THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE | THE NATIONAL SEMINARY OF THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA the CrossroadsThe Alumni Magazine for Theological College | Fall 2020 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE 2020 ORDINATIONS EXTERNAL FORUM IN PASTORAL FORMATION I S. SVLP RI IT A II N I W M A E S S H I N M G V L T L O I N G I S ✣ CONTENTS The Crossroads is published three times a year by the Office of Institutional Ad- vancement of Theological College. It is 02 \\ FROM THE RECTOR distributed via nonprofit mail to alumni, bishops, vocation directors, and friends 03 \\ COMMUNITY NEWS of TC. ORDINATIONS 2020 Farewell to Fr. McBrearity Five deacons and nine alumni priests Rector from TC were ordained between Pastoral Formation: Rev. Dominic Ciriaco, P.S.S. May and August, during this time of 50th Anniversary unique circumstances imposed by the Media & Promotions Managing Editor Bishop Robert Barron: COVID-19 pandemic. Suzanne Tanzi 2020 Alumnus Lifetime Service Award Recipient Contributing Writers Rev. Chris Arockiaraj, P.S.S. • David Birkdale Peter Bui • Vincent Castaldi • Rev. Dominic 08 08 \\ 2020 ORDINATIONS Ciriaco, P.S.S. • Justin Motes Mary Nauman • Jonathan Pham 10 \\ SULPICIAN SPOTLIGHT Nicolas Rapkoch • Charles Silvas Rev. Andrew Szyblewski, P.S.S. 11 \\ SEMINARY LIFE Orientation News Graphic Designer Rebecca Sum Student Government Pastoral Ministry Witness Photography STUDENT GOVERNMENT Vincent Castaldi • Dave Scavone Prayer and Reflection at TC Suzanne Tanzi For the Community Life Committee’s Oktoberfest Fall House Party, seminar- Veterans Day: Ordination Photos ians brought their steins and their wal- One Seminarian’s Story lets for the Social Justice Committee’s Charleston: Doug Deas/The Catholic Focus on External Forum Miscellany fundraiser for a Louisiana family in need. More on the SGA inside. Dallas: Texas Catholic Fort Worth: Ben Torres/North Texas 20 \\ HEALTHY LIVING Catholic FOR PRIESTS Hartford: Aaron Joseph New York: Rev. Jean Paul Devalcin 21 \\ FACULTY AND STAFF Phoenix: Jesus Valencia/Media Ministry Richmond: Catholic Virginian 24 \\ ALUMNI St. Augustine: Paul Luc Chokota 12 Distinguished Alumnus: Theological College Archbishop Rozanski 401 Michigan Ave., N.E. Class Notes Washington, DC 20017 202-756-4914 In Memoriam theologicalcollege.org EXTERNAL FORUM theologicalcollege.catholic.edu 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EXCELLENCE IN PASTORAL FORMATION Theological College was not only the Theological College participates in the first U.S. seminary with a pastoral min- Cover: Created by an Italian artist named This year marks the 50th anniversary of TC’s Pastoral Formation istry program, but it was also the first Pellegrini and installed in the main chapel in mission and responsibility of the bishops Program, whose yearlong celebration was inaugurated on October to introduce the “external forum” com- 1926, restorations to this statue were made to provide for the people of God wise and 19 with a Rector’s Conference by Rev. Mark Knestout, the 2020 ponent integral to formation advising. in 1987 by a seminarian for the Archdiocese holy priests close to the heart of Christ recipient of the Excellence in Pastoral Supervision Award. of Washington, now Rev. George E. Stuart and consumed in his work of salvation. (Class of 1989). Today, this beautiful image of In affiliation with The Catholic University 04 the Sacred Heart of Jesus is in the main lobby of America, Theological College assists at TC, inspiring seminarians daily during this seminarians in the task of vocational 18 challenging time (see the following letter from discernment and in the preparation for the rector). priestly life and ministry at the diocesan level, particularly as experienced in the United States. FROM THE RECTOR COMMUNITY NEWSCOMMUNITY NEWS Farewell to Father McBrearity Justin Motes First Theology, Diocese of St. Augustine Wherever there were seminarians Turning to the Sacred Heart of Jesus praying intently or laughing out Rev. Dominic Ciriaco, P.S.S. loud, Gerry McBrearity was always Rector in their midst. Father Daniel Moore, P.S.S. n the foyer of Theological College, as us in our daily living. Seminarians have risen to the occasion to Ione looks to the right of the main entrance navigate through these days with faith, charity, and great patience. doors before exiting the building, there is We know this too will pass, but as we live with Zoom classes and hese words from Acting Provincial an impressive wooden statue of the Sacred limited interactions, we are learning how to minister to God’s TSuperior, Father Daniel Moore, P.S.S., Heart of Jesus in a niche. The large statue was people with compassion and understanding through the lessons at Father McBrearity’s farewell reception donated to the seminary in the early years of COVID-19. capture precisely the type of man