Saturday, August 27, 2016

Snapshots of my summer so far in Italy

“Apple-lanch!!”

Flash back to one of our first days all together in Cortina. The white van (“Vito” as we call him) arrives in the driveway and all are gathered to help unload the fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and other food items given to us through Providence to use for the summer. A few crates of fresh apples are placed on the ground to make room to take inside items more in need of a fridge or lighter to carry. The van is now almost completely empty as I carry in a couple of unmarked boxes of food goods. Arriving almost at the staircase that leads to our front door, I hear a rumbling noise that sounds like a car coming down the street. I turn to look and cry out to get the attention of Elena – the last sister remaining near the van. My eyes widen as before me I see what seems like hundreds of tennis balls rolling towards me…down hill. It takes me a while to have the good sense to put down my box and start stopping the apples from rolling too far. I hear laughter from all around me as the sisters watch the scene unfolding before them from the windows of the house. Briana comes out to help me gather those unfortunate many apples that made the long trip down the hill and around the curve to the main road. Let’s just end by saying that we had a lot of baked apples that night!



“Preferisco il Bosco” (I prefer the woods)


In all the hikes that we did over the summer, I found myself most fascinated when we walked through the woods. There is something about being in the woods that ignites my imagination more than when we are walking on rocks in open space. There is a greater life in the woods: running water, chirping birds, rustling of leaves under feet invisible to our eyes. The paths are usually softer being made of pine needles, and catching glimpses of the sky and surrounding mountains through the spaces between the towering green trees are views that just can’t be captured well on film. In the end my favorite hikes were those that included a large portion of walking in the woods. Besides it saved our skin from too much exposure to the sun and kept us cool on the hotter hiking days!



Community Photos

This year's house of formation
In the few days that the WHOLE community was together in Cortina, we were able to take our annual community photos: one of us all together (vowed sisters and girls in formation), one of just the vowed sisters, one of each of the houses we have in Italy and in the States. This can sometimes be a “painful” process (or at least from what I hear since this is my first real experience with it) since it can be hard to convince over 20 women that one picture captured the “best side” of each of them in it. But we managed to get it done rather quickly and are all happy with the turn out. As you can see, we are quite the beautiful bunch! J



Week of Spirituality for Priests


As an opportunity to give back to those who minister to so many others and in exercising an aspect of our charism, we organized a week of Spirituality for Priests. These priests came from the States and also parts of Italy but the main chunk of the week was spent in English (meditations, masses, general conversations, games…). The various activities included hikes (with mass in the mountains), a trip to Padua, a day of silent retreat, game nights, a movie night, and a farewell night complete with skits to recall the adventures of the week. This was one of my favorite weeks of the summer as I was able to see more clearly the aspect of our charism that supports priests both spiritually and humanly. It was beautiful for me to see how our community has a gift of making a home for those who encounter us and the way the priests were free to just be who they are. This was a week spiritually rich but also rich in laughter, jokes, stories, and good solid fun! I already look forward to the next time we have the opportunity to invite more priests to share in this week of spirituality!



