Parliamo Italiano a Verona.

Q: What happens when 50 guys ask if they can crash at your house for a couple of weeks?
A: You head to Verona!

This week, the General Chapter of the Society of Mary begins.  It is a meeting held every six years that elects new leadership, sets policies for the Order, and gives direction as we move forward.   Around fifty Brothers from all over the world are heading to Rome and will be staying at our house.  Many preparations have taken place, including transforming the main chapel (biggest room in the house) into the "Chapter Room" equipped with wireless voting devices and equipment for simultaneous translation into the three languages of the Society: French, English and Spanish.  Yes, it's a big deal (after all, it has it's own Facebook page :)

So, this seems like a good time to head to Verona since our rooms will be occupied by the capitulants (delegates).  Oh yeah, there's also a two month intensive language program there that we will be participating in.  All the new seminarians will be taking the course since our house language is Italian.  That means we pray in Italian, speak Italian around the table, and have meetings in Italian.  And some will study in Italian (maybe even me...we'll see.)

About the only thing I know about Verona is that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette was set there.  (And about all I know about Romeo and Juliette is that it takes place in Verona!)  Hopefully, after two months I'll be speaking a little more Italian and won't have so many blank stares on my face when someone says something to me.  (Or blank stares from them when I attempt to say something in Italian!)  Although I'm already pretty good at saying "Mi piace gelato" (I like gelato).
Ciao!

The house is all set to welcome the Capitulants.

Each place has a wireless voting device and a headset to hear the translations.

The main chapel is now the Chapter Room where the meetings will take place.