Ending three semesters

Today the course on ecclesiology came to an end at DSPT. That is to say that we finished the sessions, did the wrap-up, had a chance for evaluation… A lot of things happened during this course and I think in some ways this influenced the mood.

What happened?

For one, two of the students had their laptops stolen and one suffered a major setback when the motherboard burned. In fact, one of the students suffered the theft yesterday, so you can imagine that we took 10 minutes to process the feelings at the start of today's class. Not very conducive to concentrating on content.

One of the students participated in the RCIA program and made the profession of faith as a Catholic during the Easter Vigil.

One of the students moved toward solemn profession as a Dominican, with all the stress such discernment entails.

And there were techincal difficulties. I was never sure whether the media connections in the Smart Classroom would work, and so had to be prepared for other stategies to get across the materials.

Still, all of these elements helped to create a very human environment. In all my classes I found I was giving more input here, but the exchange among the students was also continuous and profound. They read, they worked, they shared their findings. I suppose that is what it is all about in the end. Through all of this we spoke of our very different experiences of Church, and therefore of our very different expectations for Church. We used Avery Dulles' book, Models of the Church, as the basis for a lot of our study, and the student assignments brought in other works as well, both scholary and popular. The discussions were rich, thoughtful and thought-provoking.

With all of this, in spite of the stolen and burnt iBooks, I come away from this ecclesiology course quietly satisfied with what we were able to accomplish.

On another front – in a land far, far away, my nephew Salvatore Boenzi graduates from the University of Arizona School of Music. I thought that the date is 16 May… but the invitation says 14 May… so today? Well a three-day graduation is not something totally unusual. He has had a very strenuous course of studies (education and music) and has done student teaching this last semester. Needless to say I am very happy for him and proud of his accomplishments.

Sal has said that he wants to spend a year or so abroad, perhaps in Italy. He would go to deepen his knowledge and capacities in music (as well as his cultural parameters). Certainly, I wish him all the best in this project and hope he finds the means to pull it off. I have known many students who have done something similar. There is much to gain if one finds the right program, enough funding, and the support of family and true friends.

But let him get through his graduation first. Good luck, Salvatore!

Good Friday reflections

This afternoon I walked to the Newman Center to participate there in the Living Stations of the Cross and the Reconciliation Service. As usual there was a good turn out and I found the enviorment helpful for reflection, self-examination, prayer.

On the walk home I decided to stop for a haircut and then to buy some Easter cards. As soon as I find the top of my desk, I will write them out.

Five days after the earthquake in L'Aquila, the rescue operations are at an end, and the bodies all recovered. Today, Good Friday, was the day of the funeral. By radio, podcasts and internet I am doing all that I can to continue to follow the news. It shocked me that the only thing that I was able to find on the New York Times was an article about damaged art works. 289 people have died, and the New York Times is concerned about the art works.

This reminds me of the words of Luigi Barzini in reaction to the may British who used to holiday in Italy after World War II. Barzini said that these upper-class visitors were never interested in the people, but only in the monuments. "The only Italians that they care about are the dead ones," observed Barzini, meaning Cicero, Caesar and Virgil. Well, it looks to me like the New York Times is not even interested in the dead Italians.

REUTERS PHOTO 10 April 2009/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY DISASTER)

But today the funeral was celebrated in L'Aquila - a state funeral with President Napolitano, Prime Minister Berlusconi, the armed forces, and presided by the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Numerous bishops concelebrated with our Salesian cardinal in what has to be one of the saddest Good Fridays. I have followed these events as best I could, still struck by the terror and tragedy of this disaster.

So I end this Good Friday afternoon, praying for the victims in L'Aquila, as well as the victims of human wrath in our cities and in the wars that continue to rage… and pray too for those who are trying to rebuild the lives of so many hurting people, again in our cities but especially at L'Aquila and all the surrounding towns.

DSPT in a good position by default

Crisis at the GTU! The schools that were most solid two years ago (PSR, SFTS) are now in peril. These are the schools that are the best endowed, but the endowments have diminished by 46%. The Presbyterian School (SFTS) has 19 fulltime professors, and they must immediate reduce the full-time faculty to 13 by next Fall. The Jesuit School (JSTB) will have the gradual retirement of three Full Professors with no plan to replace them.

All of this came out during our faculty meeting this afternoon. Fr Michael Sweeney reported to us the needs of the school in terms of advertising and increasing our donor base, but then he spoke frankly of the general difficulties being faced by the GTU and the other member schools. The situation is dire.

