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!

Lord You Never Cease to Amaze Me

About 4 years ago when I was in New York, I went with another sister to a pre-release viewing of Enchanted. A couple sitting behind us introduced themselves to us--they were quite intrigued to see two nuns in the theater. That chance meeting kicked in a succession of events that ....

Some time later, I accepted an invitation from BustedHalo to participate in a Young Adult retreat and make myself available to any of the young women who might want to talk. There was a young woman there who I thought looked awfully familiar. I sat near her during lunch, and the gentleman who was sitting next to her looked familiar too. But the more I tried to figure out where I had seen them again, the more puzzled I became. Finally, the young woman refreshed my memory--they were the couple that had been sitting behind us when we saw Enchanted.

Later in the afternoon, this young woman came to speak to me. She revealed a deep fear that she had regarding having children. I don't remember what I said to her, but since I left New York I have often wondered how she was doing and what her final decision was regarding having a child. Well, yesterday I got my answer!

I saw on facebook that it was this young woman's birthday. So I sent her a birthday greeting, wishing her an Enchanted year. Her response to me blew me away: "WELL Said SISTER! Life has become Enchanted since I met you! You are right about motherhood. Thank you for your valuable advice! I can not tell you the impact of your provided words. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you!" Then I noticed a baby in her profile picture! And this baby's middle name is the same as mine!

Incredible. Since yesterday I have remained absolutely amazed and filled with a sense of wonder and gratitude. Somehow, the words the Lord inspired me with have given life to another human being. Another human being is breathing, is giving joy to her parents, is being held in the loving embrace of the Father because I went to see Enchanted, because I was invited to a retreat.... This is one of the greatest blessings that I have ever received.

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my Savior.
For he has looked with mercy on my lowliness....
For he who is mighty has done great things for me
and holy is His name."

Easter and an Adventure

I apologize for keeping all of you in suspense about how Easter went. And, after promising to take pictures of my first attempt at cooking in Italy, I also have to apologize that I completely forgot to take pictures.

The meal was a success, but what I went through to get it on the table is quite another story. I made sure that I found an Italian recipe for the lamb online; and last I knew lasagna is supposed to be an Italian dish. I thought the only new thing I was introducing was biscuits for the anti-pasta. Boy was I in for a surprise.

The week before Easter I tried to make sure that I had all the ingredients I needed. I had handed in a detailed list, but soon found out that because someone new was cooking, a few sisters were a little anxious that I would be able to deliver, mostly because I had told them I would be cooking the lamb on the stove top rather than baking it. It seems that according to tradition, the lamb is ALWAYS baked. But due to the fact that the ovens would be occuped with other things, I could not bake the lamb.... Even though I tried reassuring them that I knew what I was doing, they certainly did not have proof of my skills yet, right?
Saturday afternoon comes around and I joined Sr Ercolina from my own community, and a Korean student, Sr Ancilla, from the 1st flood student community. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work preparing the lasagna so we would just have to pop it in the oven on Sunday, and prepared all the vegetables I needed to stew with the lamb. With that done, I went to the Easter Vigil at the North American College at 8:30. Easter morning rolls around and I rolled out of bed and went straight to morning mass at 7:00 so I could be in the kitchen by 9:00.

Then it all began. I had never used the kitchen on the 1st floor, I don't have a vocabulary yet for things in the kitchen, and my assistant, Sr Ancilla, can hardly understand Italian. Great ingredients for a comedy of errors. Add a stove that desperately needs to be upgraded, and you have the makings of a very trying situation for any cook. Every time I lowered the heat on the stove, the flame would go out.  And the flames don't go on automatically--you have to use a match to start them every single time. I had decided to stew the lamb on the range, rather than bake it..... Oh dear. So, Sr Ancilla became the flame starter of the day. I don't know how many times I asked her to start the flame again.
Then it was time to put the lasagna in the oven--Sr Ancilla, how does the oven work? Okay, she puts the oven on. Hmmm. 30 minutes go by and I'm still not smelling lasagna. I open the oven and it isn't hot at all. By that time, I was pretty exasperated to say the least. Thank God by that time there were other sisters in the kitchen helping with last minute preparations. They graciously agreed to watch the lasagna because I had to go to the third floor to use that oven to bake the biscuits! Whew!
Well, we got all the food on the table in time. The sisters loved the biscuits that I had baked for anti-pasta--hot biscuits with Italian cheese? nothing like it. I savored my longer than necessary so the lasagna could bake a little bit more. Then we brought out the lasagna. I don't know how many of them asked me what it was.... And to top it off I got a few blank stares when I told them it was lasagna. They had never had lasagna like that before. Needless to say several went back for seconds! Yes!
Then out comes the lamb. Most of them helped themselves to little bitty pieces. Then once they tasted it, went back for more. And I received quite a few compliments. So, my first cooking experience in Italy, while a bit nerve-wracking to say the least, turned out to be a good one overall.
Now on to my adventure. I had been invited along with the 2 Pakistani sisters in the student community to go out to a house we own along the beach where a group of sisters are preparing for final vows. There are three American sisters there. We set out at 7:00 and arrived at the end of the subway station to look for the bus that we had been told would take us to Tor San Lorenzo. We found a bus going there, but it didn't leave till 9:30. We had been told there was one leaving at 8:00. I reach into my purse, take out the community cell phone to call the sister who invited us only to discover that I had left her phone number at home. And, I haven't memorized my own home phone number to call someone to get the number for us. So, we came all the way back home, called the sister who was expecting us, went to Mass, got back on the subway, ended up back at the bus station. It's 11:30. The only bus with the name Tor San Lorenzo visible didn't leave till 1:30. But now I can call someone!

