Greetings from Gaming!
What a great blessing it has been to experience the Austrian culture for the past two weeks. I had no idea what to expect when I came here. Whenever I would ask someone who has been here before to describe their experience for me they would often respond by saying “It is indescribable” or “It is beyond words.” Somehow, these friends of mine thought this answer was going to provide me with a sense of consolation as I prepared to travel over 5000 miles to a country whose language I cannot speak. Yet upon arriving and having spent a little time in Austria, I share their sense of wonder and amazement. It is difficult for me to put my affections for Austria into words, yet I have come up with a list of three things that you should know about Franciscan’s study abroad program.
1) It is important to remember that this journey to Europe is first and foremost a pilgrimage for the students. Every city and country that we visit is oozing with Catholic culture. This past weekend in Salzburg and Munich, we were able to visit the resting places of several martyrs and saints, including St. Munditia – the patron saint of single women. The churches that we visit are often at least 600 years old, absolutely huge, and simply breathtaking. Though they feature architecture and paintings from different periods of history, they are all a house of worship of the same Lord Jesus Christ.
2) We are given the opportunity to live in a Carthusian monastery. If that is not reason enough to come to Gaming, I don’t know what is. Though time is limited, there is plenty of opportunity for prayer and finding time to contemplate the mysteries of our faith in the silence that the monks found so useful for so many years.
3) Let’s face it: traveling is hard. It is physically and emotionally draining. You will find that some of your friendships will be tested. Also, it is incredibly hard to find time to do homework when you are on the road each weekend. Nevertheless, in the face of controversy, we are given the opportunity to find out who we truly are. In times of crisis, we can either panic or trust in the tools that God has given to us. And though some friendships might fail, others will thrive and you will get to know people on a more intimate level than you ever imagined you would.
May our awesome God bless you and remember to keep us students, our families, and our safety in your prayers this Spring semester!
Greg Sisco, Spring 2011
Duc In Altum
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