About ICTE

“Ongoing formation is an indispensable requirement in the life of every priest and in his exercise of the priestly ministry” (The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, IV.56).  

Since 1971, shortly after the Second Vatican Council promulgated Optatam Totius (The Decree on Priestly Training, October 1965), which first called for ongoing formation of clergy, the Institute of Continuing Theological Education (ICTE) has led the way in offering programs for the continuing education of Catholic Priests. As seen in the document Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (“The Gift of the Priestly Vocation,” December 2016), recently published by the Congregation of the Clergy, the Church has ever more steadily recognized the importance of ongoing formation and that priests “must constantly feed the ‘fire’ that gives light and warmth to the exercise of the ministry” (The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, IV.b.80). Responding to the Church’s desire that priests continually enrich their minds in order to more effectively serve their people, ICTE offers a variety of educational programs to fit the schedules active clergy.

The Director of the Institute of Continuing Theological Education is Fr. Edward Linton, O.S.B. Fr. Edward is a Benedictine monk and priest of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Ordained in 1991 (Monastic Profession in 1986), he has taught at Saint Meinrad College and has served in the Archabbey’s Parishes. For 12 years Fr. Edward was pastor of Saint James Parish in Chicago, Illinois. Before becoming Director of ICTE, he was Director of International Benedictine Formation at Sant’ Anslemo, the International Benedictine House in Rome, Italy and the Director of the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. Fr. Edward has an M.Div. from Saint Meinrad School of Theology, an M.A. in English Literature from Middlebury College and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University.

Fr. Edward Linton, O.S.B., Director of ICTE
Antonella Ruberto, Program Assistant

Antonella joined the Institute for Continuing Education in 2019 to provide administrative support, working alongside the director to coordinate the program’s development and implementation. Previously, Antonella worked as the assistant to the Vice Rector and Student Services of the Pontifical North American College. Originally from Canada, Antonella holds a Master’s Degree in Oriental Languages and Cultures (Chinese Studies), from “Sapienza” University of Rome and an Advanced Diploma in Business in China, from “Bocconi” University in Milan. Following graduation, she lived first in China, then in Malaysia where she met her 7th generation Roman husband. She moved to Rome, built a family, and is proud mom to a lovely girl and shiba inu dog.  She is also an accomplished photographer with a passion for nature and travel, always smiling and on the move. She gets her endless energy from her chocolate addiction.

For Further Information Please Contact

Rev. Edward Linton, O.S.B
Director, Institute for Continuing Theological Education
Pontifical North American College
00120 Vatican City State · Europe

Phone (39 06) 6849-3-4000 · FAX (39 06) 687-1529
Email: romeshabat@pnac.org