On 14 February 2026, the University Chaplaincy hosted an annual retreat for all Dominican friars studying in Rome, providing a vital opportunity to pause after the conclusion of exams and refocus on God. Rather than seeing academic work as a separate burden, the gathering allowed the brothers to integrate their deep research with their vocation, rekindling their zeal for Dominican life. Held in the presence of the Successor of St. Dominic, the day served to renew fraternity and remind the student community that their individual studies are part of a profoundly common mission.
The highlight of the retreat was an extraordinary reflection by Fr. Alfredo Scarciglia, O.P., titled “The Crucifix: A Living Book in Catherine of Siena.” Drawing on his experience as a scholar and guardian of St. Catherine’s legacy, Fr. Alfredo shared how the Cross serves as the ultimate “textbook” for a Dominican. His message provided a way to find spiritual rest within the “heavy toil” of Roman studies, illustrating that intellectual pursuit is a path to love: since the more one knows God through study, the more one is moved to love Him.
