Admission to the Casa Santa Maria dell’Umilta
As the graduate division of the Pontifical North American College, Casa Santa Maria dell’Umiltà serves as a residence for diocesan priests from the United States assigned by their respective Bishops to higher studies in Rome. The admissions process entails the submission of an application form to the Casa Director, the issuance of a student visa from the Italian consular authorities in the United States and, upon arrival in Italy, the acquisition of a stable residence permit.
The College staff speak English and Italian, and are always ready to assist applicants at any stage of the admissions process.
Part I. – Application for Residence to the Casa Santa Maria
Part II. – Application to the Italian Consulate in the U.S.A. for your Visa
Part III. – Italian Language Preparation
Part IV. – Planning Your Arrival Date
Part V. – Orientation to the Casa Santa Maria
Part I. – Apply to the Casa Santa Maria
The “Application for Residence” can be found here:
Download Application in PDF Format
Before submitting the application form, each applicant must be in possession of a valid (unexpired) passport.
The application form, once completed, must bear the official seal of the diocese and be accompanied by:
• the appointment letter from the Bishop addressed to the applicant, assigning him to studies in Rome; the appointment letter must also bear an official (stamped) endorsement by the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington
• a photocopy of the applicant’s passport
• ten (10) passport-size photographs
• a summary curriculum vitae, based on the following model:
NAME / ADDRESS / PHONE / E-MAIL
Date and place of birth; names of parents and siblings
Current assignment (including address)
Education: years; name of schools; city, state; degree(s).
Ordination
Ordination to diaconate: date / place
Ordination to priesthood: date / place
Assignments: positions held, years, parishes, etc.
Knowledge of languages (listening, reading, speaking, writing)
Date / Signature
• the applicant’s planned date of arrival in Italy
The completed application and accompanying materials should then be sent via FedEx to the following address:
Director
Casa Santa Maria dell’Umiltà
Piazza della Pilotta 1
00187 Rome
ITALY
An acknowledgment will be sent from the Casa Director once all the materials have been received and reviewed.
An official letter of acceptance from the Rector of the Pontifical North American College, duly endorsed by the Holy See, will then follow. This document is essential for the process of applying for a student visa from the Italian authorities in the United States.
Part II. – Application to the Italian Consulate in the U.S.A. for your Visa
APPLYING FOR A STUDENT VISA FROM THE ITALIAN CONSULATE IN THE UNITED STATES
Upon receipt of the Rector’s letter of acceptance, the candidate must apply to the nearest Italian Consulate for a student visa (Visto, Type D, not a religious worker visa).
The following is a list of Italian General Consulates in the United States and their respective jurisdictions:
1. Boston, MA (MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
2. Chicago, IL (CO, IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI, WY)
3. Detroit, MI (IN, KY, MI, OH, TN)
4. Houston, TX (AR, LA, OK, TX)
5. San Francisco, CA (AK, some counties of CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, and some American territories)
6. Los Angeles, CA (AZ, some counties of CA, NM, NV)
7. Miami, FL (AL, FL, GA, MS, SC, and some American territories)
8. New York, NY (CT, some counties of NJ, and NY)
9. Philadelphia, PA (DE, some counties of MD, some counties of NJ, NC, PA, some counties of VA, WV)
10. Washington DC Embassy (some counties of MD, some counties of VA, and Washington DC)
Many General Consulates schedule appointments several months out, so an appointment should be made as soon as possible. The busiest season for student visas is spring/summer. The College staff can verify whether fingerprinting is required, but the most recent legislation (January, 2025) does not require it for priests.
The Rector’s letter of acceptance should satisfy the Italian requirements for such matters as proof of financial means, insurance coverage, acceptance into a recognized academic program, etc. The dates for the beginning and end of each university’s academic program can be found by consulting the yearly calendar on its web site.
Whether the application form is sent by post or submitted directly to the Consulate, this step involves surrendering the passport to the Consulate while the visa is processed and affixed to the passport booklet.
N.B. The student visa is valid for a limited time. Therefore, it will be necessary to begin the process for an Italian residency permit (permesso di soggiorno) within eight days after arriving in Italy. Adherence to Italian residency requirements is necessary for remaining in the country and for the granting of a diploma upon the completion of studies.
Part III. – Italian Language Preparation
Some ecclesiastical universities and institutes require an Italian proficiency exam as part of their enrollment. Applicants with no prior knowledge of Italian are strongly encouraged to study the language during the summer before their arrival in Rome, either through individual tutorials or the numerous Italian language programs offered in the United States or in Italy. A list of programs recommended by past Casa residents can be found here:
Part IV. – Planning Your Arrival Date
Each applicant will be sent an Orientation Guide prepared by the priests of Casa Santa Maria and regularly updated. In addition to practical information about life at the Casa, the Guide contains useful information about shipping personal belongings and arriving in Rome and at the Casa.
Once travel arrangements to Italy have been made, an e-mail should be sent to the Casa Director and the Secretary (csm.secretary@pnac.org) indicating the expected date and time of arrival.
All priests new to the Casa (including priests returning to the Casa for additional studies after a few years away) are required to attend the Casa Santa Maria Orientation Program, which takes place during the fourth week of September, before most universities and programs begin classes.
Part V. – Orientation to the Casa Santa Maria
a.) Shipping Personal Belongings to the Casa
An Air Freight Service is recommended if you cannot bring items with you in checked luggage and carry-on bags on your flight. FedEx is most dependable but can also be the most expensive. You will find more detailed shipping information in the Casa Santa Maria Orientation Guide, including some ideas on how to save on shipping cost. A specific procedure for billing your shipment through the PNAC will be included along with the Casa Santa Maria Orientation Guide as a separate .PDF file. Please review this information before you ship anything.
b.) Mandatory Orientation at the Casa
All priests new to the Casa Santa Maria (including priests returning to the Casa for additional studies after a few years away) are required to attend the Casa Santa Maria Orientation.
The orientation begins during the fourth week of September before most universities and programs start classes. More details will be sent to you separately. A full schedule of the orientation’s required events will be placed in your Casa mailbox a few days before orientation begins. There is scheduled free time during the orientation and several events are optional, but the orientation schedule is relatively full.
Even new residents who are not strangers to Rome can benefit from the orientation program and assist others who are new to Rome.
Orientation also introduces you to many of the people who provide services to the Casa or to the U.S. Church/Pilgrims here in Rome that live and work alongside us. Some additional information will be gathered from you, so it will be helpful to keep copies of your application documentation and personal medical information.
