Proud of émigrés, and their descendants too

All's well in the mother-land. With the election of Italian-American Bill De Blasio as mayor of NYC, the people here are ecstatic. De Blasio is the first Democrat to win the mayor's seat in New York in 20 years. His folksy yet forceful style has intrigued Italians, and his inter-racial family has, to a large extent, delighted people in Italy where an increase of immigration (both economic and political refugees) from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and poorer areas of Europe, is making Italians confront racial issues for the first time in 152 years.

But that is only part of it. De Blasio is an Italian-American, and he seems to speak with conviction and style. His gestures speak even louder (Italian papers carried photos of him doing his own shopping, and carrying laundry to the laundry mat -- things that the Italian political class would never be caught doing). His election it seems to make up for the Espionage Scandal of last week (what they called the 007 Phone surveillance) and the abduction of two Italians by the Indian government, and the total disarray of the Italian House of Deputies, and the 11% increase in joblessness in central and southern Italy. So everyone was toasting NYC today. As one colleague told me: "Things are so bad here that when an emigrant or the son of Italians abroad does well, we re-adopt him as our own, and have the courage to go forward with a sense of relief that we'll get out of the present difficult time."

Makes me smile, actually.

Bug headaches

We have had very warm weather here in Rome, while parts of Italy are already battling snow storms. It has been so warm here, in fact, that the mosquitoes have taken on a new life and are becoming so strong that they resist the repellents. Between Sunday and Monday, I sprayed my room 4 times, and at night I had to light one of those anti-mosquito coils by my bed. The reason was that I was getting bit so many times during the night by silent mosquitoes, and awakened by the noisy one. Last night it was much better, but I woke up with a headache this morning, probably from breathing in the scent of the bug killers.

Last night it began to rain very hard at about 23.00, and continued until after 7.00 this morning. This afternoon there was a blue sky with cumulous clouds overhead and thunderheads in the distance. Hopefully this rain can bring in some cooler temperatures, and least to put the biting bugs to rest.

Notes delivered today

Classes going well. I've given my students on Francis de Sales two versions of the class notes: one in Italian and one in English. The English version is considerably less than the book: only 16 units. I need to improve the Italian version, but I had to rush to get this to the students, since I arrived only 2 days before classes began. As it is, with the printing etc, they only got the notes today. 

My other two courses got the notes a week ago, but the material is much less in those courses than in Francis de Sales.

Meanwhile, I've decided to design a different FdS course for Berkeley, beginning next year. It will allow me to explore his writings more thoroughly, I hope. My book can be a study to read, but won't be the course outline as it has been up until now.

Dangerous pines

For two weeks now we have been told to stay away from the side road beside the provincial headquarters in the UPS. A number of the tall pines there have shown signs of decay and are in risk of falling. Before the bad weather comes, therefore, the grounds committee here arranged that a number of those pines should be cut down.

Other trees at the entrance of the university itself have been thinned of low-hanging branches, so as not to create more hazards for pedestrians. Some people are concerned that the branches can fall on parked cars. Yes, I'm sure that they can, and the lawsuits would come from the car owners. However, it is more risking for the pedestrians, because when caught in a sudden downpour (as happens during Rome's autumn), people take refuge under trees. Four years ago a couple of teenagers were killed by falling branches in downtown Rome during a sudden storm. The danger is real.

Today is the memorial of Pope John Paul II -- blessed for now, but soon to be canonized. The 22nd of October is the day on which he was installed as Bishop of Rome (1979), after his election on 16 October. Thus, in Rome and in Poland his feast is kept on this day. We remembered him in all the masses on campus today.

As for my own academic load at the UPS, I am teaching three courses this semester. These are all courses in the theology faculty and are entitled Foundations in Don Bosco's Spirituality (3 units); The social, political, cultural and religious context of Don Bosco's environment in Nineteenth Century Italy (2 units); St Francis de Sales: Life and Spirituality (3 units). I've been working on the class notes for my students, such as I can prepare in Italian and English. I have almost completed an Italian version of my book on Francis de Sales, which is now in its second printing at Stella Niagara. That's been exciting.

