Venice Visit and Fr. Brian Wayne

So, I promised I'd post about last weekend's trip to Venice.  Been a busy week - but I'm taking a break from studying from finals for my Canon Law classes to make good.

It's been a good week!  Fr. Brian Wayne, the vocation director for the Diocese of Harrisburg - and a good friend, was here on an "official visit" to the seminary to see our diocesan seminarian: Stephen Logue.  But Fr. Wayne came a few days early so that we could spend a few days together.  We did - and we had a blast!

So, last Friday he and I headed out on the high-speed train from Rome Termini to Venice.  The train actually goes right into Venice - such that you can walk from the train right to the taxi in Venice - a WATER taxi, of course!  Here we are on our arrival!

We checked into our hotel and almost immediately went out exploring the awesome "floating city" of Venice.  Here are some photos from our journey.

Taking the water taxi

View from our hotel balcony 

The gondolas all lined up

Fr. Wayne actually wanted to do a gondola ride.  I told him that was "too romantic" for two priests - and he'd have to combine his memories of the water taxi and the guys we passed in the street singing "O solo mio..."

And it SNOWED in Venice!  STRANGE!

The next morning, after Mass and breakfast in the hotel, we went to the Doge Palace.  It was a really cook tour - learned a lot about the Kingdom of Venice - which lasted 1100 years - WOW!  Lot's of neat photos.  The Doge palace actually connects to a prison (first building actually built as a prison) via the "Bridge of Sighs."

The ceiling support system in the grand room where all the noble men met

View from the "leads" - the upper rooms near the lead roof

Looking out the "Bridge of Sighs" into a canal

Main entry into the Doge Palace

following our tour of the Doge palace we grabbed a bite to eat - then a little rest (Fr. Wayne was not feeling well - all that travel).  Then an evening dinner and a concert.  Friday night (in the snow) we ducked into a "church" that was the Vivaldi museum - and they were advertising a concert including 4 Seasons.  We thought - "we're in Venice - why not!"  So we bought tickets.  So after dinner we headed to the St. Vidal "church" for the concert.  Here's a small snippet...

Sunday was a remarkable morning - as we had made arrangements to concelebrate Mass at St. Mark's Basilica.  The Arch-priest there was SO welcoming - and he wanted to show us everything.  He showed us the beautiful gold altar-piece and pointing out several of the many gold mosaics.  Of course, we were also very close to the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist - and actually celebrated Mass on the altar over his tomb.  Exciting!   Some photos:

Fr. Wayne in the Choir stall at St. Mark's Basilica

You can see the incense hanging in the air... 

St. Mark's Tomb

St. Mark's Basilica

The Cathedra - and a smaller, stone chair reportedly from St. Mark

Then we just did some more wandering around the city before heading back to the Train to Rome.

We returned to Rome Sunday evening.  Monday morning we had another special moment - we celebrated Mass at the chapel closest to the very Tomb of St. Peter - the Clemintine Chapel.  We invited our diocesan seminarian, Stephen Logue, to join us.

Praying before the Tomb of St. Peter

Then, after a few days of Fr. Wayne visiting the seminary (the official reason for his visit) and me going to class.  Thursday we celebrated my 50th birthday (can't believe it).  Then on Thursday we went to St. Paul outside the Walls where we celebrated Mass.

It was a wonderful visit of Fr. Wayne - a good friend and brother priest.  I look forward to his return someday!

Tuesday begins finals for me - so I might disappear again.  Be know I'm still around!  God bless you all!