CAPUCHIN WYD PILGRIMAGE 2016
THE BLOG
Journey with the 41 young pilgrims (and four Capuchin friars) as they travel from Australia to Rome and then on through Italy and Austria to meet the Pope in Krakow for World Youth Day 2016.
Here we will share stories and photos each and every day of the pilgrimage.
CAPUCHIN WYD PILGRIMAGE 2016
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE (15/7)
DAY 2 - ARRIVAL IN ROME (16/7)
DAY 3 - ROME (17/7)
DAY 4 - ROME (18/7)
The first full day of the pilgrimage saw us visit many beautiful and ancient churches and religious sites. We were able to spend time in contemplative silence at Tre Fontane, where St Paul was beheaded, and visit the basilica of Saint Paul - an incredible structure containing St Paul's tomb and mosaics of each of the popes. From there we saw Saint Mary Major, where the Pope prays before all if his journeys abroad, and the otherworldly Capuchin bone church, filled with the beautifully arranged skeletons of past Capuchins. Add pizza and glimpses of the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps and it was a fantastic day.
DAY 5 - ROME . GRECCIO . ASSISI (19/7)
After months and months of looking forward to this pilgrimage it was finally time to depart. We set off from four different cities on the Friday event. After the long flight we arrived in Dubai and it was there that all the Australian met, many meeting for the very first time.
After a few hours waiting in Dubai airport we set off to our first city as we make our way to Krakow - Rome!
Finally in Rome. The flight arrived just after 1pm in the afternoon on Saturday. Exhausted, we were met by Alison, who would be our tour guide for the next few weeks. Straight to the bus we went for 1 hour drive to the hotel where we would be staying for the next few days.
Having arrived safely at our hotel we had some time to settle in before we gathered for Mass at the chapel that was next our accommodation. As we sat down for dinner after the Mass everyone was very tired. It was after 8pm before we finished dinner and most were ready sleep before an early start the next day. Despite the tiredness a few people went out for ice cream, because well, we were in Rome.
Day 4 of our pilgrimage would see us visit St Peter's Basilica. We set off very early (6:30am) as we had Mass scheduled for 8am. After making our way through security, and then spending a moment taking in the extroadinary beauty of the basilica, it was time to prepare for Mass. Our Mass took place in a chapel in the crypt where many of the Pope are buried, including St Peter.
After the Mass we were given a tour of the basilica and again had time to spend admiring the amazing place and also had to time tp pray in what is the centre of the Catholic world.
We then had time for lunch in the surrounding area before setting off for our next destination.
Our next visit was to the Basilica of St John Lateran. It was here that St Francis went to visit the Pope to get approval for his way of life, and it was here that the Pope had a vision of a little poor man (Francis) holding up the the great basilica.
From there we went to Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, and finally to the Church of the Holy Cross.
After having visited all these amazing places we were driven to Piazza Navona where, after a short visit to the Pantheon, we had free time to have dinner and enjoy our last night in Rome.