Special Sunday in Rome

Tutti in piazza!

Well, that was a shout that I used to hear in the 1970s, and it was political. It means literally "Everybody in the plaza," but this should be translated roughly, "Everyone get out into the streets!" This shout always had a political edge to it. It was a call to the young people to protest.

Today everybody got out into the plaza - St Peter's Square - to protest the treatment against the pope by the folks at the Sapienza. The piazza was full; via della Conciliazione was full… it was amazing to see! People came from all parts of Italy, north and south. Mayors hired buses to bring citizens; university students from all over were there in solidarity.

I was of half a mind to go down to Piazza S. Pietro to participate, and the weather itself was more than encouraging. The sun rose while we were at Sunday Mass, welcomed by a clear blue sky. There was news that there were buses from every part of the republic, and I could just imagine how crowded the metro would be, seeing that every Sunday there are thousands who already pack public transit to get to the Angelus of the pope in Piazza S. Pietro. So I listened to the morning broadcasts of Vatican Radio, and then at noon joined about 20 other Salesians to watch the television broadcast on RAI.

Pope Benedict gave a wonderful discourse for the Christian Unity Octave, and did not mention the University or the protests at all in his prepared statement. He noted that the Christian Unity Octave started a year ago, at the initiative of Fr Paul Watson, who founded a community in the Franciscan spirit for the Unity of the Church in England. These are the friars and sisters of the Atonement, who have a wonderful history. "The evangelizing mission of the Church," the pope said, "passes along the path of ecumenism, the path of unity of faith, of gospel witness and authentic brotherhood and sisterhood."

Then he led the Angelus prayer in Latin. The television cameras, however, kept panning the crowd. I remember the first Easter of John Paul II there were crowds all the way to the Tiber: today it seemed to me to be more people. Many young people from the Sapienza, and from all manner of schools and universities, all with banners and flags.

And so, after the prayer, the pope then spoke to the young people of the hot topic of the invitation and the protest and of his decision not to go to the Sapienza. He spoke, he said, as a "professor emeritus", urging the young to seek always the truth and to do all to protect the liberty of conscience of every person. His tone was conversational, but the words were profound. Very moving.

There is a text of his words posted on the Vatican website, but I realize that Benedict XVI actually spoke the words after the Angelus more spontaneously, and not everything is recorded… For instance, he said that he had dedicated time after Christmas to write his address to the unviersity, and he had done so with enthusiasm. This does not show up in the text printed on the Vatican website. Still, it gives you an idea of what was said.

Later in the afternoon there was a special mass at the Gesù that some of our students attended. This was to celebrate the election of the new Jesuit general: Adolfo Nicolas. He is a Spaniard who studied at the Gregoriana and who has been a missionary in Japan. He was elected yesterday at the General Congregation of the Jesuits, and is 71 years old. He is a European who brings an Asian perspective.

A number of our Japanese Salesians have had him as their spiritual director. Among these is our UPS student Naoki Tsujihe, who has frequented my courses this term in Salesian spirituality. Naoki attended the thanksgiving mass of Fr "Nico", as they call him in Japan. I am told that he works very closely with the Salesians in Japan to publish books aimed at the education of young people. Many of the young in Japan call him "Jinkaku-sha", which means "Man of Character". This shows very high regard in Japan.

Isn't that nice news!

End-of-term: Pointers for defending defending a Masters Thesis

Today is the last day of classes at the UPS. Most of the morning I spent working on class files, meeting students, correcting papers, and trying to get through e-mail with people at the DSPT in Berkeley.

All of this reminds me that I am living between two worlds as I prepare to return to Berkeley. And immediately on my return I will participate in a few important events. First is the launch of Arthur Lenti's book series on Don Bosco, 25 January. On 30 January one of my students, Larry King, will defend his MA thesis.

Larry and I have been in e-mail contact this whole time, and I have worked on corrections, sending him comments and observations with various emails and attachments. Today the exam has been scheduled (or will be scheduled as soon as people in California get in to work) for 20 January.

With all of this, I forgot that the thesis defense in Berkeley tends to be without an audience. In Rome everyone goes to the defense and so students learn what to expect. Professors too see how others do it, and so the thesis examination becomes a ritual of sorts.

How should a Master/Licentiate candidate prepare for his or her defense?

From my experience I tell my own students the following:

1) Write out a defense statement to present at the opening of the examination. Take your words from the introduction that you have written, and from the conclusion. In other words, tell us your original hypothesis, explain how you had planned to study this theme (introduction), then tell us what you discovered in the course of your study (conclusion), what have been the limits of the paper (conclusion), what are areas to promote for further study (conclusion), and finally restate your original hypothesis now as a proven thesis statement.