Tunnel Adventures


This year in particular, we found ourselves at many hikes with trenches from the First World War. Unfortunately, much of the fighting took place in the Dolomite Mountains where we were. In me this created first of all a desire to pray for the many men (perhaps younger than I am now) who lost their lives in these mountains. I found myself compelled to constantly think of them and attempt to enter into how they must have experienced these mountains that we came to with hopes of beautiful landscapes and physical exercise. I thought of them most when wondering around in the trenches and tunnels that remain as memorials of the terrible war almost forgotten by the younger generations of our world. Despite more sensitivity to the seriousness of the reason for the existence of these trenches and tunnels, I must also admit that I found myself immersed in the allure of adventure and discovery. I wanted to walk in every trench and crawl through every tunnel to see where it might lead or what I might find inside. In fact, we found some very neat tunnels, many that eventually ended but some that came out in different trenches. There’s a certain adrenaline that comes with entering with light, making it to total darkness, and then just barely seeing a light before you that grows as you approach it until you recognize it as another way out! The best tunnel was one dug in the mountain of the Rifugio Lagozuoi. This tunnel was originally constructed in 1917 by
Trench tunnel at Monte Piana
the Italian army as a surprise to the enemy on the other side. The construction started on February 1 and was finished at midnight on June 16. In total the tunnel is 1100 meters long. Inside the tunnel is more than just a “one way street”. There are many side tunnels that lead to other necessary rooms like a place to transport supplies to the troops through a pulley system that was operated only at night to avoid enemy fire. There were also other holes that were just errors made in the construction of the tunnel. You can image the difficulty in knowing the right direction to go when you are trying to dig a hole in the mountain from inside of it. As we walked through this tunnel enjoying its fun twists and turns never knowing what to expect around the next corner (we couldn’t see beyond the light from our individual flashlights anyways), we made sure to say a prayer for all of the men who lost their lives fighting in these tunnels and trenches that we now see as merely places for exploration and enjoyment. The sad story of this tunnel is that when they finished their 4 months of nonstop work, they broke through the other side of the mountain only to find that the enemy had anticipated their arrival and many Italian lives ended up being lost. I have been holding the souls of these soldiers dear in my heart in these days feeling called to pray for them. Adventures aside, it is sobering to think how our coming to these mountains to marvel at their beauty is a lot different than those who came to them to be surrounded by the ugliness of broken humanity. Let us pray for all the souls lost to war and all those in danger by them in our present world!



“Regina della Lavatrice”


This means: Queen of the Washing Machine. Nice way of titling a chore huh? In reality, I was “in charge” only for the last week or so. Before that Michela did it on her own and then I acted as Simona’s assistant until she left to return to Rome. Like my mom does at home, Italians hang out there clothes instead of using a dryer. Many households don’t even own a dryer. This train of thought is fueled by the belief that Italian clothes aren’t made to withstand a cycle in the dryer and will certainly shrink. I’m not brave enough to test that theory so I hung everything out that wasn’t a sheet, pillowcase, or towel (because the house where we were is actually one of the few with a dryer). I didn’t get a picture of it but the view from the balcony where I hung out the clothes each day was spectacular. Nothing like a majestic mountain view to take this Texan’s breath away. However, with 20 women in the house at one time, the satisfaction of emptying a clothes bin in the morning or mid-afternoon was almost always immediately followed that evening by a cry of desperation upon seeing the same bin already overflowing. It was a job for every day. The rainy days were the hardest because one couldn’t do a second load until sure that there would be space to hang it out, and when it was raining and cloudy, the clothes dried much slower if at all. But on sunny, breezy days, you could wash all day without a problem. Let’s just say I wasn’t always sure which of the two I preferred – one allowed me to “get away” with less work but the other allowed me to actually get work done that would eventually have to be done anyways. It was a great experience. I won’t say that I loved it at first but it grew on me and I wouldn’t be upset to receive it as a chore again. (Elena, if you are reading this, take note!) Besides the other sisters are great help and very appreciative. It felt good being able to contribute in that way and labor in love for the community, our family.



La Val Travananzes


Aka THE. BEST. HIKE. EVER.

1.5 hour relatively steep ascent followed by a less steep descent into the valley.

7 (at least) more hours on your feet with little less than an hour break for lunch (by a lovely waterfall I might add).

No refuges or water fountains along the way. You have what is on your back.

All types of landscapes included: rocks, streams, woods, meadows, dirt.

Mostly flat so endurance is the most important thing to pack.

Moments of prayer: rosary, meditation, hour of walking in silence.

Surrounded by God’s majesty manifested in falling water (aka waterfalls), various flowers, bright green grass, clear blue sky, towering mountains on each side multi-colored by diverse dirt and minerals.

Feeling of freedom in the wide open space.

A breath that is deeper, fresher, and more relaxed.

Physical fatigue and spiritual renewal.

Followed by…

An hour of adoration back at the house that becomes an act of thanksgiving to our God who is so great as to create the nature around us and yet so merciful as to also give each of us life here and forever in eternity with Him.

A great appetite and delicious supper.