and of its opening and it used to grace the front As Pope Francis has written in his latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti type of priest Father McBrearity is to all altar area of the chapel. It is the work of an Italian artist named (released on October 4, 2020): “No one can face life in isolation … of us. Father “McB,” as he is affectionately Pellegrini and it was completed and installed in 1926. Christ points We need a community that supports and helps us, in which we known, was a father and shepherd to all one of his hands toward his heart arrayed in gold. Countless semi- can help one another to keep looking ahead. How important it of the seminarians. He knew us and we narians have gazed upon this statue and offered their prayers to the is to dream together … By ourselves, we risk seeing mirages, knew him. At the farewell Mass on Sunday, Heart of Jesus! They trusted their prayers to him in their struggles things that are not there. Dreams, on the other hand, are built Sept. 27, there was a sense of nostalgia in and difficulties as well as in their joys and triumphs during their together. Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow From left, Sulpician Fathers Gray, Ciriaco, McBrearity, and Moore. In the upper portrait, Father the air as we all remembered the times Nagot is holding the blueprint of the original Paca Street seminary and, below, Father Jean- time here at the seminary as they prepared for a life of ministry. travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth Father McBrearity said Mass for the com- Jacques Olier is holding a representation of TC. As it was then, so it is now. More than ever we turn to the Sacred which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of munity, how he often started his homilies Heart of Jesus for comfort and guidance during these trying times. his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own with a poem from Mary Oliver (whose have to be good,” catalyzed the good humor In the portrait, Father Olier is holding a How appropriate, as the year 2020 marks two anniversaries asso- voice, brothers and sisters all.” What a beautiful way to face this work he cherishes), and how he always of all and highlighted the special gifts of representation of Theological College. ciated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is the 100th anniversary pandemic together. What a beautiful way to prepare priests to conveyed his genuine care for each of us. levity and joy which Father McBrearity And a portrait of Father Francis Charles (1920) of the canonization of the visionary of the Sacred Heart, face the challenges ahead. Father Jean-Jacques Olier wrote, “The In his homily, he reflected upon the pre- has always brought to the life of the Nagot, the first Sulpician to cross the ocean Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. It is also the 300th anniversary priest should be entirely consumed in Christ through love.” May vious Friday’s reading from Ecclesiastes: community. The faculty and staff com- (in 1791) to serve the country’s first sem- (1720) of the first public consecration and worship of the Sacred this issue of The Crossroads communicate that love experienced “There is an appointed time for everything” missioned, from Father Peter Wm. Gray, inary in Baltimore (St. Mary’s), was also Heart devotion in Marseille, as, during a ravaging pestilence, the here at Theological College as we celebrate the 50th anniversary (3:1). With these words, he assured us that P.S.S., a portrait of Pope Paul VI for Father created in memory of Rev. John Kemper, people there turned to the Sacred Heart for help — marking the of our Pastoral Formation Program. this is the appointed time for him to step McBrearity’s new retirement residence, as P.S.S., the former Provincial Superior, who beginning of that city’s deliverance from the final outbreak of the back from his many years as a seminary Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us! this pope has been a great inspiration for passed away last May. In this portrait, bubonic plague in Western Europe. formator, of which the four most recent Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us! him. In recognition of Father McBrearity’s Father Nagot is holding a blueprint of the Now, in 2020, we face a similar situation with a type of plague were spent as rector of Theological College. 45-plus years in the Society of St. Sulpice first seminary on Paca Street. These two (COVID-19) that threatens our world. Just as the statue of the May God be praised, So that he will always be reminded of and time spent at Theological College memorial portraits, also by Father Gray, Sacred Heart here at TC strengthened and encouraged seminar- our gratitude and affection, the SGA and (1999-2003, 2007-2020) as a spiritual were made possible by a generous donation ians in the past, so it does for us today.