Vigil of St. Anthony

Rafaele defending his thesis
in the Crusader Hall

Another defense this morning - this time it's Rafaele Petti. His research was on Jeremiah ... a pretty complicated book in itself. He did a good job, and the commission of examiners - 2 of them - praised him. Rafaele earned his SSL - which is a postgraduate degree which licenses one to teach. I know he's very happy to be able to go back to Italy now, and start his teaching career.

There'll be several more defenses for the next week. Lots of graduates this academic year ... the mill has been churning overtime. I'd hate to be part of this machinery ... but I am. Life becomes so robotic, stressed and meaningless and that's bad for my health. But the machine moves on and everyone is afraid of being left behind.

Yesterday's banquet hosted by Matthew was excellent and there was alot of food left over. I doggy-bagged rice, chicken, veggies, dessert, kubbeh and sfiha ... a whole box full. It was so heavy Daniel (a professor) and myself had to share the load halfway home, then Jacub who's a huge guy, took over for the other half. I gave some to our 3 Faustina nuns who didn't come to the dinner, and the rest I brought to Mother Teresa's sisters this morning. It's always good to share others' joy.

This evening we begin the feast of St. Anthony (of Padua if you're italian; of Lisbon if you're portuguese).  He was portuguese but died in Padua. Patron saint of lost things. Well I've got alot to ask for tonight - lost my health, lost my time, lost my memory, lost my energy .... I wonder if the miracle saint will help me find them back.