NAC Basics – The House, Formation, Activities
NAC Basics
Community Life
The academic year in Rome doesn’t begin until October, but learning starts right away with language studies, workshops, and a week-long silent retreat. The diaconate ordinations take place in early October right before classes begin, and the year takes off from there. While Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Italy, the men of the College mark the day in suitable American style, complete with turkey and pumpkin pie. During the Christmas break, seminarians can celebrate either with the Holy Father in Rome or in their travels abroad. The fall semester concludes at the end of January and is followed by a few weeks of final exams in February. Once the spring semester begins, Lent is just around the corner, with the annual tradition of the Station Church pilgrimages. During even-numbered years, seminarians have the opportunity to celebrate Holy Week abroad. Odd-numbered years, the College celebrates Holy Week in house as a community. In May and in June, seminarians prepare for another round of exams and plan their summer assignments throughout Europe, the States, and other parts of the globe.
Here are some of the major events of the year, in order of appearance:
- Early Orientation and Regular Orientation Arrival (July and August)
- Italian language Studies in-house (September)
- Fall Diaconate Ordination at St. Peter’s Basilica (October)
- Class Retreats (Throughout the year)
- Thanksgiving (November)
- The Spaghetti Bowl – An American flag football game between the “New Men” and “Old Men” (November)
- The New Man Show and Old Man Show – Two variety shows that display NAC creativity and talent (November)
- Class Dinners and Hall Dinners (Throughout the year)
- Our Patroness’s Feast Day: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
- Station church pilgrimage (Lent)
- NAC Play (March)
House Schedule
The typical daily schedule of the house looks something like this:
6:15 AM – Morning Prayer followed by Mass
Classes
1:15 PM – Pranzo (Lunch)
Time for Study, Meetings, Recreation
5:45 PM – Eucharistic Adoration
6:45 PM – Evening Prayer
7:00 PM – Cena (Supper)
Most New Men have class in the morning starting at 8:30 AM for four class hours. Classes will typically end around 12:15 PM with enough time to return to the house for pranzo, the large community meal for the day. A more detailed schedule will be given to you when you arrive.
Formation program
Human Formation
The College offers a comprehensive program to assist each seminarian on his particular journey of self-awareness and maturity. The four-year formation program is systematic and developmental in nature. Every year, three formation presentations are presented to each class and are designed to address specific topics and issues pertinent to the growth and maturation process of the seminarian in accordance with Pastores Dabo Vobis and the Program for Priestly Formation.
The Pontifical North American College has a Director of Counseling Services as an integral member of its faculty. This position is held by a psychologist/psychotherapist who offers several of the human formation workshops and presentations, while also functioning as the resident counselor for seminarians when human growth issues surface.
To assist the seminarian, one external forum faculty member is assigned to be their formation advisor. Seminarians will meet with that advisor at least once a month.
Spiritual Formation
Each morning community Mass is celebrated at the College. The community also prays Morning and Evening Prayer in common. A weekly schedule, including liturgical events, is provided for students upon arrival.
The text used at Morning and Evening Prayer is the four volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours as approved for use in the U.S. and Canada.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is provided by the in-house Spiritual Directors on weekday evenings during Eucharistic Adoration and on Sunday mornings before Mass. In addition, a priest from outside of the house is available to hear confessions on one evening per week. However, the College also has several spiritual directors who make themselves readily available. It is therefore almost always possible to find an available confessor.
Students will have the opportunity to select a spiritual director from one of the in-house priest spiritual directors and are expected to meet with him for spiritual direction every two weeks.
For more information, please see the College’s Spiritual Formation page.
Intellectual Formation
The academic programs at the three pontifical universities attended by NAC seminarians—the Gregorian, Angelicum, and Santa Croce—finish a general theology degree (S.T.B.) in three years of study. After this, students pursue a specialized degree (S.T.L. or S.T.M.A.). This generally takes two years but can be completed in one to three years of additional studies.
