Pilgrimages

Buon giorno, familia!

Can you believe that it has already been 3 1/2 years since we journeyed through Italy together?
Care to share some of your favorite memories? Please comment below!

In February 2016, the next parish pilgrimage will be to the place where it all started: the Holy Land!  I went there for the first time this past January, and it truly does change how you read and hear the Gospel!

Here is a link to the brochure for the pilgrimage; I'd love to travel and pray with you again. Holy Infant parish in Durham will be joining us, too.

A note about the journey- remember walking (slowly, slowly) through Assisi?  There'll be several places like that... hills, steps and uneven pavement.

Assisi Webcams

Hello again!

I just found a link to this live webcam of the main square in Assisi!  Below it are links to other area webcams, including the Basilica of St Francis and the one of St. Mary of the Angels (down in the valley). Enjoy!

Assisi Webcam

A familiar face

Hello again!

I had the opportunity to take a working vacation this month to Italy, and guess who our local guide was on our last full day in Rome?

When I showed Raffaele our group photo, he remembered you all with great fondness, and asked me to relay his greetings to you!  I hope that your memories, photos, stories and reflection upon our experience in Italy have been positive and wonderful.

Our next parish pilgrimage will be to France, September 1-9, 2014. About half of the 30 spaces have been claimed already, and we are anticipating another glorious pilgrimage. Here is a link to the itinerary for France. And if you'd like to follow along, here is a link to the Pilgrimage Blog for France.

Information on France Pilgrimage

There will be an information meeting for our September 2014 Pilgrimage to France on Saturday, November 2

from 4-5pm at St. Andrew's.

(Just in case that travel bug is nibbling at you again!)

Update: The itinerary is looking amazing, and the cost is similar to the Italy trip.

Here is a link to the France Itinerary and Brochure. Paper copies are now available in the Gathering Space at St. Andrew's, and in the Adult Faith Formation office.

A little update

Ciao, familia!

I have begun to receive inquiries about our next pilgrimage trip, and wanted to give you an update here.

 We plan to travel to France in September, 2014!

  

Flight pricing will happen in mid-October, so we should have the itinerary settled and brochures printed by the end of October, 2013. We will most likely have an information meeting in early November at St. Andrew's. Please send Cathy an email if you would like to be contacted as soon as the information becomes available. Or: watch this space.

Adieu for now!!

Mmmmmm

In case you take advantage of LivingSocial Deals, and happened to miss this one- there is still time: $15 for $30 worth of food at Enrigo's Italian Bistro in Cary (that's where we had one of our family reunions).
You can click here to go directly to the offer.

Ciao!

Let us pray...

I have been thinking about you, 'family', as a new group of pilgrims prepares for our trip to Ireland just after Easter. As we did in Italy, we will be carrying a prayer journal with us (green this time) containing intentions to be offered during our masses. This journal is in the Gathering Space at St Andrew's, and you are most welcome to add your prayer intentions. If you are not able to get to St Andrew's, you can email me (Cathy) and I will write your intentions in for you.

And if you would like to follow our adventures in the Emerald Isle, here is the link to the April 2-11 Ireland Pilgrimage Blog.

We began our pilgrimage in prayer at the tomb of St. Francis, the beginning of a blessed and joyous journey in Italy.  May the beginnings of the pontificate of Pope Francis renew our Church and our own journeys of faith.

Blessings to you all!

You too?

All this week I have been thinking, "A year ago, we were....."

What are your enduring memories of our pilgrimage?

Saint Clare

Oh, I just missed it by a couple of days, but this past Saturday, August 11, was the feast of St. Clare of Assisi. 

You probably remember the Basilica of St. Clare, with the striped stone, the side chapel with the San Damiano cross and the impatient guards?

Here is a link to an article that tells the story of her leaving her home to renounce everything and eventually found the order of women religious now known as the Poor Clares.  




