And here we are on 31 December of 2006. Another year is ending and a bit too quickly for me. It is funny how that works. When I was young the new year always seemed exciting; now I'm just getting used to dating things 2006 and it is already 2007. Must mean that my projects are bigger and take more time to accomplish… or something like that.
The year was filled with war and injustice at all levels. It makes me sick to think about it all. But there were other events that allowed us to build for the future. It will take me some time to reflect on all this.
Meanwhile, our house is filling up. Mel Trinidad is organizing a gathering of youth ministry delegates from the Salesian provinces of North America. We may have some action for New Year's Eve!
Ah, 2006: it is time to say good-bye.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Ring out the old…
The temperature is down again today, and this morning our two sisters, Cecilia and Anne, left for Los Angeles and the Chinese community there for a few days of holiday. They'll be back on 8 January…
Our brother Michael Lee has been telling us that he is departing on 9 January -- but this morning he clarified (for the first time) that he is departing the USA on 9 January… he is leaving the community tomorrow early! He'll stay among Korean friends and say his goodbyes to them. Ah, blood is thicker than water, even Baptismal water.
In any case, we'll have a little going-away party this evening with dinner, even though less than half the community is here to say farewell to Michael Lee. Then tonight some folks connected with the Youth Ministry consultation will start arriving. Ring out the old, bring in the new -- even people.
Our brother Michael Lee has been telling us that he is departing on 9 January -- but this morning he clarified (for the first time) that he is departing the USA on 9 January… he is leaving the community tomorrow early! He'll stay among Korean friends and say his goodbyes to them. Ah, blood is thicker than water, even Baptismal water.In any case, we'll have a little going-away party this evening with dinner, even though less than half the community is here to say farewell to Michael Lee. Then tonight some folks connected with the Youth Ministry consultation will start arriving. Ring out the old, bring in the new -- even people.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
The unexpected little chores
This morning I was going to give a sweep to the entrance of our second building on Leconte before going off to correct more essays from my students. That was right after breakfast. When I went into the garage on Arch Street, however, I saw the garage door had been smashed open… the bottom half was in splinters, and the top of the door was askew… impossible to open or budge for that matter. I ran upstairs and out the front door to find that Mary Greenan was doing the same… One of the elderly priests had driven over Ralph Murphy to pick up Tom Prendiville, and somehow had driven through the garage door!
Okay, these things happen. No one was hurt. Tom and Ralph were laughing, and the priest told me to send the bill to the parish… and they were off, leaving it all to Mary and I to sort out…
Step one, I called Madden Doors out of Martinez: we have our accounts with them as they installed and maintained both our doors for years. The foreman there (Bernie by name) told me that it is a bad time: they have jobs booked for ten days and it would be difficult to come. I said that I appreciated that; I also said "God Bless You" when I heard Bernie sneeze, and expressed my concern when he told me that he's fighting a cold. Well, it turned out that he remembered us, that he himself had come out on a few jobs in years past, and so he said that he would put us on a priority response code. He'd try to have someone out by 1:00 in the pm, at least to remove the door.
Step two, Mary called Michael Touchstone… more details of what happened from Mary and what to do next from Michael. I told Michael that I'd called Madden to have the broken door removed. There was no way to get in or out of the garage, and besides the four cars locked inside, we would not be able to have the trash picked up, or the recycling seen too until we solved that problem. The elder priest has car insurance, of course, so why are we concerned about expense. This is not our budget problem.
Step three: bedrooms… Tom told us last night that an international delegation of youth ministry folks will be coming for meetings on 2-4 January. Some are to arrive tomorrow, and some are staying as late as 7 January. Altogether, there will be six guests. So, Mary asked if I'd go with her just to check what rooms were available.
We found half of the guest rooms in total disarray. That meant we had to wash linens, vacuum floors, and get the place in shape. I found junk in the guest rooms and so I began methodically to go through each one. The thermostats were all haywire too, so I had to program them in 14 different environments. Well, the long and short of it was that I was kept busy in that until 12.30…
After a quick lunch, I went to the phone to see if Bernie from Madden Doors would make contact. He did so at 1:20. He had a crew that was finishing a job in Walnut Creek, he said, and they would arrive in 30 minutes. I loaded up the washing machines with sheets from the guest rooms… then waited on the front porch. At 2.05 the men arrived. They noted that the door really needed to be completely removed. It was hanging by a wire, literally, and the spring was as taut as could be. They told me that the whole thing might snap and come down at any time… All of which made me happy I called immediately, and that the folks at Madden remembered us and put us on a priority response code.
By 3:00 the crew had gone, and so had the door. I finished cleaning the entrance, sweeping the driveway, getting rid of all the splinters and bolts. Then I unloaded the dryers, folded the sheets and blankets… and now it's time to close off the day.
Never did correct those student essays.
Okay, these things happen. No one was hurt. Tom and Ralph were laughing, and the priest told me to send the bill to the parish… and they were off, leaving it all to Mary and I to sort out…
Step one, I called Madden Doors out of Martinez: we have our accounts with them as they installed and maintained both our doors for years. The foreman there (Bernie by name) told me that it is a bad time: they have jobs booked for ten days and it would be difficult to come. I said that I appreciated that; I also said "God Bless You" when I heard Bernie sneeze, and expressed my concern when he told me that he's fighting a cold. Well, it turned out that he remembered us, that he himself had come out on a few jobs in years past, and so he said that he would put us on a priority response code. He'd try to have someone out by 1:00 in the pm, at least to remove the door.
Step two, Mary called Michael Touchstone… more details of what happened from Mary and what to do next from Michael. I told Michael that I'd called Madden to have the broken door removed. There was no way to get in or out of the garage, and besides the four cars locked inside, we would not be able to have the trash picked up, or the recycling seen too until we solved that problem. The elder priest has car insurance, of course, so why are we concerned about expense. This is not our budget problem.
Step three: bedrooms… Tom told us last night that an international delegation of youth ministry folks will be coming for meetings on 2-4 January. Some are to arrive tomorrow, and some are staying as late as 7 January. Altogether, there will be six guests. So, Mary asked if I'd go with her just to check what rooms were available.
We found half of the guest rooms in total disarray. That meant we had to wash linens, vacuum floors, and get the place in shape. I found junk in the guest rooms and so I began methodically to go through each one. The thermostats were all haywire too, so I had to program them in 14 different environments. Well, the long and short of it was that I was kept busy in that until 12.30…
After a quick lunch, I went to the phone to see if Bernie from Madden Doors would make contact. He did so at 1:20. He had a crew that was finishing a job in Walnut Creek, he said, and they would arrive in 30 minutes. I loaded up the washing machines with sheets from the guest rooms… then waited on the front porch. At 2.05 the men arrived. They noted that the door really needed to be completely removed. It was hanging by a wire, literally, and the spring was as taut as could be. They told me that the whole thing might snap and come down at any time… All of which made me happy I called immediately, and that the folks at Madden remembered us and put us on a priority response code.
By 3:00 the crew had gone, and so had the door. I finished cleaning the entrance, sweeping the driveway, getting rid of all the splinters and bolts. Then I unloaded the dryers, folded the sheets and blankets… and now it's time to close off the day.
Never did correct those student essays.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The rains held till now
As we usually do at Don Bosco Hall, we hosted the Salesians from the Bay Area for Christmas dinner. Sr Mary Greenan engineered the five-course meal, while Fr Arthur Lenti prepared appetizers -- many, many, appetizers, Piedmontese style. Well, for those who know the Salesians in the Bay Area, there was nothing really different. The Don Bosco Hall community has been hosting the Christmas celebrations since 1974 (except for the three years when the house had been closed down by Rome between 1981 and 1984, but that is a different story).
We managed to keep cleaning as we prepared the meal, and with the help of Nick Reina from Richmond (who also lent us table cloths, plates and cutlery), we had almost everything cleared and cleaned by 9:00 last night. There were five loads of laundry to take care of, however, between table cloths, serviettes, kitchen towels and such: we finished off all this laundry this morning.
And now the days of rest. Three members of the community took off immediately after the dinner but the rest of us kept close to quarters today, since it has been stormy and cold. That's okay, there is a lot of Panettone and other delights to nurse us through the inclement weather. Now the 12 days of Christmas begin.
We managed to keep cleaning as we prepared the meal, and with the help of Nick Reina from Richmond (who also lent us table cloths, plates and cutlery), we had almost everything cleared and cleaned by 9:00 last night. There were five loads of laundry to take care of, however, between table cloths, serviettes, kitchen towels and such: we finished off all this laundry this morning.And now the days of rest. Three members of the community took off immediately after the dinner but the rest of us kept close to quarters today, since it has been stormy and cold. That's okay, there is a lot of Panettone and other delights to nurse us through the inclement weather. Now the 12 days of Christmas begin.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Christmas shopping
The last three and a half years since I completed my term as director at Don Bosco Hall have brought more changes than I realized. As director I used to do a lot of community shopping, as well as seeing to gifts and parties… hospitality and welcoming in short. Now the shopping is up to others. Besides, I've lived one year in Richmond and one in Rome … and much of my time in Berkeley is directed to the work of the grad students at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology. In short, I don't get around Berkeley for shopping purposes (Oh yes, I get around: at 5:45 in the morning when I'm doing my power walking. No shops open then to slow me down).
Okay, back to the story.
On Monday we chose in community (as is our habit) the name of another brother or sister, for whom we will get a gift for our Christmas Eve exchange. This year I chose ______ _______, whom I've known for many years now. And I knew just what gift would be perfect! So on Tuesday I ventured out to Bancroft and Telegraph… and the shop I always went to for such perfect gifts has evaporated! There's another store there!
Easy solution: turn around, head into Berkeley town center and walk up Shattuck toward Cedar. I always shop at an array of little boutiques along that main street that carry, of course, an assortment of "the perfect gift". No way! Those very shops had all evaporated too! I needed to stop in at Starbucks for a stiff cup of latte in order to calm my senses and plan a new strategy. That was Tuesday.