Michael Sweeney, OP, President of DSPT, speaks during an all-school meeting

DSPT has always struggled for finances, but in the struggling has not lost the money of investments and endowments that it never had. Suddenly we find our struggling school in a better position than most of the others of the GTU. It is not that our fortunes have reversed. What has happened is that the wealthy cannot attract the foundation dollars that they once did and their stock portfolios are a fraction of their former value. DSPT has never had any of this, so in maintaining its usual struggling fiancial position, the school actually comes out ahead. So much so that we are talking about making a hire (possibly two) for the new academic year.

If nothing else can be said, we can at least affirm that this is an interesting turn of events.

Earthquake

This morning I awoke to the radio news of an earthquake in Italy. The epicenter was l'Aquila. At 5.30 this morning I heard that there were 9 dead… by 6.00 the news was 30 confirmed dead… by 7.30 there were 72, and the death toll rising. I was able to download news from the internet and the photos from Reuters and Associated Press. These I pasted on my laptop for a slideshow when my students came in for the 8.10 class. None of them had heard yet of the earthquake. We offered our start-up prayer for the victims, and I have to say that the thought of this disaster has been with me all day.

Checking with family and friends in Rome, where they felt the shake intensely, all the people that I know are safe. Thanks be to God, the five Salesians and the 100 university students who lodge with them in the student hostel that is Istituto S. Giovanni Bosco at L'Aquila are all safe. As soon as the first shock hit, the entire community rushed out into the inner courtyard of the Institute, and they remained there until morning light. Only then did they chance to go back into the building. The building sustained grave damage, but not one of the educators or university students were the least injured. By afternoon, all the students had left to return to their homes.

So the Salesians at the epicenter are all safe. I wonder at this point how my friends in Rome are doing. L'Aquila is only about 80 km from Rome. The quake was strongly felt there too, but I have not heard if there has been damage. I am anxious to hear.

Now we pray and we wait. Rescue workers have been busy since the first quake, and they continue now to extract the injured. Italians are ready to volunteer but the rescue is very much under control. All that has been asked now is that people donate blood to the Red Cross.


In the meantime, I heard from my geologist cousin Salvatore, who writes today:

ENNESIMO LUTTO IN ITALIA. SONO VICINO ALLE FAMIGLIE TERREMOTATE. MA PERCHE' IN ITALIA NON C'E' PREVENZIONE? PERCHE' NOI GEOLOGI NON SIAMO INTERPELLATI? NON MI RIFERISCO ALLA POLEMICA DIVAMPATA RIGUARDANTE IL DOTT. GIULIANI, LA SUA TEORIA NON E' ANCORA RICONOSCIUTA DALLA COMUNITA' SCIENTIFICA INTERNAZIONALE. I TERREMOTI CON LE NOSTRE CONOSCENZE SCIENTIFICHE NON SI POSSONO PREVEDERE. MI RIFERISCO AL CONTROLLO PUNTUALE DEL TERRITORIO. I SOLDI CHE SONO STANZIATI PER L'EMERGENZA PERCHE' NON SONO STANZIATI PER LA PREVENZIONE? NOI GEOLOGI GRIDIAMO TUTTO' CIO' DA ANNI MA SIAMO IGNORATI, LA NOSTRA E' UNA CATEGORIA DI PROFESSIONISTI CHE PER INTERVENIRE FA' SPENDERE SOLDI PER PREVENIRE LE CATASTROFI E QUESTO I POLITICI NON LO AMMETTONO. PER LORO E' TEMPO E DENARO SPRECATO.

What can I say? I agree with him.

75th and 25th Anniversary

Today is the 75th anniversary of the canonization of St John Bosco. Yes, that's right! 75 years ago today, on Easter Sunday, 1 April 1934, Pope Pius XI ended the Jubilee of the Resurrection with the solemn rite of canonization of St John Bosco. It was the only time in history that a canonization was held on Easter, but then, Pius XI wanted as big a gathering of bishops and dignitaries as possible for the day that he raised his own friend Don Bosco to the honors of the altar.

Don Bosco's beatification, on 2 June 1929, had been the first to take place after the reconciliation between Italy and the Holy See (Lateran Pacts: 11 February 1929). Pope Pius XI (Achille Ratti) was celebrating his golden jubilee of priesthood that year, and opened the celebration on 2 June with the beatification of the man who had saved his own vocation when, as a young priest, he was filled with fervor and doubt. As pope, Pius XI Ratti presented his friend Don Bosco as the icon of the priest who was active in promoting good citizenship, but who remained loyal to the pope and to the church.

