"Dear parishioners, I am very glad to say that my time in Rome has been absolutely incredible. The community in the Venerable English College is amazing, this beautiful building starts to feel like home and we are having very unique experiences. How to forget the first night as a community in an Italian restaurant, the first time I stepped in St Peter square (eating a very nice ice cream), or the moment I beheld the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual help, all golden and radiant, that we visited to entrust our academic year to Mary. Since I bumped into the tomb of Pope Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore I am losing count of how many tombs of Popes and Saints I have visited, but God is God of the living, and meeting Pope Leo was the most significant and emotional moment for me. We also spent 8 days in France in an spiritual travel and retreat, in which I will highlight my consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the same chapel where He appeared to St Margaret Mary (whose body is there), our visit to St Bernadette’s convent (who had the visions of Our Lady at Lourdes), and our time in Ars, with our celebration of Mass in the same chapel where the patron Saint of the Priests rest. So much spiritual richness will be needed to face the rest of the year studying in the Angelicum, which in combination with seminary life is pretty intense! Please pray for me (and for my Latin), and of course for Pope Leo.

You are all always in my prayers!"