Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square

Well today I actually took LOTS of photos (and I'll share lots of them).  I managed to get up and go for a run today (which is good since both the Cardinal and I were ready to leave last night's dinner at 10pm).

After my run, got ready to head over to St. Peter's square for the Palm Sunday Mass.  The ticket said "arrive 7:30am" - but the Cardinal suggested I not arrive until a little after 8.  Glad a did that!  As I flashed my "brown" ticket - I kept getting ushered further and further forward - until I found myself going up the steps on the left side of St. Peter's Basilica into the chairs set up on the left side of the Papal altar.  WOW!  I got settled in there I thought I could have a good view of the Pope in the presidential chair and at the altar (see the pictures below) - unfortunately there was some last minute moving around - and the ushers moved me to a spot that I couldn't even see the Holy Father at the altar.  DARN!  Next time...

As I sat, I prayed morning prayer.  And I was struck by a particular moment: during the psalms I was praying "with clashing of symbols, give praise to the Lord" - just as the bells of St. Peter's began to ring... the "clashing symbols" giving praise to the Lord!

So, Palm Sunday Mass begins with a procession to the Obelisk of St. Peter (in the center of the Square) led by 100's of young people (today is World Youth Day - which is why the Bishop always celebrates this day with a Mass for youth at the Cathedral in Harrisburg - in fact, today our Knights of the Holy Temple from St. Francis Xavier and St. Andrew the Apostle are serving for the Bishop).  Following the youth are the bishop and Cardinals - then the Pope.  As at every Palm Sunday Mass, there is a greeting and the Gospel about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  Then the procession moves toward the Papal Altar in front of the Basilica.

Mass continues as the Holy Father reaches the altar, incenses it, and goes to the presider's chair and prays the Collect - the Opening Prayer.

During the Gospel, this was my view...

The Holy Father then gave his homily...

This is just a photo of the Swiss Guard

The gifts of bread and wine are brought forward, the Altar incensed, the Eucharist Consecrated, and all receive Holy Communion.  Following Communion, a moment of silence for prayer.

After the Post Communion Prayer - the Pope greeted the many pilgrims, welcomed the youth from all over the world who had come, made special reference to WYD in Krakow Poland in July, and gave his blessing to all present.  Then he changed out of his chasuble and begin his Popemobile journey through the Square.

When he went back into the Vatican, I snapped a few other photos of the crowd, the Swiss Guard, and a Trinitarian priest/brother for the Woods from St. Francis Xavier.

What a TERRIBLE photo - but this was where I was seated

This is for the Woods of SFX...

 All in all a wonderful morning.  Now, I get to actually concelebrate Mass this afternoon at 4pm (remember those celebrating 11am Mass at the same time at SFX and St. Andrew).  Then another big dinner tonight for the Archbishop - that doesn't begin until 8:30!  Later and later...  May need to sleep in tomorrow...

Saturday Afternoon

OK - didn't plan on another post today - but this afternoon (as I said I would) I went for a nice walk.  Ended up at several churches.  I'll just mention two:

- Basilica of St. Andrew of the Valley - some beautiful paintings of St. Andrew's crucifixion.  Here I prayed for the people of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Waynesboro.

Then I walked further and ended up at the Jesu - where they have a relic of St. Francis Xavier - and here I lit a candle and prayed for the people of Gettysburg and St. Francis Xavier Parish.

This evening we have a dinner for the newly ordained Archbishop.  

Palm Sunday Mass with the Pope tomorrow - it is not possible to concelebrate (just the way it is - only Cardinals get to concelebrate).  So I'll simply attend.  The new Archbishop is having a Mass of Thanksgiving tomorrow at the NAC - so I'll go up there and concelebrate Palm Sunday Mass.

And tomorrow I'll have my camera and be able to us it!  PHOTOS!

Mass with the Holy Father

I haven't written in a few days - because (unless you are watching episodes of "The Office") who wants to hear about the normal day-to-day of going in to work?  It's been good though--I feel as though I'm getting the hang of things, catching on to what needs to be done, how to organize, how to keep track of everything...  Feel like I'm settling in.

Here's a quick summary of what other things have gone on this week (and I admit that I've stolen every one of these pictures off the internet):

- Tuesday evening - dinner with Bishop-Elect Checchio (former rector of the North American College here in Rome who was recently named the Bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey), and a fine group of priests.  Great little seafood restaurant just a few minutes walk from the house (if you come visit and like seafood - this is where we'll go!)