Plan B would be to go out to El Cerrito Plaza on San Pablo on the border of Albany and El Cerrito: there are a lot of good little places there. My plan was to go out yesterday (Thursday), but as it began to rain and pour fairly early, I put if off until this morning since sun and blue skies were forecast. And so I did. I took Bart ($1.40), and then walked through all the perfect stores and boutiques looking for the perfect gift… and after an hour was totally discouraged. Everything has changed in the time I've stopped doing all the shopping!
Well, I just turned around and visited all the stores again, getting ideas, paying attention to the people… and finally I made my selections. Yes, plural. It will be a mult-part gift.
As I took the BART back to Berkeley, I reflected that the good thing about Christmas gift-giving is that it puts us back into circulation, back into the marketplace, or into the neighborhood. It means taking time to think of what would be a good gift for each person, and what kind of world that person is now contending with. The finding of a gift pulls us out of ourselves, I thought. And BART quickly arrived in Downtown Berkeley, and I started back up the hill through the University of California to Don Bosco Hall… Mission completed, except for the wrapping!
Okay, back to the story.
On Monday we chose in community (as is our habit) the name of another brother or sister, for whom we will get a gift for our Christmas Eve exchange. This year I chose ______ _______, whom I've known for many years now. And I knew just what gift would be perfect! So on Tuesday I ventured out to Bancroft and Telegraph… and the shop I always went to for such perfect gifts has evaporated! There's another store there!
Easy solution: turn around, head into Berkeley town center and walk up Shattuck toward Cedar. I always shop at an array of little boutiques along that main street that carry, of course, an assortment of "the perfect gift". No way! Those very shops had all evaporated too! I needed to stop in at Starbucks for a stiff cup of latte in order to calm my senses and plan a new strategy. That was Tuesday.
Plan B would be to go out to El Cerrito Plaza on San Pablo on the border of Albany and El Cerrito: there are a lot of good little places there. My plan was to go out yesterday (Thursday), but as it began to rain and pour fairly early, I put if off until this morning since sun and blue skies were forecast. And so I did. I took Bart ($1.40), and then walked through all the perfect stores and boutiques looking for the perfect gift… and after an hour was totally discouraged. Everything has changed in the time I've stopped doing all the shopping!
Well, I just turned around and visited all the stores again, getting ideas, paying attention to the people… and finally I made my selections. Yes, plural. It will be a mult-part gift.
As I took the BART back to Berkeley, I reflected that the good thing about Christmas gift-giving is that it puts us back into circulation, back into the marketplace, or into the neighborhood. It means taking time to think of what would be a good gift for each person, and what kind of world that person is now contending with. The finding of a gift pulls us out of ourselves, I thought. And BART quickly arrived in Downtown Berkeley, and I started back up the hill through the University of California to Don Bosco Hall… Mission completed, except for the wrapping!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Exam week over and O Antiphons sung
Exam week at GTU was slated to be 11-15 December… It is the week when all the students have to get their papers completed if they do not have written or oral examinations as requirements for the end of their courses. In some cases, professors require both. Many classes do not meet during that week. Since I have not been giving examinations but requiring a paper and a class presentation, I usually do hold class during the final week of the semester.
It seems to me that all the class presentations went well in Church History. The Francis de Sales course also went very well, as the participation of the students was greater than I had ever experienced while teaching at DSPT and ISS. It reminds me of the great participation that I experienced last year while teaching at the UPS. In fact, I used the same style of presentation this year as I did in Rome last year, and it seems to have worked very well. But more of that later.
This week I need to complete the correction of the research papers even as our community at Don Bosco Hall spends most of the time decorating and preparing for the holiday. I really haven't completed the Fall Semester work, however, and I've tried to make that understood at the house. Even so, I participated in the house meeting this morning at 9.00 before going over to DSPT at 10.00 and downloading the research papers that my Church History students sent to me over the weekend as e-mail attachments.
Now to work.
Meanwhile, the liturgy keeps moving us to think of the coming feast of Christmas. I presided at the Eucharist this morning and we sing the second «O Antiphon» at Evening Prayer tonight: O Adonai!
It seems to me that all the class presentations went well in Church History. The Francis de Sales course also went very well, as the participation of the students was greater than I had ever experienced while teaching at DSPT and ISS. It reminds me of the great participation that I experienced last year while teaching at the UPS. In fact, I used the same style of presentation this year as I did in Rome last year, and it seems to have worked very well. But more of that later.
This week I need to complete the correction of the research papers even as our community at Don Bosco Hall spends most of the time decorating and preparing for the holiday. I really haven't completed the Fall Semester work, however, and I've tried to make that understood at the house. Even so, I participated in the house meeting this morning at 9.00 before going over to DSPT at 10.00 and downloading the research papers that my Church History students sent to me over the weekend as e-mail attachments.
Now to work.
Meanwhile, the liturgy keeps moving us to think of the coming feast of Christmas. I presided at the Eucharist this morning and we sing the second «O Antiphon» at Evening Prayer tonight: O Adonai!
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Birthday celebrating the duke
Duke (Le Van Duoc) turned 26 on 8 December, but with all the celebrations for the Immaculate Conception and for the closing of term, we didn't have a chance to celebrate him. Tonight, then, we had a birthday party for him.
Duke first starting coming around to Don Bosco Hall 8 years ago, when he was a senior in high school and a member of the Vietnamese youth group at St Anthony's parish in Oakland. When he began university, on scholarship at Cal Berkeley, he began to drop by more often, since our house is a block north of the University. He told us tonight how one of the young Salesians invited him to come for mass and dinner on December 8th that year. He had no idea that was a feast day, and was surprised by the party that we held that night… he never told us that it was also his birthday, because his family never celebrated Duke's birthday (they only celebrated his younger sisters and brother's birthdays). Still, it was the first time that he ever celebrated on his birthday, and was inspired to learn that he shared the day with the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
During his sophomore year at Cal he moved in with us at Don Bosco Hall… and we celebrated his birthday every year. "This is the place," he said tonight, "where I first celebrated my birthday, and I am grateful that it is with you that I can continue to celebrate year after year."
This may be his last birthday with us. Last month he finally landed a full-time and solid job, working in the computer support services of the University of California. He got his first good paycheck on the 30th of November. With this he will be able to pay of his family's debts within the next year, and start to put money aside to assure that his three younger siblings can go to college. He may not stay with us much longer. But Duke is a gentle presence, and we are happy that he can call Don Bosco Hall his home. He's welcome to stay with us as long as he wants to really.
Happy birthday, Duke!
Duke first starting coming around to Don Bosco Hall 8 years ago, when he was a senior in high school and a member of the Vietnamese youth group at St Anthony's parish in Oakland. When he began university, on scholarship at Cal Berkeley, he began to drop by more often, since our house is a block north of the University. He told us tonight how one of the young Salesians invited him to come for mass and dinner on December 8th that year. He had no idea that was a feast day, and was surprised by the party that we held that night… he never told us that it was also his birthday, because his family never celebrated Duke's birthday (they only celebrated his younger sisters and brother's birthdays). Still, it was the first time that he ever celebrated on his birthday, and was inspired to learn that he shared the day with the Immaculate Virgin Mary.During his sophomore year at Cal he moved in with us at Don Bosco Hall… and we celebrated his birthday every year. "This is the place," he said tonight, "where I first celebrated my birthday, and I am grateful that it is with you that I can continue to celebrate year after year."
This may be his last birthday with us. Last month he finally landed a full-time and solid job, working in the computer support services of the University of California. He got his first good paycheck on the 30th of November. With this he will be able to pay of his family's debts within the next year, and start to put money aside to assure that his three younger siblings can go to college. He may not stay with us much longer. But Duke is a gentle presence, and we are happy that he can call Don Bosco Hall his home. He's welcome to stay with us as long as he wants to really.
Happy birthday, Duke!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Things calming down
The last two months have been particularly busy for me, and this is because I have been teaching on weekdays and traveling on weekends to do workshops and retreats and other presentations on Salesian themes… It has been challenging but very enjoyable too as I have had a chance to share with a lot of people -- mainly religious and young adults -- on the Salesian spirit and mentality. And I learn from all these encounters as well.
Naturally, it has meant that when I'm back in Berkeley I have to work doubly to catch up on all the normal commitments, from class preparation to laundry! Now finally the journeys are over and I think I can try to pull things together for the final week of the Fall Term at both the ISS and the DSPT.
On the horizon now are publications: Aldo writes that Arthur’s three-volume historical survey, Don Bosco Builder, has received an enthusiastic reception at Salesian headquarters, at the UPS, and at the University press (the LAS). Locally, Tom Prendiville and Ralph Murphy are in the final stages of editing the 14th volume of the Journal of Salesian Studies. I've got an article in this next issue, so I'm excited about this.
Naturally, it has meant that when I'm back in Berkeley I have to work doubly to catch up on all the normal commitments, from class preparation to laundry! Now finally the journeys are over and I think I can try to pull things together for the final week of the Fall Term at both the ISS and the DSPT.
On the horizon now are publications: Aldo writes that Arthur’s three-volume historical survey, Don Bosco Builder, has received an enthusiastic reception at Salesian headquarters, at the UPS, and at the University press (the LAS). Locally, Tom Prendiville and Ralph Murphy are in the final stages of editing the 14th volume of the Journal of Salesian Studies. I've got an article in this next issue, so I'm excited about this.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Rainy days and Mondays
It is raining in Berkeley - and from what I can see through my accuweather widget, it is also raining in Rome. And it is the same temperature: 14°. How interesting is that?
We had the end of semester celebration at DSPT, with the Mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the dinner party afterwards. Eleven Salesians participated: almost as many as all the Dominicans present… and it was a nice gathering. That's thanks to Scott Connolly, who knows how to bring people together.
