Fr Mark will be blogging about our Parish Pilgrimage to Rome on this page from February 12th -17th. Log in each day to follow us.
On Sunday February 12th we departed for Manchester Airport following a Mass at Holy Trinity, Tarleton at 9am. In Rome the Pilgrims will stay at Casa Tra Noi.
The feature image is the view of the Vatican from the Hotel. The photo above is of the Hotel Chapel.
In May 1958 the first stone was laid.Hotel Casa Tra Noi was then inaugurated on June 3th 1962.
Its website states “The building had to be used as a Professional Center and as a halfway house for maids, a category of women workers “without a voice” and rights and morally and economically exposed to abuses and injustices. ”
The social transformation and the advent of industrialisation did not favour the realisation of the aims for which the structure had been built and also adhering to the suggestion of the then Vicar of Rome His Eminence Cardinal Luigi Traglia, it was thought to start hosting pilgrims and tourists , maintaining the spirituality of the welcome proper to the Tra Noi Movemnet founded by Don Sebastiano Plutino of the Opera di San Luigi Orione.
“A simple and familiar style of welcome that allowed guests to perceive the universal fraternity of which Rome, the center of catholicity, was to be a witness.
Everything, always in the hands of Mary, “Salvation of the Roman People”, whose statue was placed on the highest roof of the House.”
Pilgrims on route ….and some at the airport
The Pilgrimage is in conjunction with McCabe Pilgrimages. We flew Jet2, which interestingly on this Creation Sunday claims to be the most carbon neutral airline.
Having arrived at the Hotel at 19.40 we ate Dinner while the hotel staff carried our bags to our rooms.
Monday 13th
Day starts with Breakfast at 7am and then to the Catacombs of Domitilla, the site of the burials of the earlier Christians where Fr Mark will say Mass.
We then drove back towards Rome to the Basilica of St Paul Outside The Walls. After a lunch break we visit the Basilica and Baptistery of St John Lateran.
Tuesday 14th
We started the day at the Coliseum set beside the Palatine Hill, the Via Sacra, the Roman Forum and the Arch of Titus.
This was the heart of the Roman Empire.
We joined the Anglican Centre for their lunchtime Eucharist and stayed for lunch and a briefing with the Director, Archbishop Ian. You can watch the service here.
In the afternoon we went to the basilica of Santa Sabina. We end the day at San Giorgio in Velabro.
Wednesday 15th
We spent the day at Castel Gandolfo, traditional Summer Residence of the Pope. Our visits today included the Antiquarium di Villa with its extension gardens.
Fr Mark reflected on the fact, that after God’s example we should all Sabat. After the photo below at the place the Popes go for quiet prayer, we paused to pray.
Today’s Group Photo, includes our new guide Andreas
Thursday 16th
Our last full day in Rome is spent at the Vatican, visiting Basilica of St Peter and the Sistine Chapel.
The day ended with a Mass in the Hotel Chapel.
