Manalive! English Newsletter 1

NUMBER 1 / 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

Manalive!

Newsletter for the Friends of the Scuola Libera G.K. Chesterton

Marco Sermarini (left) and Mara Teefy Hertelendy in front of Chesterton Academy Hopkins new location.

NE Minneapolis Stronghold.

Fr. Spencer Howe is the initiator of our relationship and is the leader of a lively Catholic Community in North East Minneapolis!

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, a true disciple of Jesus.

Friendship building sister citadels The growth and development of friendship between the Italian and American Chesterton Schools brings as its fruit the birth of communities of Christian friends who spread Christianity and its favorable life.

Eight years ago we met Father Spencer Howe the first time in a completely original way (he was looking for someone who loved both Frassati and Chesterton, like himself... and he found us!), we didn't imagine all the things that would happen. I, myself had to change my habits from a rather

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TIPI LOSCHI

BL. PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

FOLLOWING JESUS

Many pupils of Scuola Chesterton are members of the Tipi Loschi…

It’s an intentional community born in Italy in 1993 with the ideal of…

… living life following Our Lord the way Pier Giorgio Frassati did.

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Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin (Italy) in 1901, the son of a distinguished Italian family. His father was an Italian Senator and Ambassador, founder of a daily newspaper, and his mother was a painter with a strong attitude. His life was brief as a comet but just as sparkling. He left a very strong mark that has come down to us. His life was full of adamant faith and invincible charity.

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sedentary and scared Hobbit and learn to cross the Atlantic skies even twice a year... What happened is providential because we didn't imagine that we would find friends across the Pond, and friends who shared practically everything with us. And behold, once again the magic has happened. The first time we sailed the ocean we thought that maybe something good was happening, but not something lasting. We underestimated the power of the Christian Truth and above all of sharing among true friends. So now, every time any of us goes to either side, it's like going home. Even more, we realize that we are struggling for the same purpose, which is to spread the Truth in the world and to let everyone know that this Truth creates beauty, justice, joy and good life. So sister citadels arise here and there in the world, helping and supporting each other. That is why we are asking you for help: support this covenant and you will enjoy its fruits. I consider myself a humble servant of this friendship.

Marco Sermarini, Founder of the Scuola Libera Chesterton

Thoughts After the Italians Departed: This are some of the voices of our Minnesotan Friends after the Italian visit in September.

Last year I hosted Chicca Sermarini and Chiara Urriani and I was hoping they would come back again this year. But they have school and their own lives and weren’t able to come back, and I can tell you truthfully, I was sad about that. But when I met the group that came this year, I was so glad I did. I was Davide’s Ambassador and I loved every minute of it. The lesson I learned in the largest capacity was that of truly living. Each and every one of the students that came to America and all those in Italy live with a purpose. They truly live their lives through sharing a common goal of holiness, and they impart that goal on everyone they meet. Their kindness is unmatched and they

CHALLENGED AND SUPPORTED Encountering the Compagnia dei Tipi Loschi showed me a different way of living—intentional living with a community. It’s not the American Tipi Loschi and the Italian Tipi Loschi, but all one and the same. These friendships transcend language and age groups. I’m constantly challenged and supported simultaneously. But most of all, I feel seen and known. It used to be that I only ever encountered this in San Benedetto del Tronto. But since we made the decision to continue meeting on American soil, the weekly meetings, Doposcuola, and bonfires feel the same as they do in Italy at Santa Lucia. But it isn’t the place that defines that sense of belonging. It’s the Tipi Loschi themselves in laughter and prayer, living out the Gospel. It doesn’t matter if I am in The Twin Cities or in San Benedetto, I will forever be a Tipa Losca.

Kendra Posch

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THEY TRULY live their lives through sharing a common goal of holiness, and they impart that goal on everyone they meet" Patrick Hess

I HOPE I CAN BUILD my friendship with our friends in Italy along with carrying the friendship I was shown to others in America.

Luke Blackman

truly desire the good of everyone they meet.

While last year I made plenty of friends, this yeah I learned how to live a life worth living.

Nothing happens the same way twice.

Patrick Hess

When the Italians came last year and I had the opportunity to house Matteo (Mozzoni) and Carlo (Casanova). I was expecting them to be very fun but what I didn’t expect was the lasting true friendship. After they had left, Matteo still reached out to me and we would talk and ask for each other’s prayers. This was a kind of friendship new to me that I hadn't expected and didn’t really understand yet. Even though I wasn't able to house any of the Italians this year we became very close in the two weeks they were here. For the majority of their visit it was all fun and games to me. Then as I began to listen to the testimonies their happiness and realness stuck out to me but I still didn’t get it. Once they had left (for the first time) I started to think on the fact that they had come with a goal in mind. As I thought about what they talked about and how it affects me it became so clear that the true friendships they had there was why they came. They wanted us to have it here with each other but also with them. I realized all this then heard that the flight had been deleted and i was going to be able to see them again. Despite the long distance I hope I can build my friendship with our friends in Italy along with carrying the friendship I was shown to others in America.