Now there is one more week to the semester. I need to think of how I'm going to approach the next semester, with taking 6 weeks in Rome somehow along the way. Maybe I'm taking on too many things and I'll have to cut back somewhere. Hmm… this will take some thought.
But tonight, as I get ready for sleep, I can hear the rain pounding on the aluminum windowsill and I know that Rome and Berkeley are at one, if not in thought, at least in climatic conditions on this 8th December.
We had the end of semester celebration at DSPT, with the Mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the dinner party afterwards. Eleven Salesians participated: almost as many as all the Dominicans present… and it was a nice gathering. That's thanks to Scott Connolly, who knows how to bring people together.
Now there is one more week to the semester. I need to think of how I'm going to approach the next semester, with taking 6 weeks in Rome somehow along the way. Maybe I'm taking on too many things and I'll have to cut back somewhere. Hmm… this will take some thought.
But tonight, as I get ready for sleep, I can hear the rain pounding on the aluminum windowsill and I know that Rome and Berkeley are at one, if not in thought, at least in climatic conditions on this 8th December.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Ending first semester with prenovices
Got back from Bellflower tonight: the last of six classes in church history that I taught to the Salesian Sisters postulants and the Salesian prenovinces. Mary Greenan taught seven eight classes in the series.
The travel up and down the coast has been a bit much twice a month… but it has been interesting being able to interact with those in initial formation. After class today we had a very open and deep conversation.
But more on this later.
The Fall Semester here in Bekeley is coming to a quick close. My students in church history are already giving their class presentations, and we are wrapping things up in the course on Francis de Sales as well. I have a sense that both courses have been going well. Thank God!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Advent is here
Phone calls to Edmonton, a lot of memories.
It is a little odd that I continue to write this blog about being in Rome when, in fact, I'm now back in Berkeley. Yet, I am still attached to the theology faculty at the UPS and I definitely will be returning to Rome in March and May to teach a six-week course. How will this all work out? I confess that I am confused about it, but at this point it seems important for me and for the community in Berkeley to keep the Roman connection vital.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Meet me in St Louis, Louis
Okay, so here I am again, at the Visitation Monastery in St Louis. I'm here to do a retreat with the sisters as they prepare for the annual renewal of the vows. The renewal takes place on the feast of the Presentation every year.
To come here I had to cancel one of my classes with the Church history group… but I had agreed to help the sisters with this last Spring. They had called it a weekend, and of course I didn't realize that it was a weekend that extended into Monday. Even so, it seems to have gone well.
I've also learned more about the girls who frequent the school of the Visitation here, and of their projects for outreach into the community. Some of the older sisters who no longer teach are most active with these girls in these volunteer projects. The young people seem most responsive; the sisters are most hopeful that the best Christian values are transmitted through these experiences among the poor and needy of St Louis.
Well, it is Sunday afternoon. I have one more conference and a homily tomorrow morning, and I had better get my ideas together for this.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Ian Murdoch's proposal
On Saturday night Ian Murdoch arrived from Washington DC. I had a long conversation with him during an afternoon walk to Peets Coffee shop.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Bart to the airport
This morning Aldo Giraudo completed the last details with Arthur for the publication of his study on Don Bosco. At noon I accompanied Aldo to the San Francisco airport by way of the Bart. We got there at 13.35, checked him in and had some lunch. He was very encouraged that Arthur's writings will be a major contribution for Salesian studies and formation.
Along the route to SFO we spoke of my possible transfer to Rome. My concern has always been that provision be made to keep the ISS in Berkeley in a position to develop. However, I honestly wonder if I have anything else to contribute here. It may well be time for me to go, and let the Salesians of Calfornia provide the ISS with new instructors. What is absolutely necessary is that the Salesians here provide a support staff. Mary Greenan and I have been doing all aspects of program development and hospitality. We (or I) cannot keep doing all the house and business aspects and still deepen the study and reflection pieces.
Well, I was left with these thoughts once Aldo went through security and into the departure lounge of the international terminal. I headed back to Berkeley on the Bart. When I got home, Mary Greenan was cooking dinner, because our cook Marilu could not make it to work today. Point demonstrated: how does Mary prepare materials and deepen the programs if it is she who has to make the beds and cook the dinners too.
The California province of the Salesians needs to move from lip-service to real support of the ISS and Don Bosco Hall. Unless they do, then I will definitely make plans to move to Roma.
BTW, the dinner was excellent: pizza!
Friday, November 03, 2006
Long week - mission accomplished
Arthur's research has been ongoing since 1981, when he was part of a team of three Salesians who left Don Bosco Hall to go to Rome to study Salesian Spirituality at the Salesian Pontifical University. The other two Salesians, Tomás Juárez and John Itzaina, had been designated as members of the formation team for the theology students of the San Francisco province; Arthur had been teaching Sacred Scripture since 1953, and since 1975 attempting to complete his doctorate in Sacred Scripture with the Jesuits at Berkeley. However, the Salesian general council was attempting to take initial formation in the direction of more-in-depth grounding in Salesian spirit and praxis. Thus, when Arthur, Tom and John left Berkeley in 1981 to go to Rome, Don Bosco Hall was temporarily closed and our theology students farmed out to the Eastern USA province.Upon Arthur's return from Rome in 1983, he began to put together a plan for ongoing formation in Salesian fundamentals. He designed the program that would become the basis for the Institute of Salesian Studies (ISS), and this began at Don Bosco Hall in 1984. Since that time Arthur has done serious research into the life and works of the Founder (Don Bosco), and has taught core courses at the ISS. The content of what has been 21 years of Arthur's teaching forms the corpus of the work that Aldo Giraudo is now working to have published.
"No one else in the Salesian world has developed so systematic a presentation of Don Bosco's life and work as has Arthur Lenti," Aldo told me today. "We need to get this into print and spread around to English-speaking Salesians. We also need to think of how to translate this work into the major languages used in the Salesian world."
I was very encouraged my Aldo's enthusiastic report, as was Mary Greenan and Tom Prendiville. And Aldo has been hard at it all week, helping Arthur to put his writings into a publishable form. We celebrated the accomplishments of this very busy week by going out for an American dinner at Pyramid's Brewery: Aldo, Mary Greenan and I.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Aldo and Arthur and the Publishers
Aldo Giraudo has been working with Arthur Lenti pretty non-stop since Saturday morning… well, that is after Thien Nguyen and I intervened on Arthur's IMac, which had gone on the blink. I was able to extract all of Arthur's files, which I saved and backed up, and then Thien reformatted the hard disk. The computer then began to merrily purr away, and we reloaded all his working documents.
That took up most of Saturday morning.
With the computer in shape again, Arthur and Aldo went to work. They ordered the outlay of the material; put system to the titles and subtitles; disposed of the graphics. Arthur is jubilant, and Aldo is convinced that the first four volumes of Arthur's work can go to print in the Spring of 2007. Thanks to Aldo, the funding is also in place: €20,000 from the Salesian Mission Procure in Torino. It is all very exciting.
This afternoon, while Arthur was correcting some student papers, I brought Aldo to see the GTU and particularly DSPT. He was very impressed. Now he has a better idea of our context, and will be able to speak up for us a little more assuredly, knowing our context and situation.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Aldo's arrival
Although I checked the internet for the arrival of British Airways flight 287 from London to San Francisco, and the airline website listed the flight as "on time"… well, it was not really the case.
As I have been doing lately, I dropped the car at the BART parking lot in North Berkeley, and took the light rail BART to the San Francisco Airport. I arrived at 15.45 for the 16.12 scheduled arrival, only to discover that the flight would be 50 minutes late. No matter. I had my IPOD (best investment in ages) and was happy to listen to podcasts on the subject of Harry Potter while I waited for Aldo's arrival. He finally showed up at 17.40. We made the easy walk to the BART station at the SFO International Terminal, and by 17.50 we were on a train heading for Berkeley;
The conversation was very interesting, and I was happy to be speaking Italian. Aldo caught me up on all the initiatives and politics of the UPS, of the Formation Department at the Salesian Generalate, and on individual friends of ours. My questions about the ISS of Berkeley and the Spirituality Faculty of the University remain the same as ever. I don't think there is a clear "better" or "worse" in all this. If I go back to Rome it will depend on my own decision, and not particular need.
We arrived back at Don Bosco Hall at 20.00. I warmed up a little supper and we continued our conversation. Then we paid a visit to Arthur Lenti, who was very happy to see Aldo… but Arthur's IMac was giving him problems, so Tho Bui was working on it as Aldo and Arthur discussed their work schedule for the next few days. The exciting thing is that Aldo has secured €20,000 to publish the first four volumes of Arthur's opus. This is a first!
Birthday busyness
Have just got back from the dentist: gift to myself was having my teeth cleaned. In a few minutes I will be off to the San Francisco airport to pick up Aldo Giraudo, a Salesian professor from the UPS who will spend some days with us helping to put Arthur Lenti's writings in order.
The big event of this week has been the planning for the 2007 National Salesian Conference.
At our meetings, the organizing committee (headed by John Graden OSFS and Joanne Kinney) expressed the desire to have some Don Bosco Salesians on next summer’s program. Mary Greenan is being invited to give a keynote; Joe Caporaso (Salesian Cooperators, New Jersey) and Al Vu (SDBs California) are being asked to give workshops.
To me this is very exciting. The organizing committee is really making a positive effort to include Don Bosco’s side of Salesian Spirituality. Until now there has been more efforts to bring in Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales, almost in an historical way. However, since I have been connected with this group (starting in 1998), they have been more and more fascinated with the Don Bosco approach. This is good. I mean, it is a "National Salesian Conference", but the Don Bosco people are never part of it. If we don't start participating in the efforts to articulate Salesian spirituality and pastoral practice, mainline Catholicism in the USA may take the name Salesian away from us.