Catholic bookshops

Earlier today I got in a conversation about Catholic bookshops and religious good stores. This is an interesting topic, I feel, and one of concern since many such shops are struggling to survive at a time when most people can buy what they are looking for online.

Now, I have to say that I am fortunate enough that there is a fantastic bookstore right on the campus of the Salesian Pontifical University where I teach in Rome. That shop is part of a family-run chain that goes back to the days of Leo XIII. But the Leoniana is struggling too, even though the store is usually filled with clients: students, professors, neighbors, leaders from nearby parishes. I go there principally for the books, but there are also religious goods there, and stationery. What has been said about "location, location, location" is certainly at work here, and also quite vital since our campus is quite far from the city center.

At least once a month I travel to the old center of the city to shops run by the Daughters of St Paul or the Salesians to look for and pick up books (catechetics, spirituality, pastoral care); at other times I travel to Borgo Pio to shop at Soprani or Comandini for religious goods (usually when I am looking for gifts). I need to take at least two buses to reach these places, and so I am intentional about these trips.

As others have mentioned, there were more Catholic bookstores and religious goods shops in the past. When I grew up in the 1960s, there were two within the radius of 3 miles of where we lived in southern California, and our parish had a "religious goods and Catholic book shop" open on Sundays in the parish hall from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. I suspect the two local shops made that possible for our parish. Nowadays there is a gentleman who sets up a stall and sells religious goods and catechetical books (all in Spanish) just in the passage way between the church and the hall in that same home-town parish where I grew up. Whenever I am in town I notice that that stall is surrounded by people coming out of mass. This seems to me to be more of a service and an apostolate than a business, but it also shows me that parishioners make use of this service. 

A full day

Raining in Rome -- thunder storms and downpours, which are odd this time of year.

The first semester for the 2013-2014 academic year began today with 3 hours for the new students (9:00 to 12:00). In the afternoon I was the second reader for a thesis at an exam for the license in theology, and later at a 70 minute meeting of all the professors (350 of us) of the university. A full day. Tomorrow, the classes start. 

Book release

My book, Saint Francis de Sales: Life and Spirit, has been released today. Many thanks go to Joanne Kinney and Fr John Graden at DeSales Resources and Ministries for bringing the book through the editing and publishing phases, as well as to Sr Mary Grace McCormack and the Visitation Sisters in St Louis for all they did to host me during the re-editing phase, and for Sr Mary Grace's arduous work in proofing this volume.

The book can be purchased from DeSales Ministries and Resources in Stella Niagara, New York. They have a bookshop on their website.

Salesian initiative day 2

Today we began to formulate a formal statement for what we hope to come from the Salesian initiative. Here is the working draft of the proposal:

North American Salesian Network

The North American Salesian Network is an intentional network of collaboration by Salesian organizations:  

The initial aim of the network is the sharing of talent, resource materials and programs to enhance the training of our members and the accomplishment of our respective missions, ultimately spreading the Gospel in the Salesian tradition. The initial commitment of organizational membership includes participation in an annual gathering, contributions to a collaborative website and sharing of information through social media or an e-newsletter.

The founding group has put together his Vision Statement:

We envision a collaborative effort among our Salesian associations and institutes to empower us in refreshing our North American culture with the spirit of St. Francis de Sales and our Founders.  

We hope to facilitate the sharing of Salesian resources, educational services, technological expertise, vocational efforts and other key ministries that will enable us to touch hearts and "live jesus" across a wider expanse of people.  

Together we enter into the mystery of Christ and help to bring all people to Christ with the strong gentleness and zeal of St. Francis de Sales. 

Salesian Initiative

For the second year, a group of us are gathering at St Paul Retreat House in Detroit to discuss ways of sharing and spreading Salesian spirit in the United States. Those who have come include the Oblates of St Francis de Sales, the Oblate Sisters, the Visitation Sisters (2nd Federation), the Daughters of St Francis de Sales, the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, the Salesian Network, the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

A very interesting group from my educational point of view is a group that has existed since 1988 called the "Salesian Network." This grows out of the experience of the Visitation Sisters in the USA, where they have 5 schools. The "Salesian Network" that facilitates the formation of "minds and hearts through gospel-based teachings" in their schools. I do believe that we Salesians of the San Francisco province would benefit by making contact with this network.