Luke Blackman G.K. Chesterton once said something like this: ”A dead thign goes wtih the stream and an alive one goes against it”. This metaphor HOSTING ITALIANS can relate to many things in life but the way is a humbling it applies to me is with the Italians. Hosting experience that struck Italians is a humbling experience that struck me in a great way. But me in a great way. It gave me looking back at it, it responsibilities to balance, lots of work, brought immense joy, many late nights doing their laundry, and love and fellowship. driving them everywhere. But looking back at it, it brought immense joy, love and John Havlicek fellowship. It humbled me and gave me a new impression about life. I have never had more joy in my life than hosting Italians and I am in a great debt to them. They are family and the best friends one can have because they live the truth of life and faith.

Sincerely, John Havlicek

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My experience with the Italians has been indescribable. I had never expected to grow so close with such wonderful people. When Flavia first came I was a little nervous. I worried that I wasn’t going to be the best leader I could be. But, we clicked right away. I actually enjoyed going to school every day and looked forward to playing hangman with Flavia in class, especially pre-calculus. Flavia and the other Italians brought so much joy into my life for these past couple weeks. The Italians help me grow in my virtue, too. Seeing the Italians demonstrate such deep community in Christ really changed me. When the day came for them to leave I was so sad to see them go. Even though they were only here for a little over a week, I felt as if these people had become my family. But I know that we all have our struggles, but we can always be there for each other and help each other grow closer to God. Being around these people made me understand that I am loved and there are always opportunities to help each other grow Lara Campbell At the beginning of their trip (the Italians) started making friends. When I saw this, it hit me: even though they don't speak English and they live an ocean apart they still spread love. Their example of love just filled the whole school. They had two modes: serious (mass, talks, testimonies, etc.) and fun (everything else). Even in class they filled the room with fun and joy. Dominic (one of my classmates) came up to me and said, "I'm going to miss Antonio, he was soo much fun in class!”. It was/is a joy to have share this mission with them. Kevin said that they called this trip a "voyage" and it struck me when they left. It wasn't a goodbye but a beginning of this endless voyage of friendship with our Italian brothers and sisters.

Lara Campbell: All this made me understand that

I am loved and there are always opportunities to help each other grow.

Becket Hertelendy: Even though they don't speak English

their example of love just filled the whole school.

Cat Hornecker: … true friendship,

because we are meant to walk the journey of life together.

Becket Hertelendy It was such a blessing to have our Italian friends from La Scuola Chesterton in San Benedetto del Tronto visit. I am very grateful I got to host Flavia and Martina, and make so many beautiful friendships.

This experience taught me several things. Most importantly, it taught me a lesson of friendship; it was fun to laugh and joke around, but what struck me was the importance of balancing vulnerability and fun in a friendship. With the Italians, I was able to have fun, but when we were able to sit down and be vulnerable with each other was especially memorable. Everyone needs a friend by their side: someone to check in with during the tough times and someone to laugh with in the good times. Just because someone does not fluently speak your language or lives halfway around the world does not mean you cannot be friends. We are to be friends to all of our neighbors, whether they live next door or whether we meet them for 4

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twelve days. This is what I have learned, and this is what I hope to live out everyday: true friendship, because we are meant to walk the journey of life together.

Love and prayers to all of you, Cat Hornecker

Community Around the World!

One major highlight for us at Chesterton Academy every year is to see the wonderful students from Italy for the first time. We are always blessed by the Italian students' joy and warmth. For a couple short weeks, our students enjoy a spiritual and fraternal friendship with other young adults who live in another country. The time we have with the Italians reminds us that we are a part of a world church that is much greater than what we experience in our parishes and diocese.

We are truly blessed to have wonderful Catholic brothers and sisters who come to share their Life in Christ with us on an annual basis.

Dave Beskar, Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of the Twin Cities

A Spirit of Service That Builds Community Building on the example of Blessed Pier Giorgio, Italian and American students gathered together on September 6th, 2019 for a service project at the Pro Ecclesia Sancta convent in Richfield, MN. “Each of you knows that the foundation of our faith is charity. Without it, our religion would crumble. We will never be truly Catholic unless we conform our entire lives to the two commandments that are the essence of the Catholic faith: to love the Lord, our God, with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves… With charity, we sow the seeds of that true peace which only our faith in Jesus Christ can give us by making us all brothers and sisters. I know that this way is steep, and difficult, and strewn with thorns, while at first glance the other path seems easier, more pleasant, and more satisfying.

But the fact is, if we could look into the hearts of those who follow the perverse paths of this world, we would see that they lack the serenity that comes to those who have faced a thousand difficulties and who have renounced material pleasure to follow God’s law.”

- BL. PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

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TO SUPPORT THE SCUOLA CHESTERTON AND FUTURE MANALIVE MISSIONS, TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE TIPI LOSCHI FOUNDATION: 1855 Noble Drive, Golden Valley, MN USA 55422 | tipiloschi.usa@gmail.com

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