Springfield priest prepares for new work at Rome's Pontifical North American College

While July 1 brings new assignments to many parish pastors and priests, no pastor in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will be moving further this summer than Father Peter Harman.

Father Harman will be leaving the Cathedral Parish of the Immaculate Conception and has been reassigned to Rome, where he will be director of Pastoral Formation at the Pontifical North American College. He is also leaving assignments as priest moderator of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Springfield, as bishop's delegate for Healthcare and Legal Professionals, and as chaplain for the Courage Apostolate. He will retain his part-time duties as research theologian to the Bishop of Springfield in Illinois — work he can complete by corresponding mostly by e-mail with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki.

"Originally I was taken aback when I received the news from Bishop Paprocki that the Pontifical North American College had asked that I serve on the faculty," says Father Harman. "But as I considered what the (Pontifical North American College) seminary did for me in my own formation for the priesthood, my primary thought was that I could not refuse the assistance requested by them. Still it's always hard to leave a parish and the people you've worked with and ministered with, especially when it is unexpected.

"It is kind of humbling for me, knowing that I will be setting an example for seminarians," he says. "On the other hand, I have had a lot of varied experiences as a priest. I've been the master of ceremonies for Bishop Lucas (now Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha), I've been parochial vicar in several parishes, have my doctorate (from the Catholic University of America), have been pastor here at Cathedral (since 2008) and I was here for the restoration of the Cathedral. So I can draw from all those experiences to help the future priests."

At the Pontifical North American College Father Harman will be teaching the seminarians "how to be a priest."

"I'll be teaching more in a seminar format," he says. "For example, we'll work on preaching, celebrating Mass, weddings, baptisms, etc. So this isn't like I'll be teaching a class where you say, 'Now open the book to page one.'"

He'll also be directly in charge of about 30 of the school's 240 seminarians. "I'll oversee their evaluations and their own personal readiness for formation," he says.

Because he wants to know what to expect, Father Harman has been in touch with and getting advice from Father Ed Smith of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Father Smith was director of liturgy and vice rector of the Pontifical North American College when Father Harman was a student there.

Because he studied in Rome for a number of years, speaking Italian won't be too much of a problem for Father Harman. "It won't be an issue in the school at all, since the students all speak English. I know a sufficient amount of Italian to get around. Somebody did send me a Rosetta Stone tape, so I'll use that, too."

Father Harman admits that leaving his family — especially his widowed mother — will be upsetting. "I am the youngest and have two older brothers in Quincy and a sister in Missouri, so they will be here with her," he says.

"I will be home for Christmas and some weeks during the summer, so I will still see my family. But it is difficult for her," he says. "I've told her that the technology is so much better than what we had the last time I was in Rome, about 15 years ago. We have the computers and we can Skype. Of course, I can call."

In fact, Father Harman says his computer will be one of the most important things he'll be taking to Rome. "I'm taking very little with me," he says, noting that he is sorting through items and books, deciding what to ship to Rome, what to keep for future use and what to give away.

In July Father Harman will take a short vacation before going to the Pontifical North American College in early August. There, he'll have a few days to get settled and then will begin teaching the new seminarians. He knows he'll have to get re-accustomed to life in Rome, which although far from the Springfield diocese, is a place he enjoys and will call home for up to five years. "And the food doesn't hurt," he says with a chuckle.

On a more serious note, Father Harman concludes. "When you are in Rome you get to see the faithful around the world who come there, many who come to see the Holy Father — so you see the Universal Church. That's a very powerful lesson. So, yes, I'll be sad to leave my family and friends, but at the same time I'm looking forward to it."