A Series of New Posts Coming- Here We Go!

Well hello there folks! To usher in the New Year, here's the first in a series of posts to bring you up to speed with all the happenings here in Rome & abroad.


Let's begin with Thanksgiving- a very good place to start! (Yes, I am now humming "Do-Re-Mi" as I write this! haha!)

We began Thanksgiving Day with our annual Turkey Trot 5K race around Vatican City, known as the "only 5k around a sovereign nation!"   The 28' F temperature was certainly a shock to the system for this Floridian, but a great time was had by all, and with over 150 runners, I came in the middle of the pack. Many wore costumes- there were super heroes, cowboys, and even a hobbit! I borrowed a "Hawaiian" shirt in honor of tropical Southwest Florida, and off we went.  Below, you can see a collage of myself and Peter, my fellow Diocese of Venice brother seminarian, along with a mix of other North American College and Italian seminarians!

 

After the race, we were treated to a hearty, home-cooked American style breakfast on each hall.  What a way to set the tone for the day!

 

 

Soon, it was time for a special Thanksgiving Mass, followed by a formal banquet.  We sat divided by our respective states, with tables for the Canadian and Australian seminarians too!

 

 

We were honored to dine with the Honorable Ken Hackett, the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, and his wife at our table!  What a great time we had, enjoying traditional American Thanksgiving fare, many items of which were shipped over here to Rome, as it is practically impossible to find pumpkin, cranberry sauce, etc.

 

 

 

It was certainly a special day here, and one in which we remembered in a special way, our dear family, friends, and benefactors, in thanksgiving for the gift they are to us!

 

 

Thanksgiving week concluded for us with the traditional "Spaghetti Bowl," an American football game of the New Men versus the Old Men (1st year seminarians versus the 2-4th year seminarians).  It was an exciting game full of tough competition. We gave the Old Men a run for their money, but in the end, the Old Men took home the trophy.  Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the BBQ cookout and those of us who didn't play in the game helped raise the spirits of our team with an impromptu Pep Band!

 

 

 

Another beautiful gift that appeared towards the end of November, is seeing snow-covered mountain peaks as I look out my window on clear days!   I haven't made it out there to go hiking and maybe skiing, but in the words of John Muir, "The mountains are calling and I must go!"

 



 

 

God Love You!