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.
