26 December 2017
Dear Family and Friends! |
| With the dome of St. Peter's in the background |
Jan 6 –
arrival of Catherine (the newest member of the House of Formation in Rome
Feb 10
– My 25th birthday!
Mar 2-4
– Young Adult Retreat here in Rome
Mar 25
– the 1st wedding anniversary of my brother Brandon and Jen
April 9
(Solemnity of the Annunciation) – Briana enters the phase of preparation
for vows
End of
April – Big Annual Retreat in Rome
Story Time
It’s
always so hard to choose just one story to share so I’ll go with the first that
comes to mind… This year we did a week long mission of evangelization in a
university town about 1.5 hours north of Rome called L’Aquila. Two of our
sisters (Sr. Janel and Sr. Francesca) go there once a month for a couple of
days to have one-on-one talks with the students and lead moments of prayer.
This was the first time for all of us to be there together.
In our mission we desired to simply
go out on the various campuses (the university is spread out throughout the
town in different neighborhoods) to encounter the students, start
conversations, share with them about Jesus, and let them know about the catholic
student center and all it had to offer them. Practically speaking, it was a
very simple mission material wise. All we needed was a smile, some flyers, and
good walking shoes and we were ready.
We were also joined by some of the
students already involved at the catholic student center as well as two
Franciscan friars and the priest who normally works with the students. In order
to be better prepared for the moments of evangelization, Sr. Clara guided us in
short formation meetings each morning and afternoon. The topics of these meetings
were various: our first encounter with God’s love, friendships, how to start
conversations, taking an interest in others with questions…and always ended
with a moment of prayer together.
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| With the students before going out to evangelize |
This experience of all day
evangelization was, I must admit, VERY exhausting. It was an experience of
constantly “getting over myself” as I had to battle shyness, fears of
rejection, humiliation, not knowing what to say…etc…over and over again before
approaching each person. There was also the tiredness of staying attentive to
the other person listening well to them and maintaining eye contact. Thankfully
we went out in pairs so we were never alone in this mission. During the
lessons, when there were less students out and about, we were able to share
with each other and in some ways evangelize one another with our testimonies.
At the end of each day I was always
worn out: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But I had something else in
my heart at the end of the day: joy. It felt good to do something
“uncomfortable” for Jesus. It also was a chance to remember the encounter that
I’ve had and continue to have with the love of God. My life is forever changed
and forever more full because of my relationship with Him, and I do want to
share that with others. I can’t keep this great treasure that I have found to
myself! And sometimes the only way to share it with others is literally walking
up to them and using words. We had a variety of reactions from the students but
an overall welcoming atmosphere. Many were even happy to remain and chat with
us for a while.
As I left L’Aquila at the end of
the week, I felt in my heart a bitter sweetness. I wanted to remain and
continue to cultivate friendships with the students I had met. Even today many
of their faces remain fresh in my memory. Praying about this, I felt the Lord
sharing with me an experience of His own heart. In the heart of Christ there is
always room for someone new, and the Creator is constantly falling in love with
His creature desiring to remain with him or her and establish a relationship.
However, the creatures remain free and don’t always exchange the love offered
them by their Creator. And as a human, I am limited by space and time and can
only develop real relationships with the people who God has placed in my day-to-day
life at this time. In returning to Rome the Lord was asking me to accept this
paradox of a Christ-like heart and the human “limitation” of space and time.
Sometimes I will remain wounded by the inability to continue a friendship or by
the rejection of the friendship I offer but if I continue offering this
friendship, this love, then my heart will slowly be molded more and more into
the heart of Christ…and I’d say this ultimate sweetness is worth the occasional
side effect of bitterness.
Well…as
I mentioned in the opening paragraph, my heart is in a very good place which is
probably due to the fact that it is in very capable hands: those of the Father.
I find myself repeating something very often in Italian: Il Signore รจ troppo buono con me (the Lord is too good to me). I
say this half-jokingly but yet not really. It is evident in so many ways. He
makes Himself present; He lets me feel Him accompanying me, and He, at least
thus far, has guided me to much growth through minimal suffering. He whispers
Scripture into my heart in the most opportune moment. He puts a stranger on my
path looking for directions just in time to save me from a useless day dream.
He blesses me daily through the presence of the sisters I have the great privilege
to live with as well as the classmates who not only fill the breaks between
classes with much laughter but inspire me by their “yes” to give their life to
the Lord. And His gaze…no matter the state I come to Him (in sin, in grace, in
exhaustion, in desire, with joy, with heaviness…) He looks upon me with the
gaze that speaks peace, mercy, and love. Like He must have done with the
apostles hidden in the upper room after His passion and death, He breaks
through the closed door and His first word is: peace.
Lately
He’s been inviting me into a hopeful silence which has been very appropriate
for Advent. His invitation is to take refuge in Him. Perhaps the storm is still
raging and no immediate solution is found but in this inhabited silence He
gives me rest and reminds me of the glory already won. He encourages me: hope
in me, hope in me. Hope has become for me a very sweet word.
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| On Retreat at a Marian Shrine in Southern Italy |
Prayer Intentions
My
exams!
Jan
18 – Ancient Greek written exam
Jan
22 – Ancient Greek oral exam
Jan
24 – Philosophy of Language oral exam
Jan
29 – Metaphysics oral exam
Feb
5 – Special Ethics oral exam
Feb
8 – Logic II written exam
Feb
9 – Modern Philosophy oral exam
A
prayer please also for Briana who, as I mentioned under important events, will
enter into the phase of preparation for vows on the Solemnity of the
Annunciation which is on April 9 this year (It is usually on March 25). That
she may be guided by the Holy Spirit in this transition and that she may find
her model in Mary’s “yes” which we celebrate on this great solemnity in our
church.
For the
House of Formation which, on January 6, will grow to five as Catherine moves
from Lawrence, Kansas to the Eternal City! That we may be welcoming and that
she may have all the graces necessary for this transition.
For Sr.
Kalin, just recently consecrated (December 9): that she may be overwhelmed by
the graces of a newlywed bride of Christ in the beginning of this new chapter
in her life.
I ask
for continued prayers for my family who continue to give their “yes” as well to
have a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin far from home and absent
for major holidays. That the Lord may give them the grace to accept this as His
will and as the best, not just for me or for them, but for all of us together.
Please
pray also for our whole community in all of its branches (Father Salvatore, the
sisters, the brothers, the lay people). That we may continue to follow God’s
plan for this new reality in the Church.
 |
| The community in Rome with Fr. Salvatore |
United
under His gaze,
Cherise
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