Sr. Karen Mohan, VHM, Bro. Mickey, Fr. Vanni, and Bishop Bernard de Clairvaux Toha, OSFS, and Fr. Biju.
Every September I direct Art and Faith tours to places where art and architecture are as inspiring as the lives of the saints who lived there. In addition to Annecy, we have visited Ireland, New Mexico, and the hometowns of the four women doctors of the church and master artists from across the ages. Each trip proves memorable in its own unique way, but a recent trip to Rome and Assisi was special because some delightful Oblate and Salesian connections made it so.
Sr. Karen Mohan, VHM, of the Minneapolis Visitation monastery has been a dear friend since 1992 when I painted “The Windsock Visitation” for her community. I was delighted that she not only came on the tour but was able to join me for several days beforehand at the beautiful Oblate Generalate in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome. Fr. Barry Strong, OSFS, Superior General of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and Fr. Frank Danella, OSFS, Assistant Superior General, who are part of the North American Provinces but reside in Rome, were out of town, so three Oblates from different countries were our gracious hosts.
Sr. Karen and I felt right at home thanks to the loving warmth and hospitality of the two Oblates who live there. Fr. Vanni, a retired priest of the Italian province doesn’t speak a word of English, but his gentle kindness and humor made words unnecessary. Fr. Biju, a canon law student from India who speaks perfect English and Italian, greeted us, showed us around, and gave us a rooftop tour with its breathtaking view of the Roman skyline. The third Oblate on scene was the delightful Bishop Bernard de Clairvaux Toha, OSFS, who was visiting from Benin. His easy smile and laughter lit up the room. These confreres provided a perfect prelude to our tour.
My traveling companions are pictured here. They include (left to right) Becky Borman who taught literature at Bishop Ireton from 1984-2011; Sr. Karen; Mary Hastings, alum of St. Louis Visitation Academy; myself; Tom and Gail Thelen, longtime parishioners at Holy Family parish in Adrian, MI, and Eileen Brennan, the sister of Fr. Joe Brennan, OSFS. Both Becky and Eileen have been on several of my past tours and have become my dear friends. Salesian Oblate connections were quickly made once we met the group of twenty-six fellow travelers on the first day.
In the following days, fun photo-ops of new friends were created beneath the statue of St. Francis de Sales in St. Peter’s Basilica and a marble sculpture of the Visitation in Orvieto Cathedral. I even spied from a distance the habit and cross of an Oblate Sister in the wide-open square at St. Francis Basilica in Assisi who is from Colombia and lives in Rome. She and Sr. Karen became fast friends.
It became clear to me as our trip evolved that in addition to attending Pope Francis’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square and feeling so strongly the presence of St. Francis in Assisi, a third Francis was also guiding our pilgrim steps: St. Francis de Sales, who once said, “Saints were once what we are now.” It’s true!
Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS
Salesian Artist
Camden, NJ
*Brother Mickey's books, prayer starters, Christmas Cards and Calendars are available at Clear Faith Publishing. Brother Mickey's images can be purchased at Trinity Stores.
