Abundant harvest but few laborers

This morning I spent nearly three hours at the parish, and in addition to confessions, spoke to a lot of people of all ages. The more I get to know the people of this neighborhood, the more I realize how isolated everyone feels. Most are working class, and they came to Rome for work. They have their families, but do not really know their neighbors. They live in high rises, in tiny condominiums, surrounded by people and cut off from those they love. The pressure on families is incredible.

Many come to the parish looking for companionship, social interaction, friends with whom to share, but the parish activities are not really adequate for this, in my opinion. There is an oratory and a youth center, but the quarters are tight and few kids participate. Yes there are prayer groups, the Charismatic Movement, and the Padre Pio groups, but these only isolate lonely people the more (again, in my opinion as I listen to folks). The parish needs a greater outreach, on the human level, into the neighborhood, to state it simply.

But then, the priests are overworked and tired. The young pastoral vicar walks stooped over from a virus that he contracted as a young missionary in Madagascar; the older curate can only take an hour or two in ministry, and then must withdraw because he is exhausted (old age and bad health). The parish priest is taken with administration (there's a lot of it) and fears that he is losing his pastoral touch. It all sounds so familiar, like many parishes back home.

More priests from the University could become involved, both the student priests and the professors, but the parish priest will have to make up his mind in this area. Will he do so? I wonder if he recognizes the problems of the people or sees the needs…

In any case, this too is an area that makes me think that all the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). The solution comes if we let the verse continue.

St Thomas

Celebrating the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas today in a very intellectual way by correcting examinations in the area of theology. Okay, that's not completely true. We had a nice community liturgy this morning, and I was struck by the prayers in Italian as Thomas was described for as someone who always sought the truth while giving himself deeply to the love of God and the love of neighbor. I also heard a little report on Vatican Radio that told of Thomas giving himself to popular preaching throughout Italy (that, in other words, he did not simply remain in the professor's chair in Paris all his life). That was refreshing to hear.

For all of that, I did manage to send off greetings to the faculty members at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT) back in Berkeley.

Yesterday, while researching in the library on a different topic, I found a quotation from Francis de Sales regarding Thomas: "St Thomas is the great star of theology and a model of humility" (Treatise, book 10, chap. 16). Now that is really wonderful imagery!

The exams begin

Today the examination session begins at the Salesian Pontifical University for the conclusion of the Fall Term. It goes forward for the next two weeks, mainly with oral examinations.

In the corridor outside my office there are about 30 MDV students busily reviewing as they wait their turns for oral exams in Christology (with a prof from Guadalajara whose office is next to mine) and Wisdom Literature (with a prof from Naples whose office is across from mine). The hallway is vibrating with young voices, almost like a scene out of Harry Potter. Everytime someone comes out, the gang of waiting students descends on him or her with questions: "how was it? whadde ask? howdya do on it?" Then, silence and nerves… and frequent runs to the bathroom at the end of the hall. Ah, the happy memories of exam periods (I my student days I used to lose 10 pounds during that period every year for the fear).

My own students have already completed their requirements with weekly group work and a reflection paper at the end of term. Most are happy with that, but two Italians want to come and give an oral exam as well, because they have never done a written paper as an exam before. Amazing.

Feast of Francis de Sales

Today, the 24th of January, is the feast of Francis de Sales. We had a festive mass this morning in community, and now all the students of the UPS are getting in one last day of cramming before exams start tomorrow. I presided at our community liturgy and invoked the memory of Francis' student years in Padua: "I studied law to please my father, and theology to please myself". Since we have people studying canon law, education and theology in our house, I figured that covered everyone. Hopefully, they are embracing today what Francis called the Eighth Sacrament: study!

The offer

Well this morning it came: the offer. I was working on preparing the list for the semester exams when the dean called me in his office "for a moment". He asked me to seriously consider joining the faculty of the UPS on a full-time basis. He told me that the general council really is looking toward India for the next center of Salesian spirituality, and therefore that Berkeley will get scant support. On the other hand, the provinces outside of India would continue to send people to Rome and to the UPS. In terms of people who are fully trained and fluent in Salesian Spirituality, there are only two, the dean said, who are "working age": Aldo Giraudo and myself.

