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.

A RETURN TO THE FOUNDATION

Some moments in life bring us back to the beginning, allowing us to see the journey that followed with a perspective only time can provide.

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 FORMATION THAT ENDURES

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.

A DIFFERENT EXPRESSION OF VOCATION

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

community safety, violence prevention, crisis planning, character formation, organizational resilience, and the development of ethical leadership principles. Through advising, counseling, speaking, and training, I have worked with law enforcement agencies, first responders, military audiences, educators, students, and community leaders nationwide.

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.

STRENGTHENING THOSE WHO PROTECT OTHERS

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.

The work has also extended to other law enforcement and first responder organizations, including the FDNY and police professionals in numerous jurisdictions.

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.

A MEANINGFUL GATHERING OF SERVICE

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.

THE MEDALLION AND ITS MEANING

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

tangible symbol of that recognition. Its depiction of a priest celebrating Mass also recalls the religious and theological character of the institution where my formation began.

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.

THE SYMBOLISM OF LIBERTY, FAITH, AND HUMAN DIGNITY

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.

THE GENEROSITY OF THOSE WHO SERVE

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

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)

PHOTO 1

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)

PHOTO 2

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)

PHOTO 3

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)

A WORD WITH BISHOP SHEEN: A Memory Reignited Nearly 49 Years Later

Some memories never leave us. They simply wait for the right moment to come alive again.

The beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on September 24, 2026, brought one of the most cherished memories of my young Salesian years vividly back to life.

On February 12, 1978, I was a 24-year-old Salesian seminarian when I had the extraordinary privilege of spending time with Archbishop Sheen at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. Several of my Salesian confreres and I had the privilege of serving at his Mass.

It was a day I have never forgotten.

Before I ever spoke with Bishop Sheen, however, I watched him pray.

One of the photographs I took that day captures Archbishop Sheen shortly before Mass, alone in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. For me, that photograph says something that words cannot fully express.

The man whose voice had reached millions through radio and television, whose books had influenced countless lives, and whose preaching had made him one of the most recognizable Catholic figures in America, was, in that moment, simply a priest before Christ in the Eucharist.

That image has remained with me for nearly five decades.

And then came the opportunity to speak with him.

In the days leading up to that encounter, I had spoken with my close friend Pio about what question I should ask Bishop Sheen if I had the opportunity.

Pio and I had met two years earlier, in 1976, when we were both studying at Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey. At the time, Pio was studying to become a Capuchin Franciscan, while I was a young Salesian seminarian. Our friendship began during those years and has endured for five decades.

Today, that friend is Father Pio Mandato, a hermit in Pennsylvania and a blood relative of the great Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. Father Pio remains a close friend, and we continue to be in contact several times each week.

As a young seminarian preparing for an encounter with Bishop Sheen, we discussed what question would be worthy of asking him. Together, we settled on a simple but profound question:

“In your opinion, what does Our Lord expect of a seminarian?” 

I eventually found the courage to ask it.

Bishop Sheen's answer would remain with me for the rest of my life:

“Very simply, to be another Christ.”

Those words became the heart of the article that followed.

At the time, I could not have imagined that my encounter with Bishop Sheen would become one of my first published articles. I had previously written several pieces as a young seminarian for the Saint Dominic Savio newsletter at the request of my friend and Salesian confrere, Brother Jerry Harasym, SDB.

But this encounter with Bishop Sheen became one of my first published articles in the Salesian Bulletin.

The article appeared in the November-December 1978 issue, Volume 32, under the simple title, “A Word with Bishop Sheen.”

Nearly 49 years later, reading those words again is a deeply moving experience.

THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF BISHOP SHEEN

A Lifelong Devotion to Bishop Sheen

My encounter with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1978 was not an isolated moment in my life. For nearly half a century, I have remained a devoted reader and admirer of this extraordinary priest, whose writings have continued to inform my faith, deepen my understanding of the spiritual life, and challenge me to reflect more seriously on the responsibilities we carry toward others.