- Wednesday evening was the usual walk up to the seminary on the Janiculum hill: the North American College (henceforth, the NAC), for Eucharistic Adoration, Evening Prayer, and dinner with the priest-faculty of the NAC and Casa Santa Maria (where the American priests who are here studying live).  It's really a wonderful fraternity of priests; gracious and good.  As the meal came to an end, the Cardinal told me to stay behind and enjoy the fraternity of the other priests.  I did--and it was great!  Something that (frankly) had worried me coming over here--feeling alone.  But this is a great group of brothers (Several of whom I've discovered ski!!!  Can't wait till next winter!).

- Thursday (St. Patrick's Day) was a quiet evening at home.

- Friday Cardinal O'Brien celebrated Mass at the NAC for a group of pilgrims from the United States Navel Academy who have been here in Rome the past week (and returned to the States today).  As a fellow member of the military, it was great to hear the Cardinal speak about the sacrifice made by Soldiers, Sailers, Airman, Marines, members of the Coast Guard, to protect people they don't even know--much like the Good Samaritan, who paused to help and protect someone he didn't know.  I love the military background that that is such an integral part of Cardinal O'Brien.

NOW WE GET TO SATURDAY AND MASS WITH POPE FRANCIS.

This morning at 10am in St. Peter's Basilica, Msgr. Peter Wells (a priest of Tulsa, Oklahoma who has long worked as a member of the diplomatic corps here in Rome) was ordained an arch-bishop by Pope Francis.  I had a ticket, so knew I would be concelebrating Mass with Pope Francis for the very first time!

Today I didn't go to the Basilica with the Cardinal, because my ticket said to arrive by 8:45am (although I learned that I don't really need to do that--I can go over with the Cardinal and then meet up with the priests - next time).  I arrived in plenty of time to go through the now standard metal detectors before approaching the Bronze Doors leading to the Braccio di Contantino - a LONG hallway that leads up to the steps into the Vatican.  There were set up LONG tables for priest to put their bags and vest to prepare for the Mass.  (I did take a few pictures, but I have to find a way to transfer them from my camera to the computer - I can't find the card reader that I need for that).

Eventually we were given instructions on communion and given VERY clear directions that we were NOT to take pictures.  Sorry, even though the Holy Father passed by twice, and I was only 4 rows behind the Cardinals - I have no photos.  But they reminded us that the Vatican Newspaper L'Osservatore Romano takes excellent pictures.  I'll see what I find on their site in the next day or two.

A wonderful Mass of Ordination for a Bishop - AND the feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary and Universal Patron of the Church (and the day on which, 3 years ago, Pope Francis celebrated his Mass of Inauguration AND when, 2 years ago, our own Bishop Gainer was installed as the 11th Bishop of Harrisburg).

As I sat in the Basilica waiting for Mass to begin I started to get that "knot in the stomach" feeling - I think it was just nerves and exciting at concelebrating Mass with the Holy Father.  I tried to breathe and calm myself down - and by the time the procession began, I forgot about my tummy.

The procession began and, because this was an "invitation only" event, it was very quiet and respectful - sure people snapping photos as the Pope walked by, but none of the shouting or clapping (as they had made an announcement in Italian, English and Spanish asking people to keep a reverential mood by NOT clapping as the Holy Father entered).

VERY COOL to concelebrate Mass with the Pope during my first full-week in Rome.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some photos from the Mass to post later...

Then after Mass it was back to the house with the Cardinal--all dressed in his red cassock.  Funny how people react when they see a Cardinal coming toward them: they snap photos, they run over asking for prayer, they ask that something be blessed, they whisper "hey, that's a Cardinal."  And His Eminence is very gracious, pausing to hear the prayer request, blessing the rosaries the Spanish-speaking woman holds out for him...

Tonight is a celebratory dinner for the new Archbishop Wells (but as usual, dinner isn't till 8pm).  So I've got the day to do some exploring and grab a nice pizza or something for lunch.  It is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Rome.  Great way to begin Holy Week.

Italian Embassy to the Holy See & Tuesday's Station Mass

So tonight we went to a reception at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See for Archbishop-elect Peter Wells - a long-time priest worker at the Vatican who, last month, was named Nuncio to South Africa and Botswana.  His ordination is on Saturday morning (which I'll be going to with the Cardinal) and the ordaining bishop will be none other than the Bishop of Rome!  An interesting fact about Archbishop-elect Wells: he baptized the daughter of my (now former) business manager at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg.  I talked to Archbishop-elect Wells last night and told him of the letter and photo that I brought with me and was on its way to him via Vatican inner-office mail.  He was very happy to hear of it and anxious to receive the photos.

