2023 THE ROME EXPERIENCE - A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR DIOCESAN SEMINARIANS
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THE ROME EXPERIENCE
A S U M M E R P RO G R A M FO R D I O C ES A N S E M I N A R I A N S
2023
Mission & Vision
Program Courses & Itinerary
How to Apply
MISSION & VISION PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In 2007, several bishops joined efforts to establish a program In the spirit of pilgrimage—of prayer and sobriety—
for the formation of their seminarians that would animate the program offers:
their desire to serve the universal Church and impel a clear
priestly identity. As a result, the Bishops Advisory Board with S P I R I T U A L F O R M AT I O N
Midwest Theological Forum launched The Rome Experience
• 5-day silent retreat
in 2009.
• Daily schedule including Holy Mass, the Liturgy of
Inspired by the priestly lives of its patron saints—Pope John the Hours, mental prayer, and the Holy Rosary
Paul II, John Vianney, and Josemaria Escriva—this six-week
summer experience in Rome seeks to complement diocesan • Sacrament of Penance, adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament, and spiritual meditations
seminary formation with the aim to:
• Learning how to develop and commit to a plan of life
• Deepen the real-life implications of the call to be “a
priest forever” • Living in close proximity to the Holy Father
• Grow in the ability to live an authentic, vibrant • Praying at the churches and tombs of the martyrs
priesthood at work and at leisure and saints
• Craft a plan of life with emphasis on God’s presence
throughout the day F R AT E R N I T Y
• Better grasp the art of contemplation and effective • Opportunity to meet seminarians from across the
mental prayer, and how to practice it daily United States
• Daily prayers, meals, and classes
The program begins with a five-day silent retreat to reflect
on the meaning of the priesthood. Following the retreat, • Cultural activities
the seminarians go to Rome for academic courses, tours, • Sports and hiking excursions
and visits that provide opportunity to deepen their
• Free-time
friendship with Jesus Christ and priestly zeal for the New
Evangelization.
H U M A N & I N T E L L E C T U A L F O R M AT I O N
Courses and activities are planned within a daily schedule
centered on the celebration of the Eucharist, Liturgy of • Immersion in the cultural history of the Church
the Hours, and an hour of meditation before the Blessed • Experiencing the beauty of the Church’s art and
Sacrament. The daily schedule also includes time for architecture
fostering fraternity and friendships among classmates which • Academic courses taught by expert instructors from
are vitally important to priestly life. USA and Rome
The program concludes with a day of recollection in • Guided tours and excursions to religious and
Ars, France, village of St. John Vianney, to assimilate the cultural sites
experience before returning home to the United States. • Papal liturgies and audiences
• Visits to Vatican Congregations
BISHOPS ADVISORY BOARD
His Eminence James Cardinal Stafford PA S T O R A L F O R M AT I O N
Major Penitentiary Emeritus of the Apostolic Penitentiary
Most Rev. David R. Choby + • Talks and discussions about challenges to the
Former Bishop Diocese of Nashville priesthood today
Most Rev. James D. Conley
Diocese of Lincoln • Interchange of experiences with visiting bishops
Most Rev. Robert W. Finn
and priests
Bishop Emeritus Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph • Daily encounters with people of diverse needs and
Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez backgrounds on the streets of Rome
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Most Rev. Bernard A. Hebda
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino +
Former Bishop Diocese of Madison
Most Rev. Thomas John Paprocki
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample
Archdiocese of Portland
Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann
Diocese of Orange
ACADEMIC COURSES TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE
The academic courses follow the directives of Vatican The Rome Experience’s daily schedule* is designed to help
Congregation for the Clergy’s Directory on the Ministry and the participants benefit the most from all the offerings of the
Life of Priests (1994) and The Gift of the Priestly Vocation program, to foster fraternity, and to remain intimately united
(December 8, 2016). to Christ through prayer and study. Seminarians will be
encouraged to remember that they have come to Rome as
PRIESTS IN THE NEW EVANGELIZATION (1.00 credit) future priests to pray and study next to the Chair of St. Peter
Future priests need to have a physical and spiritual and the saints, while providing a witness to the Faith.
closeness to people that touches and moves their hearts,
as Pope Francis has expressed, in response to the Church’s W E E K D AY S :
summons to a New Evangelization. While on retreat, in
Rome, and in Ars, seminarians will contemplate what it 8:00 AM Breakfast
means to be a priest forever and how the remedy for 9:00 AM Class
everything is personal holiness.
10:00 AM Class
THE HUMAN VIRTUES FOR PRIESTLY 11:00 AM Break
FATHERHOOD, CHARACTER, STEADFASTNESS,
12:00 PM Angelus/Class
& SELF-MASTERY (1.00 credit)
The Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests emphasizes 1:00 PM Lunch
the human virtues as cornerstones for the priest to be a
well-rounded, resilient, and reliable man, who ministers The daily schedule also includes:
with a supernatural outlook. Through a practical and
anthropological approach, this course responds to the • Morning Prayer
Church’s need for men with a clear priestly identity who • Holy Mass
steadfastly exercise strength of character and promote the • Afternoon Tours/Classes
holiness of all men and women.
