Ciao from Rome ­­­-- Wish you were here!

By Thanos Zyngas
Director, UST Bernardi Campus

‘Buon giorno’ to St. Thomas students, staff and faculty at the home campus from the other side of the Atlantic. For almost two years now, I have had the opportunity to work with many students who live at the Bernardi Campus while they are on study-abroad programs in Rome. These students are mainly from UST’s Catholic Studies Program, but there are others who also use this residence – such as the UST students enrolled in St. Mary’s College Fall Semester in Rome program. Other students come here on short-term programs (January Term or summer) and reside briefly in the Eternal City. There are also various faculty, staff and many UST alumni who either spend a whole semester in Rome or are overnight guests at the Bernardi Campus.

We love visitors and welcome guests. For overnight accommodations, visit our Web site for information.

Being in a position where I can serve as the cultural bridge between the university’s home campus in St. Paul and the one in Rome has enabled me to see life from a different perspective and so has broadened my perspective on our world. …  I hear from many former students who once lived at the Rome campus. They’ve told me about how much their experience in Rome meant to them, and how it changed their life and views about other cultures, and how it made them better global citizens more culturally aware of our world.

During the current semester our students already have managed to accomplish quite a bit, not only academically but also culturally. They’ve traveled in and out of Italy, taking day pilgrimages, weekend excursions and retreats to a variety of historic sites:

• A religious and cultural weekend in Bologna, led by Sister Helen Alford, dean of the social sciences faculty at the Angelicum (where the Catholic Studies program students attend class).

• A two-day retreat to Viterbo. The retreat’s theme this year was on the theological virtues of faith, hope and love and was led by our campus chaplain, Father Andrew Cozzens.

• Excursions to historic sites and places in and outside of Rome, such as Tivoli, Palestrina, Naples, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, led by faculty from St. Mary’s College.

• A trip to Perugia (‘the city of chocolate”), where students attended the 11th Eurochocolate Festival and enjoyed the beauty of the historic town of Perugia. Nick Donohue, a St. John Vianney Seminary student, said, “Several city blocks were lined with various chocolate booths, whose patrons were allowed to taste chocolate treats made in both great factories across Italy and local kitchens.”

• A pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, planned by Dr. Greg Coulter, our faculty member in residence, where students visited the beautiful, reconstructed monastery and learned about the abbey’s history. “Monte Cassino was a great experience, great place, great view!” said John Knopik, another SJV student. “I was particularly surprised to find out and see the pictures of it after it was blown up (in World War II). It was quite the project to piece that place back together. The church was unreal, with a lot of marble and many fantastic paintings that are great to reflect on.”

This semester we had our second-annual Bernardi Campus “Happy Halloween Party,” which was held in the salotto, the main lobby area of the residence. All Bernardi students attended, many of whom in creative homemade costumes (modern and ancient Italians, priests, saints and more) reflective of their experiences of living and studying in Rome. Parents of the students assisted in making this event a memorable one by mailing treats and goodies to their sons and daughters. It was a definitely a “boo-tiful” Halloween to remember!  

Our biggest news this fall is that eight of our students and I were able to get a private audience with the pope on Sunday, Oct. 31, and to receive his blessing. It was an incredible and moving experience!

“Meeting the Holy Father wasn't as nerve-racking as one would expect,” explained UST junior Katie Thomas. “Thank goodness they give you only a few hours’ notice. The entire group was calm as we stood in one of the most-decorated hallways in the Vatican. When we were finally called into the study, a group of sisters started singing as their gift to the pope. It was such an amazing experience to meet such a humble man with an angelic choir singing in the background. The entire night was perfect and we were all up late rehashing the details.”

UST graduate student Alyssa Bormes added, “Even though the Holy Father's body is weak, it was overwhelming to experience the love and strength that emanates from him. … The whole experience was humbling.”

The journey is not over yet. The students have plenty more to look forward to as they continue exploring the many different cultures of Italy and Europe and embracing the city that, despite its hectic vitality, still preserves centuries past.  

With all this in mind and the holidays just around the corner, know that all of us here miss you, our friends, family and loved ones and the joy of being at home. Keep in touch! Arrivederci!