The best night’s sleep you’ve had all year.



“Rain, rain go away. Come again another day!” Intercession of Pope John Paul I


During the week of Spirituality for Priests, our patron was Pope John Paul I (not to be confused with St. John Paul the Great). Our main concern, being in the Dolomite mountains where the main attraction is the beauty of the surrounding nature, was the weather. So we entrusted this to our dear, not-yet-canonized friend who never let us down! As much as we wanted to complain about the rain we received at the beginning and end of our month in Cortina as a community, the week when the priests were present was spectacular even if the forecast initially said it would not be! Thank you John Paul I…pray for us!



“When you pray, say: ‘Our Father’”


On a spiritual note, at some point during my time in Cortina – I couldn’t tell you exactly when – I started addressing my prayers to the Father instead of to Jesus. I realize that in the mystery of the Trinity we are always praying to all three but it just seems more natural for me in this stage of life to relate to the Father and experience more deeply what it means to be daughter.

I suggest this reflection to you all: “Who do I most address my prayers to and why?”



Malborghetto: A little taste of home


It might seem weird to have tasted home in a tiny town in for North-East Italy (close to the borders of Slovenia and Austria) but it happened and I see it as a great gift from God.

First of all the few days I spent there with Janel, Tatum, Janelle, and Simona Lino were enveloped in family life since we were being hosted by a young couple and their 3 beautiful sons (ages 9, 6, and 7 months). Just being around their creative imaginations and watching their interaction with their parents and grandparents gave me a feeling of home.

Then we found ourselves at a festival of a village nearby. From the very beginning all my senses felt at home: the sight of cars lined up parked on the side of the road because there is no parking elsewhere, the sound of the bass of what I would later recognize as an accordion reminding me of polka music, the smell of the cooking meat and strudels, and the taste of samples of homemade goods, and the touch of sweat on my hands that comes naturally when standing out in the heat in the late afternoon.

Although we had thought we had left our hiking days back in Cortina, the following day 3 of us made a pilgrimage on foot to the Sanctuary of Mt. Lussari dedicated to Our Lady of Peace. This pilgrimage was a pretty intense once since we were constantly on an incline and walking an altitude change of 900m in just 2 hours. But at the top we found ourselves in a beautiful village-like setting. The church had masses celebrated in 3 languages (that of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia who share the shrine). The universality of the church was very strongly felt as we heard mass responses around us in all languages.
That night we took some time to stargaze since this little town gives no light to disturb the beautiful sight of thousands of twinkling lights burning millions of miles away. I even had the good fortune of seeing a shooting star – something I always loved doing at home when I was a kid.

Since we were so close, the family invited us to take a quick trip into Slovenia and have some typical food of the country. Unbeknownst to me, this typical food was none other than fried chicken!! So good!

Finally we were amazed again at the “weather providence”. The day we arrived it poured our whole ride in but the 4 days after were immaculately clear, without a cloud in the sky. However, in our departure, we were again accompanied on the same roads by another downpour!



Sanctuary of our Lady of Vocations


Once we were finally off on our way to Rome after a summer spent in the mountains, Janel and I decided to pass by a shrine she had visited “on accident” 2 years before when her car broke down near it. This sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin of Vocations since she appeared to two young children and revealed to them their vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Many people now go to this Sanctuary to ask for clarity in their vocational discernment or to give thanks. We unfortunately were unable to stay long because we arrived just before they closed for lunch but it was enough to ask for Mary’s assistance in this new chapter of my discernment of the consecrated life and the Apostles of the Interior Life. There were no new great revelations for me personally but I felt much peace and joy in this serene little place tucked away in the hills of central Italy not to be seen unless searched out.



