Monday, February 18, 2013

Exploring and...

Many of you might be wondering what happened to me and why I have quit writing on my blog. (And then maybe it hasn't even been a thought tat has crossed your mind.). My absence has nothing to do with not having something to say, it is due to being so busy exploring and enjoying Rome and its surroundings.

We have finished our first module on the topic of leadership and we had a long weekend after we said goodbye to three priest participants and awaited the arrival of nine new priests. Over this holiday I went to Ostia antica, an ancient Roman seaport which has been excavated. It was very interesting to see how people lived in a seaport. Sunday began with Mass at Santo Spirito in Spessia with a group of English speaking pilgrims including the students of St, Thomas University who arrived in Rome last week.. Among that group are two of our diocesan college seminarians...Michael Steffes and Justin Wiltse. It was great to see them again....we ran into each other on Ash Wednesday at Santa Sabina after Mass. After Mass we attended the Sunday Angelus and blessing by the Pope at St. Peter's. The afternoon and evening were spent with a Vincentian priest who works in Rome....Fr. John Maher. Today I walked around the city and visited church after church after church. Tonight we begin the second module on art and architecture. I am very excited about this module!

This morning I spent time with Scott and Debbie Harvey, who are from Grand Rapids...they were in Rome for work having to do with the Catholic Committee on Scouting.





Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Rain, rain, go away!

When I first arrived in Rome we were enjoying unseasonably warm and dry weather. All has changed. Since late last week it has been cooler and with Monday came the unbelievable papal resignation and the deluge of rain. In fact the lightening and thunder yesterday afternoon and evening were scary and spectacular at the same time.

But I do have to admit I really do not enjoy walking in the rain...it makes me realize how much I miss having a car to get from one place to another. However, I would never to drive here. Rome makes New York City traffic and driving look tame.

Today is the last day of Carnivale, or as we know it Mardi Gras. Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and with it comes the beginning of Lent. We will be going to the Basilica of Santa Sabina for Mass tomorrow morning.

Saint Sabina, one of the early Roman martyrs, was believed to have lived near the location of the basilica. Sabina was a widow who converted to Christianity through the evangelization of her slave, Seraphina. They were both put to death in the year 126. The church was built in the early 400s, but was renovated many times, with the final renovation taking place between 1914 and 1919. This final renovation restored the church to its original beauty and character. The church was entrusted to the Dominican order by Pope Honorius III and since then Saints Dominic and Thomas Aquinas, and countless other friars have passed through this sacred space. Pope Benedict XVI will also begin Lent by celebrating Mass here. Unfortunately we are having Mass at 7AM and his Mass will be in the evening.

I want to wish everyone a spiritually blest Lent. Pray for me. I am praying for you.









Monday, February 11, 2013

WOW!

It has been quite a day here on Rome. As you have heard the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign at the end of the month. Many people have asked me via email and Facebook if I know why. Without offering speculation, I would seem that the best way to explain why the Pope made the decision he did would be found in his own words.

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI

It is going to be an exciting time to be in Rome. I will keep you filled in on the happenings as they occur.



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Time sure does fly by

I cannot believe it is Wednesday of my second week already. We have begun our classes for the first module on leadership which is being facilitated by Fr. Bill Dickinson and Dan Cellucci from the Catholic Leadership Institute. We are exploring ways to becoming more effective leaders and shepherds in the Church of the 21st century. In addition to our classes we had the opportunity to attend a concert being hosted by Benedict XVI and the President of Italy on Tuesday night in Paul VI Hall. Zuben Mehta was the guest conductor with an orchestra from Florence...it was a fabulous concert! As you can expect I have been taking advantage of opportunities to explore Rome and the cuisine of Rome....the pasta carbonara has been incredible and the gelato isn't too bad either. Here is a link that will. Help you make some pasta carbonara for yourself...http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spaghetti_alla_carbonara





Sunday, February 3, 2013

Buona Domenica

Happy Sunday everyone! One week ago I arrived in Rome. It has been an action packed week. I have begun to explore the city and last night I attended Mass at St. Peter's Basilica for the Feast of the Presentation of The Lord at which His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI presided. Today I visited the piazza outside St. Peter's for the weekly Angelus and blessing be the pope. These are but a few of what I am sure will be many adventures in Rome. I want to wish a Happy Birthday to Fr.. John Maher CM a Vincentian stationed in Rome. We had dinner tonight to celebrate his birth and the Feast of St. Blaise...Boun Compleanno John!







Saturday, February 2, 2013

Reconnecting

I know that it has been a few days since I last wrote. Please forgive my silence. We have been spending out time at an in-house retreat led by Fr. Jerry Vincke, a spiritual director at the NAC (North American College) and a priest of the Diocese of Lansing, MI. Fr. Jerry and I have known each other for many years as he was formerly the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Lansing. It has been a great opportunity to spend time in silence, prayer, and reflection leading to a reconnection with my call to priesthood and a reconnection with God. You are in my prayers! Attached are some pictures from the Chapel where we pray the Hours, celebrate Mass daily, and spend time in silence. I also included a picture from the piazza outside St. Peter's as you notice the Christmas tree is still up. At the Vatican Christmas ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.