CMSWR Summer in Rome 2013

Sister Mary Mark, SCMC
Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church

 In a few days our time here at the Domus Sanctae Mariae Guadalupe in Rome will be ended and there will truly be sadness in the hearts of all who took part in this spiritual renewal program.  Although we need to return to the mission God has planned for us, we have had such an enriching experience here that can only be described in superlatives, and the bonding that took place among us over these three short weeks is what will make it so difficult to leave.

The goal of the program was spiritual renewal at the very foundation place of so much of our faith.  Without a doubt that goal was not only met but exceeded our expectations.  With generous and holy men of the cloth sharing their time and talent, and in some cases, their treasure, we were greatly enriched.   

Situated among what our liturgy refers to as  a “cloud of witnesses” we could hardly step out the front door of the Domus without finding streets and churches where great saints trod and worshiped. These holy men and women are now honored in their edifying deaths, entombed in gloriously decorated churches throughout this neighborhood and the entire city. What a wealth of Church and world history is here!

If you want churches, the Domus is in the neighborhood; if you want ancient ruins, they are everywhere and anywhere; even gelato is right up the street and so is the Tiber River. With only a leisure twenty-five minute walk to St. Peter’s Basilica and public transportation right around the corner to all major sites, the Domus could not have a more convenient location.

The accommodations were nothing short of first class.  The rooms with private baths rival a four-star hotel in the States with excellent laundry and ironing facilities.  The food was of excellent quality and well balanced, prepared by the Sisters themselves.  Community prayer in a beautifully decorated chapel with the comfort of air conditioning was of special significance for us who live in religious communities.

If anyone is even slightly inclined to consider this renewal program, do not hesitate.  It is truly a experience of a lifetime.  For those who are fortunate enough to consider studies in Rome, the Domus would be first choice with its ideal location and accommodations.

As I leave the Domus at the end of this program, I know I have experienced the Lord in a way that cannot be put into words. Grateful says it all!

With a grateful heart to God and to all with whom I have shared these days, I bid goodbye to Roma.

In the hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Sister Mary Mark, SCMC