Making Rome “Home”


Just a few notes on entering the city and transferring into a new way of life…

One morning I decided to go for a run – something normal that I did often in Texas. As I was doing so, I crossed a pedestrian bridge and began to run next to the river. At a certain point, it hit me that I was running me the Tiber River (click here for a “wiki-explanation” of why that’s awesome!). And in just about the same instance, I looked up to see a familiar dome that a few seconds later I recognized as St. Peter’s. In this normal, ordinary life event of running in the morning, I just happened to be doing so by the Tiber River and in sight of the Dome of St. Peter. Wow…

Something that is helping me to make this place my own, is my involvement in the cleaning of it and boy is there a lot to do! Instead of “spring cleaning”, we do “august/September cleaning”. I will not pretend to love cleaning. In fact, I will admit to hating it but…the Heavenly Father has not refused me any joy in the midst of it all. I often have to mentally put myself into the act of cleaning and get over my tendency to go really slow and avoid the work that has to be done at some point. Much of my cleaning is being done with Simona by my side. Simona is…wonderful (to use one word that doesn’t do her justice!). Why is she wonderful? Simona is wonderful because she keeps me going, and she teaches me so much in the process. First, her work ethic reminds me of my Mom, Dad, and Uncles. “The work has to be done so let’s do it!” At the same time, she is real and she doesn’t pretend to love all we have to do. She also reminds me that prayer is involved in every activing. “For whom are we offering this morning/afternoon of cleaning?”; “Thank You Jesus for this moment of purification.”; “Thank you Lord for this house we have to clean, and thank you for my hands with which to do so.” She is also fun to be around and speaks the same language of humor as me. This is a rarity to find (thanks Dad…lol). She encourages me and offers me choices so I can choose the activity that is more appealing to me. I may dislike this time of cleaning and enter into in the mornings with a long face and sluggish attitude but I know that these moments with Simona are precious and I will undoubtedly look back on them always with a smile and maybe even miss them a little bit…just a little bit though.

Another new adventure of mine is doing “la scuola guida” (driving lessons) with Janel. For those of you who don’t know, in Italy, it is quite rare to find an automatic car which means that Cherise must learn to drive a stick shift (*gasp*)! Initial emotions: fear, trembling, excitement, nerves, hesitation. Let’s make this more dramatic and state the reality that Cherise must learn to drive a stick shift in the bustling city of Rome whose inhabitants are infamous for crazy and – according to American standards – bad driving. Further emotions: horror, refusal, stage fright, freeze. But I have a great teacher who doesn’t let me stop at my fears. Janel might tell you that I’m really good at it and already driving better than many others at the beginning but I’ll be the one to tell you that it is Janel that makes all the difference. You read my emotions above…she calmed them all in very simple ways. Her calm presence and constant encouragement instilled in me confidence and even managed to convince me that I could actually do it. Thankfully as an added bonus, we have a parking lot near our house made especially for those who are learning to drive. This is where I made my first attempts at starting the car and shifting gears. From there I began to go out onto the one way streets forming the block around our apartments. Since it was August (the high vacation time for Italians) there weren’t too many people or cars around to provide obstacles. I so it as providence and mercy from the Lord whereas Janel found it to be “too easy”. The most difficult thing for me that day was starting the car up again after a complete stop. After dying out 3 or 4 times at a stop sign, a car finally pulled up behind me, honked the horn (which is normal here), and in my anxiety of getting going, I was finally able to do so! Another difficulty I have only lived one experience of so far is getting the car started when going uphill at a stoplight. Che paura! (What fear!) The only time we did it, I was freaking out so much that Janel held the parking break to help me out and as we got going, we managed to peel out and Janel, with a laugh and large smile, excitedly cries out: “I haven’t peeled out in so long!” Well…I’d hope not! The final difficulty I also only tried once was parallel parking. I can’t do this with an automatic car much less a stick shift! More to come on that adventure…Since Janel is currently on a pilgrimage in Poland (please pray for them!) I have a little break from “la scuola guida” but when she returns, we will try to get out there about an hour each day because I need the frequency to get over my fears and continue to learn so that one day I will be comfortable enough to even drive on my own!!

We will let that be all that I share for now. I could go on and on…why? Because there is just so much! But less time…Praise God for this new adventure, this wonderful community, and the joy He continues to pour out into my heart. Please pray for me that I may learn to truly abandon myself into the arms of the Father who holds me in existence with His love.
My house mates for this year!





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