Presenting Lenti's work in Rome

Received word this morning from my friend C. M. Paul that he and Aldo Giraudo presented Arthur's seven-book series on Don Bosco's Life and Spirit to the delegates of the 26th General Chapter now gathered in Rome. The presentation was part of the evening cultural session, and was a hit. In fact, Paul told me, they sold out all copies of the first three volumes that they brought to the Chapter hall.

Paul also collected me to a website from India of Salesian News that tells the story of the presentation and gives background for the series and its author. The review was posted last night at: DonBoscoIndia also known as Bosco Information Service (BIS).

As he did during his presentation here in Berkeley, Aldo Giraudo spoke in glowing terms of Arthur's project, qualifying it as a unique milestone in Salesian studies. This work is the fruit of more than twenty-five years of courses that Arthur has prepared for Salesians in ongoing formation here at the ISS. He used the historico-critical method to delve into the life and works of Don Bosco. And while offering a profound analysis, Arthur's writing style is not heavy. Other others have studied details of Don Bosco's work or spirit: Arthur presents whole Don Bosco, active, charismatic, struggling, inspiring, and very human.

In presenting Arthur's series, Aldo also spoke in glowing terms of the ISS and of Don Bosco Hall. Perhaps this will do more to win the attention of provinces that have forgotten about what we have to offer here.

Catching up with the Boenzi family

Spent the afternoon and evening with my brother Mario and his family in Cerritos. It gave me a chance to catch up with my nieces and nephew too.

My niece Angela has two more semesters of studies left at California State University Fullerton, where she is working in the area of early childhood education. By all accounts she will graduate next December 2008.

Her older brother John is ready to begin a course in the Los Angeles Fire Academy. This is the culmination of four years of studies and work on his part. He has already done a course at the Rio Hondo Fire Academy, but it seems that the Los Angeles academy is more "official", and that he will have a much better chance of receiving a placement as a result of this experience.

Younger sister Teresa has begun her final semester at Fullerton, where she majors in kinesiology. Her intentions are to enroll in a Masters program in the Fall. Meantime, she works with Diane for opthamologists in Lynwood (Dr John Shamus), and has co-written a scientific paper with Dr Shamus and his team that has been published in a medical journal: Variability of axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness in the cataractous eye. Good for you, Teresa!

Tomorrow I go with the Salesian community of Bellflower to facilitate a day of prayer and reflection for them. The theme is the proposals of the Rector Major, Pascual Chávez, for 2008.

Don Bosco started us off good

The weekend is quickly approaching. I'm going down to Bellflower to help with their quarterly day of recollection. I'm not making any headway on catching up, and by the end of the month I'll be further behind than when the month started. By the time you get back, I'll be living in 1959.

Marc Rougeau is doing well on his Sangre de Cristo renewal course. He writes and tells me that there are missionaries from around the world on the course with him, and how more than one has told him high regard is their for Salesians. Actually, one of the benefits I've had in living in international situation has been to see how much our Salesians do all over the world, and with what a generous spirit. Don Bosco truly got us off to a fantastic start!

Trying to put things in order

It is time to start putting things in order. I have a lot of scraps of paper, notebooks with scratchings, tablets and index cards with starter thoughts, ideas, references. I am wondering how to start putting these into something of a useful resource. I thought of blogging them all -- but then, I would not easily return to look at the blogging. There has to be another method.

Well, I'll deal with this later. Right now I am trying to keep up with the ISS/DSPT courses that I am teaching, and to hand in my grades for those taught in Rome. In spite of the computer woes, my classes have gone well this week for the introductory stages. I teach two courses. One is an introduction to a theology of Church, which I call, "In search of the Church". I have 10 students enrolled, but only 8 have come to the classes. The other is a course in the theology of charism for Salesian studies, called "Salesian Family: Identity and Charism". That course has 3 students registered, but on Tuesday, 9 came to the class. Today, four more joined, so we had 13, including 2 Methodist pastors and 3 Presbyterian seminarians. Amazing the crowd that our Salesian courses are attracting.

But it is Friday! I am enjoying weekends today as much as I did as a child… even if we are already in the season of Lent!

Proverbs 16:16 - Better to gain wisdom than gold: choose discernment rather than silver!

Computer woes for a PowerPoint addict

Proverbs 16:9 - A man's heart plans out his way, but it is the Lord who makes his steps secure.

