Da Roma, Italia

Padre Mateo

This letter has been long due but without reaching Rome I wouldn’t be able to update you anything. I am Fr. Mathew C. George and I was the associate pastor at St. Thomas a ‘Becket for four years. I just thought of giving this introduction if in case anyone forgot me.

Before leaving St. Thomas, I had written in the bulletin on what I would be doing until I reach Rome. Most of my plans were on track and I reached Rome on October 3. I drove all over United States during the month of July and August mostly for mission preaching and visiting friends. I took a ‘crash course’ to learn Italian when I was in New York during the first two weeks of September.

Due to study related matters my trip to India was delayed for few weeks. I had my thesis approved and the final exam done by September 14 and the next day I flew from New York to India. My friends and family were very happy to see me. Many of them are my facebook friends and my intention to keep my plans to myself don’t work anymore. They all want to know how I got this many “girl friends” in the US. Since they all know me well I didn’t tell them that it is because of my “charming personality”! We had the consecration of the new bishop for our community in the United States in our Cathedral and Bp. George Murry from Youngstown, Ohio represented the US bishops there. I had to be with him for two days showing him around and had to translate his speech into my language during the felicitation gathering. Even though my fame spread ‘throughout the whole region’ nobody asked for my autograph!

On my way to Rome I stopped at Doha, Qatar to visit one of my friend priests and offered mass for the Indian community there. Having the freedom to worship in a Church in this country is of recent development and still we are not allowed to have any cross publically exposed. I felt good about the freedom I enjoy in India and is very proud about my affection to the United States because I never felt an outsider here. If you cannot appreciate what you have in the US, just spent few days in any of these countries! I am not saying this with any prejudice to anybody but want to expose the reality I experienced.

I registered for my doctoral program at Angelicum (St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University) and have to take few courses as a prerequisite. The University is less than two miles from the house I am staying. Most probably I will be doing some research either on the “Christological Aspect of Servant Leadership” or the “Ecclesiological Aspect of Servant Leadership” since it seems to me that I am ‘addicted’ to the idea of Servant Leadership!

I live in a house called ‘Collegio San Norberto’ more than three miles from the Vatican. This is a house of the Norbertine fathers where they accommodate priests from all over the world including many from India. I am considered here as half American and half Indian because of my peculiar accent and the way of behavior! I told the Polish priest here that I was Polish for three years and lost my ‘polishness’ when I started living with the Irish and had to become Irish! He started laughing when I told him that I speak Polish and said paczki (punch-key).  The medium of language of the house is Italian and I feel handicapped; but I am determined to learn it and registered for a course in Italian. The liturgy in the house is beautiful with common prayers together three times a day. You are expected to attend the prayers and meals unless you are in the University for Classes or out for an emergency. I thought of doing some kind of exercise everyday and changed my mind after learning that I have to walk everywhere! The food is great and the only difficulty I have is to use the common bathroom.

Today I was standing at San Pietro bus station after seeing my bishop who is attending the Synod for the Middle Eastern Churches. A young family with four children was there and they were speaking English. I asked them what part of United Sates they are coming from. They told me that they live in Switzerland and were in Colorado. When I mentioned that I was in Detroit they told me that they were in Port Huron. To make the long story short; they were members of St. Mary parish in Port Huron where I was for three years and they were there just after I left. Now I have a friend family in Switzerland.

Archbishop Vigneron was in the Synod yesterday and my Major Archbishop is a delegate there and asked whether he remembers me. Archbishop Vigneron then mentioned to my bishop that somebody from St. Thomas wrote a letter to him and was upset about allowing me to leave St. Thomas and the Archdiocese of Detroit! Next time when you write a letter please send me a copy so that I can keep it in my file and show everyone! I showed every one the picture album St. Thomas made for me as part of my ‘non-ending farewell parties’ (to use Fr. Pat’s phrase).

Now you can see that I still keep my story telling ability intact even after leaving St. Thomas! Studying is not easy and a student cannot enjoy everything in life even if it is in Rome. I need to learn to live a simple life - pray, meditate and study. Everything here is expensive and please don’t expect me to send any antique collections from here! I did pray at St. Peters several times including at the tomb of Pope John Paul II. You were also in my mind when I offered the prayers. I do correspond to people on a regular basis mostly through emails.

If you are planning to come to Rome for a visit or a pilgrimage I will try to find some time to spend with you. One family from St. Thomas (Anna and Mark Stapleton) is here and I will see them Thursday. Thank you again for everything you have done for me. You all are still very dear to me. I will continue to pray for you and include me also in your prayers.