FROM FORMATION TO A LIFETIME OF SERVICE: A Homecoming at the Pontifical College Josephinum
On September 30, 2026, Vincent J. Bove returned to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, to receive the 2026 Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award. Having entered the institution in 1981, Bove received two separate degrees on May 8, 1985: the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and the Master of Divinity. The award recognized a lifetime of service encompassing ethical leadership, law enforcement, first responders, public safety, character formation, and the protection of American schools and communities.
The Josephinum occupies a singular place in Catholic higher education as the only pontifical seminary outside Italy, a distinction that reflects its unique ecclesiastical standing and relationship with the Holy See. The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States serves as its Chancellor, providing a formal institutional link with the Holy See.
For Bove, returning to this institution to receive the award was more than a moment of professional recognition. It was an opportunity to reflect on the theological formation that began more than four decades earlier and the enduring influence it would have on a lifetime of service.
Returning to the Pontifical College Josephinum on September 30, 2026, was one of those moments for me. Standing once again at the institution that helped shape my spiritual, moral, and ethical outlook, I was reminded that the significance of a life is not measured solely by professional accomplishments or public recognition, but also by the principles that guide us and the responsibilities we accept along the way.
Over the decades, my professional life evolved in directions I could not have fully anticipated as a young student. Yet the values cultivated during my years at the Josephinum continued to inform my understanding of leadership, service, human dignity, and responsibility to others.
Earlier this year, in the Josephinum's Alumni Spotlight, I reflected on the enduring influence of that formation, observing: “It would be impossible to be who I am today without the spiritual, moral, and ethical formation received at the Josephinum.”
Receiving the Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award brought that conviction into sharper focus. The recognition was deeply humbling, but its greatest significance lay in the opportunity to reflect on the connection between the institution that helped shape my life and the many forms of service that followed.
The award was not simply a recognition of what I had accomplished. It was a reminder of where the journey began, the foundation upon which it was built, and the enduring responsibility to put those formative principles into practice.
The Josephinum's influence extended beyond the acquisition of theological knowledge. Sacred Scripture, Church history, ethics, the sacraments, the lives of the saints, prayer, discipline, and meditation contributed to an understanding of human dignity, moral responsibility, and the obligations we bear toward others.
Daily Mass, relationships with seminarians, faculty, and staff, and the broader experience of life within a Catholic theological institution became part of a formation that would continue to inform my outlook long after graduation.
My Salesian formation and devotion to St. John Bosco also helped shape my understanding of character, education, leadership, and the responsibility to accompany others through the challenges of life.
During my remarks at the Josephinum, I reflected on St. John Bosco and his celebrated dream of 1862. His enduring influence remains particularly relevant to my work with law enforcement, first responders, educators, and young people, where character, sound judgment, human dignity, and responsible leadership are essential.
Formation is never merely an exercise in acquiring knowledge. Its deeper purpose is to shape the person who will eventually put that knowledge into practice.
The Josephinum helped establish that foundation in my life.
Over the decades, my theological education evolved into a different expression of vocation and service.
My professional work came to encompass law enforcement leadership, private security, school and
More than 400 published works and four books have accompanied this work, addressing leadership, public safety, character, morale, emotional resilience, and the responsibilities of those entrusted with protecting others.
The professional settings changed, but the fundamental questions remained remarkably consistent.
What does it mean to act ethically when circumstances are difficult? How do we preserve human dignity when confronted with conflict? How do we strengthen the character of those who carry significant responsibilities? And how do we help individuals remain resilient while serving others under demanding conditions?
These questions are not confined to theology, public safety, or any single profession. They concern the human person, the exercise of responsibility, and the moral foundations upon which healthy institutions and communities depend.
The relationship between my theological formation and professional service is therefore not a matter of pursuing identical activities throughout a lifetime. It is a matter of carrying foundational principles into the responsibilities that life presents.
The expression changed. The foundation did not.
In 2024, my relationship with the New York City Police Department entered a distinctive new chapter with my appointment as the NYPD's Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker.
This work has involved advising, counseling, and training members of the department, with particular attention to ethical leadership, morale, emotional resilience, and suicide prevention. Operation Resiliency emerged as an initiative developed for the NYPD around these principles.
