Dear Sisters all,

Today all the contemplatives gathered again at Urbaniana Pontifical University. We listened to talks by members of CICLSAL: Fr. Paciolla on autonomy, Msgr. Carballo on enclosure (biblical/theological roots) and Msgr. Pepe on the present and future of Federations. In sharing with Srs Bernadette Therese, Mary Clare and Angel during breaks we all affirmed the sense that the Congregation actually read and listened to our answers to the Roman questionnaire, which was heartening.
None of the speakers want to commit to what the final document that is "in the hands of the Holy Father" will say but their talks gave a sense of the wide sweep of it. My guess is that the un-associated monasteries will still have a choice about the matter. However, the emphasis placed on the importance of considering it as an obligation was very strong indeed. Great emphasis was placed on the PURPOSE for enclosure - our response to an invitation to give ourselves entirely to the search for God - rather than the structures of enclosure. It was actually inspiring. In the Q&A session during the last hour today we were urged (again) - particularly those who are Major Superiors - to take the responsibility for our own choices without asking permissions. From what was said it is possible (perhaps even likely) that the issue of a religious assistant for Assoc/Feds will rise from the ashes again. I'm certain this question will be raised at the meeting with the Generalate on the 3rd.
Speaking of which - Fr. Rafal made an appearance at the Salesianum, where we were finishing our dinner (around 9pm!) to announce that the meeting with the Generalate will take place there - at the Salesianum - on the 3rd, rather than at the Teresianum.
So! A few photos...

Here we are - ready for another day. 

Fr. Paciolla is speaking here.

As we had a 3-hour break in the day (including lunch), BT and I went exploring. We did not have time to tour the Coliseum but we got there and could experience it from close up. 

A hallway looking into the Coliseum. Really awesome to be there! We both spoke about connecting this experience with Therese's. 

Lunch at a nearby cafe...Pizza, of course!

Tempted by the near-by beverages!

Back for the afternoon session - Notice our American Sisters: Mary Clare, Angel in the back, Mother Virginia Marie and Mother Celeste in the front. 

A French Carmelite and two Italian OCD's to Mother Celeste's right.

Today the headphones worked seamlessly! Alleluia!

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. The Pope will speak to all the religious (4,000+ expected) in Paul VI Hall. BT and I are going  early in a cab with Mother May Catherine and her companion, Marion (sp?) in hopes of getting a better seat to see the Pope! BT has a way of managing the crowds that's awesome to witness. I may just give her my phone to take a selfie when she gets near enough to meet the Pope!

Blessings and love to all! 

Dear Sisters,
I don't have as many photos today. The reason: all the contemplatives were at Urbaniana Pontifical University all day (this time I spelled it right!) listening to talks -sections of which I missed. Well, the room was warm and the simultaneous translations mesmerizing....However, what I heard was excellent - especially Sr. Fernanda Barbiero, SMSD, who spoke about formation.
 Beginning with her talk the responses to the themes the Associations were asked to address in the questionnaire from Rome 18 months ago are being reflected back to us as a synthesis. It was heartening to hear Sr. Fernanda say that she spent 3 months pouring over more than 2,000 responses to the questionnaire and that she received particular insights about formation from the responses of the Carmelites and Poor Clares - specifically that formation today is seen as a process, a dynamic movement rather than the accumulation of information. It made me feel we were listened to - that our work did not end up in the bottom of the Tiber river! Sr. Jennifer (Australia) was able to retrieve a copy of her paper in English (Sr. F presented in Italian) and will share it with many of us when she has a way of doing so.
Though the Urbaniana had a much better equipment overall for simultaneous translation - BT's stopped working almost immediately. So we shared the ear buds. Sitting side by side, I had the L one in my right ear and BT had R one in her left ear. It worked! (Clever, these CCA nuns :)
So here are a few photos...

There are 4 more rows of nuns around this room.

The presenters:

Sr. Fernanda, Msgr Pepe, Cardinal Aviz, Msgr Pacciolla (I think that is the last one!)

The lunch they served us was really outstanding in every way including presentation:

Fresh flowers

Pasta to die for!

There are a few less Italian pastries on the planet thanks to Moi. :)

After lunch - those of us still able to walk went to small group discussions in language groups. There were 4 groups of  English-speaking nuns - 20 each. I was promptly asked to be secretary for reasons that are simply beyond me. They told me, "Well, you look the part." Hmmm. I probably look like a sucker. The proof?  I did it.

I really enjoyed the small group. I discovered 4 Americans in my group who I didn't know were Americans. Three poor-Clare nuns and a Visitandine, who facilitated. We shared about formation: what were the challenges and what were the signs of vitality? Besides the Americans, there were sisters from India, Africa, Scotland, Ireland, Holland (yes, our dear Lucia), Germany and Austria. Marvelous! We all said one of the signs of vitality is that we were invited to Rome and we were now able to have time speaking with each other as women religious about our own experiences. 

Following this we had an hour of adoration in the chapel - the same chapel pictured in my blog yesterday. The silence was interspersed with short readings and chanting - all planned and presented by a women's religious group - I THINK Sisters of the Divine Word. One of the nuns, dressed in a white robe moved slowly up the main aisle carrying incense, gently raising and lowering it from one side to the other until she reached the front and placed it before the Blessed Sacrament. It did my heart good. 

We waited in the bus terminal for 30 mins at least. A sight - hundreds of nuns waiting...

Tomorrow we will hear talks about autonomy, enclosure and the future of Federations...all themes we addressed in our responses. 

And by the way, 'THE' document we are all waiting for is "on the Pope's desk. It is not finished quite yet. It will not be long before you receive it." 

The time is passing quickly. And each day BT and I are aware that we are here on behalf of our wonderful CCA Sisters. Thank you for the privilege of serving you! 

Love and ciao! ciao! for now...

Hello, dear Sisters,

The end of another eventful and very full day! BT and I have learned by experience a few things we did not expect on this trip...there is a LOT of security and a LOT of walking involved! And this on cobblestone sidewalks, hills and steps. Our hearts have gone out to one of the OCD German nuns who is using a walker and a few other nuns we've seen with canes and who are otherwise challenged by the distances. Nothing in the literature we received could have prepared anyone for this.
And the security...! More than Swiss guards...there are armed military at key points all around the Vatican and the equivalent of a TSA check every time you go inside the area of the Vatican. Keep in mind there are 4,000 + religious at this meeting! This morning we arrived to join a security check point line that stretched on beyond our vision. It took us an hour just to get through. See below...

Finally through security - BT passes the Swiss guards.

Paul VI Hall is the smaller, white building in the background.

We were at least 45 mins. late for the first presentation

A veritable SEA of religious of every variety!

We were all given these headphones to pick up simultaneous translations. They were, unfortunately, very cheap and many of us - BT and I included - had to turn ours in at some point because they stopped working. Very frustrating! 

From L: Srs Allain, Marie Therese (Africa), ? (New Guinea), Christine and BT in Paul VI Hall

The contemplatives were served lunch in the Urbanian College. (Not sure that name is right - but I'm too tired to check!). It was another considerable walk. I photographed this delightful group of Korean Carmelites along the way. 

Lunch was spectacular and so was the company!

L. Sr. Lucia (Holland) and Sr. Anne Maire (Mauritius)

Contemplatives from Mexico

Below...Contemplatives....not sure from where...

Very distinctive habits with an emblem of the Blessed Sacrament on their scapulars.

I found a Franciscan Nun from Santa Clara, Espana and introduced myself as we were among a very small number of contemplatives without veils! (I counted 5 out of about 900 - 1,000! Another was a Visitation Nuns from MI)

We made our way up the hill for Mass. 

BT here with Mother May Catherine and companion from the Philippines. 

The college chapel where we celebrated Eucharist. 

Before Mass...

In order to re-enter Paula VI Hall for the afternoon talks we were absolutely amazed to have to go through security AGAIN after lunch.

 It was dark by the time we came out!

BT and I enjoyed dinner at 8pm with the 2 sisters on the right from Croatia: 

Srs. Mirjam and Jelena. Delightful people. And Sr. Mirjam's English is excellent.

(Cannot remember the nation of the Sr. on the left!)

Not much left of that bottle when I left to write my blog tonight. 

I hope this gives you an idea of our amazing time here in Rome! BT sends love along with me. 

Blessings and love! 

Dear Sisters -
An amazing day discovering St. Peter's in the fog, from inside, from the dome, from the crypt  - and ending with a magnificent Vigil liturgy with all the religious. I will try to capture highlights in photos.

Srs BT, Mary Clare, Angel and I set out in a cab for St. Peter's where we planned to meet Fr. Daniel Chowning.
Our first view was in the fog. No site of the dome at all.
We couldn't believe we were actually here after having seen this so many, many times on TV! Really a thrill!

The crib was still up in the center square. 

After passing through security, we entered St. Peter's. I 

remembered each of our communities in my intentions as I passed through the Holy Doors. It is very symbolic - this opening to something new 50 years after the council. 

It was stunning to immediately see the Pieta to our right.

We paused there to pray. 

Lo and behold, St. Teresa was the next one to welcome us!

Here we met Fr. Daniel Chowning and from there he took us around St. Peter's. 

I'm amazed looking at these photos now. You'd think we were the only ones in the Basilica. But it was teaming with throngs of pilgrims. How I ever got a clear shot I'll never know! The Holy Spirit must have photo-shopped this for me! 

Believe it or not - here is the same shot from way above. We took an elevator half way and walked all the way up to the dome...over 300 steps Mary Clare tells us! Needless to say - we took breaks along our ascending camino. 

Proof! we made it! The fog was lifting and the view breath-taking.

The Vatican gardens shadowed by St. Peter's.

Crypt - St. Peter's.

I should add that the in-corrupt body of John XXIII is in the main body of St. Peter's. It is very moving to see. But somehow, I was not inclined to take a photo of him. But it is remarkable to be there on the 50th anniversary of the occasion of Vat II, which we owe to him. The 50th anniversary of the council is also one of the main reasons this week of consecrated life is being celebrated in Rome. 

A lovely lunch of pizza with several sisters and Fr. Daniel, a trip back to the Salesium (it takes about 25 mins) and then...

'The nuns on the bus' (actually TWO bus-loads) left for St. Peter's for the Vigil to begin our official week of planned celebrations. 

The Carmelites were seated in this section. The

Vigil was 2-hours long and included readings in several languages, lovely music in between, a homily by Msgr. Carballo (I didn't receive the English translation and confess I fell asleep!), Benediction and a final sung Magnificat. 

Look at all these religious!

And 104 (approx) hungry Carmelite nuns headed home for dinner at 8:45pm (!) after taking in the lovely night scene at St. Peter's. 

Please keep all of us in our prayers as we will you! 

Tomorrow begins...the TALKS! (15, I have been told!)

Love!

Dear Sisters,
Greetings from Rome, where Bernadette Therese and I have arrived safe and sound. Below is a little photo essay of our trip from Boston to the Eternal City.
I fully intended to start the blog from Boston but neither BT nor I could figure out how to connect to WiFi and we could not find a 6 year old to help us. Alas!

We flew Air France as we stopped in Paris and changed planes - barely making out connection to Rome on time.

We arrived just before noon and began our trek to the Salesianum, where we will be joined by a hundred other Discalced Carmelites.









Lo and behold! We were greeted by a Peacock at the front door!

Sr, Jennifer of Australia arranged for us to take a short tour of St. John Lateran and St. Paul's outside the wall - so we unpacked and set forth!

Both Churches have a presence of armed guards outside. We passed through a security check before entering the Holy Doors

The door itself is massive and beautifully sculpted. 

Our next stop was St. Paul outside the walls. Gorgeous! 

Before passing through the Holy Door the group gathered for a photo on the steps:

From L:Srs BT, Angel, Mary Clare, Anna Marie, Pierrette (Maruitius)

These holy doors have an image of Pope John Paul II 

With that, I'm off to dinner (early tonight at 7:30pm!) 

We are both so mindful of our CCA communities and that you for following us with your loving prayers!