Saturday, December 24, 2016

Christmas Newsletter 2016


December 24, 2016

Dear Family, Friends, Benefactors, and Loved ones,

Today is Christmas Eve here in Rome! My first “Christmas in the city”, and I wouldn’t be honest not to admit that it is both beautiful and very difficult. Beautiful because I’m getting to spend it with my community – my crazy new family that has accepted me as one of their own. Beautiful also because I get to experience Christmas in a new culture, that of a city and that of Italy. Very difficult because for the first time, I’m not with my family who is the main reason that I am who I am today. And very difficult because the exciting newness of the city life also reminds of how much I miss the peace and quiet of Christmas morning in the country waking up to the sun pouring in through the blinds and racing to the warmth of the cozy fireplace prompted by the curiosity to see what’s inside the mountain of colorful boxes under the Christmas tree.

Today and tomorrow are sure to be filled with much hearty laughter as is always the case when the community is all together. It will also have its moments of tears from a heart both sad and overjoyed at the knowledge of being loved so far beyond its capacity to reciprocate and nostalgic for that life when there will be no end to the time shared with its loved ones.

Important Events

Please pray for my exams (almost all oral…and in Italian!)!!!!!:

·         25 January à Introduction to Philosophy

·         31 January à Philosophical Anthropology (my favorite!)

·         3 February à Logic I (written)

·         6 February à Methodology

·         8 February à History of Ancient Philosophy

Other Important Events

·         15-19 February à House of Formation Spiritual Exercises

·         25 March à My brother Brandon gets married to Jen!!! (and I’ll be there!)

·         29 March à Father Salvatore Scorza’s 65th anniversary of priesthood (our 90 yr old founder)

·         5 August à Francesca takes her vows in her home in Calabria!!

·         December à Kalin takes her vows (date to be determined)

Story Time

                Many of you might not know that here in Italy it is more common to have a stick shift than an automatic. In fact, we only have cars that are stick shifts. What does this mean? That I had to learn to drive a standard…in Rome. It goes without saying that my first month of lessons (taught by my formator Janel) were filled with much anxiety and heart dropping moments in the driver’s seat. I felt completely without control and like I was having to start over from ground zero. But it proved to be a very beautiful experience: one of choosing against my anxiety and nerves to trust in Janel and myself and go back out there each time accepting all embarrassing moments and mistakes that led to many “deaths” of the car.

                What I’d like to recount to you though is a major victory that Briana (my roommate and another girl in formation with me) had one Monday afternoon. Feeling by this point more confident in my driving skills, I still wasn’t fighting any one for the keys. However, that afternoon, after our weekly apostolate of doing evangelization on one of the biggest university campuses in Rome, only Briana and I were left going home in the car. We both looked at each other with little nervous half smiles but determination and also excitement at the opportunity before us of another one of our many adventures together. Having driven more at that point, I took the keys and chose to rely fully in Briana’s memory to get us home. We don’t have smart phones anymore and we didn’t bring the navigator with us so Briana was literally navigating us through the streets of Rome always succeeding in telling me to turn just as we reached the next street! You have no idea of the joy it was to see the church and piazza near our house that confirmed we were officially not lost!

                We were so excited and content with ourselves that upon our arrival home, after returning the keys to the other apartment, I begin climbing the stairs to our apartment (the 3rd floor). Turning the corner I am stopped in my tracks not recognizing the door as ours until I realize that I climbed too many stairs and had arrived on the 4th floor!

                I wouldn’t say that I’m an expert at driving a stick shift and the idea of having to stop and start on a hill gives me butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it, but I have definitely overcome my initial fears and anxiety. I can even appreciate driving a standard as fun and at times a sort of endearing challenge. Just a little example of what little joys (among the many big ones) this life is offering me!

Where is my heart?

                Where to start? Just six short months ago I was on a plane traveling to Rome with a checked bag containing those of my belongings that “made the cut” in my move (I arrived on June 23). In this relatively brief time yet one extremely rich with experiences, I have had my ups and downs. I’ve been through periods of prayer involving more ease and those involving more struggle. I’ve hit many walls I thought would be the last just before overcoming another challenge or obstacle in the journey. I’ve continually learned of my limits and also of my ability to do so much more than I’d ever imagine. I’ve been reminded again and again of the value and necessity in surrendering because self-reliance never achieves lasting victories. I’ve found myself face to face with the beautiful yet demanding reality of being a part of a family (my community) made up of women from all different walks of life and varying opinions and personalities from night to day. I’ve been discouraged and encouraged just to be discouraged all over again. I’ve done many happy dances from having received a letter or having had a skype appointment with a dear friend to correctly using Italian grammar in an everyday sentence. I’ve fought and won the battle against the irritatingly slow and complicated Italian bureaucracy to officially become a resident of the city of Rome. I’ve ventured out alone in the city to take the “mezzi” (public transportation) and arrive on time to my appointments. I’ve met many new and beautiful people enriching my life with each new smile!...

                And amidst all this, the craziness of this fast paced rhythm of life – one that could leave me forgetting to breathe if it wasn’t vitally necessary – I find that in my heart…in its core, beneath the wear and tear of everyday life…there is but a pulsing presence of great joy and peace.

                A scripture passage that has been following me these months is Psalm 36/37. One verse in particular caught my eye: “Abita la terra” (dwell the land). When my eyes first came across this verse, I felt immediately drawn to it. It is as if the Lord, through these words, is constantly inviting me to be completely present to my realty. He has chosen to place me in these situations, with these people, these difficulties, and these joys. This is the “stuff” it takes for me to be purified and become holy. So instead of allowing myself to “leave” this reality through my thoughts or distractions, He is continually calling me to be present to it even and perhaps especially when it is hard. With my gaze on Christ, I am reminded of the future glory (already won) that I am walking towards and I have the courage to accept, own, and truly live the reality that is mine. I see it as a gift, a work of mercy really. In His great mercy, God has given me this reality to lead me back to Him. All I have to do is trust in Him and dwell in it.

“The journey is not long for the person who loves who he/she is going to find.” – African Proverb 

Prayer Intentions

                With that all said, I ask for your continued prayers. They are certainly that which sustains me in the everyday, ordinariness of life. In particular I ask prayers for the grace to truly live this call of the Lord to be present to my reality. In the midst of anxiety (with these upcoming oral exams for example) I find myself very tempted to leave reality though my imagination or even complaints and wishes that I didn’t have to study or that I knew more of the material already. I ask for special prayers for Francesca and Kalin who will be taking their vows this coming year (Francesca in August and Kalin in December). For their preparation to give their whole selves in consecration to our Lord. I ask also that you pray for the people that we encounter in our mission: that they may find their peace and joy in our God who loves them beyond that which they are able to comprehend. That they may be swept up in this unending love and lead to the eternal joy of His Kingdom. And finally I ask prayers for my own personal journey: that I may remain always with an open heart to receive the whispers of God revealing His will for me.

With much love and united in prayer,
Cherise J

 
Our Community in Rome

Our founder Fr. Salvatore Scorza the day before his 90th birthday!






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