May 21, 2015
Two Robs, One Path: PC roommates are seminarians together
By Vicki-Ann Downing
They were high school classmates who became Providence College roommates. Now, Robert Murphy ’10 (Brother Athanasius Murphy, O.P. ’10) and Robert Sica ’10 (Brother John Sica, O.P. ’10) are both studying for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C
Brother Athanasius Murphy, O.P. ’10 and Brother John Sica, O.P. ’10 met when they were sophomores at St. John the Baptist High School in Islip, N.Y. Brother Athanasius, then known as Robert Murphy, needed help with pre-calculus homework and called Brother John, then known as Robert Sica, for assistance.
“He wanted to explain how to do the problem, and I only wanted to know if I got the right answer,” said Brother Athanasius. “That was the first contact.”
As time went on, the high school students were drawn by their mutual interest in discussing matters of faith. “What does it mean to believe Scripture is true?” wondered Brother Athanasius. “What does it mean to follow the Church that Jesus established? What does it mean to follow Jesus?”
“Who is God?” asked Brother John. “Does He exist?”
Brother John’s sister, Elizabeth Sica ’09 & ’11G, was a student at Providence College when he applied. He planned to major in philosophy. Brother Athanasius decided to apply as well. He wanted to study history and be a lawyer.
When both were accepted into the Liberal Arts Honors Program, Brother Athanasius asked Brother John to be his roommate. They lived together all four years, in Fennell, DiTraglia, and Davis halls. Their friends called them “the two Robs.”
Their faith grew through daily Mass, praying the Liturgy of the Hours at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, and studying the concept of faith seeking understanding. By the end of junior year, both applied to become priests. The strong intellectual tradition of the Dominicans appealed to them.
“Dominicans preach the truth about Jesus Christ, and our world really needs the truth about Jesus Christ,” said Brother John.
“The Dominicans have a very sincere joy,” said Brother Athanasius. “If you’re going to do something your whole life, and you see men who are very happy, authentic happiness is very attractive. That’s what attracted me.”
Brother John took his name to honor St. John of Cologne, a Dominican martyred in 1572. Brother Athanasius was inspired by St. Athanasius, author of Life of St. Anthony, a book he read for a Development of Western Civilization colloquium.
At the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., “there’s a full load of courses that we study, and extensive time doing a ministry of some sort, and ordinary duties in the house,” said Brother John.
There is time for fun as well.
“A lot of the brothers are involved in loosely organized sports,” said Brother Athanasius. “We play other seminaries. I was captain of the soccer team for the Dominicans.”
“We play football on Thanksgiving,” added Brother John. “We’ve destroyed other teams in softball.”
In March, Brother Athanasius and Brother John were among 11 men ordained deacons at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, another step toward ordination to the priesthood in 2016.
“The entire environment at the Dominican House of Studies encourages you and invites you to a life of serious study, prayer, and reflection,” said Brother Athanasius. “It would be false to say you don’t give your whole self to the life. It’s very complete.”
