Common Life at the Casa
Casa Santa Maria dell’Umiltà offers its residents an authentic priestly community and a privileged opportunity for spiritual, intellectual and human enrichment. Its location in the heart of the Eternal City enables them to complement their studies by direct contact with Rome’s unique religious, artistic and cultural heritage. Coming from different local Churches from throughout the United States, they encounter the rich diversity of the Church in our country and build strong priestly friendships that in many cases last for a lifetime.
Spiritual and liturgical life
The Casa is a house of study and prayer. It is presumed that, along with his academic work, each priest resident will make prayer a priority in his daily schedule.
In addition to the historic main chapel, two smaller chapels are set aside for smaller celebrations and private prayer. Concelebrated Masses are scheduled each day to accommodate university schedules and a concelebrated Solemn Mass is offered on Sundays and major feasts. A Eucharistic Holy Hour with Evening Prayer and Benediction is also celebrated daily. Forty Hours devotion is traditionally observed on the weekend prior to Christ the King.
A resident spiritual director is available for confessions and direction. An external confessor comes each Monday evening. Group retreats and days of recollection are offered for those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity.
Academic life
The primary purpose of residence at the Casa is the successful completion of a graduate degree in the ecclesiastical disciples, with a view to service to the Church. Each student is responsible for registering with the university to which he has been assigned and designing his program with the appropriate academic authorities. The student and the sending Ordinary should be aware in advance of the likely duration of the program.
The Casa maintains a house library, specializing in scripture and canon law. The collections of the Randal Riede Library on the College’s Janiculum campus are also accessible for research and study. The two libraries contain over 120,000 books and have access to numerous databases and on-line subscriptions to periodicals.
The College’s Episcopal Board of Governors has determined that each Casa resident is to write a letter to his Ordinary at the end of each academic year, reporting on his academic progress. A copy of this letter is given to the Casa Director and retained in the priest’s permanent record.
Community life
A strong spirit of priestly fraternity and mutual support characterizes the Casa community. Community celebrations are arranged for various occasions. A well-equipped fitness center is provided.
Each resident’s room is provided with a bathroom and shower. Sheets are provided; towels are not. Residents are free to personalize their room. Washers, dryers and ironing boards are available for self-service laundry. Dry-cleaning services are also available at local shops.
Breakfast, lunch, supper are offered in the Casa refectory, which is staffed by professional waiters. Coffee and light snacks are available throughout the day in one of the several lounges. Beverages and snacks can also be purchased in-house.
Religious Sisters who are registered nurses staff the Casa infirmary, which is open one afternoon a week. A Sister nurse is always on call, and referrals to Rome-based physicians are made as needed.
A House Council composed of five elected members meets regularly with the Director to foster good communication and to raise and resolve concerns. All-house meetings are held twice a year.
Residents are normally expected to be in the Casa by midnight. In the case of overnight absence from the Casa, the Director is to be informed in writing.
