Report from Rome is a publication sent to friends, benefactors and alumni/ae of the Gregorian University, the Biblical Institute and the Oriental Institute. Here are a few highlights from our most recent issue. If you'd like to see highlights from previous issues, please click here.
A Gathering in New York — The Greg hosts a dialogue, Training Future Leaders for the Church. Enjoying the University Club program are (from left): event co-chair Adele Grant, Irene Shaw and Barbara Terry.
Gregorian Alumnus Bishop Edward M. Egan Named Archbishop of New York
On May 11th, when Pope John Paul II appointed Bridgeport, Connecticut's Bishop Edward M. Egan to be the successor of Cardinal John O'Connor as Archbishop of New York, the Gregorian University in Rome and the Foundation here in New York were deeply proud that our alumnus (licentiate in theology'58, Ph.D. canon law, summa cum laude '64) had been chosen to head one of the major archdioceses of the world. Not only was Archbishop Egan a student at the Gregorian, he was a member of the faculty there for over a dozen years.
Archbishop Edward M. Egan of New York, Gregorian University Foundation Chariman Peter P. Mullen, and the late William E. Simon in Rome in May 1999 to celebrate Mr. Simon's endowment of an academic chair and two scholarship funds for the Gregorian and Biblical Institute.
A native of Chicago and a twenty-year resident of Rome, Archbishop Egan had served in the New York Archdiocese from 1985-88 as Cardinal O'Connor's vicar for education and auxiliary bishop. He had previously served in Chicago as Secretary and Co-Chancellor to two archbishops, during which time he was deeply involved in the ecumenical and human relations work of that archdiocese and of the city itself.
Appointed to Bridgeport in 1988, Bishop Egan distinguished his service there for almost twelve years by his reorganizing work with his elementary schools, by establishing Hispanic and Haitian apostolates, by fostering the training and recruiting of seminarians, and in extraordinary fundraising activities for the institutions of his diocese.
Over the years he has worked with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on committees for science and human values, canonical affairs, education and others, as well as serving as the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. While in Rome he was one of the six canonists who reviewed the final draft of the new Code of Canon Law with Pope John Paul II.
He brings to his new appointment a reputation for high intelligence, scholarship, administrative skills, and a fluency in Italian, French and Spanish. He has a great love for the arts, as well as considerable talent at the piano.
Last year when Bishop Egan accompanied to Rome our benefactor William Simon on the occasion of Mr. Simon's being honored by the Gregorian Consortium and the Superior General of the Jesuits, it was clear how much he enjoyed returning to his alma mater, of which he spoke with great affection. New York is certainly blessed to have as its new archbishop a man of many talents and wide experience. The Gregorian rejoices in his appointment and promises him our prayerful support.
The Doctor Is In
Rev. Carlo Casalone, S.J. is a doctor as well as a priest, teacher and editor. Early next year, he'll be making a once-a-week house call to teach at The Gregorian University. Why? We had a chance to find out when he visited New York recently.
What called you to the priesthood?
I joined the Society after graduation from medical school at the University of Milano. During this period I had some questions about what I should be doing with my life, and, while medicine was a good start, something was lacking.
I was more interested in a life where my relationship with God was in first place, and that would be possible for me in a religious order. When I met the Jesuits, I understood that here was a religious order with my sensitivity, my interests and my desires. Through the Society I was introduced to the priesthood. Realizing I should become a priest was a later understanding in my spiritual life.
What led you from being a doctor to becoming a priest?
While I was practicing medicine I realized that there was more to the meaning of life than the quantity of life. One of a doctor's trusts is to make life longer and healthier. I wanted to find the wisdom needed to lead a good life.
I was working in medical research. We had a lot of knowledge, but much of that knowledge wasn't distributed well. There is a difference between producing and collecting knowledge and then distributing it. It wasn't enough to find truths-they had to be shared.
That's part of what led me to the Jesuits. We've a long tradition of spiritual discernment and ethical discernment. Sometimes that tradition takes the shape of teaching.
You'll be joining the faculty of the Greg this fall — what will you be teaching?
I'll be a Visiting Professor starting in February 2001. I'll be teaching Medical Ethics. It's about our understanding of the body, and how that understanding is informed by medical practice, contemporary culture and theological reflection. The human body is the crossroads of medical practice and theological reflection.
The course will be in the licentia program in Theology, so many of the students will be preparing to teach. I'll be teaching the teachers.