In my home office, I keep a collection of some of my favorite books by Bishop Sheen, among them Justice and Charity, The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God, The Electronic Christian, Peace of Soul, and Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen. Each has offered its own insights into faith, human nature, and our relationship with God. Two works, in particular, have remained lifelong companions: Life of Christ and The Priest Is Not His Own.

During my most recent trip to China, I brought Life of Christ with me and read it again, for the second time. Returning to its pages in a different place and at a different stage of life offered another opportunity to contemplate the life, suffering, and redemptive mission of Our Lord. The Priest Is Not His Own has also been especially meaningful to me. Although Bishop Sheen wrote about the sacred responsibilities of the priesthood, I have long reflected on a broader lesson in its title: that our lives are not merely about ourselves. We belong to something greater than our individual ambitions or interests. For the Christian, that means a life directed toward Christ and the service of others; for the American, it can also mean recognizing a responsibility to the common good, the dignity of our fellow citizens, and the enduring principles that bind a nation together.

From “Another Christ” to the Person Behind the Uniform

Over the years, I have increasingly reflected on Bishop Sheen's words, “Very simply, to be another Christ,” and their continuing relevance to my own work. My vocation took a different direction from the one I envisioned as a young Salesian seminarian, but the question of how we serve others, how we treat people, and what kind of example we leave behind has never lost its importance. Today, through my work with law enforcement officers and first responders, I seek to encourage the ethical leadership, character, compassion, empathy, and moral courage that give meaning to the responsibilities entrusted to those who protect and serve.

The uniform represents a profound responsibility, but behind every uniform is a human being—someone who experiences personal struggles, carries burdens that others may never see, and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Through my principles of 21st-century policing and my emphasis on the human encounter, I encourage officers to recognize the person behind every interaction, to offer reassurance rather than indifference, encouragement rather than discouragement, and affirmation rather than humiliation. When I address explicitly Catholic audiences at retreats, Communion breakfasts, and other faith-centered gatherings, I can speak directly about Christ, the Gospel, and the spiritual foundations of service. 

In audiences representing a broader range of beliefs, I emphasize the universal virtues of character, integrity, compassion, respect, and human dignity. The language may differ according to the audience, but the underlying responsibility remains: to lift others up, to recognize their humanity, and to leave people better than we found them.

Perhaps, in this way, the words Bishop Sheen shared with a young seminarian nearly five decades ago continue to find expression in an unexpected setting. What began as a question about the expectations of Our Lord for a seminarian has become, for me, a lifelong reflection on the responsibility each of us carries to live with purpose, serve with humility, and bring something of what is good, uplifting, and life-affirming into the lives of others.

The friendship with Pio has endured as well. His mother, Graziella DeNunzio Mandato, authored the beautiful book Padre Pio: Encounters with a Spiritual Daughter from Pietrelcina, and Father Pio wrote the foreword to the second edition.

Looking back, there is something deeply beautiful about that February day in 1978.

Two young seminarians who had become friends at Don Bosco College in 1976 were discussing an encounter with one of the most influential Catholic voices of the twentieth century. We carefully considered what to ask him.

And the question we chose produced an answer that has remained with me for nearly five decades.

The recent beatification of Fulton J. Sheen has reignited that memory in a way I could never have anticipated. What was once simply a treasured personal encounter has now become part of the historical record of my own Salesian vocation and, in a small way, my journey of faith.

The photographs have survived. The old Salesian Bulletin has survived. And so have the words.

Perhaps most importantly, the answer has survived:

“Very simply, to be another Christ.”

What follows is the article as it appeared in the Salesian Bulletin in 1978, written by a 24-year-old Salesian seminarian who could not have known where the journey would lead.

A WORD WITH BISHOP SHEEN by Vincent J. Bove

“Bishop Sheen, would it be all right if I take a picture of you standing with my Salesian Brothers?”

