Xmas Greetings from the Greg

Twas 15 minutes after class and not a student was stirring all the garland was hung on the pillars with care in hope that our pizza would soon be here!!!

Christmas Market at Piazza Nuovo

Our group visiting the Congregation for Religious Life.

Good view on Sunday Morning

Well the square was full to celebrate mass with the Holy Father and the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Beautiful fall day! Warm with a breeze.

My room with a view

Il lupo è morto!

The Romans say "in bocca al lupo!" ("in the mouth of the wolf") to wish people luck in a difficult situation.  The correct response is "Crepi il lupo!" (May the wolf die!")

Well I would like to thank those who were praying for me during these days of my comprehensive exam.  I truly felt like I had put my head in the mouth go the wolf.  The exam pretty well summarized everything I learnt in seminary 17 years ago!  I felt it went well, both the oral and written parts. In any case… il lupo è morto! The last question of the oral after discussing the finer points of the Council of Chalcedon was "Talk to a troubled youth who says they do not believe in God"  My speciality… I could of kissed the examiner!

Grazie tutti!!

Fr. Peter 

My Own Heart

My own heart

"What are you actually studying?" is the first question I get from the other students in Rome.  They ask the question because the answer easily summarizes a whole set of different experiences of Rome.  Canon Law students have the longest course of studies yet seem to be the most at ease.  Once they master Italian and Latin they have an easy run until their thesis.  Dogmatic and systematic theologians are often found in the hallways urging about some very pressing topic like where to get the best caffè in town.  On the other hand, the poor scripture scholars are seldom seen out of their rooms.  Sometimes you might get a rare glimpse of one scurrying around the library conjugating Hebrew verbs under his breath.

"Why I am studying?" is a better question because at Centro Interdisciplinare per la Formazione dei Formatori al Sacerdozio e alla Vita Consacrata (CIFS) at the Gregorian University; Spirituality, Psychology, Pedagogy and Canon Law is what we study.  Why 40 people from 25 countries who speak 15 languages (with me the only English speaking one) have been set to Rome to study is easier to answer: namely the formation of priests and religious.

Pastores dabo vobis called for "pastoral charity" to be the mark of the priesthood today.  Many strong ideals were laid out in the document to foster pastoral charity but central to them all was the importance of the personal connection in formation.  Not just rules, laws and norms but formation that is personal and connects to the whole person.  Therefore, at the request of Pope Benedict, the Congregation for Education created the CIFS program at the Gregorian University.

My class is very diverse yet one thing connects us all: a great love for ministry in the Church and the desire to walk with others in their formation.  Our goal is not the mastery of theology, spirituality or psychology for its own sake, but to gain the tools and skills to help others on their journey.  One of the students from Uganda put it best when he said in broken Italian, "My heart will always be in the mission field… my body, on the other hand, will be stuck at the seminary!"  God bless you in the mission field.

Room with a view

My room is the top corner room with two windows for a cross breeze.
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Save and Sound

You are just getting up but I have arrived safe and sound in Roma! I have a small room here until the college opens up September 30. I meet with the director of the my department at 17h that is 11:00 am you time. Pray for me. Francesco the secretary at the college advised I should dress well but act causal. Good advice.


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Off to Rome

After three months in Siena my luggage has grown! Books are VERY heavy! I was tempted to leave them here.


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My homework spot!!

Miki & ?

On one of last walks around Siena I noticed this… poor Tany!! or maybe she is very lucky.

The ever friendly Dominicans

Last day of Language School

Last Nights in Siena

Siena the city on the hill.

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Last Party in Siena

This is my last weekend and is also the last weekend of the seemingly endless parties in Siena.

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Kitchen Items and Food in Italian

Try your luck with passato prossimo

Hey this is how I learnt how to put things in the past tense. I drink... I was drinking... is Bevo... Ho bevuto... Try your luck....

Prayer for Peace

FYI and call for prayers

As your man on the ground in Italy I feel called to make the journey from my comfortable apartment in Siena to Rome for the September 7th prayer vigil. I am pumped that Bishop Fabbro will be leading prayers the following week.

I will let you know how it goes. Fasting and travel really don't go together... Oh well!
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Pope Francis at Angelus: Sept 7 day of prayer for peace

Pope Francis at Angelus: Sept 7 day of prayer for peace

God's Rosebud

A parishioner from one of my earlier parish put this on facebook. I feel like the young minister trying to open the flower of the Italian language.

GOD'S ROSEBUD

A new minister was walking with an older,
more seasoned minister in the garden one day.

Feeling a bit insecure about what God wanted him to do,
he asked the older preacher for some advice.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed
the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it
without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older
preacher and was trying to figure out what a
rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting
to know the will of God for his life and ministry.

But because of his great respect for the older preacher,
he proceeded to try to unfold the rose,
while keeping every petal intact.

It wasn't long before he realized
how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold
the rosebud without tearing it,
the older preacher began to recite the following poem...


"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."

"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die."

"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"

"So I'll trust in God to lead me
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step along the way."

"For the path that lies before us,
Only our Lord and Savior knows.
So trust Him to unfold your life,
Just as He would this precious rose."
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Warning my brain may explode!

The Italians have a great way of connecting words especially in the imperative.

Give me the book.
is
Dai a me il libro!
That becomes
Dammi il libro!
Or
Dallo a me!
Or wait for it...
Dammelo!

Oddio!
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Yes I can!

When you learn a new language you first have to learn your own and then forget it. Flash cards are the only way for me so far.
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Siena evening walk