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. 

Duty to pray for the dead - visit to Genzano

Even though I have four courses to teach this semester, and these take a lion's share of my time, I've decided that I'm going to do what I can and then relax. Today I went with a group of professors to visit the "holy ground" (campo santo - cemetery) in the hill town of Genzano outside Rome. Over 30 deceased members from our university community are buried. My schoolmate from theology, Mario Toso, recently named archbishop for the Pontifical Commission of Peace and Justice, presided at the Eucharist and gave the homily (Italian cemeteries usually have a chapel on the grounds, and it is very common that people gather there for masses on the anniversary of the death of their loved ones, and in particular during the month of November). The liturgy was simple and heartfelt and quite moving really.

Following the mass, we went to the actual mausoleum where the Salesians are buried. There we were led in a prayer for our brothers and a blessing of their resting place. We then spent some time visiting tombs of some of the family members of Salesians. A group of townspeople joined us, as with 40 priests in albs and purple stoles, we could not be missed.

From the campo santo, we went down the road and into the heart of the town where we stopped on via Fratelli Cervi 33, at Ristorante Pizzeria Bernoni, owned by a Salesian past pupil from Genzano. There we gathered for a meal together and to enjoy the company of one another. The organizers of the day called this a merenda (a light snack), but it had all the makings of a dinner of appetizers, with prosciutto, salami, roasted zucchini and egg plant, mortadella, chestnuts (traditional for All Souls Day and commemorations in November) and two incredible wines from the Roman hills.

Professors and University Staff enjoy All Souls Day Merenda

Another banquet feature were the words of welcome at the beginning from the organizers and the restaurant owner, who told of his boyhood days with the Salesians in Genzano and how he and his school mates used to celebrate All Souls Day with a hike to the cemetery and a meal of cold cuts and chestnuts. At the end there were words of thanks by the provinical superior and the applause of allthe participants. In fact, we were gathered from five different communities of professors and student-priests and normally we do not have a lot of community time together. So this was a great moment of fellowship.