Opening Banquet: New Faces, Seasoned Veterans

With classes already in session, the community of the Pontifical North American College joined in the annual Opening Banquet on evening of Friday, October 11, to kick off the new academic and formational year.  The banquet featured a toast, both comedic and inspiring, to the diaconate class offered by Deacon Matthew Dalrymple of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, as well as an introduction of the new men of the house by first year theologian Justin Conover of Diocese of Fort Worth, delivered in a manner typical of his Texas roots.

Seminarians and priests fill the house to capacity this year. 22 priests  returned for their 5th and 6th year to the Janiculum campus to continue their studies as 53 newly ordained deacons begin their coursework for second cycle.  The third year class boasts 57 members, ready to complete the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, and the second year class, having returned from summer assignments at home and abroad, consists of 56.  The College also welcomed 63 new men of the first year class, beginning their theological studies at the Roman universities.

First year seminarians are not the only newcomers, though. The seminary rejoices also with the arrival of Mr. Leon Griesbach, the College’s new Director of Liturgical Music and Seminary Choir Director, along with his family.  Four religious sisters of the Dominicans of Mary based in Ann Arbor, MI, have also joined the greater NAC community, continuing their own studies and staffing the Randal Riede and Casa Santa Maria Libraries.  Father James Quigley, O.P., returned to his position as the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics, and Father Peter Harman took the reins as the new Director of Pastoral Formation, the Director of Media Relations, and a Formation Adviser.

As faculty, staff, priests, and seminarians of the North American College embark upon the new year of formation, we pray that we may be united in the Holy Spirit as we are formed by the Father into the image of Christ.