Two Days In...

Greetings from Rome.

We are now well into our second day of the Augustinian Spirituality Course, which began on Monday, January 26th.  Our first challenge was learning how to get to and from the institute by train.  With the help of Sisters Mary W. and Carol Jean, we were set for the first day of class.

Our first session begins at 9 a.m. with a twenty min. break - giving us time to interact with other participants in the program.  The second session ends at 12:35, then we're off to the train station in time to take us back to the Generalate to join the community noon meal.  Besides getting a daily dose of mental workout with our classes, we have our share of good physical exercise.

Some of us waiting in line to enter St. Peter's Basilica

The topics we've taken in the last two days dealt were The Life and Works of St. Augustine given by Fr. Kolawole Chabi, OSA and Augustine: Christ and the Church, with Fr. Robert Dodaro, OSA.  Needless to say there is much material for us to reflect on between classes.  

S. Mary Juan Camacho, SSND

Settling In...

SSND Generalate

Nativity Scene, St. Peter's Square

Tomorrow morning (Monday), Sister Mary Juan Camacho and I will make our way down the Generalate hill, to the Roma Aurelia train stop and on down to the Augustinianum, just across the street from Saint Peter's Square. It is here where we will join 19 other students from India, Kenya, Ireland, Congo, Tanzania, Philippines, Nigeria, England and the United States to study Augustinian Spirituality. We will be 9 women from four different congregations along with a dozen friars from the Order of Saint Augustine. The studying will come soon enough - in the meantime we have both been getting a sampling of our new surroundings - both here at the Generalate and in the city of Rome. Today we were in St. Peter's Square to see and hear Pope Francis' brief Sunday address and participate in the praying of the Angelus. I'll have to consult the news reports for what was said exactly in his comments because it was mostly in Italian, a language which I have little comprehension. I will say, though, the energy and good spirit among those gathered was palpable.  S. Bridget Waldorf, SSND