First Week in Rome

To the Land of Pleasant Living,

My first week in Rome went really well. Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about how incredibly fortunate I am to have so many great friends who offer such meaningful support. And I have been grateful for the many send-offs, prayers, blessings, and well wishes that I have received. Being here in Europe has given me an opportunity to think about that and reflect on the reality of the Church as a community.

Rome is a very busy place, constantly flowing with pilgrims and tourists from around the world. And seeing all of these many different cultures, nationalities, religions, religious communities, points of view, etc. converging has made an impression on me about the breadth and the depth of the Church.

Another reality of the Church here in Rome is the history. During our first week in Rome, my classmates and I were able to visit many of the churches and historical sights in Rome. Above is a picture that I took of a pillar that stands outside one of Rome's biggest churches. It was transported to Rome from Egypt- and it is believed that this pillar dates back before the Exodus; which means, as our guide informed us, the Israelites may have walked by this exact pillar on their way out of Egypt. What a great sign of the breadth of the Church and its mission.