Each Friday, I plan on posting the itinerary of the seminarian’s pilgrimage to Rome. I finally had some time to record each day’s activities.  I’ll also include some fun photos!  So, even though it’s a couple weeks after the fact, we’re all still on a pilgrimage of faith. I hope you enjoy the first installation of my written accounts of our trip, as well as the  pictures.  Above all, trust that we were praying for all the intentions that were sent to me throughout our days in the Eternal City.

Day One: Friday-Saturday

 

Departure from Dulles Airport was uneventful enough. While waiting for everyone to meet at the parking garage, a few the guys played hacky sack.  It was an intense enough game that one of them went diving into the a little sewer area just to save the game!

After an 8-hour flight, we arrived in Paris only to be completely unimpressed with their airport security screening system.  Matt Gray became the token “security screening” guru – getting stopped at each security site for extensive bag checks!

At the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, we met our airport transfer agent (Leandro) who helped us get our bags, get to the correct tour bus, and to our first stop.  St. Paul’s outside the walls.

The magnificent basilica, which was built during the times of the Christian Persecution, was a great place to begin the pilgrimage.  Especially since the Pope declared this as the year dedicated to the memory of St. Paul. There we saw the porticos of the piazza, the mosaic of Christ blessing the pilgrims, the images of the Popes in succession and of course – the tomb of Saint Paul himself. 

 

Praying is such an important focus for the pilgrimage that many of us found it difficult to lave. We all wanted to just stay a little bit longer at each of these shrines. But, so much was still to come – including our hotel and a walk through St. Peters!

We boarded the bus as I explained some of the highlights to the city.  We made a very dramatic turn to see St. Peter’s, and then made our way to the hotel “Torre Rosa Park”.  Because we were transition, we didn’t have a chance to celebrate Mass until we arrived at our hotel, which just happens to have its own chapel.

Since I had to break the sleep cycle and help the men fight off jet lag, I kept my homily as short as possible (a major miracle for any priest).  Especially since our  next step was a quick walk through the piazza San Pietro!

 

Since we arrived on a Saturday, I had to get these guys ready for the Papal Blessing that occurs each Sunday for the noon time Angelus.  In other words, I had to get these guys shopping for souvenirs that they would have blessed by the Pope and to give as gifts to people back home. Usually, when I take groups, I have to “limit” the opportunity for shopping. With this group of seminarians, (that is, all guys), I had to push them to get out in the stores and buy some special souvenirs for family and friends!  That was a first for me… trying to force the pilgrims to go shopping!

On the street directly in front of the Porta Angelica that leads to Vatican City State, a bunch of local shops and restaurants conveniently welcome guests and pilgrims.  We had just enough time to get money from the bank machines (which are as slow as molasses,and as fickle as humanity), go shopping, and then reserve a place for dinner at a local place called, “La Romanella.”  Thanks to a generous sponsor, these pilgrims were given a festive meal to welcome them to the Eternal City!

The walk back to the hotel, about 2 miles away, was a pleasant way to end the long day.  Although we couldn’t find a good gelato stand open (it was kinda’ late by then), we thank God found a McDonald’s, which was just a littler more open to giving permission for bathroom use!  But, I promise, we didn’t eat anything at that McDonald’s.  We saved that “special Roman moment” for the tour at the Spanish Steps!

You’ll just have to log on each Friday to read more about this crazy-faithful-awesome trip!

For now, let’s just say our first day there was worth a toast, not only in Thanksgiving to God for the opportunity, but also a prayer invoking that the graces of this pilgrimage will last!

 

 

 

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