Wildlife--in and near--Gaming

For being situated in the foothills of the alps, one would imagine that a whole array of wildlife would be fairly common to spot. However, after 4 years of living with our backyard bordering the woods, I have only seen deer twice, a jackrabbit, and a little weasel-like creature in the backyard along with the more common squirrels, rabbits, and insects.

One of our friends, a local Gaminger named Joe Highrider, is an avid photographer and has shared some of his photographs with us. The detail and clarity on these photos is truly amazing:

A short Austria Video -- Spring 2010 Semester

Video created by student Maria Pablo, Spring 2010

A Truly Austrian Experience

A blog post by Trish Irvine, Spring 2010

Austrian Farm

Sometimes in our quest to “experience Europe” we neglect to experience Austria. Of course, we spend much of our time here due to studies, but it seems to be an oasis of Americanain the midst of Austria. We race to Vienna and Salzburg to explore the depth of history there when it is truly surrounding us every moment at the Kartause. It doesn’t make sense to only see the big cities of a country—I would be insulted if someone said they had experienced the USwhen they only visited New York City. In the past week I have been able to experience three different events that have helped me see the beauty of Austria in a setting much closer to home.

A family that I do Ministry to Moms for took me to the farm of a couple they know. I had mentioned in my application that I live on a farm and enjoyed it, so the family promised to take me to their friends’ farm sometime. I walked into their house one evening and it was announced that today was the day we were going to the farm. A couple of the kids were sick so only part of the family went.

When we arrived at the farm it was to see a tall man wave at us and greet us warmly. His name was Tony and he asked if I spoke German. I was sad to inform him that I didn’t. Soon, his wife Krista came out and introduced herself. She speaks English quite well whereas Tony speaks a little bit. There were times when it didn’t matter that Tony and I couldn’t verbally communicate—he smiled so much that I felt he must be such a beautiful man when we had barely spoken. They kindly invited us to see their farm and then asked us in for drinks. Setting a tray of dessert on the table, they encouraged us to partake. When the tea was ready, they served it to us and then Tony offered some schnapps to us.

The kitchen was warm and bright. It wasn’t like I had imagined because I hadn’t thought to imagine anything, but it seemed to be everything an Austrian home should be. Good conversation that was a mingling of three different languages (Slovak, German, and English) with a warm atmosphere was more than delightful. In the end, I left the farm with a large smile on my face; I had encountered the ‘real’ Austria and not the part that is shown to the tourists. The kindness of the people was genuine and heartfelt. It was hard to imagine that for months I had lived so close to such people while never encountering them.

Mariazell

On Saturday the school gave us the option to hike to Mariazell, the most visited Marian shrine in central Europe. The hiking route takes six to eight hours to complete on average and winds along beautiful Austrian scenery. I got different figures depending on the time and the person, but the hike was around 13-16 miles, although I am apt to say the longer figure is correct because it sounds better. The scenery we walked through was beautiful—mountains with trees surrounding a winding river that roared at points and babbled at others. Besides the splendor of the hike was getting to know people I was walking with. It was also interesting to pray the rosary in as many languages as we knew as we walked. The beauty of the weather was also perfect—cool enough to not be overheated but warm enough to wear short-sleeves.

There were definitely portions of the hike that were more difficult than others but in the end the challenge of the hike was the distance. I was proud to complete the entire hike without taking a shuttle for the latter portion. When we finally reached Mariazell, our feet were sore but we felt accomplished. After we had been there for a while the bus arrived with the non-hikers. I couldn’t help but envy them as they looked all bright and fresh after a mere hour bus ride. Yet I definitely wouldn’t trade the experience I had of hiking and conversing with my classmates.

When someone at home asks me how Austria was, I would like to be able to say more than “Good” before launching into how the other countries were. Austria is more than just the home of Gaming or our starting/ending point for European travels. Austria, for four beautiful months, was our home. The hike to Mariazell allowed me to see more of the country I have lived in and experience the devotion of the people.

Gaming United

On Sunday, April 18^th, the Gaming community joined with the Kartause community to help raise money for Haiti. Although it was definitely a wonderful event for the people of Haiti who will benefit from the donations, it was also good for the students as well. It was nice to walk around and hear the meshing of languages. The dancing portion of the event, where different people were able to showcase different dances, was interesting. The Austrian slap dancers set everyone into fits of laughter and the LCI (Language and Catechetical Institute) students from China relaxed us with a demonstration of Tai Chi. It was wonderful to see the different groups that helped pitched in from both communities to make the event possible. A close tie was watching Fr. Ron walk around, admiring everything and commenting on the role everyone played in the event.

All of these events increased my appreciation for the country of Austria and more specifically the area surrounding Gaming. The town of Gaming isn’t a place that would attract much attention; there are many other places in Austria filled with beauty and history. Yet Gaming has been my home for nearly four months and has a special place in my heart. The combination of these events helped me see more of Gaming, experience the ‘real’ Austria, and feast my eyes on beauty everywhere. Gradually my thankfulness is growing to encompass more fully the ‘down time’ spent here in Austria; the time spent not traveling to other countries but staying close by. With a semester full of wonderful memories, some of the most unforgettable experiences were here in Gaming.

