A Surprise Visitor - A Viannista in Rome!

Who says that one can only aspire for "Rome no. 5" or "Rom(e)blon" and not Rome itself? Well, one of my former companions in the House of Angels (a.k.a. Bldg. D) and our former contestant to the once famous Doble Kara competition, found us in the Eternal City: Fr. Ruben de los Reyes! Since he was free this afternoon, I fetched him at the Vatican area and brought him to some places downtown which he did not see yet, like the Church of the Gesu, the Rooms of St. Ignatius, the Church of St. Ignatius, the Pantheon, Collegio di S. Roberto Bellarmino, the Gregorian and, of course, the Biblicum! After the "ikot" I brought him up the terrazza of the Biblicum where one can see the Gregorian face to face! So, Fr. Cacards, then, Fr. Ruben! So, there's hope for everyone, esp. from the House of Angels (which is under renovation, hehe)!

Reunited with Beato Pedro Calungsod Group, Rome

It was like the old times when we started in this new venue, the Sta. Marcella Parish just opposite the SVD Generalate. The members of the Beato Pedro Calungsod invited us to preside over the mass of the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Again, a joyful reunion of this dedicated group whose dedication to the Blessed and to their community is extraordinary! Meet the beauties and the be(a)sts!

Visiting Old Friends: Jef, Gem and Children

We were invited to dinner at Jef and Gemma's place last Saturday. A very pleasant evening with delicious food, recalling memories, etc. The children, too, have grown up so fast from the time I left 8 years ago!

Reunion with Former San Marcello Filipino Community, Rome

Today, we were invited to a bday party of one of our community members before. Their home is a little outside Rome but the view going there is breathless-- in all senses! (Ask me privately if u r intrigued by the additional expression!) As we arrived we were treated to antipasto (aperitif) and then the main meas which was calderetang baboy and grilled pork, veal and sausages! Well, the whole day was just eating and telling stories and recalling our old days... some souvenir fotos.

HAPPY SILVER JUBILEE TO SJVTS - 10 June 1985 - 10 June 2010

Hapit ko kalimot ug post da! Maau na lang naay link sa kang Fr. Frank nga SJVTS blog. Today is THE 25th birthday of SJVTS! Tanti Auguri!!!!! (All sing "Happy Birthday...!") It seemed coincidental but today I just finished my article on SJVTS for Windhover which Bro. Weng Bava, S.j. wanted me to write! I hope I have given due honor to this Alma Mater in that article. For all of you, and for HER, some of the best and memorable fotos I've taken through the years I was here. Onward to her next 25 years, the best in Asia and Oceania, and even beyond, perhaps! Again, according to our latest self-survey!

First Day of Triduum - Closure of Year of Priests, St. Paul's Basilica, Rome

Today, we joined the thousands of priests who have come to Rome to join the activities for the closing of the Year of Priests. We met our friends from CDO and we joined the large group for the talk of the Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, followed by Eucharistic Adoration and the Eucharist. Some fotos of the occasion--faces you are quite familiar with!

Rediscovering Old Friends

Today, I said mass again at where our Pinoy group used to hold masses on Sundays--the San Marcello Church just about 100 meters from the Biblicum. The group, however, is mostly new faces although the guitarist-musician is still the same, Jeff Jordan. It was nice to say mass again to a group after about 2 weeks. After the mass, I rushed to a lunch date where our old friends, mga bisaya from Leyte, had their apartment blessed by Fr. Sonny. It was so nice to see them again after 8 years! Setback is, we only took one photo! Maayo na lang!

Corpus Christi Sunday, 06 June

Congratulations, dear brother seminarians, on your ending your retreat! And a BLESSED CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY!
The feast of the Lord's Body and Blood reminds us of Jesus' act of giving us- not merely of some thing - but of his whole being. Things he possessed not but paradoxically he gave much more than all the things in the world combined! When one gives some thing, he or she gives something outside or apart from himself; when one gives his or her life, his or her very self, he or she gives something essential and life-giving. Jesus' body and blood is our food and nourishment: we cannot live without it. Since we cannot possibly imitate Jesus' act of giving his very own body and blood, how can we approximate his example? No other than to give of ourselves totally to others in love and service. This is what we find most mothers do to their children and husbands; this is what a dedicated teacher does; this is what a good priest does; this is what a serious seminarian does. There is dying when we give ourselves totally; but it makes possible life for others. May the feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord lead us to always give of ourselves totally so that in imitation of Jesus, we may give others a fuller life (Cf. Jn. 10,10b). Amen.

Via del Corso and Piazza del Popolo and Twin Churches

• It It was not the first time I saw it but the flock of people along via del Corso on to Piazza del Popolo still surprised us this afternoon. There's just too many tourists in Rome these days. Not to mention that Cacards and company are coming soon! Just to share a bit of this afternoon's walk which yielded bumping into an old friend of the Pedro Calungsod group!

Welcome Dinner for Rogel

For having come back from Jerusalem more than safe and sound - but even wiser and holier - Fr. Rogel was welcomed by the other Pinoy Jesuits in Rome with a dinner at a place of Fr. Danny's choice, hehe! Steak ra gud! Sumo na man gud nang ginamos or dayok with sab-a! We had a nice time at this cozy restaurant al fresco. See the evidence! Kanang dako nga steak nga gi focus, kang Danny na!

Feast of the Italian Republic, June 2