By Steffanie Bross
With the new academic year about to begin, we take a moment to look back at some of the highlights from the close of our previous year, among them a visit with Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., prefect of the Dicatery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Cardinal Prevost presided over Mass at a Wednesday community night and provided insights about the dicastery, explaining the process involved in the nomination of bishops around the world. Lay people and priests send letters proposing candidates, he explained. These letters are then carefully reviewed and prayed on. This enlightening session gave students a deeper understanding of the Church's inner workings.
The cardinal was ordained a priest of the Order of St. Augustine in 1982. Among his previous appointments, he had served two terms as the prior general of the Augustinians.
Another memorable community evening featured two couples who shared their experience of being young, intercultural couples living abroad and working for the Church. Marion Paparella from France works for Talitha Kum and is married to Julien Paparella from Canada, who is pursuing doctoral studies in marriage and family. They shared how important faith is as the basis of their relationship.They also discussed highlights and challenges, emphasizing the importance of both independent and joint discernment, always through the lens of their married vocation.
Germán Muñoz from Spain and Anna Carol Gonçalves from Brazil work for the Jesuits in different initiatives and highlighted the importance of cultivating good friendships as a couple when abroad. They spoke about virtuous friendships that provide support and help strengthen their marriage bond.
Father Andreas Lind, S.J., presided over the Mass that concluded the academic year for the community, helping the students reflect on the gifts of baptism and nurture a sense of gratitude and hope.
The community was sad to bid farewell to Aline Carbonari Kracieski, a cherished member who played a pivotal role as the community coordinator for two years, taking on the daily community tasks and providing an atmosphere of openness for students to feel at home. She moves on to work at the Rome campus of the University of Notre Dame.
Known as the community’s “big sister,” Aline was always ready to solve problems, or as she used to say: “If we do not find a solution we can cry together!” We thank her for all she has done for our community and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.
The year-end celebration, on April 4, was a delightful Brazilian barbecue in The Lay Centre garden. Filipe Domingues, Lay Centre director, then deputy director, manned the grill, sharing some of his Brazilian cuisine. It felt like a small trip to Brazil.