Farewell Austria!

With the most of the students now departed for their return to the USA, I thought we needed to jump to a farewell post -- and Trish has come through for us yet again!

A blog post by Trish Irvine, Spring 2010

A couple weeks ago I was ready to go home and see my family. I was glad for the experiences I had here and I loved this semester, but I was ready to share my experiences with my family and plant my feet on some (flat) South Dakota soil. Now, my feelings are slightly more complicated. While I still want to see home, I am beginning to understand everything that I will be leaving. Even if I return to Austria, I can never return to the present—to this time, in this place, with these people, at this stage in my life. If I did someday return to Gaming, which I hope to, it will be a different Gaming. So much of my experience is tied up with the people I traveled with nearly as much as the places I saw. I didn’t see the Europe that many people go to see. I saw Europe on a budget, staying in hostels, riding on ridiculous “overnight” trains with multiple changes in the middle of the night, visiting churches, shrines, and holy places. That Europe is the Europe that I will remember from this semester, and it is a beautiful Europe.

The other day at Mass the song line “He gives and takes away” struck me as extremely true. After being ready to go home, I soon realized everything I would be giving up and I began to wish I could stay for longer. Yet this semester is a gift and I shouldn’t be unwilling to let it end. Rather, I decided to savor the last few days and do what I had previously procrastinated. I hiked up Book Mountain to watch the sunrise. The view was wonderful and I couldn’t help but be in awe as the pink-orange sun rose in the sky surrounded by the peaks of mountains, green and lofty. Words fail. There is a type of gazing that is in itself a prayer, and this was how I was viewing the landscape. We walked down the mountain and had breakfast. I felt very accomplished that I had been awake for four hours by the time I ate breakfast.

The Easter Ball was a great experience—being able to dress up in traditional Austrian wear, sample to finest the Mensa has to offer, watch the Austrian slap dancers perform, and dance to traditional and modern music. One of my favorite parts of the evening was being taught how to dance some Austrian dances. The ballroom was in chaos as we ‘galloped’ across the floor, probably looking ridiculous in our façade of Austrian wear. Yet it was extremely fun chaos. The Austrian slap dancers were a nice entertainment between dancing lessons. Overall, the night was wonderful although the only taint was the knowledge that the next day was the last day in Gaming.

The next morning I went to the waterfall. It was a nice walk/hike and a good way to spend the last morning of my Austrian experience. After the trip a couple of us jumped into the creek. The water was cold but not bitterly. My attempts to soak up the last moments in Gaming were working but made me desire longer in this place of beauty.
There are definitely things that I will miss about Gaming. I will miss my classes. I feel like I learned so much this semester and the professors were wonderful. They were the type of classes where the material interested me and that facilitated my learning. I will miss Ministry to Moms. That was one of the most beautiful things about this semester—going into a family’s home and helping in whatever little way I could. I was blessed enough to be able to help two families and they both showed me ways to be Christ-like. The only ‘inside’ experience I have had of a family is my own and that is skewed by my personal attachment. But these families are growing in sanctity and I was honored to be able to witness it. One evening I ate supper with a family and then stayed and watched the comedian Brian Regan’s performance on DVD. It was a taste of home and family in the midst of school and friends. Being welcomed into another family was a wonderful and humbling experience.

I will miss living in the Kartause and the Kartause community. I love that at noon, the community pauses for Mass—professors, students, faculty, and families alike. It shows what is truly important in life and that everything can still get done even when taking time out to receive Jesus. I will miss the intense snowball fights and banter that is shared between some of the children and the students. I will miss the small group of students here and how well you get to know people. I will miss music ministry and being able to offer something for the Mass. I will also miss my job—writing about my wonderful experiences for a virtual community is definitely one of my favorite jobs.

There is so much about this place and these people that I will miss. But it is because I had such a beautiful experience that I will miss it so much. In that case, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have no doubt, however, that with as richly as God has blessed me this semester He will continue to do so as I return home. I ask for your prayers this summer as I return home and then begin my job in later May as part of the Totus Tuus program in the Sioux Falls, SD diocese. All that I have experienced here in Austria will be aiding me as I encounter Christ in children and adults alike. Thank you for the opportunity to share my Austrian experiences with you. May the Lord bless you and continue to guide you closer to Christ. Auf wiedersehen, Osterreich, you will be deeply missed.

The Shroud of Turin—Santa Sindone

A blog post by Trish Irvine, Spring 2010

Turin, Italy has the great privilege of housing the Holy Shroud of Christ, or as they call it in Italy the “Santa Sindone.” This year, from April 10^th-May 23^rd the Shroud is on display. The last time the Shroud was on display was 1998. With that in mind, it is quite a feat that I happened to be studying in Austria during the time of its exposition. Even better was that our final four-day break fell perfectly for going to Turin to venerate the Shroud. On only the second day of display, we were able to see with human eyes the Shroud of the God-man.