The apostle of youth was to become a symbol for a new style of Catholic Action for young and old, for laity and the ordained, and so Pius XI timed his canonization for the conclusion of the special Jubilee Year of the Redemption (from Ash Wednesday 1933 to Easter Sunday 1934). A priest like Don Bosco, who was the father and teacher of young people… who was a son of the common people that rose to leadership in the Church and Society… offered the Church a strong example of the meaning of truth and freedom against the claims of the totalitarian regimes then gaining power. The Jubilee Year, in fact, concluded with Don Bosco's canonization: he was held up as the icon to seminarians and priests, for a new, apostolic style of priesthood.

That was Rome, 1 April 1934. But we are in Berkeley on 1 April 2009. We are not in the public eye, even though life here is not less complicated.

At Don Bosco Hall we proceed one step at a time, but it dawned on me during mass this morning that Autumn 2009 will be the 25th anniversary of the ISS. During breakfast I told Gael and Marc that we need to think about having a celebration. No, I don't mean a party. I mean a relaunch, an outreach, a fundraiser… in short, all those things that are part of such celebrations. And the fact of the matter is that we are expecting some very big changes as John Roche and Gael Sullivan and Marc Rougeau work as the new team and develop new programs, courses, concepts.

Yes, a 25th anniversary will be important.

The just shall flourish like the palm tree

St Joseph has always been an important saint in my family. My paternal grandfather and grandmother were both named for St Joseph and 19 March was always the occasion for my father to take us all to their home, armed with le zeppole di san Giuseppe (a special southern Italian pastry made only for the feast of St Joseph). My grandparents celebrated this day more than their birthdays (which they really did not celebrate) and, since I was named for them, this was the day that I celebrated. I soon figured out that St Joseph was worth a lot more than my birthdate, and so this day became special to me.

In all the years that I passed this feast in Italy, it was always a very important feast day. For Italians, it is Fathers Day. For the Salesians, it is the feast of the lay Salesians… On this feast in 2007, there were 8 of us in the Gesù Maestro community that celebrated this day as our own. The memory of it keeps me glowing still.

So this year at Don Bosco Hall, we celebrated the day in great style… and there are three of us with the name. I had the sense that it was like my birthday also because the wishes were directed toward me. I am grateful for it all…

St Francis de Sales not only had special devotion to St Joseph; he was one of the first, along with St Teresa of Jesus, to promote this devotion. Since I was the principal celebrant at the community mass this morning, I was looking for some words from our St Francis about St Joseph. Only later in the day did I find something that a friend sent to me. It comes from the Spiritual Conferences.

In Conference XIX, St. Francis de Sales made the following observation about the virtues of St. Joseph:

St. Joseph is most justly said to resemble the palm tree, for he was always constant, persevering, strong and valiant. There is a distinction to be made among these virtues. We call people constant when they remain firm and are prepared to suffer the assaults of the enemy, without surprise or loss of courage during combat. Perseverance has chiefly to do with a certain weariness of mind which comes upon us when we have suffered a long time, and this weariness is as powerful an enemy as we can meet: perseverance enables us to disregard this enemy by a continual calmness and submission to the will of God. Strength makes us vigorously resist the attacks of our enemies, and valor is a virtue that makes us not only hold ourselves in readiness to fight or to offer resistance when the occasion presents itself, but also to attack the enemy at the moment when our adversary least expects it.

Wishing one and all a very happy feast of St Joseph (buona festa di papà).

Had to do it finally

My third visit to Dr Gary Hale in five weeks -- two more fillings (instead of the originally planned 4). The visit began with the doctor's assistant making casts of my teeth so that the famous night-guard can be made for me. I will have to return next week for that piece. Then the work on drilling and fillings. The pain killer (with the disinfectant tasting like piña coledas) did its trick. I had no idea what the doctor was doing in my mouth. I just tried to comply as best I could, mourning the fact that now, at age 59, I have fillings for the first time. Still, I did not have time to think about that. My preoccupation was not to choke while he was working on me.

The trip to and from the dental office was made pleasant by the podcasts of Vatican Radio. They are transmitting some wonderful programs for the start of Lent. I'm so pleased by the iPod technology which allows me to have this immediate contact with Italy with the daily downloads of mp3 files. This was something unheard of even 5 years ago. Now it is part of my daily experience.

