Our Last Christmas in Rome

I still can't get used to having Christmas in Winter, in the middle of a school-year. As a result, it really comes around very unexpectedly. Back home I would have been selling nativity sets and snow domes at the bookshop for the last couple of months. I would have seen decorations in the shops since September. And we would be anticipating our Summer holiday.

It's very different here. I feel like we just got back from mission in Belgium, and all of a sudden it's Christmas.

       

On the 24th December we went to the Centro San Lorenzo (Youth Centre) for the first of the four Christmas Masses. After the Vigil Mass we went downstairs for dinner before heading to St Peter's Square to sing Christmas Carols. Some of the students lined up to attend the Papal Mass, even though they didn't have tickets - they got in!  The rest of us went back to the Domus for midnight Mass. Then we stayed up for a couple of hours to have drinkies.

Kev and I stayed at the Domus because it isn't worth going home for only a few hours. I got up again for the Dawn Mass. Then I telephoned home and spoke with my lovely family.That was definitely a highlight! After that Kev and I had a quick breaky and went back to the Centro for morning Praise, followed by Mass!!!!  (It's only once a year, and each of the Masses is different). 

Then we ran to St Peter's Square for Urbi et Orbi (the Pope's message to the world) and a blessing. He gave a short greeting in about 65 languages...what a clever Papa.

 Pope Benedict XVI - the little white speck on the balcony

We went back to the Domus for lunch. On a shelf in the dining room, there was a sock for each person which was filled with lollies and home-made rocky road. There was one for Kev and me, "Mum and Dad". Ours also had tim-tams in it. We have such generous and creative students.

 Christmas sock

 Our Little Angels

I had a little sleep to prepare me for Christmas dinner. The students cooked two massive turkeys. It was ace. We also had heaps of veges and wine and dessert. It was ace.

 Louisa, some students and a turkey 

 Kev and Hele

This was followed by entertainment. Our two Aussie students asked us to join them in singing, "Six White Boomers" and an Aussie version of Jingle Bells. I think it fit in nicely with all the other traditional and classy acts.

We were treated by a visit from Santa Claus and one of his elves. He did a great job considering we couldn't find the outfit - he wore red pants, a ladies red coat, a wig on his head and another wig on his chin, and a red WYD hat. Santa gave out our presents. (At the beginning of Advent, we took a name out of a hat. We prayed for this person each day, and then bought a Christmas present for them. That meant we only had to buy one present).

Funny little Elf and Funny Santa

The festivities continued until late. Then I rolled downstairs to bed and slept and slept and slept.

Most of the students have left for their holidays - and we can rest.

Mission in Belgium

Last week we went on our first parish mission with the new group of students. We went to Diest which is a small city (town) in the Flemish part of Belgium. I organised the mission with Leen - ten years after we did the ESM together. 

The parish were very welcoming, especially the priest Fr Felix. The weather was not so welcoming - the temperature ranged from about -4 degrees to 4 degrees. I managed to make it all the way through the 1980s without buying leg-warmers, but then caved in in 2012!  

Mission Team

Leen and I were visited a few times by Lili, who also did the School with us. She is living in Belgium at the moment so she joined us for a couple of days. For some reason, now that Lili is living in a French community her English as improved. She is so much funnier than I ever realised. In fact she has quite an Aussie sense of humour....constantly teasing! I told her I liked her better when she couldn't speak English. It was so good to see her.

Leen, Lili and Hele

The mission was really great. We held a few events in a theatre/bar, did street evangelisation, sang Christmas Carols at the shops, visited homes, and had different times of prayer in the church. 

Tasting the local beer

Singing Christmas Carols

No, we were not directing traffic or doing road-works. We wore these lovely fluoro vests instead of mission t-shirts. The theme of the mission was written on the back: "He is Coming!" (Jesus...coz it's Advent)

Speaking with people on the street 

- I had just given her a piece of paper with words of Scripture -

 Each night we were fed by people from the parish. It aint easy cooking for 30+ hungry little missionaries. They did a great job!

Yummy Dinner

Diest is home to St Jan Berchmans. Each day we prayed at his Shrine - the home of his birth and also the place where he is buried. You will notice that Leen and another lady are in the first photo. But can you see who is in the second photo....?  Look closely. Can you see Kev?

Chapel of St Jan Berchmans

Look at the window! I assure you that this is a genuine photo - no photoshop. The second photo is a model replica of the chapel. We had a lot of fun with this!!

On the last day, we had a celebration with the parish and the local Emmanuel Community. Then we had to say our farewells and head back to Rome.

Leen, Hele, Lili and Kev 

 Kev and Peter

Peter (in charge of the Emmanuel Community in Flanders) gave Kev and me a gift for organising the mission with him - a box with beer and beer glasses. He presented it to us in front of everybody. He said that he got us something that we would not be allowed to bring on the plane, so he would help us drink it straight away. He also said that he wanted the glasses back!!!

Assisi again

Last weekend we went to Assisi with the ESM for the National Emmanuel Community Retreat. We caught the train on Friday afternoon and arrived with plenty of time to settle into our accommodation (next to the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels).

It was a lovely weekend, with lots of time to pray and to catch up with friends from Milan, Florence and Naples. There was also great food, and because we are in Italy, wine with every meal!

The retreat ended with lunch on Sunday. Then we had to bolt to the station to catch our train back to Rome.

ESM in front of St Mary of the Angels