By Deacon Alvaro Perez PES
Yes, today we finished our J-Term in Rome. Our day began with the Holy Mass in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle. Our brother deacon Peter Hughes encouraged us to sow the seed with generosity, patience and joy and then we had time for personal prayer. After that, we took a detour from our regular 20-minute bus ride to visit the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This community was founded by an Irish Bishop in Nigeria in the 1930's. I was struck by the joy that these sisters expressed, and by their love for Jesus Christ and for their apostolic work throughout the world.
In the afternoon, we had our 'final exam', which was a very simple conversation with Fr. Carl about our experience here in Rome. Some of us have already turned in our final papers and some are still writing, fueled by the famous Italian cappuccino. The due date is tomorrow. Some of us are running around doing our last-minute shopping. Others are squeezing in a last visit to one of the treasured places here in Rome. Each of us is wrapping up our time here in a slightly different way, as we prepare for our Canonical retreat in Assisi, which will serve to prepare us for our priestly ordination in May and June.
How can we describe this experience? There are many adjectives we could use: awe-inspiring, exhausting, deeply spiritual, challenging, exciting and much more. What is true for each us of us though, is that it has been a powerful experience of encounter with Peter, and so with Christ and His Church. The Apostle Peter became the rock of the nascent Church, and died just two blocks from where are staying. But he is not just a history lesson. We believe that this Peter is still alive in the uninterrupted line of 266 Popes. Interestingly, the new Peter lives just two blocks from where we are staying as well, and some of us have come so close even to touch him. As our Holy Father, he has confirmed us in the faith so we can become those ministers of Christ for whom the first Peter gave up his life. Our prayer is that, as priests, our response to the difficulties, joys and rejections of life will be the response of Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Complete trust. Please pray for us while we are on retreat in Assisi!
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