Anyway, it's a very poor photo - but here is the only one I took at the reception.

Reception for Archbishop-elect Wells at Italian Embassy to the Holy See

That was last night - this morning Cardinal O'Brien was the main celebrant at the Lenten Station Mass.  It's a wonderful custom whereby every Morning Mass is celebrated in a different church around the city of Rome (for information about it, click here).  Today was Santa Maria in Via Latta.  Underneath the church they have found some rooms dating to the 1st Century - in which, tradition says, St. Paul stayed while in Rome (read about the church here).  

I should have taken pictures downstairs (and done some research last night before going) - but I didn't.  I'll have to go back another day to spend some time in these ancient ruins - close to a place that (by tradition) my Confirmation Patron, St. Paul, once spent some time.  Sorry I didn't take any pictures...  Sorry, none of this is in English - but you can see the photos.

This morning was also the Consistory (where Pope Francis announced that Mother Theresa will be canonized on September 4).  Of course Cardinal O'Brien attended.  I went with him - hoping that perhaps they would let me in - but I got turned away at the elevator.  Next time! Instead I went to the office and did some work.  Nothing the rest of today (except continuing trying to get a handle on my job and what I need to do and keep track of - it's a BIG learning curve).

Acolyte Installation at the North American College

This morning I was able to concelebrate Mass with Cardinal Harvey (Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall) who installed one of our seminarians, Mr. Stephen Logue, as an Acolyte.  An acolyte is a man who has been specially deputized by the Church to assist at the altar, purify the vessels, and distribute Holy Communion.  It was a joy to be able to join Steven as he celebrated this moment and important step as he advances toward the Sacred Priesthood.  I'm happy to be able to be a "Harrisburg presence" for our men who are studying here... another of the blessings of this special ministry to the Church - and I hope, to the Diocese.

Fr. John Bateman, Mr. Stephen Logue, Rev. Mr. John Kuchinski

First Day of Work

Friday, March 11 was my first day in the office of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.  It's the building on the left side - with the Jerusalem Cross on the top.  

After a morning trying to get a grip on all that has happened, on what needs to happen, and what I need to do... I walked back toward the house for Pranzo.  Here's the picture I took on my way home...  (BTW - to the person who commented that he sees TWO domes in this photo... )

Spent the afternoon still trying to get a handle on things.  Met Major Bob Monagle (the Vice-Wing Chaplain at Aviano Air Base) for dinner.  Then back to the apartment for some rest...

March 10, 2016 - My New Adventure Begins

Well, after several flights (Turkish Airways through Istanbul, then to Rome), I arrived in Rome mid-morning and was met by Pino--the driver--who delivered me directly to my new home.  

After spending a little time to get settled, it was time for Pranzo (lunch - the main meal of the day).  I sat down with His Eminence in our spacious dining room and chatted about my journey.  I also shared with him that while this new adventure is very exciting - it has also been a very emotional few weeks and had some difficult "goodbyes" - to family and friends, to parish and parishioners (to be very human and honest, I spent a bit of time on the plane in tears as we left JFK - sorry, I am human and can sometimes get emotional).

Continued to unpack, but needed NOT to fall asleep, so I went for a long walk around the neighborhood.  There was a short line to get into St. Peter's Basilica (in the world in which we live today, everyone entering the Basilica must go through airport-style security).  I entered through the "Holy Door" for the Jubilee Year of Mercy and headed straight over toward the tomb of our beloved Pope Saint John Paul II.  I knelt down and prayed something like this: 

Dear Saint John Paul: you came here to this country from far away because you had been called.  I, too, have been called by God to come here to this city - to the Heart of the Church - for a special ministry and service to the larger Church - and in a particular way to support the Church in the Holy Land through the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher.  As I begin this ministry, I dedicate my time here to you, asking for your intercession for me - that my time here will be fruitful for the Church in the Holy Land AND for me personally.  Protect me, Pray for me.  Amen.

Then after a visit to the Blessed Sacrament it was time to head back to the apartment to celebrate Mass with His Eminence.  After Mass, a little more settling in (unpacking and trying to figure out the TV remotes), we went out for a nice dinner.  Then, TO BED for a good night's rest.