Seminarians experience landmark event

Apostolic Nuncio visits Pontifical College Josephinum

Columbus, OH - One hundred and fifty seminarians at the Pontifical College Josephinum experienced a landmark event in their journey to priesthood when Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, visited the seminary on October 22-23, 2006. The visit was the archbishop's first since his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio in December 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Upon his arrival to the Josephinum, Archbishop Sambi was formally received in St. Turibius Chapel by the seminarians and the priest faculty who are responsible for overseeing the formation programs. Rector/ President Msgr. Paul J. Langsfeld, STD, welcomed the archbishop: "It is a great joy to welcome you on your first visit to the Josephinum. During your time here, many people will greet and welcome you, but it is fitting that the first to do so are the 150 men who are studying for the sacred priesthood. Our meeting in the seminary's chapel for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament is a fitting reminder that the mystery of the Eucharist is the source and summit of our ministry. In this sacred place, your distinguished predecessors, the Apostolic Delegates and Nuncios, ordained hundreds of men as deacons, priests, and bishops for the service of God's people."

The Josephinum's relationship with the Holy See began with founder Msgr. Joseph Jessing's petition to make the Josephinum a pontifical school in 1893, the same year that Pope Leo XIII named the first Apostolic Delegate to the United States. Since that time, each Apostolic Delegate and Nuncio has played a significant role in the life of the seminary.

Over the years the Josephinum has changed in many ways to meet the needs of the time. "Through all of the change one of the constants has been the cordial relationship we have always had with the Apostolic Delegates and Nuncios," said Langsfeld.

"I am happy to be here." The Archbishop's opening sentence became a theological theme of his first address to the seminarians. "Show you are happy to live," he told them. "It should be a great message - your smile is a message. The source of all happiness is our faith: Happy to live, because happy to believe. You know what you have to do - to feel that life is a gift and life is a lesson to continue in you with the qualities and the capacities that God has given you to continue the mission of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am happy, because you are the hope of the Church."

On Sunday afternoon, Kevin Bauman, a second-year theologian from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN, escorted the Nuncio on a tour of the buildings and grounds of the Josephinum.

A welcome change to the schedule was made when Archbishop Sambi expressed his willingness to personally meet each seminarian.

"I really felt like the Nuncio cared about me when I met him,” remarked Deacon Paul Timmerman, a seminarian from the Diocese of New Ulm. “He seemed to be sincerely interested in where I was from and he gave me his full attention. I was really impressed by how interested he was in us seminarians and how we live; he actually asked to see what our rooms look like. His homily was incredible; it really inspired me, and this was even right after a weekend of silent retreat! I was very impressed with him."

The seminary community and invited guests gathered in the chapel on Sunday for Solemn Vespers. An evening reception in the Jessing Center was attended by the seminary faculty and more than 200 benefactors and friends - each guest had the opportunity to greet Msgr. Langsfeld, the Most Rev. Frederick Campbell, Bishop of Columbus, and Archbishop Sambi. A rosary blessed by the Nuncio was presented to each guest as a token of remembrance of the visit.

The Nuncio was the celebrant and homilist for Mass on Monday morning, October 23.

Bishop John C. Nienstedt was among the number of bishops present as concelebrants who send their seminarians to the Josephinum for formation. Other visiting bishops were Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk (Cincinnati), Bishop Frederick Campbell (Columbus), Board Chair Bishop Daniel Conlon (Stuebenville), Archbishop Elden Curtiss (Omaha), Bishop Robert Baker (Charleston), Bishop David Choby (Nashville), Bishop David Fellhauer (Victoria), Bishop Roger Foys (Covington), Bishop Paul Loverde (Arlington), and Bishop Raymundo Peña (Brownsville).

The bishops joined their seminarians at reserved tables in the seminary refectory for a community-wide luncheon, during which Msgr. Langsfeld presented Archbishop Sambi with a print of the illuminated manuscript The Past Responding to God's Call, commissioned for the 2006 St. Joseph Day celebration, and commended the Nuncio "to the protection of our great patron."

Andrew Budzinski (Fort Wayne-South Bend), President of the Student Senate in Theology, and Jon-Paul Bevak (Youngstown), President of the College Student Council, also presented gifts to the Nuncio.

The Josephinum community was honored in turn by a gift from the Nuncio - a papal blessing from Benedict XVI.

"Archbishop, thank you for bringing us the Holy Father's blessings. Please convey to His Holiness the affection, admiration and loyalty of the students, faculty and staff of the Josephinum, and assure him of our constant remembrance in prayer," said Langsfeld. "May the Lord give you strength and wisdom to carry out the important mission the Holy Father has entrusted to you."

Given the fact that the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States is also the Chancellor of the Josephinum, it was especially significant that Archbishop Sambi concluded his visit by opening the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday afternoon.

The Apostolic Nuncio's time at the Josephinum was a highly anticipated occasion that required attention to hundreds of details - all of which came together for a successful visit from Pope Benedict XVI's personal representative to the Church in the United States, a visit that will long be remembered by the entire seminary community.