In the last week I have spent a lot of time to rebuild my G4 computer, and then to reload all my hardware. After bringing it into the Apple dealers on the university campus two weeks ago today, they ran diagnostics all week, and discovered corruption in the RAM. They replaced that and I returned to the shop to pick up my computer on Friday of last week.

However, I still could not open the applications (Word and Powerpoint). I thought it was a problem with Microsoft products, and spent two hours with the support staff of microsoft (on the telephone) on Saturday. The technician who spoke to me over the telephone walked me through every possible test, and she discovered that the problem was with the computer's directory…

At that point I thought that I needed to bring my computer back to the repair shop at the university, but I woke up on Sunday with a thought in my mind: can I use the repair disks supplied by Apple to get to the directory? I went into the repair feature and sent the computer through the process four times… and in the end there was one element that was still blocking the use of some applications. Since I had my data all backed-up, I finally just reformatted the computer, and re-installed the system software.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I reinstalled all my applications and data files, working on that after classes. Finally this morning I was able to use the powerbook laptop computer for the presentation of a Power Point lesson in class. Yay!!!

So the SHOW continues.

Back to the airport

Tonight I took Aldo Giraudo to the San Francisco airport. We stopped for dinner near SFO at about 5.30. Gael Sullivan had told ;e of a nice place to eat on the Burlingame side of the airport, but I could not find the place that he recommended. Since it was already getting dark and since it was raining heavily, I pulled into a Red Roof Inn hotel and took Aldo to the restaurant there -- or the coffee shop really. It was a 1950s style place and the food very nice and inexpensive too. I had hoped for something a little more elegant to say thanks to him, but he enjoyed the 1950s Americana.

From there it was a short trip into SFO's international terminal and the check-in at Lufthanza for his return to Rome. Once settled at SFO, we stopped for coffee in one of the terminal eateries. We discussed UPS and Rome and the Salesian Society worldwide and Don Bosco Hall at Berkeley. We also spoke of the remaining work to be done in publishing Arthur's seven-volume series. We are few and the work is vast, but Aldo has been an encouraging presence. Certainly, he has won the respect and affection of the whole Salesian community in Berkeley, starting of course with Arthur.

So I left Aldo at a bookstore by the security area at the international boarding zone, and returned to the parking lot to drive back to Berkeley. The drive took over an hour and gave me a lot of time to think of these past few days since my own flight from Rome. Let me say it. it is thanks to Aldo that we are getting a lot of good things happening at Don Bosco Hall. Tomorrow I will meet with Fr Michael Sweeney (president of DSPT) and we will discuss future collaboration, and my possible role in this. But that is tomorrow.

Message from UPS theologians for Fr Lenti

The following message was received from the Theology Faculty of the UPS for Fr Arthur Lenti's doctorate honoris causa. The text was read at the presentation last night.

To the Rev. Arthur J. Lenti
Salesian of Don Bosco
from the Faculty of the School of Theology
of the
Salesian Pontifical University in Rome
on the occasion of the launching of the seven-volume series:
Don Bosco, History and Spirit.

We warmly congratulate you on the publishing of your monumental work on Don Bosco’s life and work and, at the same time, wish to publicly and gratefully acknowledge your more than 26 years of painstaking research, dedicated teaching and meticulous writing in the field of Salesian Studies for the English-speaking world.

We further wish to acknowledge the fact that your scholarly leadership was instrumental in the establishment of Institute of Salesian Spirituality in 1984, and your continued efforts have been significant in making Don Bosco Hall, affiliated with the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, a significant center for study and reflection on Don Bosco’s charism for the Salesian Society world-wide, and for the Salesian Family and admirers of Don Bosco in the Bay Area, throughout California and across the United States.

We recognize that, through your many years of hard work and joyful sharing of your scholarship, you have made Don Bosco’s life and works known at a deeper level than ever before possible in the English idiom.

Therefore, with deep gratitude and high esteem, the Faculty of the School of Theology warmly congratulates you on the launching of your significant series, Don Bosco, History and Spirit. It is our intention that, at a later date, we will be able to call attention to your contribution in a more significant way as a means of alerting the many associated with our School and University of the wealth of scholarly and practical resources that you have made available to the Salesian world.

