the outstanding collection of books which Br.Randal worked so hard to acquire."

The college is currently moving into a new phaseof improving the library facilities at the Casa SantaMaria, which will include relocating andreorganizing the collection. Soon the computernetworking which has facilitated research on theJaniculum also will include the growing collectionat the graduate house.

NAC Sports

North American MartyrsNeed New Nickname

By James Mason, Class of 2001, Diocese of Sioux Falls

After decades of being the doormat of the international seminary soccer league, the North American

After decades of being the doormat of the international seminary soccer league, the North AmericanMartyrs are beginning to turn some heads in the among their rivals. The reversal of fortune began with the1997-98 record, 2-2-1.

Many of the European and African rivals attributed the year to a fluke until the Martyrs exploded into the1999-2000 season with a convincing 4-1 victory over the World Cup champion French seminarians. Thesquad then followed this success with a well-fought 3-3 draw against a powerful and skilled internationalteam representing the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). With our college patroness being The ImmaculateConception and the OMI's obvious devotion to our Holy Mother, a draw seemed to be the favored outcomeof our favorite intercessor.

With this new-found success comes the dilemma of deciding on whether to change the time-honored andtraditional nickname of the Martyrs to something which may convey more of a sense of challenge to ourvisiting opponents. Recognizing the value of tradition and with a sense of guarded optimism, team captainand coach Rob Moses, '99, Diocese of Orlando, has suggested a compromise: The Fighting Martyrs.

Coach Moses is quoted as saying, "Although, the new name may not strike fear into the hearts of our rivals,it does let them know they will be in for a match when they come to play." With such confidence, it willsurprise no one if The Fighting Martyrs end the season with their first winning record ever.

Left. Brian Klingele, '02, battles it out with the competition ofthe day. Below: Michael Tiernan, '02, struggles for the ball againstthree defenders.

Economo's Corner

"Much Has Been Done"By Rev. Msgr. Bernard Barrister Class of 1976,

Diocese of Scranton

Dust and construction have continued to be theorder of the day for the past few months. Much has

been done and much is planned to be done.

The construction of The Cardinal Bernardin Suite onthe fifth floor has been completed. The furnitureshipped from the United States has been received andarranged. The suite has been dedicated and is nowready for guests.

Now all the suites planned for the new fifth floorhospital wing have been finished. The space, has beenimproved tremendously. Finally, the Maria ImmacolataChapel located in the former Chapel of the Wordawaits the altar, chairs and the sacristy cabinets. Thelatter work should be completed by the end of theacademic year.

Also, at the same time, the Lawrence CardinalShehan Suite has been completed. We now await thereceipt of the furniture which will be shipped from

America.

On the fifth floor central corridor, work progresses on the Timothy Cardinal Manning Suite. The constructionhas beencompleted, the parquet floor has been laid, the fixtures are about to be installed and the painting is beingdone with the installation of the air conditioning/ heating.

For reasons of increased security, new doors have been installed at Firmum Est. Panic bars have beenincorporated in these doors to permit emergency egress after hours. Similar doors have been installed at theexits of the Convent Wing and at the Rappresentanza/ Campo Sportivo exits.

Thanks to funding from the Dan Murphy Foundation, work has begun on the rewiring of the entire seminarybuilding on the Gianicolo. Large cables are being connected from the new main electrical panel in thebasement to the secondary panels on each corridor. The rewiring of each room will then follow.

Finally, a number of projects have been completed, namely, the installation of the new washers/dryers inthe laundry and the replacement of a major portion of the roof. At the Casa Santa Maria, the new kitchen isfinished and functioning, the two Hinkley Suites have been completed and the Audience Office has receivednew furniture.

The dedication of the Cardinal Bernardin Suite.Those present: William Cardinal Keeler, '56,C'61, presiding, Rev. Steven Dombrowski, Rev.Robert Kealy, C'85, Msgr. Timothy Dolan, '76,and Most Rev. Donald Wuerl, '67

Alumni 11Oth Reunion

Reunion Highlights:

Dedication of the CarlJ. Peter

Chair of HomileticsBy Roger Ghatt, Class of 2001,

Archdiocese of Washington

There was much to celebrate at this year's Alumni Reunion. It was the 110th reunion, the140th anniversary of the College, and the 400th anniversary of the establishment of thehouse that became the original College on the Via dell'Umilta--- all of these anniversariesfalling on the eve of the Great jubilee. To celebrate these anniversaries, about 150 alumnicame together in Rome. These men felt very privileged to be returning to the Eternal Citywith all its memories and the ideals she represents. It would be a weekend of manyhighlights and much spiritual renewal.