I get on the phone and tell the sister that the bus she told us to take doesn't leave till 1:30. But the information that sister Germana had found on the internet said that the bus we need leaves every hour on the hour and that the bus has "Nettuno" as the destination on it. There were at least 5 bus areas with "Nettuno" on it..... We finally found on that seemed to be the right one--it was leaving at 12:00 the next one was leaving at 1:00. It was the only one that seemed to have hourly departures. So, we're standing there for about 15 minutes, and Sr Fouzia says to me, "I think I see Tor San Lorenzo listed as one of the stops on the sign." At that point I look up, sure enough, in fine print on the sign 3 feet above my head I can fainly make out of the blurred letters "Tor San Lorenzo."
So we get on the bus, but still have no idea what the name of the bus stop is. Sr Germana will find that out for us as we are traveling out there. I agreed to call her at 12:30 for her update. 12:30 comes along and her phone goes to voice mail. So I text her. Then call her, still voice mail. Then text her. Then call her.... Thank God I had written my home phone number down on my earlier return trip. I can call home and have them call the land line to let Sr Germana know her phone is not picking up a signal! And, thanks be to God, my superior knew the name of the stop that we needed.
We finally made it out at 1:00, just in time to eat a feast that the sisters had prepared. And although it rained the entire time while we were out there, the company and the time that we enjoyed with them were certainly worth the "adventure" that accompanied our journey!

The moral of the story is, 1) always travel in the company of a 20-something who can read things you can't anymore; 2) it's time to get my own cell phone!

Last days of March

So what have I been up to these last days of March? Well....

The Solemnity of St Joseph (March 19th) is one of the major feast days here in Italy. And yes, we break the Lenten fast from eating sweets. I just had to make my own contribution, since, after all,
St Joseph provided us with tons of fresh lemons.... Mmmm. Mmmmm.

       Last week I staffed our French section because Sr Donata was making her annual spiritual exercises. I should have made a recording of "I beg your pardon, I don't speak French.

May we speak in English?"

     "Oh, but Sister, eventually you must learn French because when we come here, we always speak in French with the sister who works here."

     Okay, I'll add that to my bucket list, I think to myself. Then there was this one,

     "How can you help us find the books we are looking for if you don't speak French?"

     Now I really feel inadequate. "I will ask you how to spell what you are looking for, and I'll look it up. I also understand most of the French words that I read."

     "Oh, okay."

    I guess I did okay because some of the people I helped went away with a few books I recommended....

Then there was the man (I have a funny feeling he was a priest) who greeted me in song. I made a comment about being greeted that way, and he said, well, it costs the same. "Thanks be to God," I said. Then he proceeded to ask me if we had a certain title in stock. Nope. We didn't. But I told him that I would be glad to look it up to see if it was a book that we could possibly order for him. "You must be American," he said. "You have to find out all the information there is to know about that book." Whoa! So, he meanders over to look in the English section. When he had another question, who does he go to? The sister working in the English section, or the American in the French section who will provide all the information that can be possibly be obtained about what he is looking for?

This past Thursday we had a pre-Easter gathering with our employees. It was my first "party" with them. It was great being able to be with them outside of the work place for a little. Here's a little peek.

Last night I went to the Basilica of St John Lateran to participate in a Taize prayer service with the young people of the Diocese of Rome. It was a wonderful experience. The first part was a catechesis with Cardinal Vallin, the Vicar of Rome. He did a wonderful job. Then there was Eucharistic adoration with Taize chants. Loved it.

It just so happens to be my turn to cook for the community for Easter Sunday. What a way to start cooking here! Thank God we are going to celebrate Easter with the sisters who form the student community on the First Floor. They will be helping me. I am going to make biscuits for antipasto with various cheeses. The "first dish" will be Lasagna. Then we'll have lamb and artichokes for the second dish. The traditional Colomba and chocolate egg for dessert, topped off by cantalope with prosciutto and pineapple. Who wants to come over for Easter Dinner? I'll make sure to take pictures.

Well, I will be praying for all of you during this Holy Week. May the love that is revealed through the memory of the events that we recall this week becoming a living reality in each of our lives!

