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Priest Community at the Pontifical Irish College

Since 1628, the Pontifical Irish College has trained seminarians and priests for the mission of the Gospel in both Ireland and the Universal Church. The ongoing formation community of priests at the Pontifical Irish College, is under the auspices of the Irish  Episcopal Conference, and welcomes diocesan priests from all parts of the world, as well as priests who are incardinated into Religious Institutes or Apostolic Societies. The priests, who are nominated by their diocesan Bishop or Superior to live at the Irish College have completed the major seminary curriculum and are sent to Rome to obtain a specialisation in one of the sacred sciences at one of the Pontifical Universities or Institutes. The formal purpose of Irish College community of priests is to be a centre of hospitality and a source of ongoing formation for priests, who, sent to Rome by their Bishops or Superiors for a specialization in studies, are preparing themselves for a more dedicated service in their diocese or religious community.

Through retreats, workshops, spiritual direction and participation in the life of the college, student priests at the Irish College undergo an ongoing formation programme strengthening their spiritual configuration to Christ, Head and Shepherd, and develop a sense of availability, responsibility and integrity.  

Ordinarily, student priests come to Rome after some pastoral, administrative or diocesan curial experience. They welcome, with particular gratitude, the religious, cultural and academic opportunities offered to enlarge their experience of priestly life and ministry. 

The atmosphere / ethos of the residence encourages each student priest to lead a balanced life integrating the following elements: spiritual, pastoral, intellectual, and human. These elements are dynamic and in active tension with each other. It is indeed a privileged community where priests can vivify a genuine priestly identity. Coming from different local Churches, the student priests experience a unique form of fraternity at the Pontifical Irish College. It is a blessed place for sharing ordained life on a wider college campus of seminarians and laity with a view to a more dedicated service to the Church, both local and universal.

Click Here to download the general norms & rule of life for members of the Priest Community at the Irish College.

Joining the Community of Priests

Initially, each resident priest has to provide a letter from their superior/bishop stating that he is nominating him to reside at the College and confirming that they are a priest of good standing. Where a priest arrives from another College in Rome, a letter from the Rector of that College is also required.  The residential fee includes en-suite bedroom, breakfast, lunch/dinner and supper access to the facilities of the College, library, gym, participation in the various activities during the year which will include a postgraduate retreat over a weekend in Lent and whole College outing. 

The College is a house of ongoing formation for priests, and all postgraduate priests are required to participate in the ongoing formation programme that is offered in the College. 

To make an application to join the postgraduate community at the Irish College an entry letter should be sent to reception@irishcollege.org singed by the priest applicant and his bishop. The letter should also hold the Bishop's seal. Please see below the format for the application letter and the necessary rules for joining the Irish College community.
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Dear Fr. Rector,

I write to request a place among the community of the Pontifical Irish College in the forthcoming academic year, 30 September 2025 to 25 June 2026. In making this request, I

1. agree to follow the Pontifical Irish College Rule as well as any protocols involving safeguarding children, use of internet or any other protocols relevant to the life of the College as I may be advised by the College authorities.

2. agree to participate in the community life of the College by full and regular attendance at Community events, such as Wednesday evening community celebrations, as well as any other community events of which I may be advised.

3. agree to participate fully in all spiritual exercises as I may be advised including days of recollection, retreat for priests and postgraduates and other College occasions. I understand that I may be excused from attendance only in exceptional circumstances with prior notification to the vice rector and for a legitimate and serious reason.

4. agree to act as presiding celebrant at liturgies as I may be asked or assigned.

5. agree to learn the English language with the understanding that I am expected to be able to converse in English and celebrate Mass in English in the Pontifical Irish College. I understand that becoming conversant in the language may require me to attend English language classes.

6. agree to share in the responsibilities of the College community by sharing in rotas for hospitality and refectory service as I may be advised.

7. agree to pay the entire fee for the full academic year unless an alternative agreement has been reached with the College at the beginning of the academic year.

8. If transferring from another College to ask the Rector of the College for a reference letter.

Signed …

Priests resident in Rome are required to register with the Diocese of Rome and possess a «Carta di riconoscimento» (celebret) from the vicariate. It is  an authorization document from the Catholic Church which indicates permission to celebrate mass and administer the sacraments.
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If you don't have a celebret it would be better if you started a procedure to get it, to facilitate this procedure, you should provide the College office with:

· A signed photograph in clerical garb;

· The necessary completed form (available from the College Office);

· A copy of the relevant University inscription

· A copy of letter from Bishop indicating priest is in good standing

· A copy of passport or “Carta d’Identità”  (identity card)

· A copy of “Permesso di Soggiorno” ((if you are not european)

· A letter of residence available from the College Office

· A fee of €5.00 

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If you have the celebret, but you should renew it, you should provide the College office with:
· The old celebert (orginal);

· The necessary completed form (available from the College Office);

· A copy of passport or “Carta d’Identità”  (identity card)

· A letter of residence available from the College Office

·  A copy of “Permesso di Soggiorno” (if you are not european)

· A fee of €5.00 

The *Permesso di Soggiorno* is a card that allows non-EU foreigners to stay in the Italian territory for a variable period of time, within the limits. It must be requested within eight days from the first entry into Italy from the Questura of the province in which the foreigner is.
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***Steps to obtain a Permesso di Soggiorno.***

The first step is to obtain a Visa. There are two types: motivo di studio and motivo di religioso.
The process for obtaining a visa is as follows:

- The College must receive a letter (let’s call this the ‘first document’) from the Student’s Bishop nominating him to be resident at the Irish College, and to study at the agreed University. This first document must be signed and stamped by the Bishop and by the Nuncio of the relevant country.