So I'm also very happy that Mary Greenan and Joe Caporaso immediately said “yes” to the invitation. We will have to figure out how to attract some Cooperators and SDBs and FMAs to the conference, even if the 2007 event is in St Paul in Minnesota and therefore far from our usual populations. However, I believe that participation will be helpful to our people as well as to the larger group of people who participate in the Annual National Salesian Conference (approximately 300 people, of whom 90% are laity).
The big event of this week has been the planning for the 2007 National Salesian Conference.
At our meetings, the organizing committee (headed by John Graden OSFS and Joanne Kinney) expressed the desire to have some Don Bosco Salesians on next summer’s program. Mary Greenan is being invited to give a keynote; Joe Caporaso (Salesian Cooperators, New Jersey) and Al Vu (SDBs California) are being asked to give workshops.
To me this is very exciting. The organizing committee is really making a positive effort to include Don Bosco’s side of Salesian Spirituality. Until now there has been more efforts to bring in Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales, almost in an historical way. However, since I have been connected with this group (starting in 1998), they have been more and more fascinated with the Don Bosco approach. This is good. I mean, it is a "National Salesian Conference", but the Don Bosco people are never part of it. If we don't start participating in the efforts to articulate Salesian spirituality and pastoral practice, mainline Catholicism in the USA may take the name Salesian away from us.So I'm also very happy that Mary Greenan and Joe Caporaso immediately said “yes” to the invitation. We will have to figure out how to attract some Cooperators and SDBs and FMAs to the conference, even if the 2007 event is in St Paul in Minnesota and therefore far from our usual populations. However, I believe that participation will be helpful to our people as well as to the larger group of people who participate in the Annual National Salesian Conference (approximately 300 people, of whom 90% are laity).
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Between Seminar and Conference
The Salesian Scholars Seminar concluded this morning very nicely at breakfast, and we were able to say our goodbyes. Most of the group took off for the airport or by car during the morning. Now there is a group of us who are staying on, and a couple of more people will arrive this afternoon as we start the planning phase for next summer's National Salesian Conference. This set of meetings will go forward until Tuesday noon.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Stella in the rain
Arrived on Wednesday afternoon in good weather. It then has proceeded to rain ever since. However, we have had some interesting discussions in the first two days of our Salesian Scholars Seminar.
Yesterday we spent the whole day with Agnes presenting material on 16th and 17th century emblem books. While I've had the Gambart Emblem book for a few months now, I must say that I did not appreciate the import of the Emblem in the early decades of publishing. My ideas are starting to change as I understand the concept much better. But I'll need some tome to absorb the wealth of materials received and the very good discussions the scholars pursued afterwards.
This morning we had the papers of Jill and Trisch. Both wrote on the missionary years of Francis de Sales in the Chablais. I have found both exceptional. Our discussions were very excited too, although I took issue with the representation of Francis as trying to just uphold the institutional church. I make my reference to him as a missionary in the Jesuit tradition of Italy and not as an agent of the crown.
This afternoon we'll have the papers of Sandy, on the image of Jacob's ladder, and Paula on Francis's use of classical images taken from Pliny. Good stuff.
It is not easy for me to go online, so I will just make a quick post and revamp this later as a have an opportunity.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Salesian Scholars Seminar
Tomorrow, early, I depart for the Salesian Scholars Seminar in Stella-Niagara, and am looking forward to living between the 17th and 19th centuries for a few days.
As is the practice, each of the scholars has a paper to write and to present. The dates were set two years ago, and the theme was set 12 months ago… but as usual, it took me a long time to get my ideas in line with the theme (Images in Francis de Sales). I've been working on this during the last month, between all the other things I have going right now. Yesterday I finished the paper and sent it off to Joanne Kinney, the coordinator of the event. Joanne mailed it out electronically to all the other scholars today. And tomorrow night we begin.
Well, that's me again. I usually arrive, but always at the last minute. It used to get me into a lot of trouble when I was in college… but later I noticed that most people from Bellflower are basically this way. Still, it would have been easier on the nerves if I'd have finished the paper a month ago.
Today I've taught my class, met a couple of students in dialogue (mainly spiritual rather than academic), participated in the school mass at DSPT, lunched with Hector Cortes (another of my students), walked my 40 minutes, and now have to clean up my quarters before the big trip tomorrow. So why am I wasting time blogging all this???
As is the practice, each of the scholars has a paper to write and to present. The dates were set two years ago, and the theme was set 12 months ago… but as usual, it took me a long time to get my ideas in line with the theme (Images in Francis de Sales). I've been working on this during the last month, between all the other things I have going right now. Yesterday I finished the paper and sent it off to Joanne Kinney, the coordinator of the event. Joanne mailed it out electronically to all the other scholars today. And tomorrow night we begin.
Well, that's me again. I usually arrive, but always at the last minute. It used to get me into a lot of trouble when I was in college… but later I noticed that most people from Bellflower are basically this way. Still, it would have been easier on the nerves if I'd have finished the paper a month ago.
Today I've taught my class, met a couple of students in dialogue (mainly spiritual rather than academic), participated in the school mass at DSPT, lunched with Hector Cortes (another of my students), walked my 40 minutes, and now have to clean up my quarters before the big trip tomorrow. So why am I wasting time blogging all this???
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Minneapolis conference
Arrived yesterday in Minneapolis and gave a presentation to the folks in the neighborhood about Salesian Spirituality in terms of Francis de Sales sense of "home" and family. Today am doing a replica in St Paul, but in the form of a retreat day. Hmm… last night went well; today is a different story.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Bit of family background: coming to America
My cousin Frank sent an e-mail about family members serving in the U.S. Military… and I was reminded of conversations that I had with my mother's father on his experience in the U.S. army during World War I.
Yes, my grandfather Salvatore Nuzzo was drafted into the US military in 1917, and served in a company of soldiers that was made up entirely of Italians. Very few of the boys in his company spoke English. As they were disembarking in France to go to the Front, the American commanders had them all stand at attention and swore them all in as American citizens. Papa told me that they read out the oath to them in English (which hardly any of them understood as they were all fresh immigrants), and then their Italian commanders instructed them to say "I do swear". Only later did someone explain to him that he had just become a U.S. citizen.
Today it is difficult for people to get visas to immigrate to the U.S.A., and once they arrive, it is difficult to work their way through the process of attaining American citizenship. It strikes me that my grandfather, Salvatore Nuzzo, was in the country less than two years when he became a citizen. What is more, he took the oath of citizenship, not on American soil, but on board a U.S. ship in a French port.
But of course the great tragedy for my grandfather at the end of the First World War was the the Spanish Influenza raged through Europe in 1918, and so my grandfather's mother and grandmother both died during the epidemic. Salvatore Nuzzo's plans had been to return home in Acerra, but after World War I and the Spanish Influenza, there was nobody home in Acerra to return to. But now he was an American citizen, so he made his life in America.
When my "Papa" explained all this to me, I found it fascinating, but also very compelling.
Rainy day schedule
Last night after I returned from southern California it began to sprinkle… and then I woke up a few time from the sound of rain on the window. This morning I walked to DSPT in the rain (so I didn't wear a suit for the first time this year).
After a 90 minute class on "Jansenism", I did the Catholic thing and had coffee and donuts in the school lobby with a few of the students. This is against my eating program, but one donut in three months is okay, I expect. The class in Jansenism went well -- there were a lot of questions today, and so my illusions of getting through the whole two-day lecture in one did not materialize. I remain one lecture behind my planned calendar, but I'm still two weeks ahead of where I normally am this point of the semester. I'm sure I'll have ways to make up the one lecture in the future.
So, yesterday I was talking about Constantine and St Athanasius; today I was talking about Angélique and Antoine Arnauld and the Jansenists at Port Royal; tomorrow I'll be speaking about Francis de Sales. For that, I'll leave early in the morning to go to Minnesota for a presentation on Salesian pastoral and spiritual teachings…
Hmm, how will that go? Time to get prepared.
After a 90 minute class on "Jansenism", I did the Catholic thing and had coffee and donuts in the school lobby with a few of the students. This is against my eating program, but one donut in three months is okay, I expect. The class in Jansenism went well -- there were a lot of questions today, and so my illusions of getting through the whole two-day lecture in one did not materialize. I remain one lecture behind my planned calendar, but I'm still two weeks ahead of where I normally am this point of the semester. I'm sure I'll have ways to make up the one lecture in the future.So, yesterday I was talking about Constantine and St Athanasius; today I was talking about Angélique and Antoine Arnauld and the Jansenists at Port Royal; tomorrow I'll be speaking about Francis de Sales. For that, I'll leave early in the morning to go to Minnesota for a presentation on Salesian pastoral and spiritual teachings…
Hmm, how will that go? Time to get prepared.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Quick trip to Bellflower
Left the house at 4:30 this morning to catch a flight from Oakland to LAX… then took the light rail metro train (Greenline) to Lakewood Station at the border of Downey and Bellflower… The Salesian Sisters were to meet me, but became confused on how to get to the metro station, so I walked the mile to St Dominic Savio Parish. Good thing I've been keeping in shape. It took me only ten minutes to walk the distance.
From 9.30 to 13.00 I taught three lessons in early Church History to a group of young adults from the Salesian Sisters and the Salesians who are discerning a religious vocation…
This is the second time I've gone to Bellflower on a Wednesday to do this, and I am alternating with Mary Greenan on this project. Today the class went very well, but the time was tight for me. Immediately after the class I asked two of the young women to give me a lift to the metro station, where I took the train to LAX for the return trip to Oakland via San Francisco. At 18.40 I was walking up the hill to Don Bosco Hall… and tomorrow it is back to the regular classes.
The young people appreciate the courses we are offering them, but this commute is going to be a killer, especially in view of all the other commitments I have locally. Oh well, it is just for a semester.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sempre avanti
Now we are into the fourth week of classes. Things are stacking up very high with many commitments just in the day-to-day.