• Evening Prayer
PASTORAL PRACTICE SEMINAR (.50 credit) • Dinner
This seminar bridges the gap between the theological and • Holy Rosary
spiritual principles learned during The Rome Experience
with the lived experience of a parish priest. The goal is to • Examination of Conscience and Night Prayer
help the seminarian understand his future responsibility
as a priest to live out Christ’s own pastoral charity that,
in essence, requires a total gift of self to the Church W E E K LY S C H E D U L E I N C L U D E S :
(Pastores Dabo Vobis, 1992).
• Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction
THE BASILICAS, CHURCHES, • Confessions and Spiritual Direction
& CATACOMBS OF ROME (3.50 credits) • Papal Liturgies
Rome presents an encyclopedia of Church history and • Visits to Vatican Congregations
theology taught not in words but in indelible images of
architecture, sculpture, painting, and mosaic. One needs to • Tours and Excursions
learn the art of reading that encyclopedia, by understanding
the meaning and context of the symbols used. Through Students have free time every Saturday from noon until
readings, discussions, and a series of in-depth guided Sunday evening prayer. Visits with family, friends, brother
tours, seminarians will have the various volumes of this seminarians, and priests are only permitted during
encyclopedia opened for them, to confirm them as followers scheduled free time. Family and friends visiting Rome should
of Christ and future evangelizers. be informed of this policy. Visits from vocation directors,
rectors, or bishops may occur at any time that is convenient.
C O U R S E A C C R E D I TAT I O N *PLEASE NOTE: The daily schedule is subject to change.
The Rome Experience courses are accredited by the A final schedule will be given to each seminarian at orientation.
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Piazza Sant’Apollinare, 49
00186, Rome, Italy
www.pusc.it/eng2023 TENTATIVE ITINERARY THE ROME EXPERIENCE
Monday, May 22 – Monday, July 3, 2023
MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 (USA):
Depart for Europe
ELIGIBILITY
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023 (FLORENCE): The Rome Experience is designed for seminarians who have
Arrival to Florence, Italy completed their first year of theology. Seminarians interested
Orientation in applying must be recommended by their bishops and
vocation directors.
FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023 (FLORENCE/BRACCIANO):
Begin Spiritual Retreat APPLICATIONS
Accommodations – Villaggio Betania Download the form at
www.theromeexperience.org/apply
TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2023 (BRACCIANO):
Retreat Ends
DEADLINE
Applications for the program and scholarship must be received
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 (BRACCIANO/ROME): (or postmarked) by:
Arrival to Rome
Monday, January 9, 2023
Accommodations - Casa di Santa Brigida
THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023 (ROME): SCHOLARSHIPS
Academic Program Begins Midwest Theological Forum has established a scholarship fund to
Courses at Pontifical University of the Holy Cross assist those seminarians who are in need of financial assistance.
Limited partial scholarships are available based on merit and
need. See the program application for more information.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023 (ROME/LYON):
Afternoon Flight to Lyon, France
Arrival to Ars SUBMIT TING APPLICATIONS
Accommodations – Foyer Sacerdotal Jean-Paul II
Due to the limited number of openings, incomplete or late
applications for the program and the scholarship cannot be
MONDAY, JULY 3, 2023 (LYON/USA): considered.
Return to the USA
Applications may be submitted by email, mail, or fax to:
info@theromeexperience.org
The Rome Experience
4340 Cross Street, Suite 1
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Tel 630-541-8519 x 28
Fax 331-777-5819
www.theromeexperience.org
*PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary is tentative. “If you use your time well, Rome will leave a mark on your soul, a
A final schedule will be given to each seminarian at orientation. deep, lasting imprint. And, you will be able to be a more faithful son
of the Church.”
St. Josemaria Escriva“It is inspiring to watch the seminarians grow daily, through
engagement in daily courses and activities, all while
grounded in a robust program of prayer. The men come
home with a greater and more intimate relationship with
Jesus Christ, the pope, and the saints. They better know
their spouse the Church.”
FR. RYAN BRADY
Associate Program Director
Archdiocese of Chicago
“From spiritual life in mental prayer to love for the beauty
of the churches, The Rome Experience emphasizes the
tangibility and real possibility of sanctity.”
PHILLIP ROGIER '21
Diocese of Evansville
“Phenomenal program that challenges seminarians, helps
synthesize their formation, and gives them an experience
of the universal Church.”
CONNOR SCHMIDT '22
Archdiocese of Baltimore
THE ROME EXPERIENCE
4340 CROSS STREET, SUITE 1,
DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515
TEL 630-541-8519 x 28
FAX 331-777-5819
INFO@THEROMEEXPERIENCE.ORG
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