When we walked into the church I was surprised to see the Shroud so clearly. We had reservations for a later time to see the Shroud closer, but as it was we could get a good view. Despite the many signs that forbid taking pictures, people held up their cameras and phones, snapping and flashing for a keepsake to take home with them. Honestly, I was a little disappointed at first. ‘This is it?’ I thought as I looked at what seemed to be the exact same as the replicas I had seen before. Slightly unimpressed, I thought that at least I could say I went pretty close to the Shroud.

As the time drew near for our viewing of the Shroud we headed to get in line. It was unbelievable how many people were there, waiting to enter the church to see the Shroud of Jesus. The line stretched for what would have been blocks if it wasn’t a park-like area. Now we began to wonder if we would be able to even get through the line before we had to leave to board our train for Austria. We were meeting a few people there who were already in line and had been waiting for twenty minutes. Some of the group decided they would rather sit and pray in the church before the Shroud then spend the time in line to get a few minutes close to the Shroud. As a last effort before giving up, we asked some workers if we could join the rest of our group in line and they let us. Somehow I just felt that God wouldn’t let us come all the way to Turin only to let the reservations go to waste.

We prayed a rosary as we waited and it began to feel like a mini-pilgrimage to the Shroud. As we drew closer they began displaying famous pictures and paintings of the Passion of Christ followed by a brief walk through a museum with beautiful chant music resounding. A few minutes before we saw the Shroud they put us in a room with a large screen and began showing us a simple movie about it. There were no spoken words, only short subtitles in about eight different languages that told which part of the Shroud they were zooming up on. When the movie concluded I understood more fully what I was about to experience. The build up to seeing the Shroud again was critical as I turned from a tourist to pilgrim. The wait, even if it seemed inconvenient, was necessary to prepare my heart to truly appreciate what I was about to see.

The seemingly endless line opened into the church and it was racing towards the Shroud. However, I am extremely fond of Bl. Pier Giorgio and his tomb was on a side altar a little ways before the Shroud. I stopped with a friend to pray before his tomb. The gate was open and I pressed my rosary to the step before the tomb. Yet my heart desired more. I asked a worker if I could touch my rosary to his tomb. She told me that there were alarms that would go off if I did so. The lady was very kind, though, and gently pressed my hands, telling me that I could pray there. We then continued toward the Shroud. There are three lines to see the Shroud, with the front line being primarily for those with wheelchairs or strollers and the other two being for the rest of the pilgrims. Yet by some miracle, we found ourselves in the front line not knowing how we managed it. As the lady led a prayer in Italian, I was in the middle, directly before the Shroud, just about as close as one can possibly get.

I stood, gazing at the Shroud and finally being able to understand the beauty of the event I was experiencing. This cloth was as old as the Church I am a part of and this cloth touched my very Lord. The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, but there was something so beautiful about seeing that which was wrapped around the physical body of Jesus. I gazed at the portion of the Shroud that touched Christ’s face. It is the closest I can come in this life to knowing what Jesus looked like. I could’ve stood there for so much longer, striving to understand the vastness of the gift I was receiving. The people in line behind us wanted to see as well, however, and we were quickly ushered out.

How does one explain the joy of being before the Holy Shroud, the Santa Sindone? Someone later mentioned that Mary touched that cloth as she wrapped Christ in it. That added another element to it that I hadn’t considered. The Shroud isn’t simply a nice idea, it is a piece of history preserved for all of the doubting Thomas’s of today and for all of us who often fail to dive into understanding God’s gift. Christ’s blood is on that cloth, but I receive Him in Mass. How contrary we are. We will stand in line for 1 ½ hours to see that which touched Christ and yet we insist on using many extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion so that we can quickly receive Jesus before carrying on with our day. The more holy places I go to and the more wonderful things I see, the more I am reminded of the blessing of the Eucharist. If only I could be as joyful to receive Him as I am to see things that are beautiful but of far less importance. Yet even in this ‘failing’ it is a sort of gain as well because as I encounter these manifold beauties, I fall more in love with the Author of Life.

I dislike throwing around extremes and absolutes such as “This changed my life forever” or “This was the best thing I ever did.” I’m not sure I could posit that. However, I can honestly say that seeing the Holy Shroud of Jesus Christ was amazing and helps give more meaning and depth to my spiritual life. Sometimes I think about how both Jesus and Mary were brought bodily into Heaven and how people may think it is rather “convenient” that the bodies of two of the main people in the Christian faith disappeared. Yet we have this cloth with the imprint of a man. Studies say that the imprint seems to be made from some form of radiation (the resurrection?) and that the person who was wrapped in it stopped bleeding and later began again. This cloth was that which enshrouded my Savior. And I was able to stand before it and pray. How can I not be different?