Catholic Review Under coronavirus quarantine, Baltimore seminarians create a ‘bubble’ in Rome

ROME – Close to 30 masked men got off a bus at the Pontifical North American College Aug. 20, beginning a new seminarian orientation that kept as many traditions as possible in a 14-day quarantine.

The seminarians, from 23 U.S. dioceses – including John-Paul LeGare from the Archdiocese of Baltimore – were tested for COVID-19 a few days before boarding their flights to Rome and were being monitored each day within the confines of the NAC campus on the Janiculum Hill overlooking the Vatican.

The quarantine, mandated by the Italian government, meant that the students were not able to join Pope Francis for the Angelus prayer on their first Sunday in Rome. It also meant the second-year students who volunteered for the orientation team, including Baltimore seminarian

Tommy O’Donnell, could not take their charges down the hill and into the city in search of the best gelato.

But they did experience the traditional arrival “clap in,” being welcomed with applause by the orientation team and staff as they processed into the college chapel.

“We are still awaiting the arrival of a few of our new students due to delays beyond our control in processing visas at some consulates in the U.S.,” Father David A. Schunk, vice rector, said Aug. 28.

“Though our brothers are not with us, we have been keeping in regular contact with them and are hoping the visas will be processed soon so they can arrive in the next week or two.”

In addition, he said, “in the coming weeks, we are expecting the arrival of the rest of the seminary community, all of whom will be tested for COVID before departure and then upon arrival at the seminary. Then they will also be on campus for their two-week quarantine period.”

The new students’ courses at the pontifical universities in Rome begin in early October. Until then, they study Italian, pray, have in-house conferences and will begin to explore the city once their quarantine has ended.

O’Donnell, a graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School and Loyola University Maryland, said via email that he arrived in Rome two days early to help with finishing touches for the new student orientation.

“Normally we would be able to take the men out into the city to visit various churches and help them learn how to navigate, but it has also been a blessing to have less distractions and begin our time in a more secluded style,” he said.

“Once our quarantines are over, men will be able to make visits to the normal sites (with the regular precautions in place). For now, they just have to bear with us pointing out different churches from the roof and telling them that they’ll be able to visit in a few days,” O’Donnell said.

He added that he has been serving at daily liturgies and helping some of the new students who will attend Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University register for their classes.

Third-year Baltimore seminarian John Bilenki plans to arrive in Rome Sept. 4 and is looking forward to being back in the community at the NAC. “Though there will be many protocols to follow, it will be good to be back and to move forward with formation and studies,” he said via email.

Father Justin Gough, ordained Aug. 22, will return to Rome for his fifth year of studies at the end of September. As with the others, he will have to quarantine for two weeks so the first week or so of classes will be all virtual, with some classes in person and others online after that.

In Baltimore, the school year was set to open Sept. 2 at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori.

Administrators, faculty members, and students will attend. Concelebrating the opening Mass will be Sulpician Fathers Phillip Brown, president-rector; Paul Maillet, vice-rector; and Gladstone Stevens, academic dean.

Some 60 seminarians from 14 dioceses across the country have arrived at St. Mary’s, including the largest incoming class in over a decade. Given the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus, extensive precautions have been implemented, including the requirements to stay socially distant and wear face masks, as well as special measures regarding living arrangements and food service.

During the opening Mass, incoming seminarians will sign the “Covenant Book” – an annual tradition that entails new seminarians committing to the requirements of Faith, Hope and Love, according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as essential to their priestly formation.

Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty contributed to this report.