NEWS FROM ROME 
April 11 1998

Arrivederci Roma!

After more then 40 years of service to the congregation and Roma I community, Br. Ruggero Verbeet (NE) returned to his native Holland and retirement in the Nijmegen I community (St. Jozefklooster). A farewell celebration took place in Rome on April 4, 1998. Pictured above is Br. Ruggero with one of the gifts he received from the community.

His quiet presence, fidelity to community life, and generous service as Rome I's gardener will be sorely missed. Ruggero began his grand journey home on Monday, April 6th in the company of Adriano Borst (NE) and Marek Skórski (PO). With planned stops in Italy and Germany, the three arrived in Nijmegen just in time for Easter.

General Finance Commission Meeting Dates

The General Finance Commission has scheduled its next three meetings. In an effort to better coordinate its activities with that of the general administration and the provinces the commission would like to make all aware of its meeting dates. This is especially important in light of the decision of the general administration to rely more heavily on the commission regarding economic matters and planning.

June 2-4, 1998 at Madrid, Spain

November 9-11, 1998 at Rome [this will coincide with the meeting of major superiors]

February 9-11, 1999 at Clairefontaine, Luxembourg

The following are members of the current General Fiance Commission:

Fr. General Attends Zaire Assembly

Fr. General is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) to attend an important provincial planning assembly. He departed Rome on April 7, 1998 and will return on the 25th. Though this interrupts the normal spring meeting schedule of the general council, because of the importance of the assembly and in light of difficulties caused by events in the country during the past several years, his presence there was deemed to be of greater importance.

Please Remember

Sister M. Leonarda Negri who worked for 21 years at Roma I and 10 at Pagliare (South Italian Province). During her service in Rome (1953-1974) she was the head cook for the curia. According to Fr. General, she was "...simple, always generous, and always at your service -- like so many other Ursuline Sisters from Grandino that have served with humility and love in houses of our congregation, especially houses of formation." For the last few months Sister Leonarda has been in failing health due to heart problems: Sister M. Doralice Luigina who spent the last 22 years of her active life at Rome I (from 1971 to 1993) working in both the kitchen and laundry. When the Ursuline Sisters left Rome I in the summer of '93 she returned to their mother house located in Grandio where she retired due to her advanced age and poor health.

A Final Report

Bernard Rosinski (US), who will be leaving his post as coordinator of curial services at the end of May, gave his final report to the member of PCN (Peace Communication Network). PCN is a consortium of over 103 Catholic organizations, mainly religious congregations of men and women, formed to provide access to the internet/email to its members.
Bernard Rosinski (US) giving his final financial report to PCN
members at their semi-annual assembly held on March 28, 1998

Bernard has served on the board of directors, as well as holding the posts of Vice President and Treasurer. In little more than two years on line PCN counts well over a thousand active users, including 200 outside of Italy. The scjs were one of the founding religious congregations and have been very active in promoting the goals of PCN. More information can be found by accessing the PCN home page at www.pcn.net

 

Events in the North Italian Province during April

During the next several months the North Italian Province has planned several community building events: