Rome Ecumenism Course 2024

Our last dinner with the University of Toronto group was truly memorable. Overall, the Rome trip wa a great experience and I learned a lot about ecumenism, something I had no experience with before. The concept of ecumenism as a dialogue, where one can be "strong in their identity yet open to dialogue", really resonated with  It's inspiring to see how such an approach can foster understanding and unity, even with our own "small group" from Toronto, there was so much diversity (again, it included an Anglican priest, a secular Jew, and 3 Catholics). Yet, despite our differences, there will always be a way to talk and talk to each other, if they share space with each other. I will truly miss this group , and the larger group at the Centro Pro Unione. I am looking forward to more enlightening conversations and shared ecumenical experiences in the future!  Very grateful again to Dr. Attridge, Dr. Skira and the RSM management for this wonderful opportunity! Until next

    The Grand Mosque of Rome stands as an awe-inspiring example of Islamic architecture and cultural richness. Its grandeur and magnificence left me in awe as I marveled at the intricate details of the tiles, and soaring pillars, as well as how the Mosque itself was designed to resemble a garden dotted with Palm tree. What truly took me by surprise, however, was the warm and welcoming nature of Imam, who was also our tour guide. I didn’t expect him to be to be warm and welcoming and I expected some level of reluctance because we were not Muslim. However, we were met with open arms and genuine hospitality; he was also very detailed when giving the tour. The imam engaged us in friendly discussions about the Islamic faith, culture, and the history of the mosque. This open-minded and accepting attitude was truly heart warming, and it reminding me of the power of mutual respect and understanding in bridging religious and cultural divides. Furthermore, the fact that the Mosque was described

Visiting the Great Synagogue of Rome was unsettling.  It's a beautiful building with a fascinating history, which amazingly survived both Fascist Mussolini and Nazi occupation remaining intact for 120 years. The building's interior is unlike any other synagogue I've seen before, with its fantastic museum and centuries old collection of Judaica (including textiles) only contributing to its beauty and spiritual significance. There's also a small Sephardic Synagogue located in the basement, roped off, where only Jews are permitted access (according to another group's guide). I was unsettled. During the building tour our group was brought up to men's section of the main synagogue, where Maureen asked a wonderful question about tradition practiced in the synagogue and was told they were Orthodox, and neither Ashkenazi nor Sephardic (even though there was a Sephardic Temple in the basement) but practice their own historic rite. A further question followed about other

Miniature model of a sculpture of an old man by Pietro Canonica Over the last few days, I have been thinking about a quote I read in Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi. The art displayed in the museum highlights the people who lived in Rome during the 18th and 19th centuries. The quote reads: "what sort of people would we be if we hadn't been able to see, in the works of art from the past, the eyes of those who have lived before us on Earth?"  I take this quote to mean: "we learn how to be human from the people who come before us." Art, in all its various media, helps us to make sense of the world. The question the quote raises for me is: "Can I recognize the humanity of the people who came before?"  I think the art in Rome's museums have helped me to understand Rome as not simply some place to be romanticized and to go for holiday. It is not simply a place where the Roman Catholic Church offices are. It is not simple a place to go on pilgrimage. It

                                                         My visit to the Jewish Synagogue of Rome was very enlightening and impactful. The Synagogue was a magnificent structure that left me in awe! Honestly, it resembled a Catholic basilica! The visit deepened my understanding of Jewish religious heritage and strengthened my appreciation for the Jewish faith. It was also here that I learned about the shared history and efforts towards interfaith dialogue between the Catholic and Jewish communities in Rome, such as the visit of Pope John Paul II many years ago! It was also interesting to hear how Rome has the oldest Jewish community in Europe, and Jews and Catholics lived in relative peace, side by side. Furthermore, I was told by Tenny, a classmate and seminarian, that even the Jewish liturgy and vestments resemble that of Roman Catholic practices. Truly, Judaism is our elder brother in the faith!      The experience left a lasting impression on my spiritual journey. During our discuss

