Advent in Rome is always an exciting time, and not just because we’re preparing for Christmas. On December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 44 of my Legionary brothers were ordained priests at the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls (where I was ordained a deacon in 2006). During the ordination Mass I heard confessions along with a dozen fathers or so, and we were busy dispensing mercy.
Two of the new priests were members of my community, and on Sunday the 13th I concelebrated in the first Mass of my confere Fr. Sameer Advani. I’d been one of his candidacy assistants when he entered the Legion and I am very proud of him. He gave a wonderful homily too.
Classes concluded this week before the Christmas break (something joyous for professor and student alike), and early Saturday morning (December 19th) I had an opportunity to pass through the Holy Door for the Year of Mercy and then celebrate Mass for the Brothers Lorenzo (two of them, anyway) and their family from the Philippines (twenty in all). If the pictures are a little fuzzy it’s because everything is fuzzy at 7 AM on a Saturday morning…
Have a wonderful last few days of Advent and a Blessed Christmas.