7th Edition, Autumn 2010What a beautiful, long summer we had this year in Bella Italia! As we soak up the remaining rays of sun and recover our scarves and jackets, we remember the blessings, challenges, joys and sorrows of la stagione d’ estate. As ICPE missionaries and seminarians, here are our stories: Grace: During the summer we had many guests dropping in for a visit. One of these was Christina Lee from Korea. She spent a night with us on her way to a retreat in Assisi. We had a wonderful time catching up and sharing dinner together. Grace Low also visited our Rome community, departing only a few days ago. In mid-June we were blessed to have Benilda from the ICPE missionary community in India stay with our household. She came with the fruit season; every evening we climbed trees and plucked fruit to give it away to our friends, congregations, and the Sisters of Charity. We had a great time! Throughout the summer we also had the opportunity to spend time with our neighbors. We enjoyed not only a wonderful, authentic Indian meal cooked by the Indian sisters, but also good company. Time flies! The scholastic year has started again, reminding me of last year when Claire came to join our household. Though we were excited for her, it was sad to say goodbye as she recently moved to another place with more accessibility to the Blessed Sacrament. What a special woman she is, committed to her call to the consecrated life and such an inspiration for us to love Jesus wholeheartedly and above all else. Thank you Claire! We will miss you. Angeline: Life in Rome is so different from living in any other ICPE Mission Center! Our focus as an International Office is mainly to carry out administrative work to support our fellow missionaries and local communities around the world, regardless of whether they are aware of it or not ;) . Although our community life revolves around this work, we still make it a priority to monthly set aside a day of communal reflection and prayer. Page 1 7th Edition, Autumn 2010 One of our blessings here is living just a stone’s throw away from the Benedictine Sisters. They have always provided us with our ‘holy place’. Having this accessibility is like climbing a mountain of transfiguration and coming face to face with ourselves and each other in the awesome presence of Christ. Whether journeying through monthly reflection themes, supporting each other in prayer, praying the liturgy of the hours, having a time of praise, worship, and intercession, or basking in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we have been blessed with the Sisters’ generosity. We have been kept on our toes recently with the quickly-developing Ghana Health Project. This requires us to constantly update the website (learning from Igor how to manage it from Rome) and revamp and create new dossiers for Mario to present to people interested in sponsoring or partnering with the Project. We feel privileged to witness firsthand how the Lord continues to open different windows of opportunity to lead it forward. We are thankful for the world-renowned medical professors and key figures endorsing and supporting the Project. In preparation of the General Consultation in Jakarta, later this month, we are assisting the Executive Council in putting together relevant documents, designing graphics, creating folders, and coordinating music for the event. FRANCIS After my first-year theology exams, my three-month summer break of spending time in Italian Parishes for Pastoral Experience began. In July-August I stayed in a parish in Varese, experiencing the Ambrosian Rite of the Catholic Church and working as a volunteer in the attached hospital. It was a time full of blessing and healing, especially through working with the elderly as I had lost my grandmother last Christmas. In September I lived in Vallo Della Lucania. The parish was situated in a village of 800 people with surrounding mountains and rivers. My longtime desire of spending time in this type of setting was fulfilled! The parish priest was young and dynamic, leaving a big impression on my journey towards the priesthood. I am grateful to the Lord who made all this possible for me. On a trip to Venezia, I had the amazing opportunity to read the Gospel of Mark while sitting beside his tomb in St. Mark’s Cathedral, and on September 30, I returned to Rome. I ask you to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in my studies and to a deeper knowledge of Christ and His mystery. Page 2 7th Edition, Autumn 2010 TONY In the seminary, the summer season of July to September means serving at parishes or houses of charity around Europe. I had the opportunity to stay at two different Italian parishes: St. Ilario outside of Bologna and Ospedaletto near the city of Padova. I had a rich experience at both parishes, meeting many hospitable people, growing to understand the pastoral needs of an Italian parish, helping out with youth summer camps, and above all having the opportunity of being with two lovely, committed, and hardworking priests I learnt much from. I spent the third month traveling, visiting relatives, staying at the Benedictine Monastery in Praglia, and visiting Switzerland before returning to Rome. A highlight of the summer was visiting a hermitage of the Camoldelesian Monks, who live a life of complete silence and seclusion from the world. Their complete dependence on God and total surrender and dedication to Him was very inspiring. I was also blessed through some off- hand encounters with former Catholics who were enamored by New Age and Buddhist mysticism. They listened as I shared about Jesus, who is alive and keenly interested in our lives even today! Ciao Ciao for now! May God Bless you all! To contact us: ICPE Mission Italy Via della Stazione Aurelia, 95 00165 Rome. Italy Tel# : +39 06 66416078 Email:
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