Behind every uniform is a human being who carries personal responsibilities, professional demands, and experiences that are not always visible to the public. The responsibility to protect others must be accompanied by an appreciation for the dignity, resilience, and well-being of the protectors themselves.
This conviction informs my continuing work through Reawakening America LLC and the principles that guide my speaking, writing, and professional engagements.
Ethical leadership is not simply a matter of policy or procedure. It is reflected in the daily decisions, personal conduct, and relationships through which trust is established and maintained.
Likewise, morale is not sustained by slogans alone. It requires respect, meaningful human encounters, sound leadership, and an environment in which individuals understand that their service and their humanity matter.
The Josephinum did not prescribe the precise professional path I would eventually follow. It helped cultivate the moral and spiritual foundation from which that path would develop.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the September 30 celebration was the opportunity to bring together people whose lives reflect different expressions of service.
At my encouragement, the Josephinum reached out to invite members of local law enforcement, police chaplains, and fire department officials to participate in the occasion.
Their presence contributed a special dimension to the gathering. The Josephinum represents theological education and Catholic formation, while law enforcement and the fire service represent professional commitments to public safety, protection, and the well-being of others.
These fields have distinct responsibilities, yet they share important concerns: human dignity, moral courage, responsibility, sacrifice, and the importance of serving something beyond oneself.
This photograph holds particular meaning for me. It brings together the institution that helped shape my early formation and the law enforcement community with which I have been privileged to work throughout my professional life.
The evening became more than a recognition of an alumnus. It became an occasion for fellowship among faith, education, law enforcement, fire service, chaplaincy, and the wider community.
The partnerships represented in that gathering reflect a conviction that has guided much of my work: communities are strengthened when individuals and institutions recognize their shared responsibilities and work together with mutual respect.
Receiving the Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award was a profound honor.
The medallion bearing the name of the award and the Pontifical College Josephinum serves as the
Yet the medallion represents something greater than a single evening or a professional accomplishment. It recalls the years of study, prayer, reflection, and personal formation that preceded it, as well as the decades of work that followed.
Recognition is meaningful when it helps us appreciate the people, institutions, and experiences that contributed to the journey. In that respect, the award directs attention not only to the recipient, but also to the community that helped form him and to the many people with whom he has subsequently served.
The Josephinum's recognition was especially meaningful because it connected my professional life with a formative chapter that began in 1981 and continues to influence my understanding of responsibility today.
Following my remarks, I distributed commemorative cards that reflected different dimensions of the mission I have pursued through Reawakening America LLC.
One featured the Liberation Monument at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. The monument depicts an American soldier carrying a survivor from a Nazi concentration camp at the end of World War II, with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
The image offers a powerful reminder of moral courage, compassion, human dignity, and the responsibility to protect humanity when civilization itself is tested. It also connects the sacrifices associated with the defense of freedom to the enduring responsibility of each generation to preserve the principles upon which a free society depends.
The card reflects themes that have informed my writing and professional engagements for many years: ethical leadership, vigilance, integrity, character, and the obligation to stand against indifference when the dignity of another human being is at stake.
The second card was designed for Reawakening America LLC. It incorporates the Blessed Mother, the Eucharist, the saints, American symbols, and imagery representing faith, character, leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.
On the reverse appears my own composition, A Prayer for America.
The prayer expresses a hope for a nation guided by truth, high ethical standards, character, charity, justice, understanding, and compassion. It calls for stronger partnerships among members of every community and for the wisdom and strength to confront challenges with integrity and perseverance.
The prayer concludes with an aspiration for a nation characterized by tranquility, solidarity, and liberty.
Sharing these cards was a personal expression of gratitude and an opportunity to communicate the principles that continue to guide my work. They reflected the conviction that faith, character, ethical leadership, and civic responsibility can contribute to a stronger and more compassionate society.
An especially touching aspect of the celebration came through the response of some of the law enforcement officers present, who gave me tribute coins and patches representing their respective service and professional identities.