Contemporary art allows us to get under each other's skin.  Through often thought provoking work, it encourages us the viewer to think more deeply about critical issues, and sometimes just pisses us off. In the permanent collection of artist-run Chiostro del Bramante gallery here in Rome is a work by Chilean artist Alfredo Jaar: "I Can't Go On. I'll Go On". The large neon work is just around a corner and confronts the viewer as they make their turn with what the gallery describes as "colourful and unexpected visual checkpoints, creating multiple levels of reading of space...in dialogue with the viewer". Moving into our last week of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue class, this art-work seems like a good lens to reflect on classroom presentations particularly on the 'why' portion of dialogue. For me, this class has been a fantastic experience and I will exit it with so much to reflect on as I continue my studies at Regis/St.Mike's, espec

  Reflecting on Messengers as the Sun Sets Yesterday's lecture about Islam provoked me to think deeply on the idea of messenger. We often hear the phrase, "don't shoot the messenger" and may even use it ourselves. Sometimes we don't want to hear the message. It may be inconvenient, controversial or contrary to our own understanding. It can challenge and provoke us and be unsettling. We do have a choice, and can act or not act according to the message.  I found myself reacting to the teaching from Islam that describes the Prophet as the last messenger, but after considering the course in its entirety - many faiths believe different things about their messengers. In Christianity we do not agree on many of the qualities that define prophets, martyrs and saints. As those participating in faith, we are all messengers. How we are remembered as those messengers is more about those that follow after our time.  Persons of Faith 'Remembered' in Bronze Our Tour of th

In the Church of St. Agnes is a gay icon; do they know? Just inside the main doors on the altar to the left is a statue of St. Sebastian. Posed with a hand behind his head and the other on his thigh, the sculpture accentuates his youthful buff-good-looks but also emphasizes the arrows which pierce his taut body. His facial expression seems slightly odd however. With eyes looking upward to the sky questioningly his slightly open mouth seems to be saying: "who, me?" Perhaps that is the nature of martyrdom: "who, me?" St. Sebastian is a gay icon. Dating back to at least the 19th century his image has taken on a cult like status within the gay community. The homoerotic quality of the composition coupled with his tortured predicament has resonated deeply within gay culture and identity:  https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/lgbt-artwork-marks-saint-sebastian-feast-day On the same altar and just to the left of St. Sebastian's sculpture is the figure of the brok

We have a solid and diverse group of students in this class, not just from Toronto but from as far as Australia, and it’s fantastic. We have Christians from all strains of traditions, and even a seminarian and a priest are joining us. Despite our differences, I like that we all get along "over the lunch table" (or dinner, depending on the time) and have a good time. We have different opinions, especially on how church bureaucracy operates, but the discussion has been civil, if not cordial. People really open up after a beer or a glass of wine. One thing Fr. Jim said resonated with me: dialogue begins over food. This is absolutely true; great food and fantastic wine have a way of bringing people together and allowing for a good, open discussion to take place. I also found it interesting that we would say "grace before meals together", which is an act of Ecumenism. 

Jewish Quarter: History The  Roman Ghetto  or  Ghetto of Rome  ( Italian :  Ghetto di Roma ) was a  Jewish ghetto established in 1555 in the  Rione Sant'Angelo , in  Rome ,  Italy , in the area surrounded by present-day Via del  Portico d'Ottavia ,  Lungotevere dei Cenci , Via del Progresso and Via di Santa Maria del Pianto, close to the River  Tiber  and the  Theatre of Marcellus . With the exception of brief periods under  Napoleon  from 1808 to 1815 and under the Roman Republics of  1798–99  and  1849 , the ghetto of Rome was controlled by the  papacy  until the  capture of Rome  in 1870. The ghetto was a walled quarter with its gates locked at night. The wall was built under the direction of the architect  Giovanni Sallustio Peruzzi . The cost of the wall's construction, 300  Roman scudi , had to be paid by the Jewish community. The area of Rome chosen for the ghetto was one of the most undesirable quarters of the city, subject to constant flooding by the  Tiber River ,