So, my Roma bocca della verità is a mouth (bocca) that is materially a little far from Roma and host to six fillings…

Better news; better mood

Made my return visit to Doctor Khun Huang this morning. The analysis of my blood yielded more favorable results than last August, but varies with that of October. My blood sugar is slightly up over October, but low compared to August. The bad cholesterol is down respect to both August and October, and the good cholesterol is up (for the first time in a year). But I am still on the borderline for diabetes, or pre-diabetes.

The medication that I have been taken has left me weak, do Dr Khun is putting me on a new prescription. Now I just have to find a pharmacy, since my favourite place, Elephant Pharm, closed down a month ago.

Throughout the day I have gotten encouragement from friends. Terence, my former student, who has a similar condition, put it into words: “This is great news!! Coping with Diabetes means knowing about it!!”

All in all, it is good news and I am in a better mood tonight than I have been all month.

Some ways that the young make a difference

My friend and companion of ordination, Michael Gergen, is spending this year in Guadalajara. We have been in-touch over the last few months, and I note how he is enjoying his stay among Salesians of a very different cultural and spiritual context. It is exciting to see his enthusiasm, really.

Mike writes today in an email you said that this is the first time in decades that you are in a Salesian setting where there are many young Salesians. Being in a province where there are young Salesians is a great encouragement. You are filled with hope and a sense of the future. You can also become more aware of new ways of responding to the gospel and to Don Bosco's call for youth because the young Salesians bring fresh voices to the tradition.

This is what experienced in 1990-1994 when I was at the UPS working on my licentiate and doctorate. I was 40 when I was sent to Rome for advanced studies; the majority of those from other provinces were between the ages of 31 and 33. Most thought that I was younger than I was because of other factors, but I really appreciated those younger Salesians who were still very full of the first joy of their apostolic lives. Just being with them changed my understanding of a lot of aspects of the Salesian vocation.

Sadly, our province never had time for young Salesians even when, in our youth, there were many of us. We were more work oriented than mission oriented, I feel. I say after thinking about it, pondering it for the last 18 years. We never made much space for young Salesians. The kids, yes yes of course -- but young Salesians? Not really.

Now there are just a few… but my effort is always to make space for them: to hear their ideas, to share stories, to let them take leadership. We have some interesting prenovices this year too, and they have a lot to offer. Some of us are trying to give them opportunities and encouragement to do so… This may be the last chance.

Excuse my ranting, please. This is not said as a complaint against the province. My intent is to try to understand how we have worked hard in the USA but been unable to flourish. I say it with with a hope that we may respond more fruitfully in the near future.

Damian the Leper

Received the news today that Father Damian the Leper will soon be canonized a saint. I was able to see the beatification of Fr Damian when I was living in Europe in 1995. John Paul II beatified him during at trip to Belgium.

Josef Damian de Veuster (1840-1889) is one of the most famous heros of the United States. He was Belgian by birth: a missionary of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts who was sent to work in the Hawaiian Islands. After various initial apostolates, he was sent to work among the lepers of Molokai. He not only served the people, but he identified closely with them. In the end he contracted the disease. His last years were captured on film, and became instrumental in helping medical science find treatment for the disease. But great men of letters, such as Robert Louis Stevenson, also chronicled his life and made him known to the world beyond the confines of the leper colony of Molokai. This too became a way for Fr Damian to fight the injustice perpetrated against the poor and the undesireables of the Islands and of the world.

There are great studies done on Fr Damian. He was controversial in life and after his death… but he remains a hero despite the attempts of many to "debunk the Damian myth". In these years he is held up as a model of compassion and care for those who serve people living with HIV/AIDS.

So, the announcement came out of the Vatican yesterday. It has been announced that the canonization will take place on 11 October 2009. I might anticipate my return to Italy, but I am not sure if I can. The news is encouraging, certainly.

Angela's wedding 1

Today we celebrated the wedding of my niece Angela Boenzi with Thomas Higuera. The nuptial mass took place at St Dominic Savio Church in Bellflower (where Angela and her brother and sister and both parents were baptized). As uncle, I presided at the mass and witnessed the vows. I had to contain my joy lest I choke at any minute.

The reception was held in Buena Park.

There would be a lot to say, but I will just post photographs for now, each one worth (of course) a thousand words.

Boenzi women converge at St Dominic Savio for the wedding of Angela Boenzi and Tom Higuera: L-R Barbara Boenzi (wife of Dom), Concetta Boenzi (widow of John and grandmother of the bride), Rose Boenzi Mauro (widow of Carmen), Louise Boenzi (widow of Dominic).