I received these gifts with sincere gratitude. I had come prepared to share reflections, prayer, and expressions of faith and service. The officers, in turn, chose to offer something of their own, creating a meaningful exchange that reflected the mutual respect, fellowship, and generosity that can develop among those dedicated to serving others.
These tokens represent more than their physical form. They reflect professional identity, shared experiences, and the bonds that unite people whose work is rooted in responsibility to others. The exchange reminded me that service is never entirely a one-way undertaking. Those who devote themselves to helping others are themselves strengthened by relationships, encouragement, and the generosity of those they encounter.
A FRIENDSHIP OF 45 YEARS
My heartfelt gratitude to Michael Fry of the Pontifical College Josephinum, whose leadership and generosity helped make this extraordinary recognition possible. Michael and I first met as students at the Josephinum in 1981, beginning a friendship that has now spanned 45 years. To have this honor come full circle at the very institution where our friendship began makes the occasion especially meaningful.
I also want to recognize Michael’s extraordinary 42 years of service as a Catholic theology teacher, a remarkable commitment to faith, education, and the spiritual and intellectual formation of others. Through his dedication to Catholic theology and the Church, he has contributed to the lives of countless individuals and helped carry forward the Josephinum’s enduring mission.
Michael, thank you for your friendship across these 45 years, for your leadership, and for the important role you played in making this recognition possible. I am deeply grateful for the blessings of our enduring friendship and for the opportunity to celebrate this milestone at the institution where our journey together began.
With sincere gratitude to all, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam — For the Greater Glory of God.
About the Author
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Vincent J. Bove is a nationally recognized authority on ethical leadership, violence prevention, and law enforcement resiliency.
A sought-after speaker and prolific author, his work has influenced agencies and institutions across the United States for more than 25 years.
Bove has authored more than 400 published articles and four books addressing critical issues in public safety, leadership, and moral courage.
His book Reawakening America© was named a finalist for ASIS International’s Book of the Year. Listen to Their Cries© was selected and sponsored for distribution to all attendees—students representing institutions from across the United States—at the National Conference on Ethics in America by the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy, at the request of a coalition of West Point graduates involved in the conference.
He was appointed the first-ever Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the New York City Police Department, conducting leadership and resiliency initiatives across all five boroughs of New York City.
Bove is also the author of more than seventy articles published in Law Officer, a national publication serving law enforcement professionals across the United States. His work emphasizes ethical leadership, preventive strategies, officer resilience, and the preservation of public trust in modern policing—drawing on American history and enduring leadership traditions to reinforce the importance of character, accountability, and moral courage.
He is a trusted voice at Federal Bureau of Investigation venues, United States Military Academy, and numerous U.S. military facilities. A longtime author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, he has written 18 cover stories and contributed to shaping national law enforcement dialogue through feature articles and reports.
“Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention, and leadership training.” — U.S. Senate
PHOTO: Vincent J. Bove conducting an ethical leadership, morale, and resiliency initiative at the NYPD 75th Precinct, Brooklyn, August 13, 2026. (Photo by NYPD Officer Justin Constantino for RALLC)
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Commemorative Graphic — Vincent J. Bove, 2026 Jessing Alumnus of the Year, Pontifical College Josephinum. Honoring a lifetime of service in ethical leadership, law enforcement, first responders, and the protection of American schools and communities, rooted in the theological formation received at the Josephinum in 1985. (Vincent J. Bove for RALLC)
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Vincent J. Bove receives the 2026 Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award, pictured with Monsignor Steven Beseau at the Pontifical College Josephinum on September 30, 2026. (Seminarian Drew Stanley of the PCJ for RALLC)
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The Pontifical College Josephinum, Worthington Ohio, September 30, 2026. (Vincent J. Bove for RALLC)
PHOTO 4
Vincent J. Bove with Officer Herman of the Worthington Division of Police, Ohio, at the Pontifical College Josephinum on September 30, 2026, during the celebration of the 2026 Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award. The photograph reflects the meaningful connection between Catholic formation, ethical leadership, law enforcement, and a lifetime of service to others. (Lily Bove for RALLC)
Labels: Character, Character Training/Development for Students, Education, Faith Based, Leadership, Presentations
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 11:51 AM
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