- On receipt of the first document above, the college writes a letter (‘second document’) to the Italian embassy of the relevant country. This second document must be an original, and it is usually written in Italian. The College keeps a copy of this on file.

- Before being sent to the student, the second document from the College must be stamped, firstly by the Congregation for the Clergy (Congregazione per il Clero) and then, secondly, by the Secretariat of State (Segreteria di Stato Vaticana).

- To obtain the stamp from the Vatican Secretariat of State on the second document from the College the first document from the student’s bishop, and signed by the nuncio, must be given to the Secretariat of State. This is in the form of an in-person exchange, literally first document exchanged for the stamp on the second document.

- Also, if the motivo is studio, then a lettera di pre-iscrizione, a pre-enrolment letter, (‘third document’), from the relevant university must accompany the second document from the college and it. Otherwise it will be necessary to go twice to the Secretariat of State.

- Each stamp will cost €5.

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On the second document, the college specifies the type of visa: motivo religioso (religious reason) or motivo di studio (study reason). It is also possible to put in motivo di studio lunga durata (Type D). A template is attached below. It is important to choose the correct type of visa because if the visa is for “motivi di studio” then the “Permesso di Soggiorno” will also be for “motivi di studio”. In the same sense, if the visa is for “motivo religioso” then the permesso will be for “motivo religioso”. It is not possible to change from one motive to the other after the visa has been granted.

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The third document from the university is necessary for ‘motivi di studio’. This ‘third’ letter must be stamped by the Congregation for Catholic Education (Congregazione dell’Educazione Cattolica) and by the Vatican Secretariat of State (Segreteria di Stato Vaticana). This letter must be original. It is usually the student who contacts the university to obtain the letter and he sends it to the college.

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Therefore, once the College has all three letters prepared, with the first document signed and stamped by the bishop and the nuncio, it is then possible to go to the various congregations for their stamps as outlined above.

If someone has chosen the motivo religioso, then the ‘third’ letter obviously is not included because study is not mentioned.

Once all of the required stamps have been received, the ‘second’, the ‘third’ letters and the ‘first document’ are sent to the student who then brings them to the Italian Embassy / Consulate to complete the process of applying for a visa.

Once the student arrives in Italy, the procedure for obtaining the “Permesso di Soggiorno” should be initiated. This can take from 3 to 6 months to complete!
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***The second step: obtaining the Permesso di Soggiorno.***

To obtain the “Permesso di Soggiorno” the student needs to get a “kit” at the post office (let’s call this a ‘fourth document’). The fourth document can be filled out with the assistance of the college office staff. Usually the post office will only issue the kit to the named party. Occasionally it has been possible to obtain a kit without the presence of the student concerned.

- The College writes a letter of residence (‘fifth document’) for the Questura of Rome, in Italian. A template is included below. This fifth document must be stamped by the Vatican Secretariat of State (Segreteria di Stato Vaticana) and by the Congregation for the Clergy (Congregazione per il Clero) with each stamp costing €5.

- If the motive for the visa was motivi di studio, a letter of enrolment must be obtained from the relevant university (‘sixth document’). It must also be stamped by the Congregation for Catholic Education (Congregazione dell’Educazione Cattolica) and by the Vatican Secretariat of State (Segreteria di Stato Vaticana)

- For simplicity, the fourth, fifth, and sixth documents should be completed and brought together to the congregations for their stamps.

- Once the stamps have been received on the fifth and sixth documents, the student should bring the fourth document (the kit) with the fifth and sixth documents to the post office. With these documents, the student should bring their passport, their visa, and photocopies of both.

- A fee is payable at the post office (approx. €70) to apply for the permesso. At the post office an appointment is given to the student to appear at the relevant Questura, usually at the Via del Mascherino nearby to the Vatican.

- The student /priest will go to the Questura on the day indicated by the post office staff. A key element of this process is that the fingerprints of the student are taken at this point by the police.

- If all is in order, a letter/sheet is issued by the Questura indicating the the student has completed the process for the permesso and is awaiting the card.

- The permesso di soggiorno card will arrive directly at the college by post.

- It is always advisable for students to be in touch with their own Embassy in Rome who may be able to advise or help with such applications.

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***Note:***
Before receiving the card for the permesso di soggiorno, it is advisable not to leave Italy however this is not absolute. In case where a student a reason to leave Italy without the card, but with the certificate from the Questura, it is best to contact the Questura to find out the information.

- In regard to the course on Italian history culture and society, this is only required for those who have a visa and permesso motivo religioso.

There are three levels of residential fees payable by students at the Irish College. It is intended that, in this way, wealthier dioceses / countries subsidise poorer dioceses / countries. This allows for an equitable arrangement where access to residency at the Irish College is not restricted to those who can pay the full residency fee. The three rates are therefore:

€21,200 per annum,

- This is higher than the actual cost per student of running the College and it effectively subsidises other students

- This rate is usually applied to Irish and US students, as well as most EU students

€12,500 per annum,

- This is the actual cost per student of running the College in an average year

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Once you have self-selected the fee that you regard as appropriate to your situation, please contact the Vice-Rector to discuss your proposed selection, including any special circumstances that you believe may apply in your individual case. The Vice-Rector will then agree the appropriate fee with you, and he will issue the residential fee note.