Rome & Assisi Pilgrimage 2009

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If you have any pictures or information you would like included on this page
please forward to Mary R at
allsaints.web@hotmail.co.uk

All Saints Parish Pilgrimage
to
Assisi and Rome
13th -20th May 2009

Pilgrims

Father John Kelly
Sister Veronica
Sister Visitation
Anita Gough
Bridie McNulty
Anne Copeland
Anne Edge
Marie Hemmingfield
Jean Henessey
Siony Sael
Mary Williams
Deacon Noel Williams

Awaiting Group Photograph

Day 1

Assisi
Mass in Saint Mary's with a blessing for the start of our pilgrimage.
Excellent flight.
Coach trip from Rome to Assisi longish but cool and comfortable.
A good chance to take in the Umbrian countryside and read up on Assisi.
On arrival there is little time for anything except evening meal and a stroll
(well, climb really - Assisi is built on the lower slopes of rugged and steep Monte Subasio)

Day 2

Morning visit to the double Basilica of Saint Francis. The story of Francis easy to read in the beautiful frescoes as well as
the legends and writings.
Mass with Father John in the lower Basilica was also attended by a couple of people whom we did not notice at first but who came forward to share with us at Communion time. Perhaps they had been attracted by our singing in that marvellous space.
Afternoon walk (5km) to Church of Saint Mary of the Angels, which is built around the tiny Porziuncula, the Mother Church of Francis' religious family.

Day 3

Getting into the spirit of the place.
Mass in the Church of Saint Clare,
then an easier walk down the mountain to
San Damiano, Clare's Convent.
Then up by taxi-
(we could never have walked it!!)
to The Carcere,
one of Francis' mountain hermitages.
In the chapel there we sang
Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer,
enjoyed a quiet walk in the woods
and prayed at a stopping place.

Day 4

Leaving Assisi

One last visit to the Basilica
and of course its shop.
A last look around
before taking the coach to Rome,
wanting to stay
and yet wanting to go on.

Rome

We did not waste a moment but went off straight away by bus to see the City.
Piazza Campidoglio and, having crossed the road!, up 124 steps to
Santa Maria Aracoeli.
So much to take in;
layer upon layer of history, architecture,
decoration and everything,
including a wedding in progress.
Then down to the Forum and a brief look inside Saint Peter's prison cell.
The Coliseum we viewed only from outside
as it was just closing.
Metro back and a good dinner
in the restaurant next to the hotel.

Day 5

Sunday, 10.30am
Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica.
Father John concelebrating.
Everything is on such a scale and yet Mass was not at all impersonal.
In his midday address Pope Benedict emphasised the need to pray for
peace and reconciliation
between the Faiths in the Middle East.

Day 6

Mass at the church of Christ the King
round the corner from our hotel
and then off quickly to the
Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Father John, always a first rate guide,
brought everything,
especially the paintings,
to life for us.
Pizza takeaways
and relaxing in the sunshine.
Soaking up energy
to visit the tombs of the Popes.
We looked in vain for Blessed John XXIII,
only to be told that since his beatification
he had been moved "upstairs" to the Basilica.

Day 7

An early breakfast and off on the Metro
to the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Wall where we celebrated Mass
in the Chapel of Saint Stephen.
At the same time there was an impressive gathering at Eucharist in the
Eastern (Melkite?) Rite
around the central altar.
Singing, movement, incense, candles
and many ministers.

After a long visit in the Basilica
we bought pizzas and went by bus
to the Shrine of The Three Fountains
and had a picnic under the trees. Courageously, we crossed the
dual carriageway to visit the grounds
of the Cistercian Monastery.
The Year of Saint Paul
given great prominence here.

Then by bus to Basilica of Saint Clement, which also celebrates the memory of
Saints Cyril & Methodius
and is home to the
Sassoferrato Madonna.
Five Euros got us downstairs
to see the earlier basilica,
then down again to the
original Roman dwelling.
Amazing!
After that, and since we were in the area,
we went to Saint Peter in Chains.

Day 8

Last Day

Mass at the local church with a
special blessing for the
close of our pilgrimage.
The General Audience with
Pope Benedict
was colourful and joyful.
Drumming and spectacular flag throwing.
Thousands of pictures taken.
The Pope spoke of his recent
Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land as
"a pilgrimage of peace".
With World Communications Day coming up,
he addressed especially the young,
asking them to "bear witness to your faith
through the digital world!"
Our Parish of All Saints was acknowledged
and we clapped and cheered.
A fitting high point before returning home.

