Details of this year’s itinerary are to be found below and in the coming weeks we will upload some of the many photographs taken during the pilgrimage. The Spring 2009 issue of Fraternitas will be a pilgrimage special.
Friday 24th October 2008
PM: Group left Dublin for Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome.
Saturday 25th October 2008
9.30am Pilgrimage to the Tomb of St Genesius in the Church of Santa Susanna where Fr John offered a Solemn Mass in honour of St Genesius. The pilgrims venerated the tomb of our patron and the many petitions submitted to the Fraternity during this year’s Novena and in the days leading up to the pilgrimage were placed on the tomb. Flowers, a gift from all the members were also left at the tomb.
2pm: The group were taken on a panoramic half-day tour of Rome, seeing many of the sights of the ancient city.
Sunday 26th October 2008
10am: The morning was spent exploring our Christian heritage as the group visited the Catacombs of Saint Callistus where many of the early popes and martyrs, including St Cecilia were buried. Following this we made our pilgrimage to the first of the seven Basilicas of Rome, the Basilica of St Sebastian where the tomb of St Sebastian is located and, among other precious relics, the stones bearing footprints left by Jesus on the Via Appia following his “Quo Vadis” vision to St Peter.
2pm: After lunch the group visited the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, where the relics of the Lord’s Passion are preserved. This was followed by a visit to the Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs with Mass in the Chapel of St Laurence there. Fr Vincent Twomey was chief celebrant and homilist. Our pilgrimage to the Patriarchal Basilica of St John Lateran, the Pope’s Cathedral, followed Mass.
Monday 27th October 2008
8am: An early start saw the group join Bishop Michael Smith for the Mass of St Peter in the Chapel of the Patrons of Europe in the crypt of St Peter’s Basilica, near the tomb of the Apostle. Afterwards there was free time to explore the Basilica and surrounding area.
2pm: Following lunch members of the group visited the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
Tuesday 28th October 2008
Tuesday morning was free, so pilgrims could spent time exploring the city, or just getting a lie in!
4pm: Pilgrimage to the Tomb of St Paul in the Basilica of St Paul Outside- the-Walls to celebrate the Pauline Year. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Smith in St Benedict’s Chapel following our veneration of the tomb. Fr Twomey delivered the homily on the life and teachings of St Paul and of his special significance for the Fraternity.
This was followed by a visit to the tomb of Blessed James Alberione for Vespers. A number of members of the Pauline Family met the group and gave us a very warm welcome. The Provincial spoke about Blessed James and his life and his numerous foundations. Bishop Smith, during his homily at Vespers spoke of his own meetings with Blessed James during the Second Vatican Council. Fr John presented the Paulines with an icon of St Genesius.
Wednesday 29th October 2008
10am: Audience with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in St Peter’s Square. This was the highlight of the pilgrimage for many in the group. We got very good seats (thanks to the early start). The Fraternity received a mention at the Audience, and we were honoured to have our founder and Father Director granted a meeting with the Pope. He spoke to the Holy Father about our mission and the Holy Father gave us great encouragement. Fr John also presented an icon of St Genesius to the Pope.
4pm: We arrived in Ferriere just outside Nettuno, south of Rome ona pilgrimage to the house and shrine of St Maria Goretti. The farmhouse in which St Maria lived and was martyred is still standing, the kitchen where she was attacked is now a chapel. After spending some time in prayer, the group travelled the 11km to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace where the tomb of St Maria is preserved. The group had Mass at the tomb, celebrated by Fr John who spoke about the revolutionary nature of St Maria’s message for our times. A visit to the shrine museum followed.
Thursday 30th October 2008
8.30: Another early start for our pilgrimage to the Patriarchal Basilica of St Mary Major where Bishop Smith celebrated a Solemn Mass in honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to whom the Fraternity is consecrated. Mass was celebrated in the beautiful chapel of Our Lady beneath the famous icon of Our Lady Salus Romani Populi. Members of the group then spent some time praying in the Basilica and exploring its beautiful chapels including the confessio where the manger of Bethlehem is preserved.
Afterwards, we made our way to the Basilica of St Laurence Outside-the-Walls to visit the tomb of St Laurence. Blessed Pope Pius IX’s body also lies in the Basilica.
4.30pm: The group gathered in the Church of Santa Susanna for Solemn Vespers at the Tomb of St Genesius led by Bishop Smith. Bishop Smith was presented with an icon and pectoral cross as a token of our appreciation and as a gift to mark the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination which occurs in January.
8pm: A celebration farewell dinner was held in De Benito’s restaurant where a good time was had by all. Bishop Smith joined us for dinner.
Friday 31st October 2008
Following early morning Mass in the chapel of Casa La Salle, the group made its way the airport for a late morning flight back to Ireland, arriving in the late afternoon - late!
Rome 2008 Itinerary
The Conversion of St Genesius, Church of Santa Susanna
Praying for those involved in cinema and theatre
