Rome Pilgrimage, 8-12 October 2017

St Columba's Pilgrimage to Rome,
8-12 October 2017

Walking tour of the centro storico, Sunday Afternoon, 8 October

At the Altar of St John Paul II, in St Peter's Basilica, with Deacon Emmet O'Dowd assisting at the Mass, Monday Morning, 9 October

At the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens,
praying for our parishioners and for all those known to us
who are sick and / or in need of any kind of healing,
Monday Morning, 9 October

"A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum".. Blessing dozens of rosaries and other religious objects for a group of young people from Colombia, as we strolled along the Via Sacra of the Roman Forum,
Tuesday Afternoon, 10 October

General Audience with Pope Francis, Wednesday Morning, 11 October

Summary of Pope Francis' Audience address

"Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today I wish to speak about that dimension of hope which we can call attentive waiting. Jesus tells his disciples to be like those who await the return of their master, with lamps alight (cf. Lk 12:35-36). As Christians, therefore, we are always attentive, awaiting the Lord’s return, when God will be all in all (cf. 1 Cor 15:28). Every day is a new opportunity to be attentive to God, to welcome the day as his gift, and to live that day by offering our good works to him. Such attentiveness requires patience, however, if we are not to lose sight of God’s grace when our days are monotonous, or our difficulties many. For no night is so long, as to make us forget the joy that comes with dawn. As Christians, we know that Christ will return; that no matter what we may suffer, life has its purpose and deeper meaning, and that the merciful Lord will greet us at its end. Thus we can look upon history and our own lives with confidence and hope, knowing that the future is not guided solely by the work of our hands but by God’s providence. May we repeat every day the words of the first disciples: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). And in our most difficult moments, may we hear the consoling response of Jesus: “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:7)."

In the Sistine Chapel, in the Basilica of St Mary Major, assisted by Deacon Rafal Sweda - singing the 'Salve Regina' at the conclusion of a Votive Mass for Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Wednesday Afternoon, 11 October