Maggio a Roma--Race for Vocations

Bernardi after the race.

On May 7th, in the year of our Lord two thousand and eleven, I accomplished something that I never thought I would do--I ran/jogged/walked a 5K.  Yes, my 6-2, 195 pound frame made it 3.2 miles around Rome, via walking, jogging, and running.  Now, I would definitely not do this without some great impetus, and this great impetus was the Race for Vocations.  "What is the Race for Vocations?" you may ask.  Well, I'm here to tell you. Or rather, instead of trying to read my rambling words, you could watch this short video of Tyler Tenbarge, a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Evansville, and studying at Simon Brute Seminary, and with us for the semester in Rome, explain just what it is: http://www.archindy.org/vocations/race-video.html. So we in Rome, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Indianapolis, started our 5K at the same time as they did back in Indianapolis (we at 2pm, and they at 8am ET).  It was one of the neatest experiences of which I have ever been a part--running for a true cause with others made the universality and connectivity of the Church even more real, if that were possible.  So, this is the route that we ran, and the route, which makes a figure-8, actually ended somewhere on or before Ponte Matteoti: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Lungotevere+delle+Armi&daddr=41.91864,12.47028+to:Lungotevere+Flaminio+to:Lungotevere+Maresciallo+Cadorna+to:Lungotevere+delle+Navi+to:Lungotevere+delle+Armi&hl=en&ll=41.916298,12.465491&spn=0.017276,0.042272&sll=41.91815,12.465148&sspn=0.017276,0.042272&geocode=FUuSfwId9kS-AA%3BFbCgfwIdCEi-AClXd5Ev8GAvEzEBJWB7nk8JEw%3BFRbDfwIdQiS-AA%3BFUPKfwIdFhq-AA%3BFZiffwId-E2-AA%3BFUGQfwIdQkW-AA&vpsrc=6&gl=us&dirflg=w&mra=dme&mrsp=5&sz=15&via=1&z=15  Afterward, we all had a great feast of burgers, brats, and dogs, cooked up by Dr. Coulter et al., and the ladies of Bernardi (Monica, Kelsey, Maddie, Katie, Maria, et al.) prepared the desserts and salads.  So, after it was all said and done, it was an awesome day, and it all ended with a great meal with even greater company.

Maggio a Roma--Beatification and Bernardi Talent Show

Night of JP II's Beatification--the line is about a mile long.

It was in Italian class that I asked Anna Maria, whilst learning the months of the year in Italian, "So, does Joe DiMaggio mean 'Joe of May?'"  Needless to say, I think she was a little confused, though she knew who he was.  Anyway, May started off with a bang, with the late now-Blessed Pope John Paul II being beatified on Sunday the 1st.  For the record, I was in Rome for it, though I cannot say with too much certainty where I was at the time he was officially beatified.  I believe I was in Mass, though, at Santa Maria del Popolo.  You may wonder, "Greg, perche? I mean, you were right there, why didn't you go? There was even an all-night vigil the night before!"  Well, let me clue you in as to why I did not go (though I think the Moosbruggers and, maybe Minh, went, despite having traveled with me from Austria).  1.  I had just gotten back from Austria/Germany the night before the vigil, and, after nearly 36 hours travelling or being in an overheated hotel room, I just wanted to relax.  Secondly, I was sick of Italian crowds, and did not want to get caught up in the 1,000,000+ crowd of Italians, Polacks, Americans, and whoever might have decided to show up for the event, in hot and humid weather.  It was a grand sight, I'm sure, but I was able to watch most of the Mass online from the comfort of my own chair and a nice ceiling fan to boot.  Besides, I only go to the big events (i.e. canonizations).  Later that night though, some of us wanted to see JP II's casket, which had been exhumed for the event, and is now in his tomb, which is now on the right side, in the main basilica, in the Chapel of St. Sebastian.  What we found, however, was a[n Italian] line, which, if stretched from end to end, would have been at least a mile long, if not longer.  So, not wanting to wait for several hours, we decided to bag the idea and head back for Bernardi.  That was kind of disappointing, or at least it would have been had I not been walking back in Rome, a little town in which you don't mind an "unsuccessful" journey.

    On May 5th, all of us at Bernardi expected either to be performing in or watching the Bernardi's Got Talent show, but what us men did not expect was something that I will not easily forget.  The women of Bernardi made and served us guys (and ate with us) an absolutely great meal of pasta, salad, and gelato.  In addition, they made each of us a place mat (which I still have) with truly meaningful and affirming comments, and they picked a saint for each of us, along with a logo, which they felt represented us--my saint was St. Sebastian, and my logo was the Notre Dame leprechaun (both were very apt, in my opinion).  As Jonathan Huber put it, they made us "feel like kings".   It was such a generous act, which I had never before seen, and may never see again; but to experience and receive so kind a gift as that, which truly made a great impression on me, was unbelievable.  There is really no other way to describe it than to say that the ladies of Bernardi Spring '11 are incredibly holy, charitable, and awesome.

    Afterward, we all went up to the salotto, where we witnessed great acts, ranging from the Coulter Family Band (complete with Dr. Coulter on the drum, aka the trash can), to Dan and Ephrem performing a dead-on impersonation of Smeagol/Gollum.  Other highlights were Paula's reading of her original poetry and Tyler's inspirational (if not thought-provoking) speech essentially on  why it's so awesome to be Catholic (no offense to those who are missing out).  I wish I had pictures of the night, but I didn't have my camera with me, and was too busy instructing others on the dangers of bicyclists (perhaps someone will upload them to Facebook--yes, I'm looking at you, Jodi Vasko).