Rome, 11 January 2008

Return to Don Bosco Hall and Berkeley

The flight from Rome to Washington DC met with delays, as did the flight from DC to Los Angeles on 23 January. This morning the rain was tremendous (in fact, it was pretty strong all night long) and I was afraid that I would not get out of Los Angeles because of the bad weather. But we did take off, even if the captain of the jet had to detour to the south and to the east, and to come into San Francisco from the north... adding a half hour to the flight.

Marc Rougeau met me at the United Terminal, and we drove back across to Berkeley. We did a lot of talking on the way and I hardly noticed that we crossed the bridge. We were quite suddenly in Berkeley, and stopped for breakfast at Chester's (our favorite little breakfast place) on Walnut and Vine. We continued our conversation about the house, but mainly caught up on our own stories and news.

And now I am in Berkeley, and back at Don Bosco Hall. Roma, I miss you already, but I did not have much opportunity to visit your fountains or browse through your open-air mercato during this session. I needed to concentrate on the three courses that I was asked to teach. Next time, Roma, I promise you: I will be more sociable.

After a quick unpacking and hanging of my clothes, I went around the house to greet people: Arthur Lenti, John Rasor, Aldo Giraudo, Gael Sullivan the director.

My own laptop does not function properly so I am just adding these notes by way of a computer in the house at Don Bosco Hall. Tonight we will have the launching of Arthur Lenti's book series and meeting of all kinds of supporters. DSPT will confer on Arthur the Doctorate in Theology, Honoris Causa, and Aldo Giraudo will present the first two volumes of Arthur's seven-book series: Don Bosco History and Spirit.

Everything is ready at DSPT for this event. This is a day of celebration, and so is a good day to find myself back in Berkeley.

Ready for departure… not yet

This morning when I arrived in the chapel for the 6.30 prayers and mass, I was surprised that the remains of Ottorino Pasquato were already lying in state in front of the altar. Open coffin, as is done here; no post mortem and no embalming. The sisters of the infirmiry had washed and prepared the body, dressing him in alb and white stole.

Things that I could not remember yesterday came to mind during the prayers (for my place in chapel is in the first bench on the left of the altar, and so I was right beside the remains of Fr Ottorino during the whole prayer time.

Second surprise was that the chapel was filled with flowers and that even the coffin had been engraved with his name and date. Somebody worked over night for this.

Ottorino Pasquato
Priest Salesian
* Camin (Padua) 14 December 1931
† Roma-UPS, 21 January 2008

That's right. We celebrated his birthday just before Christmas, and he presided at Mass that day, which was the memorial of St John of the Cross.

Yesterday, in fact, I concelebrated with him for the feast of St Agnes… I remembered this morning that I had greeted him when I came into the sacristy.

And in mid-morning, I had a doctoral student in my office and needed to print some bibliographic material for him, so I ran into the photo-copy room, and Fr Ottorino was busy photocopying passages from a book on the Fathers. He let me interrupt his work so that I could take several sheets to use on my office printer. He wished me well in my work, and I did the same to him. The little pleasant things that we say to one another. He did not strike me as ailing or tired. All was very normal and even exciting, in an academic sort of way.

All these incidents came to mind during the mass… things that were said over the past three years… things from my student days when I was enrolled in his course on the history of Ancient and Medieval Spirituality… Yesterday, none of this came to mind; today at prayers so many incidents presented themselves, and I relived them.

Throughout the day these thoughts have returned, even as I worked on grading the last of the class work of students, backing up my computer documents, cleaning my office or packing my bags.

In a few minutes I'll go for the rosary at the chapel. Don Ottorino's sister and nephews have arrived from Padua. So has the Rector Major. After all that I must then finish the packing process. Departure tomorrow on United Airlines is at 10.55.

Another death at the UPS

This evening, at 19.00, don Ottorino Pasquato collapsed just moments before he was about to introduce a speaker from the Vatican for Christan Unity week. It took 17 minutes for the paramedics to arrive, by which time he was dead.

At this time we do not know the cause of death. He collapsed just as the entire university population was in movement to reach the lecture hall to hear the presentation on Christian unity efforts with the Orthodox churches… an area that he worked in for many years.
Don Pasquato just completed teaching this past year (at 76) and in the Fall semester had taught courses on the Alexandrian Fathers at the Lateran. He seemed to be in good health and had been most active with apostolate and conferences. He was to begin a new course in two weeks.

Many are in shock at this turn of events. There was visible agitation in the Gesù Maestro community, of which don Ottorino was a member. Rosary will be tomorrow; funeral, perhaps on Wednesday.

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.