Will my California province have a plan to sustain the center for Salesian studies ad Don Bosco Hall in as part of the GTU in Berkeley? Or is the dean of the theology school here correct when he says that our center is finished in terms of being able to offer programs to Salesian Religious? "Let Berkeley develop programs for laity: the future is there," he said, "but your future is here".

Hmm… I knew this was coming, but I'm a little surprised by it all the same.

Rain again -- and ideas for my research

I overslept -- and this made me think that there had been a change in the barometric pressure… and sure enough, when I woke up at 6:40, I went to the window, lifted the shutters, and saw that it had rained slightly in the night. I rushed and made it for morning prayers at 7.00 (well, I got there at 7.07).

After mass and breakfast, I made my way to the theology building and my office, stopping first for a bit of research in the library. By 10.00 it was raining again. However, I used much of the morning to confer with other professors: Giuseppe Costa of "Social Communications", Aldo Giraudo of "Centro Studi don Bosco", Morand Wirth on the topic of the Francis de Sales Retreat that will be held in Annecy next April, and Mario Cimosa of "Bible and Liturgy" on the use of PowerPoint in my next class.

In other words, I have not accomplished anything this morning, but I've learned a lot in these conversations, all of which makes me consider how I'm going to approach my research and book project in the next couple of months.

Embassy event

Mario Toso, who is rector magnificus of the Salesian University (and a schoolmate of mine from my undergrad theology days in Torino) asked me to represent him and the University at a conference and reception sponsored and hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. He asked me ten days ago (which explains why my stomach has been upset for the last week). Well, the event was this afternoon.

The lecture and rection was meant to celebrate the 40th anniversary of «Dignitatis Humanae», the declaration on religious liberty issued by the Second Vatican Council and promulgated on 7 December 1965. The speakers were Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (archbishop of Washington), the Honorable James Towey (director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives), and Dr Scott Appleby (director of the Joan B Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame). The distinguished panel was introduced by Ambassador Francis Rooney.

The Ambassador is a rookie: he's only been on the job since 15 November. He's got a double law degree from Georgetown, and has all the enthusiasm of a southern Catholic.

I was nervous about going. I mean, the dignitaries of the US State Department are not my crowd. When I got to the «Centro Studi Americani» where the event was hosted, I became even more nervous. The place was filled with black-suited American clergy. Yes, I had on my best suit and clericals, but I felt so out of place in that crowd, that my stomach began to weaken again… so I smiled, said hello to the embassy officials, and the few padres who looked my way, and then took the program and notes and found a place in the audience. I read all the materials in the ten minutes before the program got underway.

The lectures went overtime (so, it is not only an Italian thing, eh?), and afterwards I went to greet the Ambassador on behalf of Mario Toso (the Ambassador had a blank look when I said Salesian, so it just shows you how important this representation was), and then spoke with Cardinal McCarrick. Yes, he brightened up when I said Don Bosco. He's very happy with the progress made by Steve Schenk and the Salesians in DC. His words at the end to me made the night worth it.

I had to walk 8 blocks to get to the bus stop, and as I waited for the 60, I saw the Augustinian Sisters arrive -- the junior sisters who take classes in the city. I recognized them immediately after the 11 days I spent celebrating mass for them during Christmas time. We had a nice chat as we waited for the bus, and for the first five stops… This too made the lecture much more enjoyable for me. And then I got off the 60, caught the 90, and got back to the UPS before the sidewalks were completely rolled up.

Oh? and the content of the lecture? I expect someone will publish it soon. If they do, I'll put in links.

Archival dust

In between getting Italian text for my next class on Francis de Sales, I've been hunting facts on early editions of the "Spiritual Conferences" after receiving an e-mail from a collector of rare books over the weekend. This led me to talk with Aldo Giraudo, a scholar from Torino, who happens to have some rare books in his possession, including a 1669 edition of the "opere complete" of Francis de Sales published in Venice. He gave me some leads with regard to the early Salesians and their knowledge of the saint's writings, but also told me that the Salesians at the motherhouse have sealed off the original library so that it is impossible, at the present moment, to have any access. Just what we need: sealed archives!

