Since 2009, The Rome Experience—an initiative of Midwest Theological Forum—has introduced seminarians to the heart of the Church through a 6-week summer program, complementing their diocesan formation, invigorating their vocations, and enlivening their fidelity to the Holy Father. This summer, 26 seminarians from across the United States will find themselves face-to-face with the living story of the Catholic Church throughout the ages. From the major basilicas of Rome to St. John Vianney’s village of Ars, France, this unique experience will offer lifelong inspiration.
The Bishops Advisory Board, faculty, and staff of The Rome Experience are pleased to announce the seminarians who will be participating in our 2026 program:
Michael Bauer
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Saint Paul Seminary
Joseph Canepa
Archdiocese of Portland
Mount Angel Seminary
Jose Cortez
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
Michael Falcone
Diocese of Nashville
Mundelein Seminary
Devin Flach
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Matthew Hennessy
Diocese of Charlotte
St. Joseph College Seminary
Roberto Herrera
Diocese of Dallas
Notre Dame Seminary
Theodore Holthe
Diocese of Charlotte
St. Joseph College Seminary
Iwuji Ikechukwu
Diocese of Dallas
Notre Dame Seminary
Gabriel Kube
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
Rafel Lopez
Diocese of Brownsville
St. Mary’s Seminary
Thomas Luu
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
St. John’s Seminary
Terry Marmion
Diocese of Belleville
Mundelein Seminary
Dylan McKay
Diocese of Palm Beach
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
Franz Mercado
Diocese of Birmingham
Notre Dame Seminary
Shaun Mrdjenovic
Archdiocese of New York
St. Joseph Seminary
Noah Orham
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
St. Paul Seminary
Christopher Rodriguez
Diocese of San Bernardino
Mundelein Seminary
Matthew Sie
Diocese of Charlotte
St. Joseph College Seminary
David Slonkosky
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
Jeremy Smith
Diocese of Charlotte
St. Joseph College Seminary
Elvis Toribio
Diocese of Brooklyn
St. Joseph Seminary
Joseph Tuttle
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology
Jessie Valdovinos
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
St. John’s Seminary
David Valencia
Archdiocese of Washington DC
St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto
Zak Zapletal
Diocese of Dallas
Notre Dame Seminary
Seminarian Scholarship Fund
On The Rome Experience, seminarians deepen their habits of mental prayer, construct a spiritual plan of life, and delve into the lives of the saints and the history of the Church in Rome.
Through The Rome Experience Scholarship Fund, we aim to make this program possible for seminarians from any diocese in the United States who desire this formation experience.
Images provided by The Rome Experience
