Pam Milczarski and Fr. Dominic Peluse of the Province Development Office are leading a pilgrimage this week in and around Rome.
Fr. Bernie Rosinski, SCJ, is among those on a pilgrimage to Rome organized by the province development office. The city is a place he knows well after years of both study and work in Italy. Fr. Bernie wrote the following at the end of the group’s second full day in the Eternal City:
The Office of Vespers/Evening Prayer for today, Tuesday November 6, has the following prayer: ‘The talents of artists reflect your splendor, may their work give the world hope and joy.” This prayer of the church is recited by priests, monks and cloistered nuns worldwide every day on behalf of the members of the Church.
Brought to Rome through the offices of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, this pilgrimage group – 30 strong — witnessed how the talents of artists reflected God’s splendour both yesterday and today and their sentiments run in perfect accord with the prayer. Monday, it was the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Today it was the remarkable Renaissance city of Florence.
Never mind that all the pilgrims are still suffering degrees of jet-lag; their hearts are resonating and soaring with the beauty they have seen from the artists they revere: Rafael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio. They have been in the city that housed Dante and Boccaccio, and the scientists Galileo and Vespucci.
Under the direction of Fr. Dominic Peluse, SCJ, and Ms. Pam Milczarski, the group, so far, meshes well together. We are staying at a Villa Aurelia, a modest hotel run by the Priests of the Sacred Heart conveniently found in the heart of the city of Rome. All movement is by a comfortable bus. Though lunch is often on the run at bistros and unknown and untested restaurants, these have not disappointed. And the evening meals are always fantastic.
Tomorrow, we look forward to the audience with Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s square.
Ciao from Roma!