But the leads are good, and I'll pick up on them after the semester ends and I've got some time. Meanwhile, my students started to hand in their work today. It is time to read and correct and enter grades!

Finally Friday

Seemed like a long week, but we are finally at the end of the first week back after Christmas holidays. There are just a few more days of lessons, and then the examination period begins… but not before a whole series of faculty meetings! The language has changed for me this year, but the routine has not.

Epiphany and the cousins

Last Saturday the Nuzzo Cousins (that is, all the family on my mother's side) got together to celebrate the end of the Christmas festivities with an Epiphany Party. It was my cousin Paula Nuzzo Radosevich who started this yearly Cousins' gathering in 2002 as sort of a substitute for the Christmas Eve gatherings that were celebrated either at our grandparents' home or at our (Boenzi) house. But, after the death of our grandfather, Salvatore Nuzzo, in 1990, which coincided with the beginning of my father's decline in health, the Christmas Eve celebrations were taken over in local units.

Okay, well to cut to the quick, the cousins and the children of the cousins, and of course the aunties too, all got together at Paula and Ken's home in Temecula. Between yesterday and today my cousins have been sending me photos by e-mail because, as it turns out, I was one of the few not to be able to be present.

So here is a photo of my two nieces, Teresa and Angela Boenzi. And from the e-mail messages coming in from all the enthused cousins, plans are already being made for Epiphany 2007. It must have been quite a happy party! It all points to the irreplaceable value of family and , thank God, our family is extended and crazy and close -- very close. Viva la famiglia!

At the University Press

For the better part of the morning I worked on a manuscript that Fr Lenti sent from Berkeley, and then went to the LAS (the University Press of the UPS), and met with the editor, don Niccolò Sufi. With the corrections, they'll be able to prepare Fr Lenti's work for publishing, possibly in March. That would be great.

Now I need to find a publisher for my book proposal… «Francis de Sales: Story and Spirit». My manuscript is complete in the first draft. I'll let it set for a week, and then try to take it to a conclusion. If I can do this, then my time in Rome will not have been wasted.

Back to school

Well, here we are, Monday… and almost everyone has returned to the Don Rua community, and to the university for the resumption of class and work. Most folks are pretty upbeat, and it is good to see the place teaming with students and teachers again. When I walked from the library to the bookstore, I passed a lot of groups of young women, all of whom spoke loudly as they held their cigarettes in their hands… the topic was, invariably, il mio ragazzo -- their boyfriends. The groups of guys spoke less loudly, but by their gestures they seemed to be talking about great adventures, trips, sports (and not la mia ragazza).

Most of the morning I spent between my office and the library as I prepared the last set of notes for my classes this semester. I've brought them to the copy shop, and Signor Bertello told me that the notes should be ready by the end of the day. I also went to the libreria (the book shop) and picked up my pre-ordered copy of Harry Potter e il Principe Mezzosangue. It just became available on 6 January, day of the Befana… but of course the shops have been closed since Thursday for the Epiphany weekend. But I was not so desparate, since I've read the book in the original version. It will feature as part of the course I teach second semester.

Ah -- school days.

Shadow

The morning after the Epiphany: the sun is brilliant! and it is +1° Celsius.

With this bright sunshine, I was struck by a little story that I heard today on early morning Vatican Radio. The story, the announcer said, comes from Germany…

Once there was a young man who became very irritated by his shadow. Everywhere he went, his shadow followed him. Finally, he became so agitated that he decided he was going to run away from his shadow. Without warning, then, he took off at a sprint! but his shadow followed him. In fact, the faster he ran, the faster his shadow followed! He became obsessed: he stopped eating; he stopped talking; he stopped drinking… he only ran and ran and ran, but his shadowed followed and followed and followed. Finally, exhausted by so much running, the young man collapsed and died.

Poor boy! If only he had just gone and sat in the shade of the huge tree that grew in his garden, he would have lost his shadow, but he never thought of it.

