austraLasia #3050
The Peter Room: a Pisana makeover
ROME: 13 April 2012 -- It has gone under many names over the years, and many a visiting confrere in need of a little comfort and company, has benefited from it. One might even say that a few Chapter schemes have been hatched within. We are speaking of a room that has been called the 'English Club', the 'Red Room' and, less kindly, a dumping ground for tawdry green curtains, monotonous grey metal cupboards, a leaking roof, freezing in winter and unbearable in summer....
Formerly just an open space, then early on an office, then a server and computer area, when the EAO Region was created in 2002 and the new Regional of the time (Fr Klement) was assigned his office, the then Vicar General, now Bishop Luc Van Looy, with the aid of Bro Peter Swain, an Australian Salesian and secretary to the Regional, saw that the now abandoned area became the 'English Club' for Sunday morning tea or coffee. They had previously met in what was by now the EAO Regional's office!
Bro Peter looked after that area, and saw that it was always at the best it could be in terms of human warmth and bonhomie, with a beer to boot, if that was what you wanted. But it was still a rather cluttered area, the roof leaked, the drapes were showing signs of wear - and tear.
13 April 2012, Peter's name was read out, as it has been each year since he died, with the traditional 'fu membro di questa comunità' appended, but this time with a difference. The 'Red Room' is no longer, nor is it just the 'English Club'. Instead, Peter's name is now permanently part of a redecorated, reupholstered (except for the red chairs - we'll get around to that eventually) and quite refurbished area, and has his photo where he can look out over it all with great satisfaction. It is now the 'Peter Room', and open to anybody seeking a moment of quiet, comfort - or solace.
With the removal of all the clutter, replacement of the green curtains with new, clean white ones, a complete repaint and the addition of some period furniture in good condition, the room now boasts of three distinct areas: a sitting area, eating area and bar. It is worth noting that the table, with a green felt top covered with a glass inlay, was donated by the Economer General. It came from Turin and was in use shortly after the Don Rua period, in the Economer General's office at Valdocco.
All in all a fitting tribute to a Salesian who was 'omnia omnibus' for very many people in the EAO Region and beyond.
The Peter Room: a Pisana makeover
ROME: 13 April 2012 -- It has gone under many names over the years, and many a visiting confrere in need of a little comfort and company, has benefited from it. One might even say that a few Chapter schemes have been hatched within. We are speaking of a room that has been called the 'English Club', the 'Red Room' and, less kindly, a dumping ground for tawdry green curtains, monotonous grey metal cupboards, a leaking roof, freezing in winter and unbearable in summer....
Formerly just an open space, then early on an office, then a server and computer area, when the EAO Region was created in 2002 and the new Regional of the time (Fr Klement) was assigned his office, the then Vicar General, now Bishop Luc Van Looy, with the aid of Bro Peter Swain, an Australian Salesian and secretary to the Regional, saw that the now abandoned area became the 'English Club' for Sunday morning tea or coffee. They had previously met in what was by now the EAO Regional's office!
Bro Peter looked after that area, and saw that it was always at the best it could be in terms of human warmth and bonhomie, with a beer to boot, if that was what you wanted. But it was still a rather cluttered area, the roof leaked, the drapes were showing signs of wear - and tear.
13 April 2012, Peter's name was read out, as it has been each year since he died, with the traditional 'fu membro di questa comunità' appended, but this time with a difference. The 'Red Room' is no longer, nor is it just the 'English Club'. Instead, Peter's name is now permanently part of a redecorated, reupholstered (except for the red chairs - we'll get around to that eventually) and quite refurbished area, and has his photo where he can look out over it all with great satisfaction. It is now the 'Peter Room', and open to anybody seeking a moment of quiet, comfort - or solace.
With the removal of all the clutter, replacement of the green curtains with new, clean white ones, a complete repaint and the addition of some period furniture in good condition, the room now boasts of three distinct areas: a sitting area, eating area and bar. It is worth noting that the table, with a green felt top covered with a glass inlay, was donated by the Economer General. It came from Turin and was in use shortly after the Don Rua period, in the Economer General's office at Valdocco.
All in all a fitting tribute to a Salesian who was 'omnia omnibus' for very many people in the EAO Region and beyond.