Yes, I am helping Sr Mary Greenan in giving classes to the prenovices and postulants of the fma and sdb in southern California. Last year Sr Mary Greenan traveled back and forth every week, but it is too much for one person. I do not believe that the request is very realistic on the part of the formation people in southern California. This year I am helping, so that the two of us split the weeks. Mary goes the second and fourth weeks of the month; I go the first and third weeks. But it is still too much, because we have many responsibilities here in the Bay Area and we teach every day. Still, I agreed to continue this during the Fall. Next semester I will not be able to continue it.
Unless the English-speaking provinces become serious about supporting the ISS in Berkeley, there is no future for us. This year we started with six participants: three sisters and one brother and two priests. One of the sisters had to return to her country because she has been ill and the doctors discovered a tumor. That leaves five participants. To carry this forward, I believe we would need at least ten every year, but the English-speaking provinces do not seem to be interested in ongoing formation in Salesian content and experiences.
And that is where the question of Rome comes it. If there is nothing more to offer systematically in English because of the lack of serious support by the American provinces, men and women, then the councilor for formation is telling me to teach in Rome, where there are younger student-Salesians from many countries.
So now we are already a month together in the new community at Don Bosco Hall. Fr Esteban Ortiz is here from Rome, visiting on behalf of the rector major Fr Pascual Chavez. The question of ongoing support for the ISS program has come up in our discussions.
For me Rome is ever more attractive… I'm finding it hard to put my heart into anything in Berkeley at this time in my life.
Yes, I am helping Sr Mary Greenan in giving classes to the prenovices and postulants of the fma and sdb in southern California. Last year Sr Mary Greenan traveled back and forth every week, but it is too much for one person. I do not believe that the request is very realistic on the part of the formation people in southern California. This year I am helping, so that the two of us split the weeks. Mary goes the second and fourth weeks of the month; I go the first and third weeks. But it is still too much, because we have many responsibilities here in the Bay Area and we teach every day. Still, I agreed to continue this during the Fall. Next semester I will not be able to continue it.
Unless the English-speaking provinces become serious about supporting the ISS in Berkeley, there is no future for us. This year we started with six participants: three sisters and one brother and two priests. One of the sisters had to return to her country because she has been ill and the doctors discovered a tumor. That leaves five participants. To carry this forward, I believe we would need at least ten every year, but the English-speaking provinces do not seem to be interested in ongoing formation in Salesian content and experiences.
And that is where the question of Rome comes it. If there is nothing more to offer systematically in English because of the lack of serious support by the American provinces, men and women, then the councilor for formation is telling me to teach in Rome, where there are younger student-Salesians from many countries.So now we are already a month together in the new community at Don Bosco Hall. Fr Esteban Ortiz is here from Rome, visiting on behalf of the rector major Fr Pascual Chavez. The question of ongoing support for the ISS program has come up in our discussions.
For me Rome is ever more attractive… I'm finding it hard to put my heart into anything in Berkeley at this time in my life.
Friday, September 22, 2006
The coast is clear
Every month we try to bring the community on an outing, if not for the entire day, then at least for the afternoon. Since we still less than a month into the academic year, today was a good day to just get away, visit some wonder of the Bay Area, enjoy a piece of Nature and picnic together. After morning classes, we left in several vehicles for Point Reyes.
The weather was cool but perfectly clear, and the crowd enjoyed the drive as across the Marin peninsula into Point Reyes National Park. It took an hour for us to go from Berkeley to the park, but once in the park, it took another hour to drive the narrow highland roads to the famous Point Reyes and its lighthouse. This gave us plenty of time for stories and sharing on the way to and from the landmarks. Once there, the scenery was magnificent. Rarely have I seen it so pristine and lovely (and I tend to visit the point at least once a year).
As I just said, we like to do outings in this community of Don Bosco Hall. This has been the practice since the ISS began in 1984. We are not always conscious that we live in such a beautiful part of the world, but those who come from other countries are certainly interested in site-seeing and doing a bit of tourism for culture and play and so forth. This is why we program a number of community outings over the course of the year. Each month, a day-trip; each semester two extended, three-day trips. We consider these activities important in the development of the Don Bosco Hall community.
At the same time, most of the real community-building comes from the day-to-day activities and developing relationship. This is why Tom Prendiville always encourages spontaneous outings for small or large groups.
Well, that's the theory. Today the practice went very well. Everyone loved the lighthouse. Those who took the famous Point Reyes earthquake trail were fascinated by the science and history of our area (and checked to make sure their rooms were earthquake proofed once we got home). The evening came to a climax with Arthur Lenti (assisted by Mary Greenan) barbecuing a supper for us all. Some of the Salesians from the provincial house in San Francisco came to the barbecue, invited by Tom Prendiville and Arthur. What's more, a couple of young adults who wandered into the grove where we were spread out, struck up a conversation with our ISS people, and ended by joining us for dinner too. This was not a problem. We always bring more food than we can possibly consume.
And so the drive home was serene and happy.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Into third week
This afternoon we gathered the whole community in the living room at 4:00 for a community meeting. First we did a bit of a climate check, and then we went over some nuts and bolts for community administration. Mike Touchstone was with us. Everyone seems happy with the way we started the year. They love their courses at GTU and ISS, although the reading assignments are starting to stack up. Marcel has been a little sick, and everyone misses Nitaya, who left us two days ago. The meeting was followed by community liturgy. Everything was low key but joyful.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Less one
Yesterday Sr Nitaya from Thailand left Don Bosco Hall and the ISS program. Several years ago she suffered from cancer, and during the past month the disease has come out of remission. She faces surgery and treatment in Thailand. Her departure brings out ISS group down to five (two sisters and three Salesians), and the Don Bosco Hall Community down to 15.
This brings us back to the question that we have been asking ourselves (or at least that I have been asking myself) all summer: how much longer can the ISS survive? Is this the end of our mission in Berkeley? Is it time to say goodbye? And if we do, will the Salesians in California have anything more to say to the wider community? to the world-wide Salesian Society? Will Don Bosco lose any credibility he might still have in North America when the intellectual and formative core is disbanded?
These are the questions. Poor Nitaya has nothing to do with any of this: she and her little province are very supportive. Still, her departure once again demonstrates the fragility of our situation.
Friday, September 15, 2006
No news - is it good?
The blood tests were on Monday, as well as the visit to the dentists. I returned to the dentist on Wednesday for teeth cleaning, but since it has been about two decades (what???) since I've been to the dentist, there was a lot of tarter buildup. The hygenist, a sweet little lady from Jakarta, could only get the lower teeth cleaned. I need to go back in October to do the top rack of teeth. Sorrily, insurance won't cover two visits within a six-month period.
My mouth was sore for two days, but today I'm fine. I've also managed to keep up my 40 minute power walking.
Now it is Friday. I have not heard from my doctor Kun Huang concerning the results of the blood tests. Could it be that I'm back in the normal range? Does she only call when things are worrisome? Maybe I'll ring her on Monday. Still, I've begun to notice some progress. My morning walks give me more energy during the day and I'm not so weary in the hill climbing. Two weeks ago I had to buy a new belt, because I had come down two notches.
Two weeks ago I still had the weight, although I was thiner. Those who do exercise regularly say that building muscle keeps on weight, but that it is lean and not fat. So, even though I had come down two notches, I was weighing in at 195 lbs (On 9 July I weighed 200 at the doctor's office).
Yesterday I came down another notch on the belt… and today I weighed in at 186 lbs. Whoa! That's finally a breakthrough. I celebrated by having two cookies for dessert tonight! Okay, okay… bad move. Tomorrow I'll go back to no baked goods! And while I'm happy that I'm down by 14 lbs (1 stone), I hope to lose at least another 16 before November. That will put me closer to what is said to be the average weight of someone who is 5'8" tall.
But this is a stupid thing to be blogging about… When I get back to Rome, however, I want to be a bit smaller than I've been lately. It will make it easier to travel on the buses and the metro!
Monday, September 11, 2006
More class and doctor visits
Started the second week of class and managed to wake up before six and get in 36 minutes of power walking. Then I went to DSPT to set up for my first hour class. Afterwards I went to El Cerrito and met the dentist. After over 17 years I've finally had a dentist's visit. I've got to go back in a few days to see what the xrays reveal.
Since I hadn't eaten anything, I went right across the street for blood tests that my doctor Kun Huang asked me to take in July. She had said to wait two months. Hopefully the more strenuous exercise and the change in diet will have a positive effect. My blood pressure and triglicerides were way high when I got back from Italy. We'll see in a couple of days.
Since I hadn't eaten anything, I went right across the street for blood tests that my doctor Kun Huang asked me to take in July. She had said to wait two months. Hopefully the more strenuous exercise and the change in diet will have a positive effect. My blood pressure and triglicerides were way high when I got back from Italy. We'll see in a couple of days.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
History in the media smart classroom
This morning I left the house early to get to DSPT and set up for my first history class of the semester. I've been slated to use Classroom #1 in the new building. It is the media-smart classroom. With an hour's preparation before the lecture started, I had a change to experiment and get everything ready. It worked out very nicely.
While I had only 10 students registered, there were 12 in the class. The room holds 60, but I asked them all to expand so that we are not shuffled into another classroom. Well, yeah! I used PowerPoint and other media with every lecture, so I'm so pleased to have been scheduled in such a room. Excellent! Now to see if I can sustain the course!
While I had only 10 students registered, there were 12 in the class. The room holds 60, but I asked them all to expand so that we are not shuffled into another classroom. Well, yeah! I used PowerPoint and other media with every lecture, so I'm so pleased to have been scheduled in such a room. Excellent! Now to see if I can sustain the course!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Berkeley or Rome
First day of class, and I taught at the first period in the morning (from 8:10 to 9:30). It is the same course that I taught last year in Rome, on the life and spirit of St Francis de Sales. I've got 14 in the class, even though only one had preregistered. I had to call Stella Niagara for more books, and then spent this afternoon in Kinkos running off the notes for the course. I'm doing them Italian style (dispensa), though they are in English (of course).