Work and activity do not let us lose our shadows: they follow us everywhere we go, the announcer on Vatican Radio explained this morning. The only way to deal with our shadows is through a contemplative life.

L'Epifania tutte le feste spazza via

Epiphany dawned clear and slightly warmer in Rome. The blue sky boosted everyone's spirits. I spent a good part of the morning in the parish church of Maria della Speranza, helping with the sacramental ministry. It really feels like Sunday… but of course, in Italy "le feste" or the "holy days" are always "holidays" too.

Through the course of the morning I had the opportunity to speak with a lot of different folks of all ages at church. Many are Romans, but most are transplants from the south of Italy. In any case, Epiphany seems to be a feast day that is felt strongly here, even more than New Year's, and secondly only to Christmas.

At all the masses in Italy today a prayer-announcement is added after the Gospel. We don't really do this in California, but I remember it from other years of living in Italy. With the Epiphany the Church calls the faithful to note the important celebrations of the Liturgical Year ahead based on the date of Easter. This is how the Announcement is worded:

Announcement of the Day of Easter

Dearest brothers and sisters, the joy of the Lord is made manifest and will always manifest itself in our midst until the day of his return. In the rhythm and events of time we remember and we live the mysteries of salvation. The center of the entire liturgical year is the Triduum of the Lord crucified, buried and risen, that will culminate on Easter Sunday, on 16 April. On every Suday, the Easter of the week, the holy Church makes this great event present as Christ has conquered sin and death. All the other holy days spring from Easter: Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, on 1 March; the Ascension of the Lord, on 28 May; Pentecost, on 4 June; the first Sunday of Advent, on 3 December. Even the feasts of the holy Mother of God, of the Apostles, of the saints and in the commemoration of the faithful departed, the pilgrim Church on earth proclaims the Passover of the Lord. To Christ who was, who is, and who is coming, Lord of time and history, be everlasting praise forever and ever.
All: Amen.

Break from the rain

The rain has finally stopped -- or maybe a little. There is a bit of a sky at the horizon, though there are storm clouds overhead. A group of teenagers and university kids have just taken to the sports field on campus. After 20 days of heavy downpours, the chance to get out and play a game of football (soccer) must be wonderful for these "giovanissimi". In the distance, beyond the football pitch, I can see the snowcapped mountains, and the breeze is very cold, but thankly dry. And the sight of nature's beauty and the young at play gives this old researcher a boost as well!

Quiet beginnings

Last night I joined a group of Latin Americans from my «Don Rua Community» for pizza and fellowship to bid farewell to 2005 and welcome 2006. The only problem was that the pizzeria put out a special menu for New Year's Eve with all Rome's traditional plates for the "Cenone di San Silvestro" -- St Sylvester's Supper, as they call the "big feed" on New Year's Eve. So instead of spending 4 euros each, we spent 41 euros… Oh well, that means a few less parties in January…

On the way back to the University it began to drizzle. Interestingly enough, there were no buses. This is the opposite practice of what is done in San Francisco where all the buses and trains are operational and are free to avoid putting people at risk of drunk-drivers of New Year's Eve. Our only option, then, was to walk. The streets were vacant, and our half-hour hike was punctuated by the sounds of fire crackers. Children were on the balconies of the apartments waiting anxiously for the new year -- and invariably they would call out to us and wave, shouting "Buon Anno". We greeted them back. Jorge (from Uruguay) made the comment that the children Rome are still friendly and human (he must be having a rough time with Romans).

We were back at the University at 11:45, and joined a group from the «Don Bosco Community» in the foyer of our two communities. We contributed a bottle of champagne and at midnight we toasted, embraced, said our greetings in Italian, Spanish, English… and Polish… and then sipped our champagne in the doorway as we watched the neighbors shoot off flares and fireworks from their balcony. Before the air could fill with smoke, there was another downpour which continued all the way until morning.

Morning… ah, very mellow, with lots of little conversations, visitings, catching up. After the explosions of fireworks (and probably firearms) all night, the year got off to a quiet beginning… in the rain.