Ron has roasted lamb since we were graduate students together in the Bronx. He's still got the touch!  A lovely rain on Pasquetta--It doesn't get more beautiful (you have to double click to enlarge to see the rain ..read more

 I loved researching Mary of Magdala for today's Mighty Is Her Call blog post. Here it is: https://mightyishercall.com/the-empty-tomb/ The St. Jerome Commentary and Fr. Roch Keretzky were incredibly eye-opening to me. How I miss Fr. Roch!    ..read more

When going to Assisi, many people miss the Porziuncola.   In fact, the University of Dallas skipped over it most trips to Assisi in institutional memory.  But Ron thinks it is the most important stop in Assisi for one who is making a Catholic pilgrimage. He has never missed it in any trip he has made there, and has taken every student to pass through Rome on his watch there.  The Porziuncola ("little portion") is the very chapel that Francis rebuilt with his own hands when he heard Christ say, "Francis, rebuild my church." This was a bit of a misunderstanding on Francis' part ..read more

 It is a joy to see Ron thriving in his role as Director and Dean of the Rome Program of the University of Dallas. He has forged a new relationship with the Bishop of Albano, and this delightful, humble, kind, smart, trilingual bishop was delighted to come to campus for the first time and be received by the students, faculty and staff in a lovely reception and dinner.  I will never forget the closing ceremonies of Ron's first semester as Director and Dean, just last month. When he approached the podium, the 100 students chanted, "Ron-nie Rombs! Ron-nie Rombs!" They said he ran ..read more

 The new semester began with 100 students at the Vatican. The pope said Mass--what a way to start a 4-month stay in Rome!  Religious articles getting blessed Mass under the baldacchino designed by Bernini A founders, Guiliana Falconieri, started an order of women in Florence. Go, Giuliana! Pope Francis in a wheelchair We broke up into groups, led by various faculty and staff. I led my group to the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Sant' Ignacio, Piazza Venezia. What a beautiful city and great group of students ..read more

 I have never seen such a beautiful wedding. Jacob and Gabrielle's wedding Mass was exquisite. One striking feature was the involvement of the crucifix. I noted that instead of kissing each other, they kissed the Crucified Christ. Gabrielle's mom sent me this background explanation:  "MARRIAGE & THE CROSS OF CHRIST” In the town of Siroki-Brijeg in Herzegovina not one single divorce has been recorded among its 13,000 inhabitants. Not one single family has broken up in living memory. For centuries, because of the pressure of the Turks and then the Communists, the people suffered c ..read more

 Remembering our first Thanksgiving in Italy!  https://youtu.be/4QHqZP2klEM ..read more

It takes a lot of guts to walk into a huge building full of loud, Italian kids and show up for the first day of 4th grade. So-so on his Italian, so-so on his math facts, exceptional in his manners, thoughtfulness and sensitivity to other people, Sebastian is sure to succeed. Go, Sebo ..read more

 Aren't they gorgeous ..read more

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