In the Ghetto





Last Sunday, I went with a friend to Trevi Fountain and then to the Jewish "Ghetto" where the famous Roman synagogue is. It was a gorgeous day, and I am so glad I was able to go to a place where I had been wanting to go for a long time. This section of Rome was developed by Jews as early as the 1st century AD. This would have been an area that both Sts Peter and Paul would have frequented, if not lived in, when they were here in Rome. But first we'll stop at Trevi Fountain--my absolutely favorite spot in Rome! (at least that's what I'm planning. I have no idea what order this program will decide to put my pictures in.... sigh....)

Belissima as the Roman's say. Words would never do this piece of art justice.

A street artist we saw on our way from Trevi  Fountain to the Ghetto.
One of the most original art forms I have EVER seen. Love the colors.

Well, we're not there yet. Yes, I got distracted. Saw a sign for the Church where St Catherine is buried. I have always wanted to go there since she is my patron saint (my baptismal name is Mary Kathleen...for those of you who may not know that). Outside the church in the piazza is an obelisk.
I fell in love with the elephant. Wouldn't you?

Yes, one more distraction. My goodness you can't move anywhere in Rome without bumping into something. In this case, I turned about 40 degrees from my lovely elephant, and there in front of me was.... the PANTHEON... tucked into the neighborhood.

I promise this is THE LAST distraction. However, I am sure I am not the first tourist in Rome to have this happen to. This is the famous Tortoise Fountain that I had seen pictures of but had never seen in person. It looks like I'm not the only one enchated with this fountain. These birds still just long enough for me to capture them. 

We are finally here. And this is the entrance to the neighborhood. Interesting apparatus here at the opening. Makes you wonder what made it necessary, doesn't it?

Small metal plates like these can be found outside of houses, identifying the people who were arrested, imprisoned and murdered by the Nazies. It's pretty impressive.

Some ancient buildings in the Jewish neighborhood.

The temple. It is lovely from the outside. I hope to visit inside of it one day. We arrived too late to visit the museum and the synagogue. I'll have to go back another day.

I finally made it to the English section of the book center. Now I have spent time in each of the sections of the book center except the administrative section. And yes, I am taking an inventory by hand, again. Great way to get to know the inventory, though! Here is a picture of myself and Sr Giovanna, who staffs the English section. We are on the roof of the North American College.

Disclaimer: Yes, I am still a sister. Our community here in Rome has chosen not to wear the veil. Wearing the veil is an option in our constitutions. Therefore, when I joined the community here, I adopted their choice. It's all a part of community life!

This next week, the sister who staffs the French section will be making her spiritual exercises. And I will be taking her place in the book center. Exciting! Let's pray another Pentecost miracle is in store! Thank God most of the people who come into the book center also speak Italian.... But when you have to look up French titles...well, I will let you know how it goes.

Rome from on high

It's been a marvelous week. The weather has been perfect--cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. Not a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions to see Rome from on high. That "high", of course, is the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica.

I went with a sister from Korea who came to Italy 8 months ago and is still struggling with the language. We had a wonderful time! See for yourself!

After takiing an elevator, we arrived on the inside of the cupola high above the majority of the basilica. Here we had a pretty good view of the mosaics and could see how big they really are!

These pictures will be a little out of order. Somehow the blog program keeps changing the order of the photos and I cannot figure out how to put them where I want them.... This picture as well as the ones that follow go after the last two photos. Oh well. Here you can see one of the fountains in the Vatican gardens. This one has a huge image of an eagle on top, reminiscent of imperial Rome....

What a view of the piazza, Via della Conciliazione, and beyond!

Papal insignia made out of flora.... Beautiful.

Castel Sant'Angelo, among other things.

The papal palace is to the front right. It's the building with the blue-greenish trim.

A view of the statues that stand on top of the facade of St Peter's,
along with the roof on top of the body of the basilica.

Looking down on the roof of one of the side chapels.

A view of the cupola from the level of the roof of the body of the basilica.

One of the mosaics at eye-level. Here we could observe the slight necessary distortions of the images which, when seen from below along the curve of the cupola, look proportionate and perfect.

Climing these stairs is not for everyone.
It is very narrow at a certain point, there are no handrails, and the sides curve with the curve of the structure of the cupola. Here is my companion--from the back. My apologies....

As for my work in our book center, I spent most of this past week "underground." I have been learning how to do the shipping and receiving because the employee who does that will be out most of this coming week. Thank God I don't have to learn that from scratch since I have had experience doing that in our book centers in the US.

This morning, Sr Giovanna invited me to go with her to the English College to attend their liturgy. About 20 priests concelebrated the Mass. The singing was absolutely incredible--mostly Gregorian Chant. Three soloists chanted a rendition of the Gospel of the Transfiguration for the offertory hymn. It brought tears to my eyes. I think I might be going back!