Tom and his best man wait patienty for the arrival of the bride Angela.

Mario walks his daughter Angela into the Church, to "give her away" to Tom.

The moment of the exchange of vows.

My line was: "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Mr and Mr Thomas Higuera." And this translated into the unstated but intended cue: "You may kiss the bride."

More photos will follow as soon as I have them.

Angela's wedding - rehearsal

Arrived in southern California this afternoon so as to be able to participate in the rehearsal for my niece Angela's wedding. Yes, of course, Angela Marie Boenzi, the first daughter of my brother Mario, will marry Tom (Edward Thomas) Higuera tomorrow afternoon. The wedding was originally scheduled for two months from now in April, but Tom's in the army reserves and his unit is being called up for service in Iraq in early March.

Thanks to email and especially facebook, Angela was able to communicate with me quite readily in the last few months. She kept me appraised of the changing situations, what with Tom's military posting and training changes. We were also able to consult regarding the liturgical needs for the nuptial mass itself.

And so I came for the rehearsal. Savio parish now has a team for coordinate weddings, and the wedding coordinator for Angela and Tom is Pam Parnell, whom I have known since the last millennium. This was the easiest time I have ever had in a rehearsal, since Pam has overseen everything and is very good at explaining everything to the couple, the wedding party, the mothers and the grandmothers, and to the priest too. And yes, this priest does not do too many weddings; I really am not that familiar with the comings and goings.

Ann Armijo Guevara (Angela's aunt, who is married to my former student Alain Guevara) took some photos during the rehearsals, and I post them here.

Mario walks daughter Angela down the aisle in the rehearsal: some comments and family humor are exchanged between them on the way… Tomorrow will be more solemn, no doubt.

Pam Parnell blocks out the actions for the rite as Tom and Angela approach the kneelers in front of the altar. I am all ears because I do not know how this will work out. In fact, I have never celebrated a nuptial mass where the couple kneels through the entire service. Pam explains to me that this pious practice was developed to preserve the bride's dress from wrinkles.

Rehearsing the exchange of vows: this will be the big moment. Pam blocks the positions of everyone in the wedding party; I use this moment for the final catechesis of the bride and groom because I know we will all be in a daze tomorrow.

Remembering some saints

Today is St Valentine’s Day. It is also the feast of Sts Cyril and Methodius, founders of the church among the Slavic peoples and patrons of Europe. I remembered them at the mass this morning, over which I presided.

These days get busy and busier, but I was able to complete the notes for my two courses and get copies printed up and bound on Wednesday and Thursday, so as to distribute them on Thursday and Friday. Both classes are going well: small groups of 4 and 5, but all of the students are very interested and committed. Still, since my return from Roma I do feel like I have done a whole year already. I end up teaching 3 full semesters in the space of one year.

Province youth are gathering at Watsonville today for a Summit on Youth and Human Rights. It is the followup to a process begun in October. Al Vu is the heart and soul of this great event, having organized the encounters in the Autumn in Southern California and in the Bay Area. He also participated in the International Congress on the Preventive System and Human Rights, held in Rome last month. Two others accompanied him there: Joe Nguyen and John Marheineke. They are part of the Youth Summit with him now; it is a very meaningful process.

This morning I was thinking of St Kevin’s place in Ireland this morning for some reason… just woke up with images in my mind of that great lake at the shrine in Glendalough in County Wicklow. I do not know why I had these images in my mind’s eyes, but I was happy for them and took a little mental journey, revisiting those memories with joy.

Of all the stories of Glendalough, the one I love most is the one about the devil appearing to the hermit Kevin and tempting him to abandon Christ. The devil appeared as the lovely Kathleen. Kevin tried to reason with her, avoid her, argue with her, but the lovely Kathleen persisted. Finally all he could do in the end was push her away from him. When he did this, she fell into the lake… and the water suddenly began to boil and steam. Well, yeah! The devil is full of fire, so of course the lovely Kathleen could not take the cool water. This is how Kevin realized that she was really a disguise for the crafty Satan.

I smiled at the memory of the story and cheered on Kevin again. Why did I have these memories today? I really cannot tell. Maybe such things happen when you are teaching the 3rd semester in one year. :-)

World coming apart (but the dentist can deal with part of it)

Went to my dentist, Dr Gary Hale, in El Cerrito Plaza this afternoon. The hygienist, Evy, worked on the cleaning. She noted that the gap between my upper teeth and the gums has widened… evidence of teeth grinding. The doctor then came in (Evy made x-rays), and explained the deterioration… Time for fillings to cushion the teeth, and for a night guard to make sure that I am not continuing to grind.

