On Thursday this week two visitors from the Vatican came to give us some welcome advice and support in order to help keep us safe. They were very pleased with the way we are self-isolating and made some helpful suggestions to keep us even safer. While our life continues more or less normally this week, we keep in our prayers the people of Italy who are suffering so badly at this time.

Lectures resumed this morning after the short break - but all classes from the external professors are now online. Using Skype, Zoom and other platforms, the academic programme can continue and colllege life remains more or less stable and normal. Thank you to those who have been keeping us in your prayers. We are continung to pray for those back home whose lives are so badly affected by the pandemic.

The short four day break began today in highly unusual circumstances. Although staff and the remaining 15 students are not allowed off the premises due to the Italian quarantine, a lighter timetable comes in for a few days, allowing time for relaxation and exercise in the warm Spring sunshine. Blue skies and light airs are forecast and we look forward to rechargning our batteries in the relaxed atmosphere.

With Italy now in quarantine, some students have returned home. From there they will continue their academic work and other aspects of formation by Skype or email. The Rector's message above shows that the remaining students and staff are safe and well, served by a rota of the wonderful Personale. The emergence of the turtles from hibernation and the first daffodil of Spring came on the day the Italian lock-down was announced - signs of hope for the future?

Second and Third Year students went to the Divine Word Missionary Centre in Nemi this weekend for a course on Safeguarding which was led by Dr Colette Limbrick, Director of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service of England and Wales. Interesting, fruitful and enjoyable was how they described the weekend. Many thanks to Dr Limbrick for travelling from the UK to give the weekend.

With the rapid advance of the Coronavirus, especially in Italy, the Beda community has been able to continue working normally at present. While Schools and Universities in Italy closed yesterday to prevent the further spread of the virus, the Beda is able to continue with its in-house lectures. However, in a rapidly changing situation, a close watch is being kept on necessary directives from Church and Civil authorities.