Flat Stanley goes to Rome, page 2
Flat Stanley was concerned on Thursday of the Council of the Congregation. Back home in Texas, it would be Thanksgiving and everyone would be eating turkey. But what about Rome? The Italians weren't on the Mayflower and didn't have turkey with the Indians.
However, Stanley and the priests and brothers were all pleasantly surprised by a turkey dinner. Actually it took at least 3 turkeys to feed them all. They still had their first plate of pasta: gnocchi. They also had salad at the end of the meal, like they always do in Italy.
Flat Stanley went to the chapel with all the priests and the brothers on Thanksgiving evening. They spent a half hour in quiet adoration praying for vocations to the religious life. They heard a few readings from the Gospels about how Jesus called his first disciples.
This made Stanley think. He always knew how hard Fr. Joe at St. Ignatius cared about the people of the parish and how hard he worked for them.
He was impressed with the many different brothers and priests. They all came from different families, different countries. But they were all friends and seemed to be very happy to be with one another.
Stanley loves God and the Church. He wants to live the way Jesus call people to live. Could Jesus be calling him to be a priest or a brother? Something to think about.
There aren't many choices for breakfast. You can choose some kind of coffee (there are many) or tea. There are two kinds of bread. One is a flat bread (very much like what you get at Olive Garden). The most common one is the roll. It looks really big. It is big, but it is all air on the inside.
Here Stanley is having his morning cappuccino and a roll. There's no Egg McMuffin or tacos. You can use butter, cheese and\or jelly. MMMMMMMMMMM. And it's the same...every morning....
Flat Stanley and Father John finally had to leave Rome. The chapter was over. They had to get up very early and leave at 3:30 in the morning. They were among the first to leave in the morning so they walked very quietly down the hallway to the front door. Brother Edward Dailey was there to see them off and make sure they were picked up by the taxi. Stanley noticed how the priests and brothers in Holy Cross take care of each other. It was hard for him and Father John to get up to early. It must have been hard for Brother Edward, and he wasn't going anywhere!!
They then went to the airport and found it almost empty!! That was very shocking because the airport in Rome is such a busy place. But then it was about 4:00 in the morning.
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| They checked in and flew to Amsterdam. When they got there, they were shocked to see that some of the potato chips were flavored with paprika, a seasoning used by Hungarians. Fr. John's mother uses it to make chicken paprikash. Both Flat Stanley and Father John were quite amused, but they didn't eat too many of those potato chips. They are on a diet. After all those breakfast rolls and all that pasta, they have to be!!!! | Flat Stanley was feeling sky
high, as well as he should because he was at 34,000 feet. It's a
long way down to the ground. He is looking out and window, and
everything looks white because there are some clouds, but also because
they were flying over ice. They were very far to the north, and
there was lots of snow or ice on the ground. Outside of the plane, up at 34,000, the temperature was about --70 degrees Fahrenheit. That is very, very cold. Flat Stanley decided to cover himself with a blanket, even though the plane does have heat. Brrrrr!! |
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| Flat Stanley was so impressed with the work of the extraordinary General Chapter that he decided to join Holy Cross and become a Holy Cross brother. He has his Holy Cross cross and anchors on. He hopes to work as hard as Father Joe Tomei at St. Ignatius. | Flat Stanley returned to Austin. Now he has only two jobs: 1.) unpack and repack the suitcase for the next trip and 2.) get some REST!!!! |
Flat Stanley is getting ready for his next trip: Our Lady of Soledad Parish in Coachella, CA. He will visit some Holy Cross priests there: Father Bruce Cecil, Father John Connor, Father José Martelli, and Father Pete Pacini. The last two work at the Valley Missionary Program, right next to the parish.