In fact, I do not grind or grit my teeth during the day. No one wakes up from grinding sounds at night. It could be that I am clenching them while sleeping.

"Are you under stress?" Evy asked.

Well now, is that a good question or what.

Of course I am very disappointed by this development. Until now my teeth have been good. I have never had a filling. But there was evidence of this two years ago and again last summer. It is time to do something if I want to prevent future damage. This according to Dr Hale. That's fine. It is my private mourning process, since fillings and braces and night guards are all so normal.

When I got off the BART in Berkeley to walk back home, I became aware that two store chains have gone bankrupt and closed their doors today in Berkeley (and in all their locations). Payless Shoes (where I have shopped for easy-to-maintain, look-good/cost-little shoes), and Elephant Pharmacy (aka Elephant Pharm, where I shopped for my prescriptions, digital photo work, and any number of travel products). Bankrupt; layoffs… two very good stores that are victims of this economic downturn.

How sad! I wonder what can be next.

Long trip

Left the UPS this morning at 6.45. Jarek took Aldo Giraudo and I to the airport. Aldo has been doing Salesian input in Spain, Belgium and northern Italy since Christmas… this was another one of his trips. Had to report to a new terminal, reserved for flights to Israel and the USA for the increased security. Once there, however, I cleared security very rapidly.

On my same flight was Archbishop Angelo Amato, who had been dean of the theology school of the UPS when I was the student representative, back in the day. He was traveling to Notre Dame in business class… but I managed to greet him when we were moving toward the line to go aboard.

The flight went well from Roma to Washington… but then my luggage never arrived in the immigration clearing area, and I had to wait there for two hours before United found my luggage so as to clear customs. When I got into the terminal at Washington Dulles, my flight was already boarding.

The flight was uneventful. I spent most of the time reading rather than watching any films. At my arrival in Los Angeles, I collected my luggage and rented a car to drive to teh Boenzi home in Bellflower. An hour of visiting with my mother… and to bed, where I'm now sitting as I enter this data. Lots to say in the next few days, but at this moment I just want to say that this Roman chapter is finished. I will be back in Berkeley in few days to pick up again, teaching theology in English at DSPT, ISS and the GTU… once I get over the jetlag.

Ah… to sleep… perchance to dream.

Santa Bibiana, her rain and the end of the semester

Well I have lost track. Is it 40 days and a week since the feastday of Santa Bibiana? That was 2 December. The weather pattern has been seven days of rain, one day of sun, two days of overcast, and seven days of rain again (and again and again). It has been this way right up to the last days of the semester. Yet, the rain has not dampened the enthusiasm of these days: Obama, end of school, start of exams, great expectations for the upcoming months in spite of a broken economy. At least at the UPS among the student population there is a great deal of optimism and hope, rain or not. Maybe Santa Bibiana brings blessings with the raindrops.

My classes ended on 20 January… and of course the inauguration of Barak Obama was on my mind throughout all five classes that I had to teach. Okay, I did not do a lot of teaching, but I facilitated the group discussions and evaluations in the course on Youth Spirituality, and the student presentations in the Seminar on Storytelling the Faith.

The process that I used all along was to lecture for two classes (using powerpoint, media, music and text) and use one class for group discussion on the themes of each chapter of the text. In 36 class sessions, then, there were 25 hours for my presentations and 11 hours for group process.

Luis Daniél and Fabián (right) during group evaluation

At the end of each group process sessions, the groups would rapidly report to the whole class, and then one chosen from each group would email me a more complete summary of the group’s insights, concerns, debate, agreement… All these were posted on a class blog.

Tuesday morning, as the absolutely last day of the semester, was more self contained. The groups mixed, evaluated, and made posters with the main points of their evaluation. Then they presented these to the whole group. Even this was very interesting. Groups with younger students or with those who have youth ministry experience, threw themselves into the concrete stuff; those that come out of religious life and formation backgrounds were more philosophical. The youth and youth ministers used slogans, symbols, icons and colours; the formation-bound used outlines and spoke more abstractly.

Leticia (Spain) & Grea (Philippines) craft poster while Krzysztof (Poland) gives input

These differences made the final evaluation day very rich indeed… and even a lot of fun, from what I could see in the reactions of the groups and individuals. I should have ordered pizza, but even without this final session was like a party!

