As some of you already know…I have a real, live sponsor sending me to ROME this fall as the Official Catholic Blogger of St Gemma’s Catholic Pilgrimages.
wooHOO!
I was already SO excited…but even more so since I received the official itinerary this week!
We arrive in ROME on the Feast of St Padre Pio…September 23, 2014. On our very first day we have a tour of St Peter’s Square. The next day we visit Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. This Church has a relic of the True Cross, thanks to St Helen…who also brought soil from Calvary, upon which the Church is built. We will also visit Scala Sancta, the 28 Tyrian marble steps that Jesus stepped on during His trial and passion, transferred from Jerusalem…also by St Helen.
All this within the first 24 hours in Rome!
Each day of the itinerary offers a couple incredible Churches and sacred sites to see, with the scheduled tours ending around 4pm for free time into the evening.
Mass will be celebrated each day by our good friend Fr Scott McCaig, General Superior of the Companions of the Cross.
We’re also booked for the Papal Audience on October 1, the Feast of St Therese!
I also learned that I will be hanging out with the Official Videographer for St Gemma’s Catholic Pilgrimages: Katherine Munda. She has already been to Rome with St Gemma’s Catholic Pilgrimages… but it was SO great that she’s coming back for more! Check out her Pilgrimage Video!
If September 23-October 3, 2014 doesn’t work for you…St Gemma’s Catholic Pilgrimages has another special trip planned for October 16-26, 2014, attending the Beatification of Pope Paul VI, staying at the House where St Bridget lived …with a side trip to Florence!
Every one of these Catholic Pilgrimages will be awesome…focused on our Faith with awesome guides, an awesome chaplain celebrating Mass everyday and a flexible schedule offering just the right amount of optional, scheduled tours of beautiful Churches, stomping ground of Saints and other sacred sites.
These are the books I’m flipping through to prepare for ROME:
Rome and the Vatican by Kenneth and Elizabeth Nowell, available through Vero House Publishing. They graciously gave me my copy for my upcoming review! It’s full color, hardcover and very thorough…packed with Rome’s best Pilgrim sites, Roman Curiosities, travel tips and resources!
Although I have already posted my first review of The Pilgrim’s Guide to Rome’s Principal Churches by Fr. Joseph Tylenda. I have been referring to this book (available at Angelus Press!) often and expect to have it handy with me on my big trip. It has beautiful full color pictures, history, exterior and interior descriptions of 51 of the most important Churches in Rome!
If you really prefer to pick these books up at Amazon, I will earn literally dozens of cents through your purchases at Amazon through these links. Thanks for your support…you’ll help me buy food and postcards in Rome!
AMAZON LINK: Rome and the Vatican – Guide 4 Pilgrims, Color Edition
AMAZON LINK: The Pilgrim’s Guide to Rome’s Principal Churches: Illustrated Guided Tours of Fifty-one of the Most Important Churches of Rome
Speak Your Mind