Cal Heaney

In recent years, a programme of study abroad for lay students of Catholic studies has been developed in the College in collaboration with a number of third-level institutions in Ireland and the USA. The programme has gone from strength to strength since its inception and a full time resident Director of Lay Studies, Mr. Eoin McCormack looks after the day-to-day running of the programme, as well as recruitment and planning. Cal Heaney is a 25 year old from Magherafelt, Co, Derry, who took part in the Lay Formation Programme during the 2025/26 year. This is his account of his time at the Pontifical Irish College.

There is something very special about Rome. Its name alone evokes timeless grandeur, carrying the weight of its storied history. It is a hallowed place; as time advances, part of its spirit remains—exuding, it seems, from the very cobbles. I've come to know many of this city's subtle (and not-so-subtle) charms in my time here.

The glow of the Tiber at night, the dome of St. Peter's Basilica outlined against the inky sky, a cobbled street filled with the laughter of locals over good food and wine, a nosy peek through a church door into something like heaven, beauty crafted to draw the soul upward. Rome is often called the Eternal City, aptly so, given it has stood the test of time and civilizations. But of late this title feels more personal, as I know a piece of me will always remain here.

For my part, I've had the great pleasure of studying at the Pontifical Irish College, an institution whose history spans five centuries. Founded to train Irish priests during Penal times, it has since carved out its own niche in this city's history. It continues to serve the Irish Church and diaspora, most recently through a lay-formation programme for young adults from Ireland seeking to deepen their faith—the hope being that in coming to Rome, the heart of the Church, and experiencing what this city offers alongside studies in faith and philosophy, they return home with renewed optimism, ready to give an account for the hope within them.

The programme's structure draws on the four pillars of formation set out by Pope John Paul II —human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral—recognising that authentic formation must attend to the whole person.

Memories of walking past the Colosseum on my way to class, football in the evenings as the sun dips in the sky, and weekend trips to Florence and Assisi are ones I will carry with me for a long time.

The experience has afforded me many incredible opportunities, memories, and friendships for life, not least through the College's strong ties with the Irish Embassy to the Holy See: last December the two jointly hosted a symposium marking the 250th anniversary of Daniel O'Connell's birth, fitting given the College's monument to O'Connell, whose heart was brought to Rome at his dying wish. On another occasion, I had the joy of meeting the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, after a papal audience with the group.

If any of this resonates or intrigues you, and you're considering the lay-formation programme, I would recommend reaching out to the College. Rome, and the experience, will give you back more than you arrive with and open doors you won't find elsewhere.

These are but a few fragments of an experience shaped by history, faith, and friendships I hope will outlast my time here—and if Rome takes a piece of the heart, it leaves something behind too, for which I remain profoundly grateful.