Following their sophomore year, St. Mary’s College students travel to Rome to tour the city and study Latin. A priest-chaplain leads the expedition accompanied by college Latinists and faculty chaperones. Designed to enhance what is learned in the classroom, the visit to the Eternal City inspires students to a greater love for Eternal Rome, described by Archbishop Lefebvre as “mistress of wisdom and truth.”
The College desires her students to think with the Church, “sentire cum Ecclesia,” so beyond the focused daily study of Latin, the trip allows students to experience the spiritual, historical, cultural, artistic, and architectural traditions that Rome offers. Following daily Mass, students visit Rome’s principal churches and other religious and historical sites. The visits include coordinated Latin readings and study of primary texts at key locations.
All SMC students make the trip to Rome between their sophomore and junior years. The trip is not an added expense for the student. As long as a student remains at SMC for their junior year the cost of the trip is included in tuition of the junior year and is not an added expense.
The trip is first of all an academic experience with Rome as the classroom, but there is ample time for students to do “independent study” and explore Rome on their own.