2) When you have put this paper together from your introduction and conclusion, streamline it to be no more than three pages, double-spaced. Reading this aloud should come to 9 minutes in time (Remember the rule of thumb: 7 pages = 20 minutes; for your doctoral defense you'll want to put together 7 pages or a 20-minute statement).

3) Some candidate make a print-out of this presentation, which they then give to the professors on the panel and to any others who may be in attendance. On this packet of pages, the candidate may wish to add any errors that you might have noted in your printout, with the appropriate corrections. Also, you can add your thankyous and acknowledements here as well.

4) After you have offered your opening statement, each of the professors on your panel will have 10 minutes to ask you questions (20 if we are doing your doctoral defense). Have your thesis open in front of you and bring along paper and pens for taking notes. As the professor asks you a question, write down the main points of his or her question on your note paper. In this way you will not forget the several points of the question (we professor-types tend to be complicated when we ask questions). This will also allow you a moment to collect your thoughts and then to speak clearly as you respond the each question point-by-point.

5) Do not hesitate to open your thesis and use what you have written there to respond to a question if you see that this will help. This is, after all, a defense of a thesis and not simply an oral examination. You can use your written work to your advantage.

6) Remember, in the last analysis, that you are defending your written work -- your thesis -- and not defending yourself. In other words, do not feel that there is an attack on you or on your ideas taking place. Accept observations gracefully, and corrections gratefully. Modesty and competence go together, after all. Once this examination is completed, there you will have time to make any corrections needed before making the final printout.

These are my suggestions. But don't take my word on this. There are great guides written in so many "how to" books designed for graduate students. I am sure you'll find much better recommendations there.

[Photos: 1) Students in my Francis de Sales class fill out the class evaluation forms on 16 January 2008; 2) Larry King and Ed Hopfner at DSPT on 19 September 2007; 3) John Roche defends his thesis on 18 June 2007]

Loud protests

The news in the city of Roma today (or rather, in these days) has been the loud protests on the part of some professors and some students at the Roman university called La Sapienza (the Wisdom) against Pope Benedict XVI. The rector magnificus of the university invited the pope to come and speak at the university for the beginning of the academic year, which is tomorrow. However, the protests have been loud and angry on the part of a handful who make all sorts of accusations against the Church, against "Joseph Ratzinger" as a person, against… From what I see in the US press, it would sound like all the University is against the visit. This is not true. There are very few, but they are also very vocal. And they seem to mouth the same rhetoric that has been going on for years from the extreme secularist parties who are called "laicist" here in Italy. When I hear their arguments against Papa Ratzinger, I wonder whether they have ever heard anything he has ever said.

Arguments? No let me rephrase that: diatribes. They are crude and vulgar, calling the pope a "scarecrow" and insisting on the supremacy of Reason. Really? Since when does Reason mouth crudities and insults in order to convince?

Since when? Since the French Revolution. The language of the protesters at the Sapienza sounds more like the partisan rage of the 1800s liberal radicals than something we would expect to hear in the 21st Century.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, made an announcement yesterday: given the present climate at the Sapienza, the pope has advised the rector magnificus that he will not be coming to the university tomorrow. This is to avoid putting any of the students at risk, said Bertone. However, the pope will send to the rector a copy of the discourse that he has prepared for the occasion.

Cardinal Bertone made the statement yesterday; it hit all the news media today, and has made a big impression, not only in Rome but throughout Italy.

A victory for the Left? A victory for liberty? All this is being said (more like ranted) by those on the extreme anti-clerical end of Italian society. However, other voices are being heard now as well. What will develop? We'll see tomorrow.

For my part, today I finished teaching the final classes in two subjects: Spirituality of Francis de Sales and Themes in Salesian Spirituality. Now I need to correct all the papers before heading back to Berkeley, a week from today.

Room with a view

Last night I moved all my belongings across the hall, from room 106 to room 126. This morning when I woke up I realized that I had finally gotten a "room with a view. My window opens up on the plaza garden at the entrance to the university. It is very nice… I spent a moment enjoying the view after completing my two hour lecture on Francis de Sales and Don Bosco with my grad students. That class finished at 10.20 -- and I have spent the intervening time putting things away in this room. Tomorrow I will have three more classes: the conclusion in one period of Francis de Sales, and the conclusion in two hours of the Salesianity course.

All this means that I need to get back to working on those final preparations.