Is this your first experience at the Greg?
I taught "Health Care & Ethics" in 1992-98. Most of my students then were not religious. It was a special licentiate program for lay doctors, nurses and other health-care workers.
You'll be commuting to Rome from Milan on a weekly basis. What will you be doing when you're not teaching?
I'll be joint-editor of a monthly publication of the Society in Italy, Aggiornamenti Sociali, in charge of the field of bio-ethics. The publication is fifty years old and focuses on the social doctrine of the Church. We have about 10,000 subscribers, who are university students and faculty, as well as professional people. Our readers are primarily Catholic laity, but the publication is for anyone interested in Catholic thought on social issues.
You've been a doctor, researcher, priest, teacher and editor, and you seem to have found a common thread to bind those things together. What is it?
They are different ways to proclaim the Gospel.
Neuhaus First Ordination at Biblicum
Every once in a while, something special happens at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. This particular something was 90 years in the making: Last December, David Neuhaus, S.J., was ordained to the Diaconate at the hands of Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J., Secretary of the Pontifical Congregation of Education and formerly Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University. The ordination took place at the Jesuit Chapel of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, the first and only ordination in the Biblicum's 90-year history.
Most of the Biblicum's Jesuit students come to study after they've been ordained, but this event's special glow wasn't due solely to its unique spot in Biblicum history. Deacon Neuhaus was born in South Africa of Jewish parents and emmigrated to Israel when he was 15. He came to know Christianity and the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Jerusalem. Baptized in Jerusalem, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1992. Neuhaus did his novitiate in the New England Province, taught at a Jesuit high school in Cairo, Egypt, and then studied theology at the Jesuit Theologate in Paris. He received his Licentiate from the Biblicum in Sacred Studies at the end of the recent academic year. Neuhaus has also found the time along the way to collect Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees from Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
This ordination was something special, and not just because it was the Biblicum's first.
FADICA Members Visit Rome
On June 7th, more than 70 members of FADICA (Foundations and Donors Interested In Catholic Activities, Inc.) visited the Gregorian University Consortium. The group heard a talk on early Christianity by Rev. John Kilgallen, S.J. of the Biblical Institute, followed by Mass in the Gregorian University student chapel with Archbishop Joseph Pittau, S.J. as principal celebrant.
Gregorian professor Rev. Heinrich Pfeiffer, S.J. also led the group on a tour of the Church of San Clemente and Gregorian Rector Franco Imoda, S.J. and Gregorian professor Dr. Donna Orsuto made a presentation on personal spirituality to the FADICA members in Assisi.
Above, from left, Gregorian University Rector Rev. Franco Imoda, S.J., FADICA president Frank Butler and Biblical Institute professor Rev. John Kilgallen, S.J.
Archbishop Pittau with Joseph and Winifred Amaturo of the Amaturo Foundation.
A New York Gathering
The Gregorian University Foundation hosted a dialogue, Training Future Leaders for the Church, at New York's University Club on May 15th. More than 130 people attended, including many of the foundation's trustees, alumni, and friends.
Speaking at the event were: Gregorian alumnus Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Whalen, S.T.D., the Rector of St. John Neumann Seminary Residence; Mary Catherine and William Hare, a lay couple who studied at the Gregorian from 1992-1994 and now work in the Diocese of Dallas; and Rev. Thomas Michel, S.J., head of the Jesuit Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome.
The dialogue was sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. John R. Constantino, Mr. & Mrs. William R. Grant, Mr. & Mrs. John J. Halleron III, Mr. & Mrs. Peter P. Mullen, and Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Shafer.
New trustee John Halleron and his wife, Becky, at the reception before the dialogue.
If you're interested in highlights from our other previous issues, please click here.
The Doctor Is In — An interview with Rev. Carlo Casalone, S.J., doctor, educator and Jesuit.
Rev. Carlo Casalone, S.J. is a doctor as well as a priest, teacher and editor. Early next year, he'll be making a once-a-week house call to teach at The Gregorian University. Why? We had a chance to find out when he visited New York recently.
Speaking at the event were: Gregorian alumnus Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Whalen, S.T.D., the Rector of St. John Neumann Seminary Residence; Mary Catherine and William Hare, a lay couple who studied at the Gregorian from 1992-1994 and now work in the Diocese of Dallas; and Rev. Thomas Michel, S.J., head of the Jesuit Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome.