7th Edition, Autumn 2010

What a beautiful, long summer we had this year in Bella Italia! As we

soak up the remaining rays of sun and recover our scarves and jackets,
we remember the blessings, challenges, joys and sorrows of la stagione d’
estate.

As ICPE missionaries and seminarians, here are our stories:

Grace:
During the summer we had many guests dropping in
for a visit. One of these was Christina Lee from
Korea. She spent a night with us on her way to a
retreat in Assisi. We had a wonderful time catching
up and sharing dinner together. Grace Low also
visited our Rome community, departing only a few
days ago.

In mid-June we were blessed to have Benilda from

the ICPE missionary community in India stay with
our household. She came with the fruit season; every evening we
climbed trees and plucked fruit
to give it away to our friends,
congregations, and the Sisters
of Charity. We had a great time!

Throughout the summer we

also had the opportunity to
spend time with our neighbors.
We enjoyed not only a
wonderful, authentic Indian
meal cooked by the Indian sisters, but also good company.

Time flies! The scholastic year has started again, reminding me of last year when Claire came
to join our household. Though we were excited for her, it was sad to say goodbye as she
recently moved to another place with more accessibility to
the Blessed Sacrament. What a special woman she is,
committed to her call to the consecrated life and such an
inspiration for us to love Jesus wholeheartedly and above
all else. Thank you Claire! We will miss you.

Angeline:
Life in Rome is so different from living in any other ICPE
Mission Center! Our focus as an International Office is
mainly to carry out administrative work to support our
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fellow missionaries and local communities around the

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world, regardless of whether they are aware of it or not ;) .

Although our community life revolves around this work, we still make it a priority to monthly
set aside a day of communal reflection and prayer.
 7th Edition, Autumn 2010

One of our blessings here is living just a stone’s throw away from the Benedictine Sisters.
They have always provided us with our ‘holy place’. Having this accessibility is like climbing
a mountain of transfiguration and coming face to face with ourselves and each other in the
awesome presence of Christ. Whether journeying through monthly reflection themes,
supporting each other in prayer, praying the liturgy of the hours, having a time of praise,
worship, and intercession, or basking in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament,
we have been blessed with the Sisters’ generosity.

We have been kept on our toes recently with the quickly-developing Ghana Health Project.
This requires us to constantly update the website (learning from Igor how to manage it from
Rome) and revamp and create new dossiers for Mario to present to people interested in
sponsoring or partnering with the Project. We feel privileged to witness firsthand how the
Lord continues to open different windows of opportunity to lead it forward. We are thankful
for the world-renowned medical professors and key figures endorsing and supporting the
Project.

In preparation of the General Consultation in

Jakarta, later this month, we are assisting
the Executive Council in putting together
relevant documents, designing graphics,
creating folders, and coordinating music for
the event.

FRANCIS
After my first-year theology exams, my
three-month summer break of spending
time in Italian Parishes for Pastoral
Experience began. In July-August I stayed in a
parish in Varese, experiencing the Ambrosian Rite of the
Catholic Church and working as a volunteer in the attached hospital. It was a time
full of blessing and healing, especially through working with the elderly as I had lost my
grandmother last Christmas.

In September I lived in Vallo Della Lucania. The parish was situated in a village of 800 people
with surrounding mountains and rivers. My
longtime desire of spending time in this type of
setting was fulfilled! The parish priest was
young and dynamic, leaving a big impression
on my journey towards the priesthood. I am
grateful to the Lord who made all this possible
for me. On a trip to Venezia, I had the amazing
opportunity to read the Gospel of Mark while
sitting beside his tomb in St. Mark’s Cathedral,
and on September 30, I returned to Rome. I ask
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you to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in

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my studies and to a deeper knowledge of Christ

and His mystery.
 7th Edition, Autumn 2010

TONY
In the seminary, the summer season of July to
September means serving at parishes or houses
of charity around Europe. I had the opportunity
to stay at two different Italian parishes: St.
Ilario outside of Bologna and Ospedaletto near
the city of Padova. I had a rich experience at
both parishes, meeting many hospitable people,
growing to understand the pastoral needs of an
Italian parish, helping out with youth summer
camps, and above all having the opportunity of
being with two lovely, committed, and
hardworking priests I learnt much from. I spent
the third month
traveling, visiting
relatives, staying at the Benedictine Monastery in Praglia, and
visiting Switzerland before returning to Rome.

A highlight of the summer was visiting a hermitage of the

Camoldelesian Monks, who live a life of complete silence and
seclusion from the world. Their complete dependence on God
and total surrender and dedication to Him was very inspiring.
I was also blessed through some off- hand encounters with
former Catholics who were enamored by New Age and
Buddhist mysticism. They listened as I shared about Jesus,
who is alive and keenly interested in our lives even today!

Ciao Ciao for now! May God Bless you all!

To contact us:

ICPE Mission Italy

Via della Stazione Aurelia, 95
00165 Rome. Italy

Tel# : +39 06 66416078

Email: icperoma@gmail.com
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