Plumbing problems

Over this weekend I had opted to work in my bedroom instead of in my office. I noticed that the shower continues to leak, and from the wet marks on the wall in the bedroom, my hunch is that the pipe is broken inside the wall.

I had reported this in early December, but the maintenance staff thought that it was the cracks between the tiles, and had put in another layer of grout. Of course, I would shower in the morning and leave the room by 6.25 not to return until 20.30 in the evening. I never saw the wetness in the wall, therefore, because by that late hour the wall was dry. The plaster continued to peel, but the maintenance staff said that this would happened, so I did not suspect anything.

Okay - so I reported this to Fr Giuseppe Corò, who works in the financial offices and is in charge of hospitality and plant management. He gave me a key to another room across the hall. Since I had to teach a double period this afternoon, I did not have time to make the move… I'll do it now and sleep in the new room.

Hmmm… An in Berkeley before I came away to Rome there was a leak from the shower in the wall of my bathroom too. If there were an insignia for such an occurrence, I could make a logo and put it on my letterhead.

Happy Beginning

New Year's Day, 2008. We celebrated the liturgy all together at 11.00. The morning was glorious with blue skies and fresh air! Dinner in traditional style for new years, with lentils … and everyone speaking of the pope's new year message for peace…

It is a day for visiting and chatting. There are lots of smiles all around.

May this new year that is about to visit us, this 2008, bring a season of renewed trust and profound hope that will cause us to keep on smiling.

Happy Ending and Happy Beginning

After four days in Tivoli, I spent this final day of the year catching up on e-mail, correcting student papers, doing laundry, chatting with friends …

The celebration for the end of the year here at the UPS have been joyful but also a little low-key. Many are still away, of course. We had an evening prayer together with all the Salesians of the vice-province who are still here -- a thanksgiving for the year, and a remembrance of the blessings of these months that have been called 2007. Don Giuseppe Nicolussi, superior of the University province, presided over this prayer vigil.

As we did through the month of November, we also made remembrance of the Salesians of the UPS province who died during the past 12 months. In fact, seven Salesians died here in 2007:

Don Paolo Natali, former regional of Italy and councilor for formation who served as provinical superior from 1990 to 1993, until he became debilitated with parkinsons, died on 30 December 2006 at age 81.

Signor Cristoforo Catalanotto, lay Salesian from Southern Italy who worked in the library of the UPS during my student years, and who always impressed me for his warmth and humanity, died on 22 April 2007 at age 82.

Don Pietro Stella, foremost scholar of Don Bosco for the entire Salesian world, professor of history at Rome's Sapienza University, native of Sicily and conversant in Piedmontese, and perhaps the authority on Jansenism in these last years, died here at the UPS on 1 June 2007 and age 76.

Don Giovanni Bosco Shirieda, Japanese Salesian priest who met the Salesians as a boy during World War II, and converted to Christianity thanks to their example. He came to the UPS in the 1990s as the university strengthened relations with the arts and business communities of Japan, but suffered from Alzheimers, and so looked much older than his years. He died on 10 June 2007 at age 75.

Don Sergio Felici, once dean of the School of Latin and Classical Languages, was well known among all the students because he used to organize the Italian classes for new foreign students and the orientation experiences at the start of the academic years. He remained active after retirement and in spite of weakening health. On the day that Don Stella died, Don Sergio showed signs of very low blood pressure, and was taken to hospital. He died on 13 June 2007 at age 81.

Signor Luciano Nocera was financial administrator for the community of the deacons, San Tommaso, and worked in the the financial offices of the University as well. Signor Luciano was cordial and welcoming, a joyful presence among the students, always ready to assist them in any of their needs. He was also a wonderful team player, both with the staff members of the San Tommaso Community, and with those who worked in the University administration. Signor Luciano died very suddenly of a heart attack on 15 September 2007 at age 69.

Signor Mirto Robuschi became a Salesian with the hope of working in the missions, but spent most of his life working in international communities within Italy. From the beginning of the UPS he worked as part of the financial and maintenance team, and continued long after his official retirement. He died suddenly on 13 October 2007 at age 81 (he was born on Christmas Day 1925).

So, remembering our dead, our prayer moved to thanksgiving for the year of 2007 with a Te Deum, and a prayer for effective peace in 2008…

After the prayer, we gathered for a festive New Year's Eve dinner, according to the southern Italian tradition, with fish of every sort, and nuts, and cheese, and lemon salads… and a lot of noise.

Addio, 2007! When all is said and done, we enjoyed your visit!

