Sunday was something else

While I had all these great plans to go to a mountain escape (Macugnaga) and the home of prosciutto and parmesan cheese (Parma ), they fell apart  due to the distances that had to be traveled in public transportation.  It’s not so great in the north of Italy.  So I was stuck here for the weekend which turned out to be pretty cool.  I was invited by one of the other guys to go up to a mountain top town which was celebrating its city festival which was tied to a saint’s feast.  We pulled up and within five minutes they had us back in the sacristy putting on albs, completely unbeknownst to us beforehand.   Without hardly any more words, we were shoved into the processional line and the Mass was starting.  One confusing hour later, we were recessing out, me with the cross in hand.  As if that weren’t enough chaos, we arrived outside the church only to find ourselves in a processional line to go around town.  There were women dressed in traditional clothing of the area, a small but full on band playing national songs, the multitude of servers (with an average age of 12, including us), the numerous priests, and the men carrying the statue of the saint.  While the whole trip was maybe a half a mile, it took us nearly 45 minutes.  That’s a while to be holding a cross…but not that I’m complaining.  It was still pretty cool.  Afterwards, we went to rectory for a toast to two of the priests, one who was celebrating 25 years and the other celebrating 50 years.  There were many dignitaries there, including: three federal police in full formal regalia (and it is the definition of regalia), the mayor, other important key figures in the community…and then there were us two out of place seminarians from the US.  It was nice, just out of place.  Then we were whisked over to a restaurant for the formal dinner and sat at the head table.  The humility rose.  We were merely invited to this event; the next thing we knew we were up front and personal at this event.  It was a little

overwhelming.  Then came the food. We had an antipasta of prosciutto and cantaloupe (which is probably the best match up ever) and an assortment of other cured meats.  Then we had risotto (prepared rice), which was also great.  Then for the principal meal we had two plates.  The first was a type of thin sliced roast beef with steamed zucchini and carrots.  The second was swordfish and fried potato slices.  Then for dessert we had an amazing wild berry pie.  The night was too much.  But what an experience.   

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