Program

OVERVIEW

THE ROME EXPERIENCE
Monday, May 20 – Monday, July 1, 2024

On The Rome Experience, seminarians find themselves face-to-face with the living story of the Catholic Church throughout the ages. From the major basilicas of Rome to St. John Vianney’s village of Ars, France, seminarians store up countless experiences that will invigorate their vocation and offer lifelong inspiration. As a pilgrimage, the program persistently encourages seminarians to prayerfully discover the hand of God in his Church and to craft personalized commitments in their spiritual lives and ongoing formation.

The Rome Experience is designed to function as an extension of existing programs of formation for diocesan seminarians who have completed at least their first year of theology by the start of the program. Applicants must be recommended by their bishops and vocation directors.

Download the 2024 Application

Brochure Application


 

2024 TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Rome, “The Eternal City,” attracts millions of visitors each year. While tours and exploration in Rome are scheduled, seminarians are invited into a spirit of prayer and pilgrimage, remembering that they have come to Rome as future priests to pray and study next to the Chair of St. Peter and the saints, while providing a witness to the Faith.

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024 (USA):
Arrival at Orientation (Mundelein)

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024 (CHICAGO/FLORENCE):
Orientation
Depart for Florence

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024 (FLORENCE):
Arrival to Florence
Accommodations – Casa Santo Nome di Gesu

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024 (FLORENCE/BRACCIANO):
Begin Spiritual Retreat
Accommodations – Villaggio Betania

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024 (BRACCIANO):
Retreat Ends

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 (BRACCIANO/ROME):
Arrival to Rome
Accommodations – Casa di Santa Brigida

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 (ROME):
Academic Program Begins
Courses at Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2024 (ROME/LYON):
Afternoon Flight to Lyon, France
Arrival to Ars
Accommodations – Foyer Sacerdotal Jean-Paul II

MONDAY, JULY 1, 2024 (LYON/USA):
Return to USA

* PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary is tentative.
A final schedule will be given to each seminarian at orientation.

 


 

The academic courses follow the directives of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy’s Directory for the Ministry and the Life of the Priests (1994) and The Gift of the Priesthood (December 8, 2016).

ACADEMIC COURSES

Priests in the New Evangelization (1.00 credit)

Pastores dabo vobis articulates a crucial conversation in the Church in asking, “How can we form priests who are truly able to respond to the demands of our times and capable of evangelizing the world of today?” (no. 10). St. John Paul II expounds that “priests, like the apostles, act as ambassadors of Christ” (no. 16) and need to have a physical and spiritual closeness to people that touches and moves their hearts. While on retreat in Ars, and in Rome, seminarians contemplate what it means that a priest is “a priest forever” (Heb 7:17) and how personal holiness is the remedy for all things. The lives of our patrons — St. John Paul II, St. John Vianney, and St. Josemaria Escriva — serve as models and inspiration for what it means to be in the world, but not worldly, and how to maintain the dignity of the priesthood at all times and in all places.

 

Christian Rome: Art & Architecture (3.50 credits)

The patriarchal basilicas, catacombs and other ancient churches in Rome are an encyclopedia of Church history and theology taught not in words but in indelible images of architecture, sculpture, painting, and mosaic. As with the interpretation of stained glass windows, however, one needs to learn the art of reading that encyclopedia, by understanding the meaning and context of the symbols used. Through readings and discussion in the classroom, and a series of in-depth guided tours, seminarians will have the various volumes opened for them, to confirm them as followers of Christ and future evangelizers.

 

 

 

COURSE ACCREDITATION
The Rome Experience courses are accredited by the:

Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Piazza Sant’Apollinare, 49
00186, Rome, Italy
www.pusc.it/eng

The Human Virtues for Priestly Fatherhood:
Character, Steadfastness, and Self-Mastery
(1.00 credits)

Optatam Totius highlights “strength of character…sincerity of mind, a constant concern for justice, fidelity to one’s promises, refinement in manners, modesty in speech coupled with charity” (no. 11) as virtues toward which seminarians should strive. With the current confusion on gender in our society, the Church needs men with a clear priestly identity who steadfastly exercise the strength of character to help promote the holiness of all men and women, celibate and married, lay and consecrated. This course will offer a theoretical account of these virtues and how they can be acquired through Aristotelian-Thomistic anthropology, and St. Josemaria Escriva’s practical proposals for seeking holiness through the valiant pursuit of human virtues.

 

Pastoral Practice Seminar (.50 credit)

This seminar will help the seminarian bridge the gap between the theological and spiritual principles learned during The Rome Experience with the lived experience of a parish priest. The goal is to help the seminarian to understand his future responsibility as a priest to imitate and live out Christ’s own pastoral charity—a pastoral charity that, in essence, requires a total gift of self to the Church and that makes special demands on the parish priest (Pastores Dabo Vobis, no. 23).

TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE

“If you use your time well, Rome will leave a mark on your soul, a deep, lasting imprint. And, you will be able to be a more faithful son of the Church.” – St. Josemaria Escriva

The Rome Experience’s daily schedule* is designed to help the participants benefit the most from all program offerings, to foster fraternity, and to remain intimately united to Christ through prayer and study.

Visits with family, friends, brother seminarians, and priests are only permitted during scheduled free time. Family and friends visiting Rome should be informed of this policy. Visits from vocation directors, rectors, or bishops may occur at any time that is convenient.

WEEKDAYS:

6:40   AM Morning Prayer
7:00   AM Mental Prayer
7:30   AM Holy Mass
8:00   AM Breakfast
9:00   AM Class
10:00 AM Class
11:00 AM Break
12:00 PM Angelus / Class
1:00   PM Lunch
6:45   PM Evening Prayer & Mental Prayer
7:30   PM Dinner

DAILY SCHEDULE ALSO INCLUDES:

  • Morning Prayer
  • Holy Mass
  • Afternoon Tours/Classes
  • Evening Prayer
  • Dinner
  • Holy Rosary
  • Examination of Conscience and Night Prayer

WEEKLY SCHEDULE INCLUDES:

  • Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction
  • Confession and Spiritual Direction
  • Papal Liturgies
  • Visits to Vatican Congregations
  • Tours and Excursions

* PLEASE NOTE: The daily schedule is subject to change.
A final schedule will be given to each seminarian at orientation.

 


 

SPIRITUAL RETREAT

The Rome Experience begins with a 5-day spiritual retreat focused on Christ’s presence in the Eucharist as the source and root of the priestly life. The retreat is a time for prayer, reflection, and rest to prepare the seminarians to fully absorb their spiritual pilgrimage to Rome.

 


 

EXCURSIONS

Unless otherwise noted, students have free time every Saturday from noon until Sunday evening prayer.

 


 

GALLERY

View photos taken by past seminarians who participated in The Rome Experience below.