Rome is enjoying rainy weather these days, but every so often the wind blows the clouds out to sea and this gives the Eternal City a couple of hours of respite.
That was the story this morning. I awoke to a brilliantly blue sky, but clouds were moving in to cover the heavens as I moved to the university church for the 11.45 feast-day liturgy… and by the time we came out of the services at 13.00, it was raining.
All the communities at the UPS, of Salesians and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, came together to celebrate. Even those from the infirmary joined in the one Eucharist. Presiding at the concelebrated mass was Fr José Luis Placencia, director of the deacon's community San Tommaso. His homily linked the scriptures with the concerns of youth today in a way that invited me to reflect more deeply on contemporary situations and their significance. Fr Mario Llanos directed the music and singing - there was good participation throughout.
After the mass there was a reception for all the communities in the hallways leading to the dining facilities. The fare was simple but nicely presented, and the whole point of this was to get the Salesians of the different communities to mingle and chat a bit. The festive dinner came next, with each community celebrating in its own dining room as usual. Almost everyone dressed up for the occasion, and the meal went slowly allowing for good conversation. All told, there was a family feel to this feast of Mary Immaculate.
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