Day 10: The Beautiful (part 2)

Do we admire her beauty because she was clad and adorned with precious bits and pieces? Or because through her we are reminded of our relationship with a personal, loving Creator? Do we look beyond what our eyes can see and consider that there are many significant things to life than meet the eyes?

Day 9: The Beautiful (part 1)

Today is the 9^th day of my daily journal. Through a constructive critic from a concerned dear friend, I decided to change the format of my ‘project’. This week, I will be featuring the city life in Rome through pictures I will personally take, and try to educe some values which we often fail to recognize and appreciate because perhaps we don’t find it trivial, or due to the demands of a fast paced society, or most probably because we’re too concern with our daily living.  

Skipping a day!

c/o indysanchez.tripod.com

Yesterday was a busy day that I intended not to post something for my daily journal ‘project’. Aside from Sunday service, I am also working on my webpage design.  Hopefully I will be able to have my own webhost soon, transfer my every page counts blog there and do some more.

Day 7: Play like a Pro!

As of this writing, my thighs and legs are aching due to two-hour badminton game at S.Pudenziana parish with Frs. Romy, Jonald and Sr Mae. You should see us play, not because we’re playing like pros (although the two priests are) but we’re playing like religious (which after all we are). I realized too much generosity in a game will keep you busy picking up the shuttlecock, or teaching someone how the game works stretches the waiting time to maintain your adrenaline rush. But patience is a virtue, and being virtuous is expected of us, so what can one religious do in times like these? Anyway, we played to our heart’s content and ended up having pizza and a can of Coke for dinner, and then walked towards our respective nest.

Day 6: Interdependence

 Singing the "Ave Maria" during the beatification of J.Paul II in 2011

During my first two months here in Rome I used to celebrate the Holy Mass either at the Chinese Parish nearby or at S. Pudenziana Parish. I liked attending the latter's five o’clock in the afternoon Mass because there are less commotions, hence solemn atmosphere is never difficult to solicit. There was one Sunday which I found very pleasing because the choir sings very beautifully. Not only they lead the congregation in singing but the beautiful music they sung brought us to a deeper meditation, to a deeper appreciation of the fullness of the celebration. It’s one of the moments your soul will keep asking for more because each time you hear them sing you are brought to the experience of the Divine.                           

Day 5: "I am my brother's keeper"

Signorina Carmela Montanarelle has been working at the Portineria (Information Desk) of the Angelicum University for three years now. When I asked her about her ‘goal’ this new year and upon learning the purpose of my inquiry she laughed and could not think of any specific goal to say. Fortunately, my amiable insistence worked for her and maybe out of generosity she mused of the same goal she has been pursuing for many years now – to be her youngest brother’s keeper – only do it better each year.

Day 4: Achievements in Obstacle

While most of us are still in the holiday mood, Brother Miroslav Sanders, OP has been working on his doctoral dissertation since December last year.  A visit from his provincial superior made it mandatory for him to finish writing his thesis in one year time. Brother Mirek, who is a quick study, is currently doing his doctoral degree in Canon Law and has to be fluent in Italian. 

Day 3: “I Risk therefore I Am”

“For a change,” is what Ms Mercelyn Atienza told me when I asked her why she came to Rome. A native of Taal Batangas, Mercelyn worked at her family’s wedding gown business shop after completing a degree in Computer Science. However, a fire in her town’s market greatly affected their humble business and its operation. Through the help of her sister a shy type Mercelyn obtained a working visa to Rome four and a half years ago and has been supporting her family back home since then. This year, she made a decision to go home, for at least six months to be with her parents while at the same time ‘risking’ an opportunity to run a business, preferably reopening her parents’ former wedding gown shop.

Mercelyn with Fr Romy Velos, CS

Day 2: 'Mamma Mia'

Lilian (in red winter sweater) with her best friends

The concept of fulfillment for Ms Lilian Elizabeth Salas (or Lilian), a single mother who came to Italy in October of 2007, is to fulfill her obligation as a mother by being with her child. She is contemplating on giving up her job as a tour promoter of ‘When in Rome Tours’ who according to her fills her pocket but not her heart, in order to prioritize her family. Not that she is not because a big part of her sacrifices as a migrant worker belongs to her family. What she had realized is that no amount of material gain can compensate the time spent with her child and family. It takes courage, honesty and wisdom to decide to follow your heart's desire. Lilian knows that leaving Rome to be with her family in the Philippines would cost her to lose good opportunities but she is after better opportunities waiting for her back home.  

Day 1: Benvenuti al Sud (Napoli)

I had the privilege to visit the southern part of Italy, Naples, through the invitation of the very generous Monsignor Jerry Bitoon who since 2006 goes there every Sunday to say Mass. Msgr Bitoon works at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also known as Propaganda Fide. The Reverend Msgr Jerry hails from Luisiana in Laguna, Philippines, was ordained priest in 1979 and since then worked as parish priest, rector of seminary and vicar general of the Diocese. He was also involved in the projects of Gawad Kalinga and some civic group projects in his area, one of which is the cleaning up of Laguna Lake.