{{Short description|Catholic priest and Rector of the Pontifical North American College}} {{For|the British historian of science|Peter M. Harman}} '''Peter C. Harman''' (born 1973)<ref name="giga">{{cite web | url = http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/officials-H.htm#60217 | work = GigaCatholic.org | title = Fr. Peter C. Harman | accessdate = February 1, 2016}}</ref> is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, who served as the twenty-third rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome from February 2016 to June 2022.

==Biography== Peter Harman was born in Quincy, Illinois, where he attended Quincy Notre Dame High School.<ref name="pnacpressrelease">{{cite press release | url = http://assets.pnac.org/content/misc/PNAC%20new%20rector%20named%20112315.pdf | title = Rector Named for the Pontifical North American College | publisher = Pontifical North American College | date = 23 November 2015 | accessdate = 23 November 2015 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151124071242/http://assets.pnac.org/content/misc/PNAC%20new%20rector%20named%20112315.pdf | archivedate = 24 November 2015 }}</ref> He completed philosophical studies in preparation for the priesthood at Saint Meinrad College Seminary, and in 1995 began theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Daniel L. Ryan on July 17, 1999, after which he returned to Rome to complete his licentiate in moral theology at the Alphonsianum.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/><ref name="re2013">{{cite journal | url = http://issuu.com/pnac/docs/78576__lo-res | title = Welcoming the North American College's New Faculty | issue = 5 | page = 21 | first = Sean | last = Grismer | year = 2013 | journal = Roman Echoes | accessdate = 23 November 2015}}</ref>

Upon returning from studies in Rome, Father Harman's first assignment was at Springfield's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He would eventually serve as rector of the cathedral parish for five years, notably overseeing a complete restoration of the structure from 2008 to 2009.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/><ref name="rocco">{{cite web | url = http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.it/2015/11/for-hill-new-man-nacs-pastoral-chief.html | title = For "The Hill," A New Man – Pastoral Chief Named Rector of NAC | first = Rocco | last = Palmo | work = Whispers in the Loggia | date = 23 November 2015 | accessdate = 23 November 2015}}</ref> Other assignments in the Diocese of Springfield included a teaching position at Ursuline Academy and two years at St. Agnes Parish in Springfield.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/>

Harman later continued his studies, earning a Doctor of Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America in 2010.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/> The topic of his dissertation was ''Towards a Theology of Suffering: The Contribution of Karol Wojtyła / Pope John Paul II.''<ref name="dissertation">{{cite thesis | url = http://aladinrc.wrlc.org/bitstream/handle/1961/9195/Harman_cua_0043A_10053display.pdf?sequence=1 | title = Towards a Theology of Suffering: The Contribution of Karol Wojtyla / Pope John Paul II | first = Peter | last = Harman | publisher = Catholic University of America | year = 2010}}</ref> In 2013, he returned to Rome to serve on the faculty of his alma mater, the North American College. There, he also served as director of media relations for the College and adjunct instructor in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/>

===Rector of the North American College=== On November 23, 2015, the Holy See's Congregation for the Clergy announced that Harman had been selected to succeed Monsignor James F. Checchio as the twenty-third rector of the Pontifical North American College.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/> The Congregation had confirmed his recommendation by the College's fifteen-member board of directors, and the appointment took effect on February 1, 2016.<ref name="pnacpressrelease"/><ref name="rocco"/><ref name="wgem">{{cite news | url = http://www.wgem.com/story/30584384/2015/11/23/quincy-native-appointed-rector-of-prestigious-college-in-rome | first = David | last = Beuttel | title = Quincy native appointed rector of prestigious college in Rome | publisher = WGEM | date = 23 November 2015 | accessdate = 23 November 2015 | archive-date = 24 November 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151124110136/http://www.wgem.com/story/30584384/2015/11/23/quincy-native-appointed-rector-of-prestigious-college-in-rome | url-status = dead }}</ref> He was formally installed in office on February 28, 2016, during a Mass presided over by the Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, New Jersey, Chair of the Board of Governors of the College.<ref name="installation">{{cite web | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/33494/romes-us-seminary-welcomes-new-rector | title = Rome's US seminary welcomes new rector | first = Ann | last = Schneible | date = February 29, 2016 | access-date = February 29, 2016 | publisher = Catholic News Service}}</ref>

It was announced that he would end his term as rector on January 31, 2022,<ref name="departure">{{cite web | url = https://www.pnac.org/wp-content/uploads/PNAC-Rector-Completes-Term_102021.pdf | title = Rector Fr. Peter Harman to end term at North American College seminary in Rome| publisher = Catholic News Service}}</ref> but later his term was extended until June of that year.<ref name="cnapowers">{{cite news | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250835/connecticut-priest-named-rector-of-north-american-college-seminary-in-rome | title = Connecticut priest named rector of North American College seminary in Rome | author-first = Hannah | author-last = Brockhaus | publisher = Catholic News Agency | date = Mar 30, 2022 | access-date = April 2, 2022}}</ref>

In July 2022 Harman returned to the Diocese of Springfield where he was assigned as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Effingham.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ct.dio.org/item/5381-new-priests-coming-to-parishes-across-diocese.html | title=New priests coming to parishes across diocese }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{succession box | before= James F. Checchio | title = Rector of the North American College, Rome | years=2016–present| after = ''Thomas W. Powers''}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harman, Peter C.}} Category:Living people Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:Pontifical North American College alumni Category:Pontifical North American College rectors Category:Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Category:Catholic University of America alumni Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Category:Religious leaders from Illinois Category:1973 births