And so began a delightful and unforgettable experience which six Salesian seminarians had with Archbishop Fulton Sheen at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey, on February 12, 1978.

Archbishop Sheen has always greatly impressed me. He is the author of 62 books. He has preached 22 years of radio on “The Catholic Hour” along with having his own network television show. The Archbishop also edited two magazines and has written many newspaper columns. He was the National Director of The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He is known and respected throughout the world for his lectures and philosophical writings. At 82, he remains one of the most sought after, eloquent, and effective spokesmen for the Catholic Church in the world today. A man of God, a priest of Jesus Christ, Archbishop Sheen has inspired many souls to unite themselves with the Lord. As an instrument of the Lord, Archbishop Sheen makes peace between God and His people.

When he asked if enough light existed for a good picture, it greatly impressed me. This simple and considerate gesture gave me the courage to ask a second question, this one of even greater importance to us all.

“In your opinion,” I asked, “what does Our Lord expect of a seminarian?”

Silently, all in the sacristy listened as the Archbishop responded with an answer which seemed to touch the hearts of all.

“Very simply, to be another Christ. We have social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists. And we have plenty of them. But we need people to be Christ-like. And we must be like Christ in everything we say and do.

“When I was recently in the hospital and dying, about 14 different doctors would come to see me each day. They were coming to speak to me and perhaps to see in me, one who knew how to suffer. At one point, I was very weak and I faintly heard a nurse say that the man in the room with me was about to die. All I could do was lift my little finger, make the sign of the cross with it, and give this man absolution. Later, I was told by a friend of the dead man’s Jewish wife, that the wife did not grieve because she knew that Archbishop Sheen had given her dying husband his blessing.

“When I spoke to Mother Teresa, I asked her, ‘How did you convert 15,000 people in Calcutta?’ Mother Teresa said, ‘They would say to me, “Are you like Christ?”’ She told me she would say, ‘No, but I try to be like him.’ Then they would ask, ‘Is Christ like you?’ ‘No,’ she would answer. ‘He tries to be like you.’ And this is when they said, ‘Then I must be a Christian.’

“We must let Christ live within us and remember St. Paul who writes, ‘It is not I but Christ who lives in me.’

“When Moses came down from the mountain, the glory of God shone in his face. The people realized how close he was to God. And the people know when we have the light within us too.”

After these few inspiring words from the Archbishop, Bro. John Roche presented him with a drawing of his own, portraying Christ crowned with thorns. Archbishop Sheen gratefully said, “I’m glad that you portrayed Christ in the realm of his suffering. Continue to portray him in this realm. It was Pascal who said, ‘Christ will be on the cross till the end of the world.’”

Then the Archbishop gently excused himself and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament before Mass began.

Originally published in the November-December 1978 issue of the Salesian Bulletin, Volume 32.

Written by Vincent Bove following his encounter with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on February 12, 1978, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.

Nearly five decades later, the memory remains.

About the Author

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)

PHOTOS:

PHOTO 1 — BISHOP SHEEN AT PRAYER

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament shortly before Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey, February 12, 1978. Photograph taken by Vincent J. Bove.

PHOTO 2

Vincent J. Bove and Pio Mandato (now Father Pio Mandato), circa 1978, during their years at Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey. (RALLC Collection)

PHOTO 3 — A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH BISHOP SHEEN

Vincent J. Bove, SDB, with Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen following Mass on February 12, 1978 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. 

Vincent is holding his handwritten notes from the cassette-tape collection of Sheen’s retreat conferences which he listened to and studied during his novitiate, titled "Renewal and Reconciliation — Retreat Conferences by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen."  Sheen signed Vincent’s notes during their encounter.

This photo was framed in Vincent’s mother’s (Marie J. Scaramuzzo) office for decades while she served as Director of Admitting at Nyack Hospital in New York.

The photo helped to initiate many uplifting conversations about the faith when individuals were being admitted to the hospital.