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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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!