Tivoli - hope among the poor

Offering the input for these days of ongoing formation among the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart have afforded me the opportunity to read and reflect on Pope Benedict XVI's second encyclical, Spe Salvi. It is the theme that the sisters have wanted me to expound for them. I would have read the encyclical very quickly, but because of this I have had to spend time with it. It is simply written and invites meditation.

These days in Tivoli have been wonderful for me, and while I have been giving input to the sisters, it is I rather than they who have benefited most from these days. I was thinking this morning, during the mass as we prayed the psalms, that this has been a beautiful way to celebrate the days of Christmas.

During dinner yesterday, on of the oldest sisters, Sr Pia, came up to Sr Graziella and whispered something in her ear. At that point, Sr Graziella smiled and stood to make the announcement, to the effect that it was getting late for the baby Jesus so Sr Pia would sing him a lullaby. At that moment, Sr Pia (who is 92) pulled out the figure of the infant Jesus from beneath her apron -- it was the figure from the manger scene at the entrance of the chapel. She held the doll as if it were the baby, and gently rocked it while singing a Christmas lullaby. The rest of the sisters smiled or laughed (the laughs that come from joy not ridicule) and Sr Pia went through all the verses. At the final verse, all the women joined in with her to sing.

Yesterday and the day before as well, many sisters came to me to make their "end of the year confession," as they said. In the course of the conversations, they all spoke of the calling to live among the people of the little forgotten towns and to help in the most disorganized and poorest of the parishes. "Monsignor Cognata founded us for this," they told me. In fact, most of their houses are in the most hidden towns of southern Italy. They also have houses in northern Italy, but again, these are in the towns and not in the big urban centers. They are also in 6 different towns of Bolivia, which is the poorest country in Latin America. They live Salesian spirit in their total availability to the poor people and the poor Church. They work with families with few resources to help parents to educate their children, and they totally refuse any help from agencies that might be involved with the power structures (which in southern Italy have been tainted by corruption for a couple of centuries).

So today, my conference was a summary of the action steps for hope as found in Benedict XVI's encyclical, Spe Salvi. I was able to cover the chapters on prayer in that encyclical, so it followed well from the presentations of yesterday on Prayer in the Salesian tradition. I was very nervous about today's presentation, but the sisters responded during the discussion period with a lot of practical applications from their own community, from Bishop Cognata, and from their Salesian style. It all worked out well to conclude the series of conferences.

Afterwards, I head a couple of more confessions, then spoke with several older sisters in the house are are based precisely in this community. We spoke too of vocations. It seems that they have a number of young women who come and help out as volunteers for a while and these look at joining the community. The way of life is strenuous, the superior told me. "When you work with the poor," she told me, "you time is not your own. You are always on call. This is what surprises many of the young adults who come to us. They want to help, but they have a hard time with the constant demands."

Several of the other sisters confirmed this. "Still, there is a great joy in knowing you can make a contribution to give people hope," one of the sisters told me. "This is what it is all about: Spe Salvi - Hope will save us."

Wow! Sacred Scripture (and encyclical) in action!

I packed and walked about the old town, taking some photographs. We had dinner at 13.00, with some more singing and poems - also ways that in the Salesian tradition we used to conclude retreats. I remember as a young cleric that we used to do this too - but now we no longer celebrate at the final meal in my California province. At the meals I sat beside the mother general, and with the general councilors -- so I had a lot of questions and they schooled me along in the spirit of their institute.

Following dinner, there were the prayers in chapel and a few minutes to rest. I was able to spend a few more minutes with Sr Carmelina Mosca, the Mother General, who took me around the garden and day care center -- in an area of the compound that the sisters only recently acquired. From there we looked out on the town, she showed me the old paper mills that were abandoned when the economy went south, and spoke of the great history of Tivoli and of the great hopes for the future even during these last years of economic crises. And I was able to take her photo (here she is the children's garden).

When we left the garden, I was able to thank so many of the sisters for the days spent with them. We then loaded up cars and vans, and at 16.00 Sr Graziella was driving a group of us out of the courtyard to the road back to Rome…

It was dark by the time we pulled into the UPS, and made my way to my room to upload these reflections into the blog. Much more is going through my head at the moment and so perhaps I will revisit this theme in my entries. I have a few days to think of all these experiences now.

Tivoli - learning about the Oblate Salesians

Today the days of ongoing formation continued with an easy timetable, which allowed all the sisters ot spend time together… and for me to get the talks in good order. After each talk there were sisters who came for confession… yesterday and today. That meant I needed to stay up later last night to make sure all was in order.

