Fr. Tom Bohlin, the Vicar of Opus Dei in the US, visited San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, Nov 19-23. A get-together was held in each of the cities in which he encouraged the participants to take advantage of the current situation. He shared news from his trip to Rome in September, during which he spent time with the Father. Fr. Tom also told us how impressed the Father and the Custodes were with the many families they met during their trip to the US. The Father also asked Fr. Tom when he was going to invite him back to visit the US.
Fr. Tom also stressed that while our vocation is very much being in the world, we cannot place too much hope in purely human or political solutions to the ills of society. Sometimes political solutions are just a bandage we place on top of a deeper wound. We cannot forget there is only one Savior, who has already come to earth.
He also encouraged us to foster deep friendships, first of all with those close to us, including other people in the Work. While we are supposed to open in society as a fan to reach out, as Pope Francis encourages us, it is also important that we spend time with others in the Work. For example, it is very good to organize social events where those attending a particular circle and their families can grow in friendship, and at times brainstorm about apostolic initiatives.
Fr. Tom also shared an anecdote that took place the day of St. Josemaria's canonization on Oct 6, 2002, when he was still living in Rome and working in the General Council. After a long day with the ceremony in St. Peter's Square with a few hundred thousand people, and various receptions that followed, they finally returned home to Villa Tevere. Fr. Jose Orlandis, who had accompany St. Josemaria in his first trip to Rome and who was 84 at the time, commented that when they arrived in Rome 56 years earlier, they could have never imagined something like what they had just witnessed that day. D. Javier Echevarria, the Prelate at that time, commented that we would witness greater things in 50 years if we were faithful to our vocation.
Fr. Tom also talked how we should make frequent use of the Opus Dei website, since it has lots of good materials useful for spiritual reading and prayer, including letters and messages from the Father, materials for means of formation, etc.