RECENT NEWS

On May 2nd, the last day of classes for the 2013-14 academic year, Theological College hosted its annual year-end Mass and dinner party. Formation faculty and TC staff celebrated with the seminarians in gratitude for the fruits of a productive year drawing to a close, and for all the as-yet unknown blessings in the year to come.

As part of the celebrations surrounding the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, in April Theological College loaned two recently completed portraits of the pontiffs to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to be displayed into September. The two portraits are the work of Fr. Peter Gray, P.S.S., a Sulpician priest and artist. The paintings serve as the central point of the Basilica’s exhibition honoring the lives and pontificates of the two Popes. The portraits have been used for holy cards issued by Theological College commemorating the canonizations.

A lively and curious group of seminarians embarked on a pilgrimage to Southern Maryland to visit three historic churches in this area that hosted one of the country’s first Catholic colonies in the 17th century. One of the pilgrims, Colin Davis, reports enthusiastically, “In sum, the day was one of stupendous weather and steeped in American Catholic history, imbued with a good measure of community spirit among the seminarians and two priests on pilgrimage. A fine outing, indeed!”

The Spring House Party is always a good time to unwind before the hectic period of final exams. The steak cook-off, corn hole tournament, poker tournament, and homemade sangria were the highlights of this year’s event. The Community Life Committee teamed up with the Hispanic Affairs Committee to put together this year’s celebration.

The Student Government Association at Theological College meets every month during the academic year, in the presence of the rector or his delegate, to report on community happenings, to collaborate on how the community might better engage in the activities of formations, to address outstanding concerns, and to discuss budgetary issues.

The year 2014 marks the 100th-year anniversary of the death of Theodore B. Basselin, a lumber magnate who made his millions in the industry in upstate New York, whose endowment for the education of seminarians gave birth to the Basselin program at Theological College at The Catholic University of America. In conjunction with The Catholic University of America, from April 2014 to April 2015 Theological College will celebrate The Year of the Basselin to commemorate this rich legacy of scholarship and pious integrity in the Catholic Church. The anniversary celebration began with an inaugural opening Mass on April 22nd, and will continue with activities and honorary recognitions at Alumni Days in September. Stay tuned for more Year of the Basselin announcements.

Theological College graduates many seminarians who then go on for further studies before ordination to the North American College in Rome. On a recent Sulpician business trip, TC Rector, Rev. Phillip Brown, S.S., recently met with group of former Basselins and theologians to catch up and reminisce during a day about town in the Eternal City.

At Tenebrae, we gather as at the foot of the cross and experience haunting beauty, moving contemplation, solemn polyphony, dignified reflections, extinguishing of candles, and the jarring reality of the death of God’s only Son. During Holy Week, the Church commemorates with beautiful ceremony the sacred mysteries of our redemption. Within that context, Tenebrae has a special place as a profound remembrance of the death of our Savior.

Theological College continued its annual Iron Seminarian Tournament tradition this year with over 30 seminarian entries. The single-elimination competitions, featuring a multi-tiered bracket scoring system in pool, ping-pong, and darts, began at 7 pm with a brief history of the event by Vice-Rector Father Tony Pogorelc, S.S. Father Mel Blanchette, S.S., who had helped to organize the first tournament for the 2005-2006 academic year, offered the opening prayer.

A pillar and hallmark of Theological College’s formation program is its pastoral ministry program. All theologians fully participate in this program that permits them to experience hands-on, the work and role of being a pastor. To honor and thank the mentors of TC’s seminarians, we invite all pastoral supervisors to share in a Mass followed by an Appreciation Dinner. This unified community gathering fortifies relationships with the Archdiocese of Washington faithful and permits the greater community to understand and share in the responsibility of forming healthy and holy priests.