Besides the homily at Lauds and the longer homily at Eucharist, I again gave two conferences today: one in the morning at 10.00 and the other at 16.30 in the afternoon. The morning conference centered on Humility and Hope, Loving the Lord: Reflections of Francis de Sales on Prayer. This is material that I had developed earlier for other groups, but I redesigned it to work with the Sisters here and this occasion. The afternoon talk continued, looking at Characteristics of Salesian Prayer as an apostolic tradition. This allowed me to bring in some reflections of Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello, Francis de Sales, and of the Sister’s founder, “monsignor” Giuseppe Cognata.

These women know the writings of their founder very well — most of the very elderly sisters were formed by him, as a matter of fact. And this is what I have been learning mostly during these days: the life and sufferings of this Salesian bishop.

Giuseppe Cognata was named to Bova as Bishop by Pius XI in 1933 when he was 47 years old. This was one of the poorest dioceses in Italy at the time. He worked unstintingly for seven years, and during this period founded the Oblate Salesians of the Sacred Heart. He worked for education and for the social development of the people, as well as for evangelization and catechesis in that very poor area.

In working on behalf of the poorest and most exploited people of his very poor diocese, Mons. Cognata discovered how much corruption and organized crime had to do with the backwardness of the area. Even the clergy was corrupt. His heroic efforts to speak out on behalf of the poor earned him many enemies — and in 1940, false accusations were made to the Holy See against the bishop. He was immediately removed from the diocese, and went to a Salesian community in north Italy as a simple priest.

This was his situation for the duration of the pontificate of Pius XII. When John XXIII became pope, he opened the case (the accusations had been enough to suspend Bishop Cognata in 1940, and he never had a a hearing according to canon law). John XXIII re-instated Bishop Cognata in 1962. He was allowed once again to see his Sisters and, in the last ten years of his life, completed the work of foundation.

The Oblate Salesians received full pontifical recognition on 29 January 1972, formerly the feast of Francis de Sales. Bishop Giuseppe Cognata died on 22 July of that same year. He had spent his life in oblation, amid untold spiritual and human suffering… but also remained always joyful and optimistic in his own manner, offering all to the Heart of Christ.

An amazing man! An amazing life!

These Sisters remember him with great affection and simplicity. "Monsignore mio," I heard more than one exclaim, "quanto hai sofferto! Aiutami tu a rimanere fedele a Gesù Crocifisso! (O my bishop, how much you’ve suffered! Help me to keep faitful to Jesus Crucified!)"

There is so much feeling in this expression that I have not been able to find a way to translate it into English: the words I can tell you, but the feeling!!!, no, I have a hard time to convey it. What strikes me is that these Sisters live an oblative life — constantly offering their work and their lives for the good of the little people, those who suffer, those without voice, not seeking recognition but promoting those who would never have had the courage to come forward in Society and in the Church. True oblation; true evangelization; true witness.

Tivoli - on Hope for Today

Yesterday evening I spent about a half hour planning (and drinking coffee) with Mother Carmelina Mosca (mother general) and Sr Graziella Benghini (counselor for lay associations)… and as we worked through the themes of the various talks, I commented that I had prepared a lot of material but that, after the first talk, I would probably revamp things.

"What is the theme of these days of ongoing-formation," they asked me. I was a bit stumped, because the theme had been given to me by Jesús Manuel Garcia as "Hope". This was not doubt a result of his thinking of the second encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi (issued 30 November). So my response to the sisters was simple "Hope".

"Yes," said Sr Carmelina, "but we need a title. Tell us again the themes of the talks."

Hmmm - I was a bit confused, so I just threw out the themes again: The Promise (la Promessa), the Covenant (L’Aleanza), Hope (la Speranza) all in the Salesian style (in chiave salesiana).

Hearing this, Sr Graziella formulated a title: La Promessa È La Speranza Che Si Realizza — The Promise Is Hope Fulfilled. Okay, that sounds good to me.

This morning, then, I gave an overview during a little homily during Morning Prayer, and after breakfast, I gave the first talk: Promise and Hope: Reflections from the Hebrew Scriptures. After the talk, we had a few minutes for discussion, and the comments of the sisters gave me an idea of how to proceed. In the afternoon (16.30), I offered the second conference on Hope in the New Testament. I got my ideas from Monica Hellwig’s article in Nuovo Dizionario di Spiritualità — the 2003 Italian edition of Michael Downey’s publication.

Two hours were not enough really to cover four columns in that article; but it made for a simple introduction. The sisters supplied the rest in a lively question and answer period after both talks. And… they related many things from this scriptural approach to the words of their own founder, Bishop Giuseppe Cognata. So… day 2 has gone very serenely and happily.