In all these places of holiness and beauty we prayed for our Parish,
for special intentions, for family and friends and for ourselves.
We came to know one another a little better,
often got separated and had to re-group,
kept going when tired, laughed a lot, ate well, slept well
and generally helped one another along the way.

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION If you have any pictures or information you would like included on this page please forward to Mary R at allsaints.web@hotmail.co.uk
All Saints Parish Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome 13th -20th May 2009
Pilgrims Father John Kelly Sister Veronica Sister Visitation Anita Gough Bridie McNulty Anne Copeland Anne Edge Marie Hemmingfield Jean Henessey Siony Sael Mary Williams Deacon Noel Williams	Awaiting Group Photograph
	Day 1
	Assisi Mass in Saint Mary's with a blessing for the start of our pilgrimage. Excellent flight. Coach trip from Rome to Assisi longish but cool and comfortable. A good chance to take in the Umbrian countryside and read up on Assisi. On arrival there is little time for anything except evening meal and a stroll (well, climb really - Assisi is built on the lower slopes of rugged and steep Monte Subasio)
	Day 2
	Morning visit to the double Basilica of Saint Francis. The story of Francis easy to read in the beautiful frescoes as well as the legends and writings. Mass with Father John in the lower Basilica was also attended by a couple of people whom we did not notice at first but who came forward to share with us at Communion time. Perhaps they had been attracted by our singing in that marvellous space. Afternoon walk (5km) to Church of Saint Mary of the Angels, which is built around the tiny Porziuncula, the Mother Church of Francis' religious family.
	Day 3
	Getting into the spirit of the place. Mass in the Church of Saint Clare, then an easier walk down the mountain to San Damiano, Clare's Convent. Then up by taxi- (we could never have walked it!!) to The Carcere, one of Francis' mountain hermitages. In the chapel there we sang Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, enjoyed a quiet walk in the woods and prayed at a stopping place.
	Day 4
	Leaving Assisi One last visit to the Basilica and of course its shop. A last look around before taking the coach to Rome, wanting to stay and yet wanting to go on.
	Rome
	We did not waste a moment but went off straight away by bus to see the City. Piazza Campidoglio and, having crossed the road!, up 124 steps to Santa Maria Aracoeli. So much to take in; layer upon layer of history, architecture, decoration and everything, including a wedding in progress. Then down to the Forum and a brief look inside Saint Peter's prison cell. The Coliseum we viewed only from outside as it was just closing. Metro back and a good dinner in the restaurant next to the hotel.
	Day 5
	Sunday, 10.30am Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica. Father John concelebrating. Everything is on such a scale and yet Mass was not at all impersonal. In his midday address Pope Benedict emphasised the need to pray for peace and reconciliation between the Faiths in the Middle East.
	Day 6
	Mass at the church of Christ the King round the corner from our hotel and then off quickly to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Father John, always a first rate guide, brought everything, especially the paintings, to life for us. Pizza takeaways and relaxing in the sunshine. Soaking up energy to visit the tombs of the Popes. We looked in vain for Blessed John XXIII, only to be told that since his beatification he had been moved "upstairs" to the Basilica.
	Day 7
	An early breakfast and off on the Metro to the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Wall where we celebrated Mass in the Chapel of Saint Stephen. At the same time there was an impressive gathering at Eucharist in the Eastern (Melkite?) Rite around the central altar. Singing, movement, incense, candles and many ministers.
	After a long visit in the Basilica we bought pizzas and went by bus to the Shrine of The Three Fountains and had a picnic under the trees. Courageously, we crossed the dual carriageway to visit the grounds of the Cistercian Monastery. The Year of Saint Paul given great prominence here.
	Then by bus to Basilica of Saint Clement, which also celebrates the memory of Saints Cyril & Methodius and is home to the Sassoferrato Madonna. Five Euros got us downstairs to see the earlier basilica, then down again to the original Roman dwelling. Amazing! After that, and since we were in the area, we went to Saint Peter in Chains.
	Day 8
Last Day Mass at the local church with a special blessing for the close of our pilgrimage. The General Audience with Pope Benedict was colourful and joyful. Drumming and spectacular flag throwing. Thousands of pictures taken. The Pope spoke of his recent Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land as "a pilgrimage of peace". With World Communications Day coming up, he addressed especially the young, asking them to "bear witness to your faith through the digital world!" Our Parish of All Saints was acknowledged and we clapped and cheered. A fitting high point before returning home.
In all these places of holiness and beauty we prayed for our Parish, for special intentions, for family and friends and for ourselves. We came to know one another a little better, often got separated and had to re-group, kept going when tired, laughed a lot, ate well, slept well and generally helped one another along the way.