I had a very moving visit to the tomb of St. Peter on July 2. Although I have been to St. Peter's Basilica before, I had never seen the “backside” of Peter's tomb. It was amazing to learn that an entire necropolis lies beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, and seeing it unearthed was an absolute eye-opener regarding the history of the place. The ongoing debate over whether or not the bones found there are actually those of Peter was also quite thought-provoking. However, this experience serves as an analogy for the nature of faith, as it reminded me that faith is essentially believing without seeing. The visit strengthened me spiritually, and I felt a different spiritual power emanating from that place. The fact that the entire Catholic bureaucracy and the Popes are all buried in that crypt only strengthens my conviction that those bones are indeed St. Peter's! God bless us all!

 The Amalfi Coast Contemplation  I have long understood that I reflect deepest when I am alone. While enjoying social groups and interactions, a balance of alone time is important. This gives me a way to consider, reflect and ponder my experiences- and recharge my own sense of self and purpose. For this reason, I decided to go to Amalfi for the weekend. Navigating public transportation, (busses, and trains), and including a ferry hopping form - that would eventually leave me in Amalfi.  This proved the most scenic and relaxing experience to date.  Ferry Hopping: Napoli- Ischia - Capri- Positano- (and more) - Amalfi! This portion of the trip included sorting out how to get from Napoli to Amalfi - with the most scenic route - rather than the fastest route. Often in our lives we have choices on how to get to places we want to be - and sometimes the slowest way there can be the most meaningful.  I was able to find a port shuttle (bus) from Napoli train station - kind of - that was going to

Ideas and Ideologies Merge and Mix in the Sky We gathered on our rooftop patio - overlooking great crowds lining all of the streets and alleys below us. We celebrated the closing celebration of the Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul with friends that joined us from the class. It was wonderful that those from this course in Ecumenism - representing such diversity - could put time to come together for this spontaneous occasion.  Inspiration & Imagination I thought about how our ideas of belief systems are much like these fireworks - they illuminate our mind and our world - and without them - there would only be darkness. The colours, hues, and sparkle give meaning  and reflect our experiences. Like experiences - we appreciate the light - especially after darkness.  Ideas Shooting Upwards - Reaching for understanding, one-ness, unity... a sense of quest... Blending, Shaping, Influencing others around them...each with their own path towards fulfillment... co-existing freely without a s

If you ever want to know if someone is from British Columbia but are too afraid to ask them (we are intense and scary people, after all), just ask them if they like the mountains. The answer will always be a "yes" and, if you are lucky, we will regale you with stories about scaling our favorite mountains. As hard as it can be to climb a mountain, the views of the valley below are always worth it. Arcangelo Michele (Matteo Carboni) Because I love climbing mountains and seeing the word with the "Birds Eye view", I walked to the top of Castel Sant'Angelo. Castel Sant'Angelo was initially built between 135-139 AD to serve as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian and his family. In 403 AD, however, it was converted into a fort along the Tiber River by the Western Emperor Honorius to protect the Vatican area from invasion. During the sack of Rome by the Visigoths (410 AD) and the Vandals (455 AD), the fortress served this purpose very well. The castle received

San Francesco (Matteo Carboni)  Yesterday I visited a small Tuscan town called, Pienza. Many movie buffs will know Pienza as the back drop in movies such as Gladiator  (2000) and Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet  (1968). In Pienza, there is small, simple medieval church called Chiesa di San Francesco. When I walked in, the room was dimly lite. The light streaming through the windows above the altar illuminated the building. The once beautiful frescos on the walls have largely faded away. The church captured my attention because it was the opposite of many of the churches in Rome. Many churches had been touched by the Baroque period. There are many beautiful examples of Baroque architecture, decorations, and paintings in Roman churches. There are not many churches that have the wooden roof, for example.  As I walked farther into the church I noticed an open door beside the altar that led to a side chapel. The side chapel was stunning! The ceiling was painted with gold and vibran

