Sorry. I was trying to come up with a catchy title. I went with the sales pitch.
Well, break has arrived for Kevin and I. Praise God! Christmas is around the corner! Yet, this year that doesn't mean going home for us. The seminary here in Rome doesn't allow us to go home for break, which is partially due to the fact that it's only three weeks off and a flight home would be out of our budget. Yes, this means no family trip down to see all my extended family in Mexico (guaranteed full of fun, joy, food; Mexican style).
While family Christmas memories can't be replaced, the Lord has given us a new opportunity of growth. Here in Rome, there is a great sense of distance from family, country, and all things familiar which brings about a new, deeper bonding experience between brother seminarians and, more particularly, with our Lord. In sharing the sadness of being away with friends, we become more like family. In sharing our struggles with our Lord, we become more dependent on Him. Ultimately what occurs is essential to continued growth as men pursuing the priesthood: an increase in Love.
That said, both Kevin and I will be traveling throughout Europe during the break, getting to see how the Christmas season is celebrated in different nations and cultures. Please keep us in your prayers as travel is wonderful experience while at the same time challenging and stressful.
Also during break we will be visited by seminarians from the Josephinum, the college seminary Kevin and I call alma mater. In this group will be Kurt Perera and Chris Axline, two of our Phoenix seminarian brothers. We look forward to seeing them and our other friends! (Consider this a shout out!)
I will end with some photos of my hallway's Christmas decoration. However, of particular interest is Kevin's hall way. Their theme was Christmas on fourth of July, essentially an over-the-top American pride celebration of Christmas. Here's Kevin in a Captain America outfit with some of his hall mates. By the way, they didn't win the hall competition for best decorations... my hall did : )
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