PHILOSOPHY PREREQUISITES
For admission to the first cycle of Theology at any of the pontifical universities, a Ph.B. (approximately 70 credits in philosophy) is the norm. They will accept seminarians who come with at least 30 credits in philosophy as long as all required areas have been covered by an appropriate course (ethics, logic, metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, natural theology [philosophy of God], anthropology [philosophy of the human person], plus ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy). Coverage of these specific areas is non-negotiable, although it may be possible for a student to make up a missing course the summer preceding first theology or concurrent with his theological studies. If you have any questions about the philosophy requirements, please contact the Academic Dean, Fr. James Baron, at jbaron@pnac.org.
LATIN & BIBLICAL GREEK
The Gregorian University requires all STB students to complete at least three semesters of an ancient language (Latin, Greek, or Hebrew) regardless of prior language experience. Students are required to pass two semesters of Latin and one semester of Biblical Greek, but credit from your prior school can fulfill this requirement. Placement exams are available to place into a higher level of Latin and Greek. The advanced courses are taught in Italian, while the beginner courses are taught in English.
The Angelicum University will generally accept prior credit in Latin (which must be two semesters for college courses, or four semesters for high school courses). The Angelicum will also generally accept credits in Biblical Greek, though depending on the circumstances.
Previous Latin and Greek studies will be accepted on a case-by-case basis at Santa Croce at the discretion of the university dean.
ITALIAN
The Gregorian also tests all new, non-native Italian speakers on their proficiency in the Italian language. Following EU requirements, a student must test at a B1 level of proficiency. This testing takes place during the first semester. Those who do not pass the test will be required to take additional language studies before taking the test again. Students at the Angelicum whose first language is not English or Italian must also take a language proficiency test, generally scheduled during the first semester; those who do not pass the test will have to attend a language course. The Santa Croce tests students for Italian proficiency at the start of the first cycle program.
THE ANGELICUM
The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) is the university of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). A semester usually consists of an average of 20 credit hours divided between six to eight courses. The first cycle classes are available in English (one can also choose to take some classes in Italian). Class size is relatively small, with approximately 40 to 50 students in attendance. (Seminars in the second and third years usually involve fewer than a dozen students.) While classes normally follow a lecture format, comments and questions from students are encouraged. A student’s progress is evaluated by means of either a written or an oral examination at the conclusion of the term; some professors also administer examinations or assign term papers during the semester. In addition to exams, some professors assign term papers as part of the student’s grade for the course.
THE GREGORIAN
The Gregorian is the university of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). A semester usually consists of 20 credit hours divided among four to six lecture courses and a seminar. The first-cycle classes are conducted in Italian. Class size is relatively large with approximately 150 to 200 students in attendance. Classes follow a lecture format. Questions are usually not taken during class, but students are encouraged to ask questions before or after class or at some other suitable time outside of class. Students are graded by means of either oral or written examinations administered at the conclusion of the term. (These may be taken in a number of different languages, including English.) The seminar course, however, is available in English. The first year seminar develops many of the themes that are being taught in class and is a general overview of theology. Seminars involve regular written assignments to determine the student’s grade for the course.
SANTA CROCE
The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) is operated by Opus Dei. The courses of the first cycle aim at presenting an organic exposition of all of the Catholic doctrine, along with an introduction to the method of scientific research. The first cycle program, leading to the completion of the S.T.B. degree, has a duration of three academic years divided into semesters, and is concluded with the comprehensive degree exams. Each semester, students take six to seven classes totaling 20 credit hours. The classes are taught in Italian, although many of the professors also speak English. Classes are relatively small in size, approximately 40 to 60 students, and generally follow a lecture format with some student-professor interaction depending on the professor. Students are graded based on oral or written exams administered at the end of the term, although some courses also have periodic midterm exams or other course work.
Pastoral Formation
The North American College assumes that students will receive Candidacy before arriving in August. If this is not possible, please contact the Director of Admissions as soon as possible.
Preparation for ministries and for other aspects of priestly formation is addressed on Thursday nights in the College formation program. During the first year, topics include public Lector training and preparation, the content and use of liturgical books and spiritual formation.
Apostolic work is an important part of priestly formation. During November and December of the first year, students are encouraged to visit several apostolates and make a selection as to their preference. They are then assigned an apostolate for the second semester. Current apostolic work includes catechism education, guiding pilgrims at Christian sites, street evangelism, work in soup kitchens, prison ministry, local parish ministry, and homeless shelters.
