A front page Observer photo this week shows Pope Francis giving a figurine of the baby Jesus to an altar server at the conclusion of Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24.

 

But, somewhat blurred in the center of the background, is one of the Diocese of Rockford’s own seminarians.

 

Nicholas Sentovich is easy to spot because he is the tallest man among the pope’s altar servers.

 

Hailing from Holy Family Parish in Rockford, he is studying theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome as part of his preparation to become a priest of the Rockford Diocese.