Leonard (Romania) & Mkail (Siria) explain poster points with Leticia (Spain)

The wrap-up for the seminar was more subdude, of course. The students sat around a conference table and presented the single paper that included the contribution of each. Again, the difference here was between the formators and the youth animators. However, I was very impressed by their research, their insights, their ability to make cultural bridges, and their sense of community among them. This class did end with a bit of a party, as I gathered them in my office for some Sambuca or Whisky, a toast, and a view of the Inauguration on my computer through streaming news.

My sense is that the classes and the courses went very well. Yesterday and today I have worked to get all the grading done. Now I have just returned from the registrar’s office, where I handed in my grades.

Yes! I have a lot of packing to do and I need to back up all my files as well so that I can bring the materials back to Berkeley with me. This means that I will just add a few photographs of the events of the last few days, and then throw myself into the packing process.

In the interests of speaking the truth (bocca della verità), I have to confess that I have very mixed feelings about returning to Berkeley. I would rather like to delay my departure for another five days or so, but this is not possible because of all the commitments for the new semester at DSPT and the ISS.

And darn!!!!! I never went to throw any coins in the fountain to assure my return to Rome! Oh no!!! (j/k).

Pope’s greeting to President

In an e-mail from Zenit, I got the text of the telegram sent by Pope Benedict to Barak Obama. It is worth quoting here because there are so many gossips saying that the Catholic Church cannot accept Obama as president of the USA. I am always amazed when I hear such talk. So I post this for the benefit of those who, like me, believe otherwise.

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, D.C.

On the occasion of your inauguration as the Forty-fourth president of the United States of America I offer cordial good wishes, together with the assurance of my prayers that the Almighty God will grant you unfailing wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high responsibilities.

Under your leadership may the American people continue to find in their impressive religious and political heritage the spiritual values and ethical principles needed to cooperate in the building of a truly just and free society, marked by respect for the dignity, equality and rights of each of its members, especially the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice.

At a time when so many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world yearn for liberation from the scourge of poverty, hunger and violence, I pray that you will be confirmed in your resolve to promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations, so that all may share in the banquet of life which God wills to set for the whole human family (cf. Isaiah 25:6-7). Upon you and your family, and upon all the American people, I willingly invoke the Lord’s blessings of joy and peace.

A wonderful message that speaks in blessings for joy and peace! Those who thrive on division and condemnation would do well to reflect on it. Or maybe they need just the blessing themselves.

Hail to the chief!

Inauguration Day 2009 in the USA. The event captured the attention of Europe as well as the USA. It was also the last day of class in this semester, and I had five hours of lessons to attend to in order to wrap up two graduate courses. I had to contain myself, therefore, so that I could get the work done. But 10 minutes before 18.00 CET (noon EST), the classes finally wrapped up (interesting how after each of the sessions there were students who wanted to linger and chat). I brought the remaining 4 students into my office, opened Facebook’s link to CNN, poured glasses of Glenlivet or Sambuca, and we toasted Joe Biden and Barak Obama as they took their oaths of office.

After the students left my office, I continued to watch the new president give his inauguration address. Thanks to live streaming video, I could «attend» the entire process in English, rather than hear the voice-over of the RAI (Italian television). Later I was able to see the RAI reports, and they were excellent: half dedicated to US foreign policy; half dedicated to the fashion report of the First Family and their entourage.

There would be many profound thoughts to write, but since everyone else on the planet is writing, texting, blogging, journaling on this event, there is no need to do this myself. Still, I just want to quote something from that discourse that I found to be the most significant.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

Some have been complaining that this is all euphoria, shallow giddiness. I don’t think it is. Barak Obama is not promising an easy time; he is challenging America to work.

Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

It is a long time since I have heard similar words. Maybe the last to speak in such a way was JFK. Later perhaps I will share a thought on that, but I want to just cite another phrase from today’s speech.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.

Exactly. But it is time for me to say goodnight now. I go to sleep smiling and very grateful.

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Thesis defense - Salesian studies deepen

This afternoon, the Salesian priest Jose Vettath (India Guwahati) defended his doctoral dissertation in the presence of a large contingent of students, professors, and Salesian confreres from other centers in Rome.

