Symposium, Mindfulness and Visitations

Today I attended a symposium on Indian philosophy and spirituality - and I was asked to give some feedback from a North American perspective. The symposium was very interesting, with the interventions of Francis Vincent Anthony and Cyril D'Souza. Fr Luiz d'Lima from Brazil gave the feedback from the Latin American perspective. A good number were in attendance.

Professors Luiz d'Lima, Francis Anthony, Joe Boenzi, Cyril D'Souza

As I listened to the usual observations and complaints about pragmatic western culture, I thought that I have been graced to know a contemplative way in the West that is as deep as any in Asian quarters.  Asian mindfulness can learn a thing or too from the Visitation Nuns, and particularly from the "Nunz of the Hood," that is the Visitation community in Northeast Minneapolis.

Visitandine Monastery in NE Minneapolis

Twenty years ago a group of Visitandines from St Louis and St Paul formed a community in the poorest district of Minneapolis. They bought an old house and moved into the neighborhood. They kept up their schedule of prayer but also in their work, they invited their neighbors over for prayer and meals, taught some recipes and gardening. They say that the monastery wall is the wall of fear that surrounds the inner city neighborhood. While they open their house, they also have their time of seclusion and contemplative prayer. When they are ready to welcome guests (particularly the children), the put a windsock on the porch. This is why the Visitandines in Northeast Minneapolis are called the Sisters of the Windsock.

May the house of the Sisters of the Windsock be filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit, so that their hearts and those of their neighbors may overflow with beatitudes and blessings.

Remembering our dead at Genzano

As we have done in previous years, the combined communities of professors from the UPS has gone to the "holy ground" (which is what Italians call the cemetery) in Genzano where the dead of our University have been buried.

Mass for the dead in the cemetery chapel of Genzano

Last year we had a lot of fun with Signor Pio dal Pozzolo, but he kept saying that we would be visiting him this year. In fact, he died on 15 April, and we did in fact remember him today during the mass of suffrage and in visiting the tomb. Signor Pio, ever witting and pragmatic, was Piedmontese. He was born on 27 February 1925 and was a lay Salesian (in English countries he would be called a "Brother", but Salesians in Italy do not use that title).

Signor Pio dal Pozzolo, one year ago, at Genzano

Also, Don Roberto Iaconangeli died in the past year, last 27 December 2009, and therefore since our visit to Genzano. Don Iaconangeli was born in Genzano on 20 April 1916. He was professor of classical languages at the UPS from the beginning of the University, but in the last years had stayed in the Infirmary. It was his family that donated the tomb to the Salesians of the UPS so that we could bury our dead in one area. Tributes were paid to him today in both Italian and Latin.

Mausoleum where University Salesians and Iacoangeli family members are buried in Genzano

Following the blessing, we all went to a pizzeria in town that is owned by a Salesian alum for a bit of a "merenda". I used to think that "merenda" could be translated as "snack", but since our merenda lasted nearly two hours, I am looking for a different term to translate this word. In any case, it was another wonderful occasion to spend time together, tell stories, hear some songs and poetry from those at table, laugh and plot and plan. On the way home on the bus, we prayed the rosary again for the deceased members of our university community and for those of our provinces. 

Reflections on the Rua Congress 1910-2010

John Itzaina will be giving a report to the Salesian Family in California on the Rua Congress, held here in Rome from 28 to 31 October. I've send some photos to Ralph Murphy, and I'll send more, but let me put down a couple of reflections now.

Don Rua nella Storia - 1910-2010: Congresso Internazionale

My first sense is that this is a historiographer's conference, but that the Rector Major wanted this extended to the whole congregation. He put this proposal to Francesco Motto (director of the Institute of Salesian History in Rome) as early as 2005, and since 2006 preparations for this congress have been underway. The historians were a bit miffed, but the majority of delegates were formation counselors or those working in Salesian spirituality and formation.

Over 20 of my students from Rome (from 2005 to 2008) were taking part in this congress, as well as two from the ISS (Yarat and Paul Felix Vernal).

Yarat from Thailand and I talked a lot about Berkeley and Arthur's great breakfasts

Actually, I knew a lot of people present for this congress, and it was good to see old friends and colleagues from past projects.

As I said, the Rector Major really wanted this congress. His concluding conference says it all. He wants Salesians to get away from the clichés about Don Rua that are more dismissive than helpful. Rua is the one who institutionalized the charism and therefore is the one who brought Don Bosco and the Salesians out of the confines of the back alleys of Valdocco and into the forefront of the world…

Well, not all the world… our world has barely heard of Salesian… but this may be the point. As Don Rua found ways to invoke Don Bosco's spirit in new situations and unexperimented venues, so we have the same task today as the world moves into a major culture shift unknown since the defeat of Napoleon. In that sense, we are not too late. If Don Bosco has been "on hold" in English-speaking countries until now, we have the chance to introduce him to a new world, much as Don Rua did as he grew the congregation of 700 Salesians to over 4000 during his two decades of service.

But the Rector Major says it better than I can.