For the alumni, faculty and students now studying at the North American College, thegreatest blessing and most memorable event of the Alumni Reunion was the PapalAudience. "You have returned to Rome," Pope John Paul reminded the alumni, "whereyour priestly formation took place and to relive the profound experiences which shapedyour identity and nourished your spirituality as priests."

Father Carl J. Peter, '58,teaching.

Francis Cardinal Stafford blessing the plaque of the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics. Standing in the background is Cabal Cardinal Dalywho gave the first homily.

Indeed it was of great benefit for us seminarians tohear these priests tell how the lessons learned duringtheir years of formation at the College prepared themfor the great challenge of proclaiming Salvation fromthe Lord. We learned how their love of the See ofRome and the successor of St. Peter had enriched theirpriestly ministry. Many of the alumni visited the fourmajor basilicas, which are so sacred to all of us wholive and study in Rome.

They also appreciated the receptions and banquets asopportunities to reconnect with old friends andbrothers. These were times to talk fondly of schooldays in Rome and to catch up on more recent events.Of course, this being a Roman reunion, lots of goodpasta was served!

His Holiness Pope John Paul II greets the familyof the late Rev. Carl J. Peter.

The alumni were also present when one of their own was honored with the dedicationof the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics. Carl Joseph Peter was a student at the NorthAmerican College from 1951-58. After service as a parish priest at home, he wasassigned to the North American College from 1960-64, as assistant vice rector. Uponreturning to the U.S., he became a professor of theology at the Catholic University ofAmerica, where he taught until his sudden death in 1991.

The College he loved so much was proud to dedicate its Chair of Preaching to him,Carl J. Peter was an exceptionally skilled preacher of the Word of God, and he willhave a constant place in our grateful memory. The generosity of his family and of thealumni made this chair possible. His Eminence Cahal Cardinal Daly gave the inauguraladdress. The tide of his lecture was "Preaching Reconciliation and justice." Hereminded us that if our preaching is to be convincing and faithful to the Gospel, it mustalways be centered our preaching on the person of Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, C'76, proposing one of the three traditionaltoasts during the reunion banquet.

Anniversary

The 50th forFather Thomas Radloff, SJ.

By Kristian Teater, Class of 2000,Archdiocese of Saint Louis

From the earliest days, priests of the Society of Jesus have been an important part of the North AmericanCollege. On the First Sunday of Advent, the NAC community came together to honor a priest who hasfollowed a line of distinguished spiritual directors and to celebrate his 50 years in the Society of Jesus.

Fr. Thomas H. Radloff, SJ, entered the Society in the spring of 1948 after he graduated from St. IgnatiusHigh School, Cleveland, Ohio, where he matured in his faith guided by the men whom he would later call"brothers." Two of those brothers would come to celebrate their 50th jubilee along with their classmate: Fr.Henry Chamberlain, SJ, and Fr. Richard Mackowski, SJ, who is well known among the men of the Collegefor his renowned "Study-Tour-Pilgrimages" throughout the Middle East.

Father Thomas Radloff, SJ, and SisterAntoniaAcosta Avila, H.J., share a moment after thebanquet.

After his ordination in 1961 by Bishop John Reardon, Fr. Radloffreturned to serve the same high school in which he had taught as aJesuit scholastic in the '50s; the University of Detroit High School,where he would stay until 1987. As a young Jesuit priest, he was incharge of bringing the curriculum of the theology department in linewith the mind of the Council. He was also responsible for introducingthe liturgies of the new Roman Missal.

Concerning the future challenges for the priests of the ThirdMillennium, Fr. Radloff believes that these men will have to face theconfusion which exists in the world today, especially with regard to thestructure of the modern American family. Considering that the familyis the "domestic" Church, any instability within it will effect the family'sfaith life, especially that of the children. Another challenge for thepriest of tomorrow will be the continued misunderstanding of what theSecond Vatican Council was and what it meant for the Church. Hesees that many people still concentrate on certain things aboutCatholicism which are not the real essence of the faith.

Another Jubilarian of our house, Sr. Antonia Acosta Avila, H.J.,renewed her vows during the Mass, again consecrating her life to theDivine Bridegroom. This past year she celebrated 25 years ofdedicated service to the Lord. Speaking to the community, she humblythanked God for the gifts which He had given her, and for Fr. Radloff'slife as a priest as well.