Tivoli - Old Town

Early in November, Jesús Manuel Garcia asked me to facilitate three-days of ongoing formation for the Oblate Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Tivoli.

Okay, okay - let me say that he did not ask me. Good Spaniard from Madrid that he is, he told me that I would be doing this. It was not an invitation, nor was it an order. It was more like information about my activities that I must accept just as I must accept the fact that yesterday it poured rain and today there was a sun that split the stones on the ground.

Of course, I laughed at this and told him that I had other plans for Christmas… but again on 30 Novemer he informed me that the Sisters were ready for me to come to facilitate the three-days of ongoing formation, and that I would be speaking to them on the theme of Hope. Hope, of course, is the theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s second encyclical, which was published on that very day of 30 November.

Yes, it was all set. He told the Sisters that I would be coming; he told the Sisters that I was very qualified to speak about Hope from a Salesian point of view; he told me that I was going to like it.

Well … if this approach sounds outrageous, then you have an insight, not only into the personality and administrative approach of Jesús Manuel Garcia, but also into how Isabel and Ferdinand were able to drive out the Moors; how Cortés was able to conquer México; how Generalísimo Francisco Franco was able to overcome the Communists; how president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero today is able to rewrite the laws of Spain inspite of the protests of the opposition parties. In the case of doing the ongoing formation days for the Oblate Salesians, I realized that opposition would be useless, and so “I agreed”. More about all that later… this is only a blog.

In any case, a sister came to pick me up at 15.50 this afternoon – well, I was told it would be a sister, but there were three sisters. We made the trip to Tivoli; I met the mother general, Mother Carmelina Mosca, and together with suor Graziella we planned the time-table. Jesús had said three-days: it turns out to be four days…

The Oblate Salesians of the Sacred Heart belong to the Salesian Family. Their founder, Bishop Giuseppe Cognata, was a Salesian who had worked in southern Italy and in Rome before becoming Bishop of Bova. I have know of their existence since I was 12 years old, but this is the first time I have actually met any sisters of this Congregation.

In any case, everything began with Eucharist this evening at 17.30, over which I presided and preached (feast of St John the Evangelist). Following the Mass, I met quite a number of the sisters who are participating in these four days: young and old. The youngest sister here is from Bolivia and in her early 20s; the oldest is called Sister Pia, and she is 92. We chatted until supper at 19.30…

But I have some conferences to look over for tomorrow and I’ll continue this blogging after I have delivered those.

Ghost of Christmas Past - but a happy ghost!

My cousin Michele Nuzzo, with whom I shared a playpen in my earliest infancy, sent me a great little Christmas greeting, full of family memories. I was looking for some photographs that I had scanned of our early days… but it seems that they are not on this computer. Instead I can post a photograph that I took with my own first camera in 1963, of the Nuzzo-Boenzi family together on a Sunday evening in the Nuzzo home in Westchester. The only one not in the photo is me, because I took this snapshot.

Well, back to Michele's Christmas greeting. She tells of memories of Christmas past - memories that are happy and funny for those of us who were there. They are probably useless to anyone else. Yet, these are the events that forged our identities: I am sure of it.

Having said that, and with a lot of nostalgia, I just feel that it is good to report a portion of Michele's memory-message here.

I talked to Donna and she does not remember back this far, so you are probably the only cousin with a shared memory of Christmas at Halldale.

I remember the long dining table, lobster (I always got in trouble for sucking the lemons), presents under the tree in the main living room and those pictures Nona had on the walls---Italian stillife paintings of huge flowers and pieces of fruit. These predate the lamp base with the macaroni sprayed gold (at the apartments in Gardena). That's where we had dinner with the Filipino girls, tee hee hee.

I also remember Christmas Eve dinners in Bellflower with card tables everywhere, your dad spooning out the linguini and going to hear him sing at Midnight Mass. Then there was Christmas Eve caroling around the trailer park with Sal Gray jingling his keys to "We wish you a Merry Christmas...."

Simple but striking

The pope had a great message at the Midnight Mass. I did not watch it on television this year because I was very tired after our own Night Mass of 22.30 at the UPS. However, I did see the message online this morning when I woke up. Even now, I can hear the church bells of the five surrounding parishes ringing out the masses hour-by-hour on this Christmas, so it is a very participated kind of feel to being in Rome for Christmas. I mean, the decorations are minimal, but the sounds are everywhere.

