On Sunday 13 October, we had the official opening of the academic year. The 8 students from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana gathered at 6 pm for a meeting discussing the community life in our Collegio San Giuseppe.
The rector, Fr. Guido, opened with a prayer and a talk inspired and based on the words of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (who was canonized on this day), “May I engage myself, remembering that I am a minister of Christ … remembering the worth of souls and that I shall have to answer for the opportunities given me of benefiting those who are under my care.”
After a fruitful and lively meeting discussing schedules, responsibilities, and many practicalities of the house, we went for a joyful dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria Eden.
The Eucharist for the opening of the Academic Year was on October 17, when Fr. Salutaris Mpinge from Tanzania will defend his doctoral thesis “Discernment through spiritual accompaniment of Tanzanian Christian families in the light of Amoris Laetitia.”
With the students from so many different countries who are doing their doctoral studies in Biblical Theology, Philosophy, Spiritual Theology, Canon Law the coming year holds out promises of great discussions and maybe a symposium that could encourage and stimulate many a visitor coming to the Rome Procure.
Fr Guido Gockel mhm, rector