Casa Santa Maria

"The Waters Do Change"By Rev. John J. McCarthy Class of 2001, (Casa Santa Maria)

Archdiocese of Hartford

Time passes; things change. Even the Eternal City must confront the impact of time. As I returned to Rome

for doctoral studies in canon law, 14 years after my departure as an ordained priest, these vague notionsabout change took on a more concrete form. The scaffolding I remembered was still there but it nowsurrounded different buildings. The 64 buses were still crowded but they were newer and shinier. Thatfascinating blend of frenetic activity and inevitable delay that seems uniquely Roman continued, but in a new,more focused context - that of preparation for the celebration of the Great jubilee.

Soon, however, I came to realize that much of the change I initially perceived in the city may in fact havebeen less than meets the eye. Change, like beauty, lies in the eye of the beholder. Time, age andexperience had shaped my vision and now opened to me a new perspective in my impression of Rome.

Fr. John McCarthy standing in theCourtyard at the Casa Santa Maria

Studies were different. The Code of Canon Law, promulgated theyear I was last studying in Rome, was no longer quite so new. Fifteenyears had passed and had given it something of a life of its own. Itcould now be considered not only in the context of the law which hadpreceded it and of Vatican Council 11, which had given birth to it, butalso in its own right as a body of law which has had a significantimpact on the life of the Church.

Studies, however, were not the only thing that I found had changed.Life at the College had changed for me as well. Seminarians gatheredfrom diverse backgrounds, and united in their common enterprise offormation for ordination, had been succeeded by a group of priestssharing their common bond of priesthood and pursuing variedtheological disciplines. The enriching blend of unity and diversityremained but the ingredients had, to an extent, changed. At the sametime, a new generation of seminarians had arrived, a group whoseobvious talents and dedication allowed me to relive, at leastvicariously, the joys of my own formation experience, and toappreciate more fully the ways in which that formation contributeseven now to my appreciation of this opportunity to live once again atthe heart of the Church.

It is said that you cannot step into the same river twice. My return toRome has convinced me that the saying is true, but only to an extent.The waters do change but the river may remain the same-especially ifit is the Tiber.

Institute

The ClassroomOutside Of the Classroom

By Rev. Gary Zender,Archdiocese of Seattle

What did the North American College provide for us? As much as anything the NAC gave us anenvironment for exchange. The variety of professors, some from the United States, others from Europe,affirmed and strengthened what many of us had learned in the seminary years ago. Our lectures were aspringboard for the conversations at the dinner table that led to further insight and enrichment of who we areas Priests today. The enthusiasm and dedication of the seminary students renewed our commitment toservice and to carrying on the work of the renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council. The NACprovides a strong backbone to the sabbatical experience. This rich environment alone would have provideda worthwhile program. However, there are similar experiences that are offered by programs in many parts ofour country and beyond. It is the classroom outside of the classroom that makes the difference here.

Although several in our group had previously been to Rome, no one had the gift of time that this programallows in order to experience what the Eternal City has to offer. Everything from the wonderful piazzas and

museums, to the history and architecture of the churches to the rich heritage of our Catholic tradition with allits beauty and its blemishes, makes this program like no other. In addition, many took advantage of the tripto the Holy Land and other shorter excursions within Italy. As the 1999 spring session came to a close, ourgroup departed with gratitude for the great gift of living, studying, praying and playing our way throughRome. This spirit of gratitude is what will inspire us as we continue to serve the Lord and His people.

Those who visited the Holy Land: Kneeling:Rich Carlino (Albany), Terry Kerner (Detroit)Standing (first row):Gary Zender (Seattle), Bill Burks (Louisville),Robert Kaszynski (Fall River); Pierre Plante(Providence), Tad Walczyk (Toronto), GabrielFox(Gaylord), Ray LaRussa (Columbus),Dicko Tourissian (tour guide)Standing (second row): David Norris )Fresno), Bill Brown (SanFrancisco), Bill O'Shea (Joliet), DanVenglarik (Youngstown), Bill Murray(Chicago), Joe Herp (Louisville)Standing (third row):Kevin McCoy (director ICTE), DennisChampagne (Seattle), Steve Dombrowski(Chicago), Tim McDonnell (New York), LarryDelonnay (Detroit),' David Rhodes(Youngstown), Fran Stiegeler, SJ (CaliforniaProvince)