There are two college ministries in Bologna: Agape and Gruppi Bibblici Universitari (GBU). GBU meets at the “Mensa” off Via Zamboni Monday evenings and they divide the people who come into groups, usually one English Bible study and two Italian ones. It’s a great way to meet Italian UniBo students and everyone is very friendly. It’s very easy to follow because the passage is printed out with the questions. You can get more information about it by going to www.gbu.it or by emailing bologna@gbu.it.

Agape Italia is the other Bible study, and the one that I attend most often. This year they meet Wednesday evenings at the apartment of one of the Agape interns. It has been a excellent way to meet other Italians and international students who are living in Bologna. We usually read the passages once in Italian and once in English and pray in both languages. The Agape interns stay for one year: this year there are 4 interns who are all from the U.S. Before the Bible studies started, I just went to get gelato with one of the interns, and it was nice to talk to someone my age but who wasn’t from Dickinson. Agape also holds community events, for example, they had a picnic with outdoor games in the Giardini Margherita at the beginning of the year and on Thanksgiving Day they hold an “American Thanksgiving”. To find out more about Agape, you can go to www.agapeitalia.org or email Mary Paulison or Alex Paulison.