In the evening after dinner, Fr Esteban Ortiz asked to meet with Frs Dave Purdy and Tom Prendiville with myself present, to talk about the request that I go to teach a semester each year at the UPS in Rome. While I would love to go back to Rome even tomorrow, I realize that there is no one to take up the work I am doing here. We need support for the program in Salesian spirituality at Berkeley or this will fade into nothing.
Well, we did not come to any solution, but exchanged views for over an hour. In December and January I will go to the UPS and offer a condensed course in the last six weeks of the Fall Semester there. In the meantime, we need to look for more stable support for our programs at ISS in Berkeley and work more in partnership rather than in opposition to the UPS.
How do the others feel about all this? I don't know. If truth be told, I feel very emotionally involved. It is my life and future that is on the line, after all, and I am torn really between Rome and Berkeley.
Truth be told… nice phrase to quote in the Bocca della Verità!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Labor Day Crowd
Every year on Labor Day the Salesian Community in Berkeley hosts a barbecue for the Salesians and Salesian Sisters of the Bay Area. This year was no exception. About 48 people came over for the afternoon. Of course that meant that the community members were all working from early in the morning to get things ready, and then continued after the guest left to put everything back in order. Even with the smoke of the barbecue still clinging to everything in the house, we'll start classes bright and early tomorrow morning. Yes, the Fall Term begins at ISS and at GTU… and Don Bosco Hall community is right in the midst of it.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Time passages
Wow! It has been two months since I've had a chance to add a comment here. Well, I apologize to my readership (both of you). These two months have been busy beyond my expectations.
And now we are ready to start a new term at the ISS (Institute of Salesian Spirituality) at Don Bosco Hall in Berkeley… and, of course, this goes hand in hand with the new Fall Semester at DSPT (Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology).
DSPT has a new home (more on this later), and the ISS has a new crop of participants. There will be six taking part this year: three Salesians of Don Bosco and three Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The group is not really large enough, and I still wonder for the future of the Institute. Still, we have begun on Thursday with orientation, yesterday with registrations and a community meeting, and today with a little outing around San Francisco. I led the tour, driving through a crowded city across the three bridges. Since one of the bridges is closed, the traffic was horrific… but we kept up a nice little chatter in the mini-van.
And now we are ready to start a new term at the ISS (Institute of Salesian Spirituality) at Don Bosco Hall in Berkeley… and, of course, this goes hand in hand with the new Fall Semester at DSPT (Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology).
DSPT has a new home (more on this later), and the ISS has a new crop of participants. There will be six taking part this year: three Salesians of Don Bosco and three Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The group is not really large enough, and I still wonder for the future of the Institute. Still, we have begun on Thursday with orientation, yesterday with registrations and a community meeting, and today with a little outing around San Francisco. I led the tour, driving through a crowded city across the three bridges. Since one of the bridges is closed, the traffic was horrific… but we kept up a nice little chatter in the mini-van.
And so we begin.
(Joe Boenzi, Cecilia Tse, Anne Collins and Marcel Tigga,
Salesians all of us,
at Larkspur during our Three Bridges Tour)
(Joe Boenzi, Cecilia Tse, Anne Collins and Marcel Tigga,Salesians all of us,
at Larkspur during our Three Bridges Tour)
Friday, August 18, 2006
Two Romans
Last February (or was it March??? … well, it was sometime during Lent), I met Emanuele Pelliccia and Francesco Serafini -- two Roman boys who were finishing high school and looking for an experience of volunteer service for the summer. I was able to hook them up with the youth center in Boyle Heights, and they have just spent four weeks helping at the Salesian Family Youth Center near St Mary's.
Last week they participated in the youth leadership days sponsored for the youth and young adults of the province, and now they are here in Berkeley, along with four German young people who have also been doing volunteer service at the Salesian Family Youth Center.
Of course, in the aftermath of the World Cup, the German youths were not too happy to have to spend the summer with Italians. And, from what I've picked up, Emanuele and Francesco have been able to capture the hearts of the kids at the center with their Roman love for life and their "let's-try-anything" attitude. These two spontaneous Italians offered a stark contrast to the very serious, northern German (from Essen) volunteers who seem to do everything with precision and purpose. (When I was told this by those from the Youth Center, who seem so surprised at the cultural differences, I laughed so hard it took me a couple of minutes to stop. It was all so typical, and it seems the folks from Boyle Heights learned more about cultural differences than the volunteers in certain respects this summer!)
This evening after dinner I took them down to the Berkeley Pier and then to Caesar Chavez Park for a walk and talk, and to see the terrain. They'll remain here for the week, for there are some friends that they have met in Boyle Heights who are students at USF, so they can tour the city and do youth-oriented activities after four strenuous weeks at the oratory. Hopefully these two young Romans will also enjoy youthful California.
Last week they participated in the youth leadership days sponsored for the youth and young adults of the province, and now they are here in Berkeley, along with four German young people who have also been doing volunteer service at the Salesian Family Youth Center.Of course, in the aftermath of the World Cup, the German youths were not too happy to have to spend the summer with Italians. And, from what I've picked up, Emanuele and Francesco have been able to capture the hearts of the kids at the center with their Roman love for life and their "let's-try-anything" attitude. These two spontaneous Italians offered a stark contrast to the very serious, northern German (from Essen) volunteers who seem to do everything with precision and purpose. (When I was told this by those from the Youth Center, who seem so surprised at the cultural differences, I laughed so hard it took me a couple of minutes to stop. It was all so typical, and it seems the folks from Boyle Heights learned more about cultural differences than the volunteers in certain respects this summer!)
This evening after dinner I took them down to the Berkeley Pier and then to Caesar Chavez Park for a walk and talk, and to see the terrain. They'll remain here for the week, for there are some friends that they have met in Boyle Heights who are students at USF, so they can tour the city and do youth-oriented activities after four strenuous weeks at the oratory. Hopefully these two young Romans will also enjoy youthful California.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
SLIM continues
Our workshop continues into its third day today. Fr Michael Sweeney from DSPT conducted all the experiences of today. The input and the discussions were very provocative. There is much to rethink in the matter of Church.
Monday, July 10, 2006
After 24 Years
Yesterday Team Italy won the World Cup! The last time Italy won was in 1982. In nearly every other tournament since, the Azzurri were eliminated in penalty kicks. But yesterday Italy managed to make all five penalty kicks, while France made only three. This was after two 45-minute halves, and two 15-minute overtime halves. Both teams were beyond the point of exhaustion, unable to overcome a 1-1 tie game.
But I'll let the sports commentators make their comments. For me the sweet fact is that Italy has won the championship again. I've always rooted for the Azzurri ever since 1978 when I first learned of the World Cup in football (soccer).
More later… for now, it is just time to enjoy the win!
But I'll let the sports commentators make their comments. For me the sweet fact is that Italy has won the championship again. I've always rooted for the Azzurri ever since 1978 when I first learned of the World Cup in football (soccer).
More later… for now, it is just time to enjoy the win!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Doctor's appointment
Had my third visit to the Doctor in a week's time. Seems my blood sugar is high, and that the cholesterol is high too. Less carbohydrates, then (because I don't eat sweets), and less meat (but I already eat little in the way of meat), and more exercise. My doctor, Dr Kun Huang, has outlined a little program for me in terms of diet and exercise for the next two months, and then we'll see where this goes. I'm just below borderline diabetic.
Hmm… This is all a new development over last year. Was it all the pasta in Rome? Or is this part of the usual Boenzi/Iovinelli scenario? There are diabetics in my family history, afterall, beginning with my grandmother and all my uncles. So I'm not surprised. This is something I've been expecting since I was seven years old, if truth be told.
Dad was not diabetic of course, but then he was always trim. I'm not. I need to lose some pounds. Maybe this is the time to stop playing around.
[Photo of the Boenzi Family on 31 January 1946… my diabetic grandmother Josephine (Giuseppina) is in front with my grandfather Joseph (Giuseppe) who suffered from enlarged heart (not to mention Parkinsons in later life)]
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Fourth of July Weekend
Left Berkeley for Bellflower on Friday evening and returned this morning. It was a full weekend, which involved me in some helping at St Dominic Savio Parish, baptizing my grandnephew, introducing my mom to World Cup football, visiting with Salesians and parishioners, and an Independence Day barbecue with my brother and his family in Cerritos.
On my return to Berkeley I found a letter from the Rettor Magnifico of the UPS, thanking me for my service last year and asking that I teach again in the Spring of 2007. The director of my community in Berkeley, Fr Tom Prendiville, received a copy and a request that he facilitate my giving the UPS a hand in the teaching of Salesian spiritual theology.
Now what?
On my return to Berkeley I found a letter from the Rettor Magnifico of the UPS, thanking me for my service last year and asking that I teach again in the Spring of 2007. The director of my community in Berkeley, Fr Tom Prendiville, received a copy and a request that he facilitate my giving the UPS a hand in the teaching of Salesian spiritual theology.
Now what?
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
David and freedom
The beauty of the David is not only in the sculpture, but in the concept: David represents Liberty for the people of Florence!
SES 2006
Don Bosco Hall is filled again for the Salesian Education Seminar. I've got to prepare a presentation for tomorrow… I'm a little at sea, if truth be told. But this morning I'm working away on it… Here's a visual that I hope to use of Mary Help of Christians from a church in Ecuador.
Fathers Day
Got back to California on the night of June 16th… spent Saturday 17th with my brother Mario and his family for an early Fathers' Day celebration. Then on Sunday spoke with my brother Sal, whose children gathered with him for Fathers' Day in Tucson.