I was essentially raised by my mother, my aunt, and my older sisters. My family is matriarchal and I like it that way.  I was reared by strong women who tried to raise me to be a thoughtful man in a contemporary world. I'm not sure how successful I've been at living thoughtfulness, but within me are all the positive values those women tried to instill.  Within the Il Pensiero del Bento Pio IX Church (my favourite church in Rome, so far) is a beautiful icon of the Madonna and Child. Mary is dressed in blue and orange with an ochre robed Jesus on her lap, all set against a blue star filled sky; complimentary colours help unite a good composition.  I've always been drawn to 'Madonna and Child' icons. In a naive way, it speaks to a secular way of living I recognise: strong women, living independent lives, raising male babies to be thoughtful.   As a secular Jew I miss the important Christian narratives contained within these icons of course, but does that mater so much?

We've visited several churches and religious sites of early origins over the past two weeks, with some containing surviving or deposited medieval Christian art. This included the Dominican Basilica of Santa Sabina located on the Aventine Hill overlooking Rome. One of my favourite works within their collection was a small fragment called "Saint Dominic and the Miracle of the Bread" produced circa 13th century. Its theme references the breaking of bread with Angels who appear and suddenly disappear, as referenced on the Dominicans' website. This work is a simplified rendering of a mundane activity: the sharing of bread. It also nicely represents a medieval aesthetic which lacked the 'working in the round' or three dimensional quality of the later Renaissance period, and instead features a simplified technique of uncomplicated line and form effortlessly expressing a captured moment. It feels, well, very contemporary in its technique. Medieval artists tended to em

Santa Maria is on the right.  Today I visited Chiesa di Santa Maria Dei Miracoli in Piazza del Popolo. Santa Maria is the usual baroque styled church found all over Rome. What was unusual about it though, is that it carries a modern art installation by Marco Manzo titled, "Our Hands". Marco Manzo is an internationally known Roman visual artist, tattooist, and sculptor.  Manzo's installation is a series of sculpted hands attached to mirrors. Some of the hands are grasping the air, others are holding weapons such as an axe or a gun. One hand has a nail through it. These hands depict the hands of Jesus, his executioners, and Mary Magdalene. The hands pierced and tortured are the hands of Jesus. The hands poised to inflict violence belong to the executioners of Christ. And the hands grasping are the hands of Mary Magdalene. These hands remember two moments in Mary's life which occurred only three days apart: the first moment occurred when Mary stood beside the cross beari

Rome feels very familiar to me. Since my 20s, my family and I have been visiting Rome for spiritual pilgrimages. Each time I return, I discover something new and fresh, adding to the depth of my connection to this city. Each time I come is a unique experience; there is always something waiting to be discovered, and some new experience to fathom! This time, I am grateful to be staying within the walls of Vatican City. While some people associate Rome with food, museums, or romance, for me, spirituality takes precedence. I am excited to be part of this diverse group and I eagerly anticipate discovering new churches and sites during this visit along the way! They say Rome has 900 churches, yet there is always more to explore! What makes this trip even more special is that we come from different religious backgrounds: Jewish, Catholic, and Anglican., hence the “ecumenical nature” of the course. I am looking forward to the ecumenical dialogues ahead, coming from perspectives of different re

Basilica di Santa Clemente (Matteo Carboni) The other day I visited Basilica Di Santa Clemente al Laterano. Santa Clemente is an 11th century church built on top of a 4th century church named after St. Clement of Rome who was the Pope between 88 and 99 CE. It is likely that the site had been used as a house church since the 2nd century CE, then transformed into a large church complex in the 4th century. Beside the 4th century church there was a temple of Mithras that had been used since the 2nd century CE. Underneath the church and the temple, excavators found Roman households destroyed by the fire of Nero in 64 CE.  I think Santa Clemente is one of the coolest sites I have visited in Rome. It has been a neighborhood church for nearly 2000 years and has only needed one upgrade!  The physical relationship between the two churches has given me much to ponder. The foundations of the 4th century church was used as a blueprint for the 11th century church. One the one hand, this is practical