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    Christmas 2003




Dear friends,
As you know, I am now living in Rome since the end of November. I’m trying to learn Italian as quickly as possible before I take on the responsibility as General Secretary for the missions in January. A new language, country and culture undoubtedly mean a certain degree of adjustment. My Passionist brothers here in San Giovanni e Paolo have been great, and the international mix has added a special flavor to this large community of around 50, consisting in local community members, undergraduate students from Italy, post graduate students from different parts of the world and members of the general curia of which I now form part of. We have frequent visitors also coming in from different parts of the world, which adds to the special characteristic of this community. One of the nice things has been the opportunity to reconnect with past acquaintances or find out through them about people and places I have been in contact with in the past, be it in India, Africa, Europe, South America or the Caribbean. Being able to say good morning to people in Indonesian, Swahili, French, English, Portuguese, Malayalam, Spanish, Polish, Tamil, etc. are a nice way to feel close to the World Community of my Passionist brothers and Passionist Mexican sisters who assist us in many ways.

I will have to go through a lot of learning and adjustment before getting into the full swing of my new ministry I have been asked to take on by my General Superior. I’m sure I can count on the prayers of many of you so that I can accomplish my mission effectively.
For Christmas, will be in the deep south of Italy after which I will come back and be in Monte Argentario till the 14th January, where St. Paul of the Cross built his first ‘monastery’.
Hope you all have a really wonderful and fruitful Christmas. You will be missed but we will be close in spirit. You will all be in my prayers. A special remembrance to the wonderful community I left back in Sacramento.

Fr. Chris Gibson, CP

Other recent photos:


Two Passionist post graduate students from Congo and Chile



Students from Peru, Poland and Indonesia



Visit of Fr. Francisco Nazar from Argentina
To see other photos in relation to 2003 click on the following thumbnails and on the corner return icon to return to this section:

  During baptism of grand nephew, Jesse in Port Moody, BC - Canada

  During a mission in Brementon, Seatle in March

   With youngest sister Dawn and her extended family in Port Moody, BC in March - Canada

    With grand niece Alysia in March at Abbotsford, BC- Canada

  During the visit of the Passionist Superior General in June to our community in Citrus Heights

  Passionists participants during the Provincial Chapter in June at Sierra Madre, California

    Passionists Associated with the foundation of the Congregation in India, during Provincial Chapter

  Our Passionist Community at Citrus Heights in August at the time of Vestition of Alfredo and Hugo

   With novice Alfredo Ocampo at Mt. Shasta, California, during outing with novices in September

  Novice Hugo Esparza at Lake Tahoo, California, during outing with novices in September

   Novices faking a bear attack during outing with me in September.

   Meeting with parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker from Wheeling at our Passionist Parish of IC in November

  With novices in our Passionist Provincial house in Chicago in November

   View from Monte Argentario where St. Paul of the Cross built his first 'monastery'

   View of the entrance to the Presentation 'Monastery' on Mount Argenterio

   Vestition of 14 novices on Monte Argentario of which I partook in the day after my arrival in Italy in November

   Vestition of 14 novices on Monte Argentario: 2 from Indonesia, 2 from France, the rest from Italy



Click here to go to the general home page of  Rev. Christopher Gibson, CP