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After the great joy of Mother Elvira's birthday celebration, we got back into the reality of every day life here in Cenacolo in Florida. We are grateful for everything that is happening here at our houses, even if sometimes it is not what we want. That is the reality of the Community and that is why we have people entering: they need to change their life. Lately we have had some disappointments with some guys living some compromises. We ended up asking Anthony K. to leave the Community. We were sorry to do it, but it was necessary. Out of the bad situations, God makes good, so we had many moments of truth with the other guys. It is always a very good Community moment went the truth comes out and then there is the joy of being clean. It is like when you go to Confession, and after it you feel a sense of happiness to be clean in the eyes of God.
Life goes on, and a lot of things happen in our houses which create always a great sense of accomplishment. A lot of work is happening at St. Maria Goretti, with the outbuilding ready to have shingles put on it. It looks great! It will fit for all the purposes. The guys are really doing a good job. At Maria Immacolata a lot is going on. The guys are trying to work hard to keep up with everything they have to do.
The days are passing so fast. We have been blessed also with rain lately, filling up the lake, and we did not have any problems with the tornadoes that hit central Florida. We are having some cold mornings, but only one day we had some freeze! It finally feels like winter, but not like our friends up north, who in these days are having a brutal ice storm!
We had some new guys enter: Allen, GA; Keith, GA; Jonathan, DC. There are a lot of people who want to come in!
In Italy, after Mother Elvira's birthday, there was a week long meeting for the older guys. Some of our Americans, like Matt, Josh, David, Tim, Dan N, had the privilege to participate. For sure, it was a good experience.
A group of guys went to Lourdes to set up for a performance of the Community's show "Luce nel Mondo," which will take place on Feb 9 and 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It will in the St. Bernadette parish!
Today happened to be also my 50th birthday (Please do not send presents!!! Thanks!). I am very grateful for the gift of life and for what the Community has done for me in the last 17 years. I am grateful to my parents and to God because I am here, alive, and also I have the great gift to see every day what is happening in our Community and how many lives can be touched by the hands of God. I would not change my life for anything. We celebrated last Saturday in Community, and the guys did a skit for me and the others guys who were celebrating a birthday or special time in Community. It was a lot of fun. We had a bunch of guys celebrating their birthdays this month, like Joe, Jonathan, Christof, Ernesto, and Jason. Also we celebrated the 7 year anniversary for Michael and 3 years for Jay.
We really appreciate what Michael has done so far for the community. He is the first American to stay so long to help, but he is the first to say that he still is receiving many gifts every day from the Community that help him to grow, change, and get closer to God. In Community you give back, but there are always more rewards in what you receive! I am glad that his parents never put a pressure on him to leave, because in God's times everything will come together. Like Sister Elvira says, every day you give in Community is treasure for the rest of your life. It is true. It is sad that many people to not know or believe this and push their sons to "get on with their life." That is like saying they are not really "living" in Community.
Ernesto and Christof will go to Denver for a conference this coming weekend to speak about Cenacolo. Miriana one of the visionary of Medjugorje, will be there too! Please keep them in prayers.
First Saturday Adoration has been suspended for the public for now. We will let you know when it will begin to be open to the public again.
Ciao!
Albino
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