The Wagners in Rome: End of the year

Kev and I have survived another year at the ESM!!

The farewell celebrations began a week ago with the annual dinner with Cardinal Rylko. As he is the head-honcho for the Pontifical Council for the Laity, he likes to come to the ESM at the end of each year and meet with the students. He puts them on the spot by asking them what they got out of the year, while at the same time, encouraging them for when they return home.

Dinner with Cardinal Rylko

We also had a dinner to thank all of our teachers, companions, tutors and the local members of the Emmanuel Community. I think the long-term teachers were a little disappointed that the students didn't treat them to drama and music created to mock them, as has been the tradition in past years. But they were thankful for the gratitude shown by the students.

Then came the 30th June - the last day of school. The students organised everything, and did such a wonderful job. They prepared all the food (it was the cook's day off), decorated, prepared the entertainment, and even bought two little pools to cool us down on the terrace.

Theresa made the mistake of coming outside with an umbrella, which in our eyes was another way of saying, 'please splash me'. So we did.

Flavio and me splashing Theresa!

After dinner, we had some entertainment. There were various 'acts' including slide shows, music, drama and dancing. Even the Team contributed. Firstly we played little clips of music while everyone had to guess which student it referred to. Then we projected an image of the student which had been 'improved' in 'yearbook yourself'.

Cris - before and after

We also perfomed a song to let the students know how we feel about them leaving. We changed the words from, "Knocking on Heaven's Door" to "Don't Come Knocking on Helen's Door" (after July 1st)

Then, to thank the members of Team who are leaving, we gave them a small gift. We got one of the students to dress up as Theresa - we even made a face-mask out of a photo. It was hilarious.

Kev, Hele and Jeanne (dressed up as Theresa)

The students thanked us for our love and care. They knew that I loved painting so they all painted a picture for me. It is a picture of St Peter's, with each of the students and Team. I was so touched as it took them days to paint (in secret)