Right at the beginning of the article, it mentions the Cathedral of San Rufino, the one where St. Francis was baptized. That's the one with the clear areas of the floor that showed excavations, and the not well done animal carvings outside.



You might not have noticed, but there was a tiny chapel notched into the building just to the left of San Rufino (facing the church). This marked the family home of Clare. And later in the story, she is taken to the Porziuncola- which is now that small stone chapel with the large Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, down in the valley (where we celebrated Sunday mass).  It's neat to be able to read that article with the places in mind, isn't it?

Santa Chiara, pray for us!

July 28- next reunion!

We will be going to Enrigo's  in Waverly Place for dinner at 5pm on Saturday, July 28, as another 'family reunion' opportunity. As always, friends and family are welcome. An email was sent out today to the Italy pilgrims, including the list of people who have already RSVP'd to Cathy.

If you would like to come and are not on the list in the email message, please contact Cathy (or you can leave a comment here). She'll be making a reservation next Wednesday for us, to be sure we don't have to wait for a table!

And it IS a busy place, probably even more so since this recent News and Observer review:
A satisfying mix of authentic Italian fare - Dining - NewsObserver.com

Happy Summer!

With this post, I am feeling a bit like the Roman god Janus:

 

....Because I'd like to suggest one more 'family reunion'- on Saturday, July 28. If you agree, we could go back to Enrigo's at Waverly Place - and either meet early (5pm) to beat the crowds, or aim for post-5:30 mass around 7pm (but needing at least 8 people in order to make a reservation).

... And because I am now also looking ahead to the Ireland Pilgrimage, and we have just put the itinerary on our webpage for your enjoyment and information! Those dates are April 2-11, 2013.

Cincin and Slainte!

Next?!

What a fun evening last week!
Here is the latest 'excuse'... suggestion... to get together: if we meet on Friday March 16, then it is one day AFTER the Ides of March and one day BEFORE St. Patrick's Day (the patron saint of the next pilgrimage destination). I choose to ignore those who suggest wearing togas.

And, what are your reflections on your pilgrimage? If you email them to me, I can post them here on the blog!

Grazie,
Cathy

Take a look

Please click here for an on-line version of the photo book that's available to view in the CARE Center.

I'd love to see YOUR favorite trip photos... maybe this Friday at Amedeo's?!

"Family" Reunion

It has been suggested that we gather on Friday, January 6 for dinner, perhaps at Amedeo's in Raleigh.Your guests would be most welcome, as long as they can put up with yet MORE stories from our trip! 

More details as we get closer, but does this sound good to y'all?

Your Turn

Okay, pilgrims (why do I want to say that in a John Wayne voice?).... now it is YOUR turn on this blog!

Are there thoughts/reflections that you would like to share about your experience on this trip? Maybe something you jotted in your prayer journal, or something that has remained in your mind?  Please send me an email (and attach a photo, if you'd like to share one that goes with your comments), and I will post it here.

I'll try to make this a tiny bit harder for potential spammers; here is my email address: adult_faith{at}saintandrew{dot}org     --- you know to replace those two items inside the {} with what makes sense to go there, right?

General Audience Video

Here is a link to the Vatican video of last Wednesday's general audience. At 36 minutes in, they begin introducing the English speaking parishes. At the 39:51 mark, you'll hear St. Andrew the Apostle introduced, and check THIS out: you can see Sharon, Marie, Diane and Rosemary stand and cheer!!!

Almost home

Safe trip to Philly, cleared customs, and we are now waiting for our flight back to Raleigh. Also waiting at our gate is a group from Immaculate Conception in Durham, returning from Ireland. Their group leader and I will have to trade notes!

Sweet endings

And now, it is time to pack for tomorrow's journey home. (But the blog will continue for a little longer!) Buona notte, y'all.

Nooooooo!

It can't be our last night!!!!

Good luck, Raffaele

It's no easy task keeping our 'family' together.... There's just too much to see, everywhere! This is a courtyard of the Vatican museum, with the dome of St. Peter's basilica in the background.