There are many areas in which we can be collaborating, from formation of laity to training of novices, to sharing the Salesian spirit in dioceses and among the unchurched. More ideas will come out tomorrow, no doubt, as our discussions become more direct.

Fatherless

A friend of mine sent me an article that tries to say that we should not worry about the gun culture as much as the fatherless culture in America. In other words, the 20-year-old who shot up Newtown had a father in his life, he might not have become a killer. That sounds like a good ploy for not reforming the broken system that allows anyone and everyone to tote a gun in the USA. Maybe the author is correct.

Don Bosco College Library in 1967

On the other hand, I clearly remember a comment made by Fr Paul Aronica, who was my professor of literature at Don Bosco College, in Newton, New Jersey - way back in my college days at the start of the 1970s. We were studying the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Fr Paul compared the theme of fatherless Huck and fatherless Tom Sawyer to many other fatherless figures in American literature, cinema and television (there was no YouTube in those days). Fr Paul remarked that the United States created a fatherless culture when the merchants and plantation owners gathered in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776 sent a declaration of independence to the King of England. By throwing out the King, they disowned their father, and Unitedstatesians have been disowning their fathers ever since.

Throw out the father and collect guns! these are actually more American than motherhood and apple pie.

Contribution of Arthur Lenti

Chris Woerz has circulated by email to the Salesian Family an article from Chennai that quotes Fr Arthur Lenti abundantly. Chris speaks with pride at seeing our own Fr Lenti quoted by Salesians in another province.

Actually, from my vantage point in Rome, this is not new.  Arthur J. Lenti has become one of the important authors in the Salesian world now. I hear many quoting from his works. In Sicily, after the publication of his great Opus of 7 volumes, some professors have gone back to the Journal of Salesian Studies and have begun to translate some of those vintage articles into Italian. In Spain they describe his writing as scientific, enlightening and inspiring.

In a few days Arthur Lenti will celebrate his 90th birthday. His birthday is actually 31 January, feast of St John Bosco, whose life and work Fr Arthur has made the center of the last 28 years of his work at the ISS. But of course, when Arthur was born in the province of Alessandria, close to Torino, in 1923, Don Bosco was not yet a canonized saint. That canonization would not have come until Arthur was 11 years old. Nor were Salesian Studies his professional interest. Arthur trained at the Biblicum in Rome, and taught Sacred Scripture for many years. He was able, however, to use the biblical scholars techniques in approaching the documents, published and unpublished, around Don Bosco to give us a fresh understanding of the apostle of the young. This certainly accounts for the great wave of enthusiasm throughout the world for his contribution. Chris Woerz is right to be happy! More that that, we are right to want to learn from what Arthur has worked so hard to give us: a clear study of the life and times of St John Bosco so that we can look a the needs of our own times, and then to do what we can on behalf of the young, as Don Bosco would do.

It is good to see this happening. It validates not only the hard work of research and teaching done by Fr Arthur, but the whole purpose of the Institute of Salesian Studies in Berkeley. May the new leaders of the ISS find the resources and backing to move forward.

Traveling again

It is the second day of the new year. I've been with my mother in Bellflower for the holidays, where I could celebrate with family and life-time close friends. It is time now to begin my return trip to Europe, but I will pass five days in Berkeley to prepare for the Spring Term and to see my doctor(s). Well, they are not really "my" doctors, but I'm their patient. Sounds rather pompous to claim that I have a doctor or two really, when the reality is that I have to do what they say, and they don't do what I say.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that I can even claim having students, if that is the criterion. They rarely do what I say and I'm always scurrying to help them come through a semester somehow. No, I don't have my own students, but there are many students who have me as a teacher, or perhaps as an instructor. I don't have a cat or dog either.…… but I don't think anybody can have a cat.

Hmmm, very philosophical, but I've just finished a cup of coffee at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), after going through TSA security. I will be boarding a flight for San Francisco soon, and am happy for the new year, for the avoidance of the fiscal cliff, and for all the good friends in my life, with whom I wish I could spend more time. This week in Bellflower has reminded me how important that really is.