Back to Pope Benedict, the core of his message was simple but striking. He said, commenting on John's gospel, that Jesus came and his own did not accept him, but those at the stable did accept and welcome him… and so God is not discouraged, he keeps trying even if he has to come in through the stable. It was a homey way to say it all and quite beautiful…

All of this is part of the message we want to send when we say, quite simply:

Happy Christmas!

.

Vigilia

Christmas Eve: the big preparation day is upon us - the clams are no longer safe even in their shells… and this morning as I walked in the plaza outside the house where I'm staying, I could hear the Neopolitan accents of those who crowded into the fish-vendor's open shop… a real line-up! Made me think of family back in California and all that is happening today among the Nuzzo, the Kasal and the Boenzi departments. My thoughts go out to all these dear ones, that they may enjoy a very happy celebration, but especially a very blessed Christmas!

The communities here are all down in numbers. Many went to parishes to help with the holidays; a few went to spend time with they families, especially those with elder parents. We are talking here about the Europeans, of course. I presided at the morning liturgy in the Gesù Maestro Community and we were only 9 of the communities, with three women from the neighborhood joining us.

This evenng at 18.30 we have Vespers and then the evening meal anticipated to 19.00. The Night Mass for Christmas is set for 22.30.

For the rest, I spent the day catching up on e-mails also to send greetings and all such things as that… and my trip to the local delicatessan, were I bought some American whisky as a gift for the community (I'll bring that out tomorrow and place it on the gift table in the dining room).

And for spiritual thoughts this Christmas? Many little greetings and e-mails especially have brought some wonderful reflections, artwork, powerpoints… This has been very refreshing.

And so this is Christmas 2007, about to appear!

Berkeley's ISS discussed by the bocca della verità

Marc Rougeau e-mailed me from Berkeley to say that Martin Coyle took a flight to the UK yesterday and that he should be arriving today. The Berkeley community were all sad to see him go. Marc says that Martin has really been a wonderful addition to the community.

Everyone was hoping that he would stay the whole year, although from the beginning he made it clear that he was enrolled in a sabbatical program at Weston, with the Jesuits near Boston College. This is really the style of the Salesians from the UK who have come to ISS -- more than half of them do one semester with us and then a semester elsewhere, in a program that appeals to them.

This brings we to think again and ask: how do we see the ISS? Is it a sabbatical program? Is it a formative program for those who will do work in formation or with the Salesian Family on their return to their provinces? In fact, when the ISS opened way back in 1984, it was called a "directors' formation course". It was geared toward Salesians priests mainly who were between 5 and 10 years ordained and who were being destined by their provinces to roles of leadership. Participation quickly shifted to older men… and try as we might to poll provincials and redirect the program towards sabbatical, it had never really been seen as such my the provinces.

What is it seen as?

I don't know. We'll have to think of it again, I'm sure. But I am becoming convinced that the need for giving greater attention to Salesian topics is more crucial than ever. This seems to be on the mind of Fr Pascual Chavez as well. His call to "re-launch with Don Bosco" and all that he spoke to us about on his visit last week says that the congregation must really steep itself again in the founding experience and the founding purpose: to save souls and serve God alone. Can the ISS be a part of this?

Singing in Latin while in Roma

We are doing the Christmas Novena (the Lord our king is drawing near) in LATIN.

oooo! very cool. These have been a favorite Advent feature for me since I was 14 years old and first learned the melodies as a high-school freshman in Watsonville.

All three of the professors' communities join together for this celebration, with Moran Wirth leading the assembly as the cantor… Of course, Morand has the Roman pronunciation with a French inflection. Very cool!

O Adonai,
et dux domus Israël,
qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Mighty Lord,
and leader of the house of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the burning bush,
and gave the Law on Sinai,
come to deliver us with your mighty arm extended.

Rush to Christmas break

Christmas novena begins today… and tomorrow is the start of the final week of classes before the Christmas break. Many of the European Salesians are already returning to their home provinces, which means that the upcoming classes will be partially attended.

Really, I do not remember this happening when I was a student at the UPS, but then, I was so concentrated on my own studies and deadlines that I never really paid much attention to what may have been happening among my classmates in terms of travel and break time. I was aware of a general coming and going, true, but then I mainly interacted with the Latin Americans and with the one Australian on campus: Tim Costelloe.

