Who is Flat Stanley?

Flat Stanley left early on Saturday morning for Rome.  He got up very early: at 3:15 a.m. Sister Lili Martínez called to see if he was up and dressed.  She offered to drive him to the airport.  Father Basil Moreau, who founded the Holy Cross priests, brothers and sisters, wanted his priests, brothers, and sisters to help one another, as the members of the Holy Family did.  Stanley wondered whether Father Moreau envisioned Sr. Lili getting up so early to take him and Father John to the airport.  It was a sacrifice!

He had everything prepared the night before, even the coffee pot needed only to be switched on, and there would be fresh coffee!!  He got to the airport early.  The airlines had said to be there at least 2 hours ahead of time, but he didn't have to get there so soon.  It only took a minute to check in his bag, and the airport security didn't open until after 4:30 a.m.  But better early than too late.  It was a 6:00 a.m. flight.

Stanley checked in at Austin and took the flight to Houston.  Then he took the flight to Newark, N.J.  He had a lay over there until 5:30 p.m.  He got to Newark around 12:15, but at least he could get some work done on the laptop.  And then the Michigan-Ohio State game would be on TV.   

Flat Stanley is ready to check in at the gate, but he was so early that there was no one there.	In Newark, Stanley lost no time getting down to work.  There was homework that he could do!
Stanley learned a new word: "upgrade."  He knew what it meant to upgrade a computer; that meant adding new programs or new equipment.  But an upgrade on a plane is moving from coach to first class.  By traveling so much and having mileage some airlines offer free upgrades when there are first class seats available.  Stanley really likes this because it means that there is much more room in the seat. As you can see Stanley has his seat belt on and keeps it on just in case.	After a long flight, it was good to stretch out in bed.  Even though he had slept in the plane, it still was only about 2:00 in the morning in Austin.  Stanley never stays up that late!!  and he had gotten up at 3:15 in the morning....long day!

Stanley and Father John had a good trip on the plane.  They left Newark, NJ at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday; that's 4:30 p.m. in Austin, and 10:30 p.m. in Rome.  Father John shared one of the things that helps with jet lag: change your watch to the new time as soon as you are on the plane.  Don't change it before: you might forget the correct time and miss your plane!  But it helps to adjust by starting to think of the new time. Then came a wonderful dinner: chicken cacciatore.  It was delicious.  After dinner, there was fruit and cheese.  Then it was time for a nice nap.  Stanley and Father John both slept very well.  Father was sound asleep so he could not tell if Stanley was snoring.

While they were flying during the night it was very dark out.  There are no lights on the ground because they were crossing the ocean.  There may have been a large ship every now and then, but they were asleep and would not have seen it.  While they were crossing France, the dawn started to come up.  The sky was a beautiful red on the eastern horizon.

They arrived in Rome, and the sun was out and shining brightly.  It was the beginning of a beautiful day. 

After a short morning nap (It was still the middle of the night in Austin.), Father and Stanley had dinner.  Dinner is served at 1:00 in the afternoon and is the main meal.  It always begins with some form of pasta, followed by meat and vegetables.  The vegetables are cooked, but they are served at room temperature.

Stanley enjoys dinner in Rome.  The main meal is at 1:00 in the afternoon.  Of course, there is wine on the table; dinner and supper always include wine.  Table wine is not as strong as ordinary wine.  There is also always some water.  The water in Rome is good and plentiful.  There is always olive oil on the table for the salad.  Some people like to put it on their bread.  Butter is not on the table.

The "first plate" was pasta with plain noodles and cheese.  The "second plate" was sausage cooked with brusel sprouts and broccoli. 

Flat Stanley was surprised to see so many people from different parts of the world.  Just a few among them were:

• Father Bob Gilmour  He is at the Council of the Congregation and the General Chapter as a recording secretary.  He often spends time at St. Ignatius when he comes to the United States.  He usually is in Ghana, a country in west Africa.  Do you know where that is?  He is there working with the Holy Cross Brothers.  Many of them are now Ghanians.  You can see a little more about them at the website: Holy Cross in Ghana.

• Brother John Paige  Brother John had taught at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX.  He was also on the school board at St. Ignatius Martyr School.  Now he is the Vicar Superior General.  He usually lives in Rome, but he also travels all over the world wherever Holy Cross priests or brothers live and work.

• Father Paul LeBlanc  Father is from English Canada.  Like most Canadians, he speaks both English and French.  Since hs studied theology in Rome, he can also speak Italian.  These days he lives in Rome and is the superior at the generalate.  He is very helpful when people need information about things in Rome and is very generous making sure that everyone has what they need.

Flat Stanley went to the Council of the Congregation.  This meeting is made up of the provincials (like Fr. John) and the district superiors, along with the superior general and his council.  Stanley sat with Fr. Bob Baker, the district superior of Peru.  Stanley had his translation equipment handy.  The meeting is conducted in English, French, and Portuguese.  Stanley was impressed with all the priests and brothers from Bangladesh, India, east Africa and west Africa, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Canada, France, Peru and the United States.

Late Tuesday night or early morning on Wednesday there was a big thunderstorm.  There was lightning and thunder.  Some of it was very close to the place where Fr. John and Stanley were staying.  It woke up some of the priests and brothers.  Fr. John likes to listen to the storm when it is night and he is in bed.  Stanley was glad that he was in bed because he doesn't do very well in the rain.

Flat Stanley with (left to right, front row): Bro. Binoy Gomes from Bangladesh, Father Devadoss Naidu from India, Fr. Hemanto from Bangladesh; back row, left to right: Bro. Robert Fillmore, Midwest Province, Notre Dame, Indiana; Fr. Gilles Sauvé from Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Bro. Michel LeBot from Paris, France.	Flat Stanley with Bro. Donald Blauvelt from Austin, TX
Flat Stanley with Fr. Bob Gilmour from Ghana	Father Mario LaChapelle looks like he is singing, but he is speaking French in his presentation to the priests and brothers.  Those who do not speak French are listening to the translation on their headphones.