Students do not return home during the summer between the first and second years unless called home by their diocesan superiors. In the course of that summer, at least four weeks of apostolic activity or language study are required. Summer apostolic activity often involves work in a parish, in a retreat house, in the missions, or in military chaplaincy programs. Diocesan Vocation Directors will determine whether their diocese has special requirements for summer apostolates.
For more information, please see the College’s Pastoral Formation page.
Student Services
The Student Activities Committee (STUAC) operates and provides funds for various student services and activities throughout the year. Student services will be available to students shortly after their arrival at the College. You may want to take a look at the facilities here at the College to determine what equipment or supplies you should bring.
KNAC
KNAC is a student-run store that has reasonable prices on often-used items, such as stationery and school supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, tissues, shaving cream, razors, snack foods, American coffee, and cleaning supplies. While there is not as wide a variety of brand names as may be found at a local store, there is a good array of items at prices competitive with Roman stores. While KNAC does not carry everything a seminarian needs, it is a convenient option for many day-to-day items such as toiletries and snacks.
Student Lounge
The lounge has a Foosball table, ping pong table, and two dart boards, and sells soft drinks, beer, snacks, ice cream, and other refreshments after supper every day. A television room is also available for DVD and VHS videos, and there is an extensive movie library. The lounge TV has access to most all American sporting events.
The Fifth Floor Kitchen
The fifth floor student kitchen and patio are used for a variety of functions. The kitchen can be signed out by seminarians if they would like to cook a meal or prepare food items on their own. Food is easily purchased at grocery stores or outdoor markets nearby. The kitchen gets a lot of use for class dinners and other small meals and social gatherings.
The College Theater
The college theater is used for formation and vice rectors’ conferences. It is sometimes used to show movies and is also home to the beloved New Man Show, the Old Man Show, and the NAC Play.
The Bowling Alley
The college has two Brunswick string-pin bowling lanes with automatic scoring machines. A house-wide bowling tournament is held in the fall semester.
The St. Joseph Wood Shop
The wood shop has been recently renewed and revitalized. It has many power tools and equipment and also a limited stock of wood for use in student projects. A number of students have constructed lofts, cabinets, and shelves for their rooms in the shop. Most wood can be purchased at nearby stores.
The Bike Garage and Bike Shop
The NAC has a secure bike garage with parking for 100 bicycles. It also has a fully stocked bike shop with tools and parts needed to accomplish bicycle maintenance and upgrades. Students may bring their own bicycles from home, purchase one in Rome, or buy one during the “unused/unclaimed” bike lottery held in the fall.
Student Activities
Sports
The NAC has a variety of sports facilities and equipment. Facilities include some of the following:
- A large artificial-turf sports field used for soccer, football, softball, Frisbee and various other sports
- Two tennis/pickleball courts
- A full-size outdoor basketball court
The college supplies the following equipment:
- Soccer balls, basketballs, baseballs and softballs, footballs, Frisbees
- Uniforms for sports games with other seminaries and colleges
- Baseball/softball gloves
You may also bring any gear you like, such as cleats, rackets, etc.
The NAC gym is used regularly. This modern gym is furnished with new equipment. Equipment in the gym includes free weights, universal machines, elliptical trainers, treadmills, stationary bikes, a rowing machine, and a leg press.
Music
Students employ their musical skills in both liturgical and non-liturgical contexts. There is a house choir which sings at Sunday Mass, Sunday Vespers II, and on feast days. Organists and singers are particularly encouraged to share their talents at liturgies. Annual events, such as the Christmas dinner and charity concert, also involve students’ musical talent. Students are encouraged to bring musical instruments, as there are many opportunities to use them at the College. Keep in mind that sheet music can be difficult to find in Rome.
Art
There are a number of seminarians here interested in the visual arts. Accordingly, a small room on the first floor has been set aside as an art room. Art supplies are fairly easy to find here in Rome, though expensive. We would recommend that you bring any of the more expensive or essential things that are easy to pack, such as brushes.