Yes! Good old Tim! He was sooooo homesick during my first year in Rome. He was a semester ahead of me in his program (since Australians begin the academic year in January), and pursuing the Licentiate in Systematic Theology. He was also in the Don Bosco Community, whereas I was a member of the Don Rua Community. This meant that we did not automatically run into each other, but we both made it a point to touch base several times a week. He was very aware of the cultural offerings in Rome, and pushed me to participate in a number of interesting events; I was very much into cooking at that point in time, and instigated a few group parties, including Chinese New Year (never before celebrated at the UPS), St Patrick's Day, and the start of a Saturday morning "Breakfast Club"; Tim willingly became involved in organizing these ever more frequent events.

Well, Tim returned to Australia at the end of 1991, to teach theology. I saw him again in 1993 when I went to Melbourne for an evalutation meeting by all the English-speaking provinces of the Salesians. At that time, Tim was rector at Lysterfield. He had planned to return to Rome to complete doctoral studies, but the teaching became ever more important and so completed his Doctorate at the Melbourne College of Divinity in 1999. He was part of an effort to open a theological faculty in Perth, but later returned to Melbourne.

From time to time we heard from each other, but the ocean is big and we never were in contact by e-mail. Then, during this year, news came in April that Tim Costelloe was named Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. The first Australian Salesian to ordained bishop, and this happened last 15 June 2007.

How about that! Bishop Timothy Costello! Is that cool or what? And to think I knew him when he was this homesick kid struggling through studies at the UPS. Good on ya, Tim!

But how did I get on this topic? Oh year! Students absenting themselves for the holidays… Hmmm, as I recall, Tim did not do that… but then, we made holidays happen right here, among the group. That was back in the 20th Century, however.

Death of Cardinal Stickler

Last evening Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler died. A Salesian from Austria, he taught Latin at the UPS when it was still the PAS. In fact, he was the rector of the atheneum when it was upgraded by Paul VI to the status of University. After serving as rector magnificus of the UPS, he became librarian and archivist of the Vatican Library (1966), and was appointed archbishop in 1983 and created cardinal in 1985. He was born in 1910, and this year celebrated 70 years of priesthood… He died yesterday at age 97.

The pope sent a telegram of condolences to Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, Salesian rector major. The Vatican information service published the text of the telegram. Benedict XVI called Cardinal Stickler a "sincere and strenuous collaborator of the Holy See" who, in every circumstance, offered "a well-appreciated witness of fervant fidelity to Christ and to the Church," as well as a precious "cultural and ecclesial contribution."

Alfons Stickler, the third Salesian cardinal to die this year, after Cardinal Javiere and Cardinal Castillo y Lara. Interestingly enough, at the end of the 1980s and through the 1990s, these three cardinals shared an apartment in Rome as their residence. All three worked in the curia of John Paul II, but all three desired to continue to live in a Salesian community. As it became impractical for them to live in one of the regular houses of the Roman province, or at the UPS, they had their own Salesian community, the three of them, on a side street close to the Vatican. On the doorbell they had their surnames printed simply: "Stickler, Castillo, Javiere" (I remember seeing the building and the doorbell when I was a student here). It was an example to me that they all three wanted to continue to live the family spirit of Don Bosco even though, as bishops, they were no longer legally bound to the Salesian Society. Powerful witness this was.

Riconoscente

Today we had the visit of Cardinal Raffaele Farina, accompanied by Cardinal Bertone. I had thought there would be a conference or gathering or something in that line (which seems to the the ordinary practice on such occasions). Instead it was a special dinner reception for invited guests (read the directors and deans, and University leadership). Happily, those of us left in the community dining rooms shared the same menu, even if we were not at the reception.

Don Farina (we are still calling him that) came to our community during the meal. He greeted people individually with much affection. The director of the Gesù Maestro community, Jozef Struz', had words of welcome that were just as spontaneous as the new cardinal's appearance in your community space. With sincere joy, don Strus' said: “We are all very happy for you — happy for all that you do and happy that you are now cardinal.”

To this, don Farina responded: “Oh, thanks: just let us all hope that I don’t mess up!”

As soon as our laughter subsided, don Strus' invited “his eminence” to come back to celebrate a liturgy with us, and have a meal with our group alone… seeing also that for many years, don Farina had been himself a member of the Gesù Maestro community. To all of this, the new eminence promised: “As soon as everything calms down, I will certainly come and be with you.”

It was a happy moment and one that was moving as well. Raffaele Farina was taking time to move from person to person, to shake hands, or hug, or kiss on both cheeks, as Italians are wont to do, in a very warm and affectionate way. I do not know what happened in the main dining room during the reception banquet (pranzo contemplato), but my experience was that I found Cardinal Farina to be his regular self: simple, modest, gentle, affectionate, and somehow gratefully attentive to his friends and confreres. The italian word is riconoscente, I would think.