Four afternoons ago I went to the Vatican to take a picture of St. Peter´s Basilica with the setting sun in the background. It was windy and chilly – the temperature was between four and six degrees Celsius above zero. Some of my confreres thought it was crazy for me to stand for more than an hour in biting cold in St. Peter´s Square to wait for my sunset. And I told them that any picture worth taking is worth sacrificing for.
When I left the Philippines last December 10 it was about 28 degrees Celsius, so my system was completely shocked when I went out of the Leonardo da Vinci airport 20 hours later. Winter is not considered by many to be the best time to visit Rome, but there is also something special about spending the holiday season here. You have the Papal Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the Pope reading his Christmas message at noon on Christmas Day. Aside from the world-renown life-size nativity scene in St. Peter´s Square, other small yet nonetheless beautiful nativity scenes can also be found in almost all churches in the city. There are hundreds of other treats in the city that are only available during winter.
I am in Rome to make three websites and teach my confreres in our Generalate community how to update and maintain them. What makes the websites challenging to make is that they are in three different languages – English, French and Spanish. Plus the fact that the fourteen people who compose the Generalate community come from 9 different countries and speak different languages. The common language in the house is Italian. But I must say it´s truly fun to be in a multilingual and multiracial community.
I´ll be returning to the Philippines this Junuary 6th.
hi man0y! so you’ll be spending christmas and new year’s day in rome, cool! michael will be coming home this saturday. =) hope you could come visit us again (longer..) next time. pag-amping kanunay!
Bang, yes I will be spending my Christmas and New Year here in Rome. I’m glad Michael is coming home for Christmas. I’ll be in Cebu on the third week of January for the Film and Faith Seminar in the University of San Carlos. I hope to see you and your family then.
hello Padre! My oh my! So, You are in the eternal city! I remember the December days i had in Rome too… it was only 5′degrees C but it felt like it would snow, but my friend told me then it barely snows in Rome (but two years after that- it snowed and i wasn’t there anymore
. Anyway, i’m sure you are having your best holidays this year. My winter in Rome really felt great, maybe because it was my first! 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you Fr. Stephen!
hi father stephen so nice to know you have gone a long way and proud of you too. merry christmas and happy new year to you.
ashley
Haloo Fr.,
Kumusta? Just read an article about you on SunStar Daily in Cebu. It makes me proud man. Congratulations. The last time I saw you was that Cebu to Manila PAL flight. Hope to meet you again. But with having found your website, I shall be a frequent visitor. Merry Christmas.
Turing
Great news, Father, your mission there in Rome =] Reminds me of the tagline of the makers of e-sword: The sWord of the Lord- With an Electronic Edge =]
Maligaya at Di-Masyadong-Malamig na Pasko po sa inyo!
@ Ms. B., Ashley, Turing and Ian – it really feels great to be in Rome. I hope you are also having fun wherever you are now. Merry Christmas.
“If I can paint a fiery sunset
into the heart of every man,
I feel that I have served God.”
Hello there Fr. Bobby! What a spectacular shot! I’m in awe looking at this Sunset pict! And no less but in St. Peter’s Square! If only i could be in Rome right this very minute, i’d like to capture some of the setting sun too! Will this Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi on my hands do any better Father Bobby? But i’m sure my shots won’t be as beautiful as what you got here. Wow! Can i change it to a golden one? Trully AWESOME pict father! You’re a natural really.
Oh, i almost forgot: May you have a Blessed and Wonderful year ahead! Hope to see you by January. Ingats!
Mr. Turing Catarata Sir! This is Richard Jabines of Bohol do you still remember me? Hope you can contact me or drop me some lines at my e-mail: jabinzr@hotmail.com. Thanks a lot..
Cheers,
Jabinz
Hi Father Bobby,
I am not sure if you remember me. i used to be an editor/writer of the newsletter “Tulay sa Lapu-lapu”.
Are you back in Cebu? Will you be home next year (2009) in May (getting married in in church)? I used to dream of getting married in Rome when I was a kid. I’ve never been there but I’d probably go on vacation over there sometime within two years (i want to go on a Christmas Vacation over there). I am little bit busy in U.S…. winters over here are pretty bad…snow storms and all that.
Anyway, have fun wherever you are. i just thought that it would really be nice to reconnect to old friends back at home. I miss Philippines and all the fun that we (Tulay writers) used to share. Email me when you have time (nscahab@yahoo.com)
Yes, Ta, nakahinumdum ko nimo uy. Wala ko kabalo nga naa na diay ka sa U.S. Dugay na ka diha? Sige ako unyay kasal nimo sa May 2009.
pre, musta na? asa ka assign karon?
Bong, I’m presently assigned at Communication Foundation for Asia in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Ikaw, asa man ka karon?
Fr. Bong. clasmeyt mi vic gabot…ask lang ko asa na siya assign ron?
Sir turing kumusta? taga bukid ni..hope to hear from you soon.. more power!
kumusta sir turing? maotse ni tagabukid! hope to hear from you soon…more power!
hi Father Bobby
could u pls send my best regards to tata (Hermoliva A. Barriga 090479)
inig kasal nimo niya sa may 2009. ky right now im busy kaayo ko sa k carrier
im working in a ship as Chief Mate mv Marabou (dolphin Shipping) n we r trading
wordwide n its been 14 yrs na.. na wala jud mi magkita…,thanks
Brgds,
mai’09
I am sooooo happy…. sige… ang wedding May 30, 2009…. naka schedule na man kuno ingon si mama, wala pa sigurado sa priest. But since you are available… and able… lol… can I put your name in the invitations before they get sent? Let me know what you need. Email me when you get a chance.
Rome seems pretty… got pictures?
duh! I didn’t see the button… lolol… click photos… ok… seen it… beautiful…
With all the things that you do in the name of the Lord, I pray that you will find more strength to continue serving Him.
Hi Father,
You may not know me, just want to extend my best wishes to my USC friend Ms. Hermoliva (Tata) Barriga.
Thanks for the opportunity to have her connected.
just dropping by to say kaparehas pala tayo ng title padre, he he he. I really love my experiences in ROME – the eternal city. mmm … love it!
http://logbet.blogspot.com/2005/03/winter-in-rome.html