Fathers Day seems to remain as the uncelebrated holiday in many quarters, but is was good to see that my brothers children and grandchildren celebrate them with great affection. Talking with Sal by phone and watching Mario first-hand reminded me of the affection we had as children for our grandfathers. We had a bit of a language barrier; this will not be the issues once Mario's and Sal's grandchildren start to talk.
Happy Fathers Day!
Fathers Day seems to remain as the uncelebrated holiday in many quarters, but is was good to see that my brothers children and grandchildren celebrate them with great affection. Talking with Sal by phone and watching Mario first-hand reminded me of the affection we had as children for our grandfathers. We had a bit of a language barrier; this will not be the issues once Mario's and Sal's grandchildren start to talk.
Happy Fathers Day!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Distinguishing
In Christian terms, and certainly in Catholic terms where the Incarnation is so real a principle, all our other preparation comes into play. This is where we become "interdisciplinary", etc. Still, the methodology will be theological for the spiritual theologian.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
June comes in like a lion!
Rained all afternoon yesterday, and on the southside of Rome there was hale. Vatican Radio this morning said that yesterday was the coldest June 2nd since 1976. In fact, the temperature when we went to breakfast this morning was hovering around 10°. There is snow in mountains at 500 meters. At the present moment there are new editions of clouds building up, and rain is predicted again today. That hasn't stopped the pilgrimages. Streets around the Vatican will be closed all weekend. 300,000 pilgrims already have "ticket" to the mass for Pentecost in St Peter's Square.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
End-of-term bash
Well, okay, the title of this entry is overblown. It was a party, not a bash. A barbecue, really… After a very full month of May, with parties and feast days and visits from family, everything is coming now to an end for the year (if one does not count the final exams).
Ah, final exams… well, to avoid the stress of the exams, tonight the Don Rua community gathered to say goodbye. Some people are staying all month long to complete their accademic work, but others are leaving soon. This would be our opportunity to spend one last night together, all of us, before the departures get underway.
Thus, as is done year after year, all the members community of Don Rua gathered to celebrate. Truly, the festivities began early in the morning when everyone gathered for a community eucharist at 7.00. Early as it was, the concelebration was festive and moving. Then on for the day's responsibilities, for even though the classes are over for the semester, there were a lot of odds and ends to attend to, not the least of which was ascertaining the exam schedule…
While many attended to their school chores, many others began to prepare the environment, decorating house and patio, arranging tables and chairs, doing last minute shopping: all for the celebration that would begin at dusk.
The aroma of roasting and barbequing began to replace the smell of books, and the sound of Spanish folk music overpowered the sounds of whirling hard drives. The tone of voices raised, all sounding excited and happy… the last minute afternoon showers and dressing up in summer clothes -- party spirit everywhere in the house.
As the sun began to set, then, the community gathered on the terrace outside the backdoor of the house, and enjoyed, al fresco, a great barbeque, with music, some speeches, some recitations and magic tricks, and dancing too … and then more food and great conversations.
The spirit of the Don Rua community has been excellent all year, really, and this all came out in this end-of-term party … one that has been called "la festa di addio"… the farewell party, if you like. And I realize that I have grown attached to many of the men, young and old, in this community and that I am going to miss them. I have already hated the idea of saying goodbye…
Ah, final exams… well, to avoid the stress of the exams, tonight the Don Rua community gathered to say goodbye. Some people are staying all month long to complete their accademic work, but others are leaving soon. This would be our opportunity to spend one last night together, all of us, before the departures get underway.
Thus, as is done year after year, all the members community of Don Rua gathered to celebrate. Truly, the festivities began early in the morning when everyone gathered for a community eucharist at 7.00. Early as it was, the concelebration was festive and moving. Then on for the day's responsibilities, for even though the classes are over for the semester, there were a lot of odds and ends to attend to, not the least of which was ascertaining the exam schedule…While many attended to their school chores, many others began to prepare the environment, decorating house and patio, arranging tables and chairs, doing last minute shopping: all for the celebration that would begin at dusk.
The aroma of roasting and barbequing began to replace the smell of books, and the sound of Spanish folk music overpowered the sounds of whirling hard drives. The tone of voices raised, all sounding excited and happy… the last minute afternoon showers and dressing up in summer clothes -- party spirit everywhere in the house.
As the sun began to set, then, the community gathered on the terrace outside the backdoor of the house, and enjoyed, al fresco, a great barbeque, with music, some speeches, some recitations and magic tricks, and dancing too … and then more food and great conversations.
The spirit of the Don Rua community has been excellent all year, really, and this all came out in this end-of-term party … one that has been called "la festa di addio"… the farewell party, if you like. And I realize that I have grown attached to many of the men, young and old, in this community and that I am going to miss them. I have already hated the idea of saying goodbye…
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Last class of the semester
Today we held the last class for your seminar TA2240: The Magic of Storytelling in Christian Education (or whatever: the title sort of morphed all semester). Each of the students brought their written work and gave a simple presentation on the theme that each chose.
Adding to the dynamic of the course is that I have had students from different cultures, languages and continents. Oh, the group has been small, but quite varied. John Roche comes from California and he was the only one who had read the saga beforehand. For the others, the story was known through the media and the movies, but they only began to read the writings of J. K. Rowling in the course of the seminar. All were surprised at the depth of Rowling's account.
On the other hand, all but one of the group was very well versed in the stories of Don Bosco. With this they were all able to make easy comparisons. In other words, the Harry Potter material was new for them, and the grid with which they studied Harry's story was their extensive knowledge of John Bosco's saga. I suspect that in other quarters the experience would be just the opposite, with students knowing Harry Potter and having to learn the Don Bosco themes.
Well, it has been very interesting, and I'd love to keep this going… but maybe I was more into this than any of the students. What was fascinating for me to see is how many parallels exist between the stories of John Bosco (from his childhood and from his years of working directly with young people) and Harry Potter. Both are boy wizards (ragazzi maghi) or magicians.
What also has struck me is how Harry Potter is able to excite the whole younger generation, not only into reading, but into discussing the things in life that matter to them. I was fascinated as I discovered how many websites, podcasts, and blogs are created and carried forward by teens and the very young, all thanks to Harry Potter. Like him, they form part of the hero generation.
Now that the course is over, I'll have to sort through all of this. I don't know if I'll ever be able to teach another seminar like this, but it would be interesting to carry the discussion forward.
Adding to the dynamic of the course is that I have had students from different cultures, languages and continents. Oh, the group has been small, but quite varied. John Roche comes from California and he was the only one who had read the saga beforehand. For the others, the story was known through the media and the movies, but they only began to read the writings of J. K. Rowling in the course of the seminar. All were surprised at the depth of Rowling's account.On the other hand, all but one of the group was very well versed in the stories of Don Bosco. With this they were all able to make easy comparisons. In other words, the Harry Potter material was new for them, and the grid with which they studied Harry's story was their extensive knowledge of John Bosco's saga. I suspect that in other quarters the experience would be just the opposite, with students knowing Harry Potter and having to learn the Don Bosco themes.
Well, it has been very interesting, and I'd love to keep this going… but maybe I was more into this than any of the students. What was fascinating for me to see is how many parallels exist between the stories of John Bosco (from his childhood and from his years of working directly with young people) and Harry Potter. Both are boy wizards (ragazzi maghi) or magicians.
What also has struck me is how Harry Potter is able to excite the whole younger generation, not only into reading, but into discussing the things in life that matter to them. I was fascinated as I discovered how many websites, podcasts, and blogs are created and carried forward by teens and the very young, all thanks to Harry Potter. Like him, they form part of the hero generation.Now that the course is over, I'll have to sort through all of this. I don't know if I'll ever be able to teach another seminar like this, but it would be interesting to carry the discussion forward.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Sal & Sal return to Arizona
This morning Sal and his son Sal left the UPS to begin their journy home to Tucson. I accompanied them to the train and stayed on for the first three stations, then they carried on toward the airport and I made it back to the university, so I could get into my office before the school day started. They had a nice trip, they told me. I hope all goes well for them on the return trip.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Lots of Walking: Lines and Tourists
These last few days have been busy, but I think the two Sals are enjoying themselves in different ways. They've got some father-son time together too, which is nice. Today we went to see the Vatican Museums. We were standing in line for 45 minutes and then spent over 3 hours roaming through the artifacts until we reached the Sistine Chapel. It was exhausting, but both told me that they enjoyed seeing so much. We had a quick lunch in a trattoria behind the Vatican, did some souvenir hunting, and then got back to the UPS at 3:00 pm. An early day, all and all.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Messages of gratitude
Today is the feast of Mary Help of Christians (Maria Ausiliatrice), and we had a day of celebrations at the UPS that were wonderful. Sal and son went into Rome on their own to do some shopping. I went to concelebrate at the liturgy in the University Parish of Maria della Speranza. Aunt Rose had found her way there, but I did not see her until the end of the mass. She loved it.
Oh, the principal celebrant was Archbishop Angelo Amato, of the Congregation of the Faith. In my student days at the UPS he was professor of systematic theology and then dean of the faculty of theology. It was good to see him, but I didn't have a chance to visit with him personally.
Afterwards there was a picnic lunch in the piazza of the University. We joined the little English-speaking group there under the porticoes and Carlo and Sebastian looked out for my Aunt too. Another thing that she enjoyed was the meal "al fresco" with the young Salesians. It was at about that time that the two Sals joined us, happy with their day of shopping and touring on their own.
In the evening, at the end of the festive meal in our Don Rua community dining room, Aunt Rose wanted to give a message of thanks, and I translated her words for the community:
I arrived as a guest and you have made me family. I came as a visitor and you have made me part of your community. For years my husband and I have supported the Salesian Missions, but I never knew any Salesian other than my nephew. Now I have met you and realize that you represent the Church as missionaries in so many countries. I now have faces to put in front of me when I pray for and help the Salesian mission efforts. Thank you from the heart.
After the meal, we went out into the Piazza hoping to catch a glimpse of the Marian procession, but it got a late start, and our little Boenzi contingent was tired and returned to the university to get some sleep. Rose leaves tomorrow to return to her home in Sacramento.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Lots of Water: Laundry and Fountains
Did laundry in the morning -- and this extended into the afternoon since I could not make large loads. The Sals have a lot of clothes.
Afternoon trip to Rome: Piazza Navona, San Luigi dei Francesi, Giolitti for gelato, Monte Citorio, Trevie Fountain. I told them the story of how, if you throw a coin in the Fontana di Trevie, you will return to Rome. I'd heard the story when I was a kid from a Salesian who had been a student in Rome, Fr Ralph Simeoni. Then the story was told in the movie "Roman Holiday", and that made the practice famous. However, I have since learned that the legend is not from Hollywood but indeed Roman and a very old tradition that goes back at least a couple of centuries.
Well, there were so many people around the fountain that it was impossible to get too close without being attacked by Indian vendors insisting on our buying trinkets. Their pushiness did not matter; being at the fontana is always magic for me, and I saw it was for my engineer of a brother and sometimes-skeptical nephew. But we did not throw in any coins. Sal simply said, "I've already decided to come back to Rome; I don't need to throw in any coins for that."
Monday, May 22, 2006
Quick trip to Acerra
just returned from four days in the hometown of my family outside Naples. I brought my brother and his son to meet our relatives there. Since my brother does not know Italian and the relatives there do not know English, I worked as simultaneous translator throughout the trip. They all enjoyed meeting each other, and soon the language barrier was not such an issue.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Aunt Rose and her trouble walking
It is hard to believe how busy the last three days have been since my Aunt Rose's arrival. We haven't really done a lot of things, but I have spent the days with her and so my usual routine is on hold. Happily my students are working on their papers and do not need input from me.
A serious question is my aunt's health. Yesterday we were in Assisi, and she enjoyed the trip thoroughly. She told me that in her earlier trips she had never been able to visit the Catholic holy places. It was like a pilgrimage for her. However, there were some problems. As soon as we started walking she experienced a swelling in her legs and feet. Is there too much salt in the Italian diet? Of course there is!, but is this the reason for her problem? What will happen when the two Sals arrive tomorrow from Arizona? All our planned travel: will we be able to carry on with that?
Well, we'll play it by ear. Tomorrow I want to bring my Aunt Rose down to St Peter's Square for the Pope's "Regina Coeli" message at noon. I'll see how she manages the transit and the walking. Then, in the afternoon, I will go to Fiumicino on the train and meet my brother and his son at the airport. I hope this "Rome by Transit System" works out for them.
Aunt Rose in Rome
Aunt Rose arrived on Wednesday (10 May). I've been very busy these days taking her around… she is having a hard time with walking and cannot even take more than ten steps going upstairs or uphill. As long as it is just the two of us I can pace things. I don't know what we'll do when Sal and his son arrive. I want Sal's son to have a good time and see things. Well, we'll see how it all develops.
Yesterday we spent the day in Assisi. We took the train from Rome at 8:10 and arrived in Assis at about 10:30. First stop was Our Lady of the Angels, which was easy to get to because on level ground. We caught a mass there at 11:00. Then we took a bus up to Assisi proper. Rose took one look at the road to the basilica of St Francis, and said "no way." We took a cab to the basilica, and saw the crypt and lower church, but she would not go up to the top church (which is a pity because it is the more beautiful of the two). Then we went down hill, found a restaurant and had a little meal, then again downhill to the bus stop, and took the bus to the train station arriving at 3:00. Since there was no train until 5:47, we returned to Our Lady of the Angels and went through the museum, stopped at some of the shops, and then ended the afternoon with some softdrinks in the railway station cafe. The train got us back to Rome at 8:15, and we stopped for Chinese food before entering the university at 10:15.
Rose enjoyed the trip to Assisi very much. Today she joined the Don Rua community for mass and meals and evening prayer. For the most part, however, she simply rested. Tomorrow we'll try St Peter's for the Pope's Angelus message. That'll be a bit of a challenge, but we will see how it goes.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Emanuele and Francesco
Last Friday, 5 May, I met with two "giovani" who frequent the Scientific Lyceum of the FMA in Rome (Via Dalmazia 12). Their names are Emanuele Pelliccia, who is 18, and his classmate Francesco Serafini, who is 19. They are both in their fifth and final year of "Liceo", which would be the equivalent of completion of junior college in USA.
Emanuele, with whom I've been in contact for over two months, can speak English; he had told me that Francesco is even better in English, and Francesco confirmed this.
When I met Emanuele on 8 April, I went over the different programs of the province, and prepared some notes for the two boys, but learning that their timetable was restricted (they must sustain the state-wide examinations in the latter part of June and the first half of July), it was my thought that the best possibility for them would be to help out in the parish and youth centers in Boyle Heights. Mel Trinidad confirmed this, and spoke with Fr Jim Nieblas in this respect. I presented this as the placement option, then, when I met with Emanuele and Francesco last Friday.
Tomorrow I will go to the home of Francesco to meet both sets of parents and to share a bit about what they can expect as volunteers in Los Angeles during the summer.
Salvatore and Alberto
Salvatore Palmiro Boenzi is the son of Alberto and Maddalena. Here he is with his first-born son, Alberto, on Sunday, 7 May 2006.
Alberto was born in July 2005, and is named after his father's father (Alberto Boenzi) who died in 1986. Salvatore is himself an only child, and has married late (at age 40). His wife Marisa, 34, is also from Acerra. Unless they have other children, the Boenzi name may well die out completely in Acerra, where the Boenzi name first appeared in the 1500s. It is the only town in Italy where the name occurs (except for migrations in the very recent past).
But let's leave demographics aside. Albertino is a sweet baby who is easily contented, but who wants above all to be held and cuddled. In this department the parents are wondering how to get him to stay a little by himself. But he is a baby who loves company.
Acerra
Just got back from a weekend in Acerra. The purpose of my quick trip was to arrange for the visit later this month of by brother Sal and his son (also Sal) and my father's sister Rose. I have spoken over the phone with the family and have sent e-mails, but I have long known that with Italians, and with Neapolitans in particular, it is necessary to meet face-to-face to arrange these kinds of visits.
The weekend was quiet, for the most part, and I many spent time with Zia Olga. I also saw my cousin Salvatore Boenzi and his family. There are now only three people named Boenzi who are left in Acerra. Olga, who is 86; Salvatore, who will soon be 43; Alberto, who is 10-months old. This means that in two weeks we will doublt the number of Boenzis in Acerra!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Retreat coming to an end
Our annual retreat comes to an end today. Every morning has been dedicated to a conference and reflection time; every afternoon we visited the different places of the life of Francis de Sales, and had little explanations in the places. Five of my students are on this retreat, and so they know a lot of the details, but they are very happy to see the actual places. However I realize that the vast majority of the Salesians participating in this week have no idea about Francis de Sales. So, between the talks of Fr Morand Wirth and Fr Jozef Strus', I fill in some background for some of the Indians (like, what is the Introduction to the Devout Life, and what are the Calvinists). We are talking some very basic information, because they are really clueless about Francis de Sales (and pretty clueless about Don Bosco too, as I found out in the four short hours that we were in Valdocco). So, I've told them they should come and do the ISS course (yeah, as if!).
Well, I'll be back in Rome overnight: tomorrow I will leave for Slovenia for a week of conferences and such.
Well, I'll be back in Rome overnight: tomorrow I will leave for Slovenia for a week of conferences and such.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Annecy retreat - Thorens and La Roche
Today on the retreat, Fr Morand Wirth led us through the first day according to Part Five of the Devout Life in his morning conference. In the afternoon, we took a tour of the birthplace of St Francis de Sales (Thorens) and the town of La Roche, where he had his early schooling.
Just beside the parish church is a simple monument to St Francis de Sales. It serves as a welcome sign to the town and divides the town's principal street. Among the monuments to Francis de Sales, it is quite simple and, for this reason, also quite lovely.
La Roche is a town of medieval origins, rich in history and significance for Savoy. It is today the tenth city in size and influence in Haute Savoie. It is also the town where Francis de Sales and his three cousins received their primary schooling. The parish church has an onion dome. This is a sign that the townspeople fought with Napoleon in the campaign against Russia. Napoleon lost the war and many in his empire lost their lives, but the onion-dome belltowers still proclaim the heroism of the townspeople. It is, I suppose, a consolation prize.
Thorens - Salesianum: the first stop in the talking tour or retreat pilgrimage was the birthplace of St Francis de Sales. Nothing remains of the original chateau, burned during the 30 years war. Over the site of the place where the master bedroom stood is now a chapel to commemorate the birth of our saint. It is a bit of a disappointment for us, but the best we can have now, 400 years later. It brings home the undrstanding that these placid hills were outraged by generations of wars. So if we could not visit the actual home of the child Francis, at least we can stand on the same spot.Birthplace of St Francis de Sales
Church of Saint Maurice, parish church of Thorens. It is here that Francis de Sales was baptized on 28 August 1567. He chose to be ordained bishop in this same church. This took place on 8 December 1602.Saint Maurice, Thorens
Thorens: Monument to St Francis de Sales
The De Sales Family CastleSalesianum: this is the name of the home of the De Sales Family. It is also known as Chateau De Sales, and it is a real castle. This terrain and structure predates the arrival of the De Sales Family to Thorens. It was orginally a fortress, built to defend the valley from the onslaught of the French. Francis' father and uncle were responsible for this line of defense in the years after Savoy regained its independence in 1559. Francis' younger brother Louis de Sales, also a military man, secured this castle as the family home. After the birthplace of Francis and his brothers and sisters was destroyed by fire during the Thirty-Years War, this became the main residence for the de Sales family, and remained so until just a year ago when the last descendent of Louis de Sales died. His widow has closed it to the public in the past year.
La Roche-sur-Furon
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