"You're Most Welcome!"

The new men of the Pontifical North American College have heard these words many times in the last month, as we have experienced time and again the beautiful spirit of fraternity and welcome that is very much a part of this seminary.  It is often said here that because the men come so far from home, it is even more important to make this place feel like home, and we have certainly enjoyed the fruits of the hard work that has gone into making this college our true home!

During our first week back from Siena, we visited the beautiful shrine on the outskirts of Rome called Our Lady of Divine Love, where each of us received an image of Our Lady of Humility, the Patroness of the North American College.  Later on that week, we were able to visit that original image in the chapel of the Casa Santa Maria, a house for English speaking priests who are sent to Rome for studies.  We were led in Vespers by Cardinal Edwin O'Brien, and processed outside to a statue of our lady, where we sang the "Salve Regina" (The "Hail Holy Queen") and dedicated our lives as seminarians to our Blessed Mother.  Our lady is truly watching over us here!

Every seminarian has this image in his room!

Our orientation period also featured an excursion to the gardens of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer home in the beautiful mountains outside of Rome.  Unfortunately, the Pope wasn't there, but we were able to see many of the favorite spots of Pope St. John Paul II, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI!

Pope St. John Paul II in prayer at his fish pond (not my picture!)

My brothers and I standing at the very same pond!

One of the last off-campus trips of orientation was a trip to the Swiss Guard barracks, which are located just inside the wall on the north side of the Vatican.  It was pretty awesome to get a behind-the-scenes look at what is essentially the coolest military force in the world.  We also got a crash course in the Swiss Guard's proud 500-year history, the most notable event of which was their valiant stand during the 1527 sack of Rome, in which three quarters of the Guard died protecting the fleeing Pope Clement VII.  The barracks featured weapons from every era, as well as the evolution of their ever-awesome Conquistador-esque uniforms.

NAC Orientation finished with a weekend trip to Assisi, a town made forever holy and famous by the life of one of the greatest saints to ever live!  The escape to the Umbrian countryside was a welcome relief from the Roman heat, and the free schedule offered us many hours to hike, pray, (eat, sleep) and explore the richness of the city.  Throughout the weekend, we were blessed to have Mass in the town's holiest sites: The Basilica of Saint Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Cross as well as the tomb of St. Clare, The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, where St. Francis would often go to pray, and The Basilica of St. Rufino, the town's Cathedral where both Francis and Clare were baptized.  All the while, we new men had many opportunities to hang out with each other and with the faculty priests who had accompanied us.  It was a truly blessed weekend!

Can't beat that view.

The Cathedral-Basilica of St. Rufino, where Sts. Francis and Clare became Christians!

Aside from all the wonderful trips, our days have been filled with other things like our daily 4-hour Italian classes (which just finished up this past Friday!), as well as various conferences and introductions into the daily life and routine of the seminary.  As more and more of the older men have come back, the house has gotten a lot busier, and it's been pretty awesome (as well as overwhelming) meeting so many guys from all over the country, many of whom are preparing to be ordained to the diaconate in less than two weeks!  An especially wonderful grace has been spending time with my four diocesan brothers, Fr. Joe Kuharski (a fifth-year priest finishing up his theology licentiate), Paul Haverstock, Nick Hagen, and Tim Wratkowski.  And, these past couple of week, we were even blessed by the presence of Bishop Andrew Cozzens, the Archdiocese's new auxiliary, who was in town attending a conference for new bishops.

Today, the new man class will depart for our retreat in the town of Greccio, roughly 90 minutes from Rome, another town which has Franciscan significance, since it is located on the mountain where St. Francis received the stigmata!  Please pray for me and my 47 brothers as we enter into silence before the start of our first year of theology.  Be assured of my prayers for all my family and friends as well, which includes you!

Until next time, please enjoy this picture of my favorite Roman street performer, Chufu the magician, juggler, unicycler extraordinaire.  God bless!