The dissertation, called The Mode of Government of Blessed Michael Rua, Rector Major of the Salesian Society (1888-1910), is a most timely one. It comes on the vigil of the centenary of the death of Blessed Michael Rua, first successor of Don Bosco. This fact in itself places the thesis in the context of what will be, for the entire Salesian Congregation and the apostolic family of Don Bosco, a year of reflection and celebration. Without doubt Fr Vettath’s contribution will find immediate use, particularly in English-speaking areas of the Salesian World.

The dissertation begins with a presentation of the state of the craft: who has studied the figure and writings of Michael Rua; the primary and secondary sources; the relevance of continued study of one of Saint John Bosco’s first collaborators in his mission among at-risk youth and his first successor as father and charismatic center of the Salesian apostolic world. Chapters one and two, then, offers us a historical grounding, while chapters three and four give us insights into the Blessed’s works, concrete and literary. Chapter five, finally, looks at Michael Rua’s governance itself. This chapter is something of a synthesis of all that has gone before and gives us a picture of an original and defining moment in the Salesian experience: the impact of Don Rua’s person and mission on Salesian life.

In allowing us to see the many elements of Don Rua’s governance – both in style and content – the candidate offers us a foundation, a study and a compendium. His presentation is meticulous. This makes it easy for others to reconstruct the period and to understand the inner dimensions of the Salesian Society in the earliest years. A compendium, yes, and quite valuable indeed!

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Jose Vettath (center) successfully defended his doctoral thesis today. Also pictured L-R are Jarek Rochowiak (registrar UPS), Francesco Motto (2nd reader), Giorgio Zevini (dean, theology school), Aldo Giraudo (thesis director), Joseph Boenzi (3rd reader).

Aldo Giraudo directed the scholar in his research and the writing of his dissertation, and Francesco Motto was the second reader. At Christmastime I had been asked to be the third member of the committee for the doctoral examination. I am grateful for that opportunity, for it allowed me access to Jose Vetthath’s work. Three years ago he frequented my course on the spirituality of St Francis de Sales, and at the time we had a number of conversations on the importance of creating an international team of Salesian scholars to share the sources of Don Bosco’s charism with the rising generations. I am very pleased to see that Jose has continued along this line. It is a day of pride for Salesian India, and for us all.

Officially 2009

Classes resumed this morning at the UPS. First period is (always) at 8.45.

Not only did classes resume, but all the other services began today as well. It was only this morning that I realized how many people were on holidays. The cleaning crews were back; the library staff returned in full force; the kitchen staff was back to his full complement; the secretarial staff, which had only worked part time, were back in full. It was obvious at the start of the day, and at coffee times, and in the moments of transition.

Of course, 12 days of Christmas mean also 12 days of things to catch up on, beginning with the cleaning crew. How they can possibly clean all the environments (classrooms, computer labs, library, hallways, lecture and assembly areas, chapels) at the same time as all the students are involved is, well… no small feat!

Breakfast conversation was stimulating as usually, with professors commenting on the economy. Everyone of the Italian professors noted how tourism is down in their home towns during the holidays. I commented that the US dollar is still low against the euro, which makes it hard for the “americani” to arrive in streams as they have in previous years. This comment led to a comment on the next encyclical, projected to be published soon. It would seem to be on justice in the economy: a development in the social justice doctrine. I can’t wait to see it.

In the meantime, I need to stimulate the academic economy of the UPS by finishing to prepare all my classes and getting the exams ready. Will this be possible? Or will I be too nostalgic for the holidays?

Today’s class in youth spirituality went well, despite the fact that some genius had turned off all the electricity in the smart classroom and it took three students and I 10 minutes to get everything in working order again. Turns out the projector remote was not functioning, so instead of reporting this to the university secretariat that deals with facilities, professor genius went to the power board and switched off the entire room. Brilliant! Well, I reported the breakage to the segretario, and he sent a crew in during the afternoon.

You see, professor genius? It is really easy when you speak up.

Okay, enough venting on this silly blog.

Chinese student-priests Giovanni Liu and Paolo Liu sign up for exams

It rained today… lots of rumbling of thunder and a steady wind that sounded like the soundtrack of a horror movie. Still, it turned out to be a pleasant first day back to school. This was the first day that the students were able to book their examination dates (exams go for three weeks following the end of first semester classes on 20 January). From what I can see, most of the graduate students are pretty confident and ready to roll. Beyond all this, as I said, the class I had in youth spirituality was one of the best this term, and the participation rate was very high, notwithstanding the power being cut, the wind howling, the thunder cracking, the rain pouring. 2009 is officially underway.