I LOVE Surprises

One of the things I love about my ministry is that I never know what will happen during the day, who I will meet, what questions I will be asked, etc.

The other day a group of pilgrims from the U.S. came into our store. I asked them where they were from and learned they were from Boston. They told me the names of the priests who organized their pilgrimage, and I knew one of them. The next thing I knew, a woman walked from the opposite side of the book store to where I was, and I couldn't believe it. I knew her from when I worked at our book center in Dedham just before making perpetual profession. In fact, she attended my final profession. We lost touch with each other. Well the Lord sure took care of that! We are now in touch again so that she can be present at my 25th Anniversary celebration next year! How incredible is that?

Then Pentecost Sunday came. It was our free Sunday, but in honor of the feast we decided to get together for lunch and one of the sisters offered to cook. When I walked into the dining room, I realized that they were throwing a surprise party for me. At first I saw Italian flags, then a papal flag, then European Union flags. I didn't see the American flag till last. When I saw that, I wrapped my superior in a big bear hug.

So what was the reason for the party? I am now officially "Italian-American" as one sister put it. I have me Italian residency, I have registered myself in the city of Rome, I have my identity card, and I have enrolled in the state sponsored health insurance program. The sisters were so excited about this that they wanted to celebrate this!

Then today I went to our general mother house to begin my spiritual exercises. At my door was a bag filled with gifts. The Lord provided me with PEANUT BUTTER for my retreat!, pistaccios,  (through Sr Germana, an American sister who lives at our Generalate) two REAL pie plates, and a meat thermometer (through Sr Marlyn who returned to the States today).

How I love surprises!

My First Trip and More

April 25 in Italy is a National Holiday. It is Liberation Day--the day that the Italians remember the moment in their history when the "Americans" liberated them from the Nazis. It was wonderful to hear the sisters recounting their own experiences. One of the sisters said, "When we start talking about when the Americans came, we never stop." The memory that is the strongest with the sisters was the white bread that the American soldiers handed out to everyone. One of them said that they had only seen bread like that in pictures.

Since it was a holiday, my entire community, as well as the student community, went on a sightseeing trip together. We went to Livinio, a Roman seaside town where legend has it that the twins who founded Rome were born. Forgive me, but I only remember the name of one of them--Romulus. Can you guess why I remember that one and not the other one? After having a wonderful lunch and taking a walk on the beach in Livinio, we headed off to Nettuno, another seaside town, where St Maria Goretti lived. As always, here are some photos.

Lavinio--I felt like I was back in California. Beautiful day.

Here we are in Nettuno. I took this photo from the beach. The building you see in the background is the Basilica where St. Maria Goretti is buried. This is the same place where she would have gone to church. The Church was rebuilt on the same location as her parish church. So, this church is literraly "on the beach."

The reliquary holding the remains of St. Maria Goretti. What impressed me most was how small she was. I had also forgotten that she was about 11 1/2 when she was killed....

We prayed our Hour of Adoration together in the upper Church for the intention of vocations. Then we had some free time to look around, pray on our own, etc.

Of course, you know I always have my eye open for handmade items. This altar cloth was exquisite.

This past Sunday I got together with another Sister whom I met when I visited the Basilica of St Agnes at the end of March. She is an Ursuline of the Sacred Heart. She is Chinese, born in Malaysia, immigrated with her family to Australia when she was 11, and ended up in Italy after joining her community! Whew! We saw quite a few things together.

After eating lunch at the Villa Borghese, a large park very much like Central Park in New York, we made our way to Piazza Spagna. The attraction there at this time of year is the flowers that decorate the steps. Couldn't help but make an arrangement with me in it!

Here is the full effect--well, almost the full effect.



A friend of mine from my days in New York is in town. Her daughter works for the World Food Organization. I'll be getting together with her for lunch next week. Then on the 19th, I'll be joining her and her family for the confirmation of two of her grandchildren.

And surprise, surprise! Someone came into the book center with a gift for me from another friend in New York. Anyone who knows me can guess what the gift is... Peanut butter! Yum, Yum. Good thing is that Sr. Giovanna, after spending many years in Canada, developed a taste for Peanut butter as well. So, two of us are enjoying a taste of home!