In Rome to Visit Our Future Priests

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 3/10/05)

Last week, I returned from a visit with three of our own diocesan seminarians currently studying in Rome. Each year I personally visit every one of our 24 seminarians, be they at Blessed John XXIII near Boston, Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia, or the Pontifical North American College in Rome. As I do so, I am reminded of our Holy Father’s words in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis:"The first representative of Christ in priestly formation is the Bishop….[T]he Bishop should make a point of visiting [those preparing for the priesthood] often and in some way ‘being’ with them as a way of giving significant expression to his responsibility for the formation of candidates for the priesthood" (no. 65).

These visits afford me not only the opportunity to receive one-on-one feedback from our seminarians on how their studies and formation are going, but also to provide them with guidance and, last but not least, convey to them, on behalf of our diocesan family, our prayers and support for their service, calling and sacrifice.

Through features such as the "Seminarian Spotlight" in the Herald, many of us in the diocese have had the opportunity to learn more about our seminarians. This enables us to increase our prayers and support for these seminarians.

As I arrived in Rome on Feb. 25, our Holy Father was recovering from the tracheotomy which he had undergone the day before. I offered Mass for him as soon as I settled in at the Pontifical North American College where I was formed for the priesthood from 1962 to 1966. It is always a joy to return to my Alma Mater where I received so many blessings and graces in preparation for service as a priest in my home diocese of Norwich (Connecticut).

Of course, the Holy Father was and is the focus of our prayers and concern. We thank the Lord for the encouraging recovery he is making and we remain ever faithful to our daily memento of him at Mass and in our other prayers, including the Rosary. What a model our Holy Father is as he patiently carries the cross of illness, pain and limitation! How clearly he reveals to us the Suffering Christ, Who saved us precisely through His Passion, Death and Resurrection!

During my stay in Rome, the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception arrived on their pilgrimage to the Eternal City. They had originally planned to sing for the Holy Father at his General Audience on Wednesday, March 2. On Tuesday afternoon, March 1, they sang during the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Bernard Law in the Borghese Chapel, located within the Basilica of St. Mary Major where he is the archpriest. I was privileged to concelebrate this Mass as well as to be the principal celebrant of the Mass offered the next morning in the Basilica of Saint Peter at the altar in the crypt facing the Tomb of Saint Peter. As you know, the Shrine choir is outstanding and I found it a joy to be in their company and look forward to the CD that will be produced from the music recorded on this Rome pilgrimage.

I returned home, grateful to the Lord for the graces and blessings of this trip to the Eternal City. All of you were daily remembered in prayer while I was there and remain so each day as I ask the Lord to make all of us holy.

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