We’re in Rome. After Assisi, Perugia and Terni, all cities in Umbria province, we are now located in the province of Lazio, where everything is completely different. No, of course not. There is no significant difference, perhaps Lazio is slightly less hilly than Umbria.
Rome is our ‘strategic’ point. Here, one can find all headquarters of relevant organizations and religious congregations, which could be useful for our mission as well.
Ark, Sant’Egidio, JRS…
I already mentioned Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), Ark community (l’Arche) operates here as well with aim for volunteers to live together with people which have intellectual disabilities. Here is also the seat of charity Sant’Egidio, which has communities around the world and advocates for different groups of socially vulnerable, similar to Operando’s mission.
We will definitely stay in Rome for awhile. Long enough to meet with some representatives of these communities in order to finalize our plan for our journey and voluntary work in Italy.
Yes, we’ll certainly be located in Italy for a few more months.
Different attractions
Do not blame us for not writing much about all the tourist sights of Rome. We could be writing a book or two about it (if we described it all).
But our journey is not a tourist travel by itself so we more or less write about things that concern our Operando’s mission. Visits to charity communities, voluntary work and people who are marginalized in society will be our main content topics.
We were staying a few kilometres outside the city centre for two days. You already know our way, a cheap little room, spacious enough to have a good sleep, but otherwise on our feet wondering the city centre.
Jesuit College
On Thursday, Rok Bečan invited us to the College of San Roberto Bellarmino, where Jesuits are staying and studying. Years ago, me and Rok jointly entered the Jesuit novitiate.
While I chose another path after a year of studies, Rok continued and was recently ordained a deacon. Once again congratulations to Rok!
Memories…
I was glad, because I’m met a few other former confreres from the novitiate. It was nice chatting with them and I’d be lying if I said that I remained untouched by all the memories from spending a year in Genoa – eight years have passed by. Time is so relentless. 🙂
Astalli Centre and JRS
After a pleasant lunch together with other Jesuit scholastics, Rok and Egon (another Slovenian Jesuits) walked us into the Astalli Centre, which is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).
We had a quick meeting with the p. Camillo Ripamonti responsible for JRS. Up until the middle of next week, unfortunately, no further appointment is possible, amidst of preparing the annual report in addition to a lot of activities connected with a recent Pope’s visit to the Lesbos island.
However, we received a contact to important person, responsible for volunteers, so we might already know some more by Wednesday.
Out of the jungle…
Rome is one of the most dynamic cities we’ve ever visited. Especially in these warm sunny days with crowds of people on the streets and congested traffic along.
By the way, do you know how to spot a foreigner in Rome? Look for a pedestrian waiting at a road crossing for a car to stop. Italians know exactly it will never happen.
… to a quite clearing
After two days, we decided to retreat a bit. We found an apartment in Marino, a town which is about 25 kilometres from the centre of Rome. Do you remember our previous post? Arriving to Marino, it was like coming out of the jungle arriving to a small quiet green clearing.
Focused on our mission
“We shall stay here until we are all set.” we discussed excited when we stood on the balcony of our apartment and looked far on the horizon to that hustle in the jungle. “Or, perhaps forever. :)” we joked.
Apparently God did not understand this joke. The next day we prayed and read the hymns of worship. This sentence by St. Gregory the Great, a Benedictine abbot and the Pope, made us to rethink the situation:
“Foolish traveller would be, if he on his journey saw the way to a lovely meadow and be stopped to walk towards its goal instead.”
Do not worry Boss, we will not be resting too long here.
A visit to a Ark community
The next day, Tay Mar, a Jesuit from Burma (we met him in college), walked us to the Ark community, where he occasionally works as a volunteer. Unfortunately, that Saturday none of the responsible person was present, since we wanted to present our project. Today, me and Silva returned here.
This time we met Mr. Marco Veronesi, head of Ark community in Italy and agreed to a meet again on Wednesday. We also accepted a lunch invitation. Let us hope for the best.
Enough said for now. Lets stay connected.
Nace
P.S. Remember, God is working – right now, right this minute. Operando.
