p r e s e n t s Pilgrimage to Assisi & Rome A journal by Sandra Dunn London Seattle Madison Milwaukee Assisi New York Roma Cleveland Pittsburgh Cincinnati Annapolis NORTH PACIFIC Los Angeles OCEAN MEDITERRANEAN SEA NORTH Jacksonville ATLANTIC St. Augustine OCEAN New Orleans GULF OF MEXICO We came together for eight wonderful days in October of 2008 for a pilgrimage to the land of St. Francis and the Pope. Twenty-two people traveled from their homes, met in New York and landed in Italy to begin a spiritual quest. What does it mean to be a Catholic Christian? Where did St. Francis live? Where does the Pope live? What was it like in the early days of Christianity? Do the teachings of the Catholic church have any relevance for my life today? We went back to our homes enriched from this life enhancing experience. Sandy,one of our fellow pilgrims from Wisconsin and a Catholic Religious Educator wrote in her journal every day. We are most grateful for her. Enjoy! SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN p r e s e n t s Pilgrimage Leo Corr, ever playful and fun-loving, shown here sticking his tongue out at me, the trigger-happy photographer. We were blessed to have Leo and his to Assisi family on our pilgrimage. He passed away peacefully & Rome on April Fools Day 2009 at the age of 87 years. A journal by Sandra Dunn October 2nd to 10th in 2008 Preparation time! Many things to do before we leave on the journey of a lifetime. Arrange for our pets, stop the mail, pack the suitcase—and then take out the items that we really don’t need. The packet arrives from Inside the Vatican magazine offices with airline tickets; invitations to the Anniversary Dinner; Our hotel in Assisi was next to the Basilica of St. Francis. information needed for the trip; and now it is time to make our Me, the photographer, D.S. McKinney, is shown under way to Newark where the group meets and the trip begins. the awning at the front door. Our hotel in Rome was just a few steps from the Basilica of St. Peter and Vatican City. Gerald Giblin, Father Boyle, Wanda Scott, Dr. Robert Moynihan, Judith Conger, Bill Freas, Leo Corr, Amy Corr, Catherine Corr, Maurita Freas, Candace Corr, Richard Corr, Glenn Shrader, Charlene Corr, Val Grieve, Chris Corr, Deborah Tomlinson, Sandy Dunn, Deborah McKinney, and Daisy Neves. (taking the picture and not shown, Jonathan Levine) We gathered at the Castel de Gandolfo on day two. ~4~ Friday, October 3, 2008 Early morning arrival in Rome and travel to Assisi Tour Basilica of Saint Francis Tour Basilica of Saint Clare Walking tour of Assisi Dinner at Hotel San Francesco Overnight in Assisi at Hotel San Francesco Dr. Robert Moynihan with the microphone and Jonathan Levine at our first stop for a Deborah Tomlinson of Inside the Vatican magazine quick lunch on our way to Assisi in Italy. Walking up the hill to our hotel in Assisi ctober 2 turns into October 3, 2008 We come from Seattle, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, OWashington D.C., New Orleans, St. Augustine and various places in Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois. Val comes from Great Britain and joins us in Rome where we also meet Dr. Robert Moynihan and Deb Tomlinson to begin our journey.We truly will become ‘companions on the journey’ as the days go by. Baggage collected; much needed bottles of water provided; and we board our bus for the ride to Assisi. Dr. Moynihan gives background on where we are headed and what we are seeing along the way.A short stop for a Our room in Assisi We could open the windows to the fresh air. little lunch gives some of us our first glimpse of Italian names for food and how to pay in euros. Luciano, our driver, also becomes our friend. He becomes invaluable at maneuvering the big bus through the traffic and hills of Assisi and then the busy streets of Rome—getting us safely to each destination. Assisi is up on the hilltop. Our bus could only go so far so they had someone come for our luggage and we trudged up the hill to our hotel. What a festive atmosphere among the shops, the crowds and all that goes with celebrating the Feast of St. Francis—our arrival being on the Eve of the Feast Day. Our hotel is just as lovely as the pictures—nestled right in the heart of things and right in front of the Basilica of St. Francis. We check in at the Hotel San Francesco, find our rooms to be quite adequate—after learning how they number floors in Italy. Some of us scramble to find a bank for changing our dollars into euros—an unpleasant task given the value of the dollar these days! We meet up with a very pleasant Franciscan who gives us a very detailed tour of the Basilica of St. Francis, pointing out all the beautiful artwork and the frescos on the walls depicting the life of St. Francis. Then we meet our guide for Assisi—a very lovely and knowledgeable The Gates of the city of Assisi—Jonathan, Val and The view out our Hotel San Francesco window to the ...the view to the right at St. Francis Basilica. Gerry look back. left up the street... See Sandy sticking her head out the window, too! ~6~ (please, continue) ~7~ (continued from previous page) You can see our hotel from the Basilica and the wonderful woman who walks us through the main street right up mountain-side community. the hill to the Church of St. Clare; pointing out who lived in the buildings on the way; relating the stories about the people, the buildings, the history; and traditions of the area. What a glorious view from the piazza in front of the church—one of the first of many, many Kodak® moments! A tent held homemade cheese for the tasting Jonathan Levine and and the buying. Those of us from Wisconsin like me, We gathered in front of our hotel for a Deborah McKinney, son who pride themselves in knowing good cheese, were walking tour of Assisi and mother in front of St. Francis Basilica. very impressed with the quality and the delicious flavors. After a tour inside the Church of St. Clare and having the highlights of her life and mission pointed out, we were free to roam on our own back to the hotel for dinner. Each of us had our own plan for exactly which shops we were planning on stopping by on the trek back down the hill. Italian shoes were so tempting as were the shops full of extra virgin olive oil— especially since we had just learned on the way up the hill about how this region of Italy is so well known as the very best producer of olive oil in the world. We learned also that officials know exactly how many olive Deborah Tomlinson and Robert Moynihan listen as Friar trees are in Italy because each tree is registered with the Franco explains the nature of our tour while Val stands by government so the authenticity of the olive oil can be certified by the registration number of the tree. Roses are sometimes grown with the olive trees because if the roses don’t produce well, they know that the olive trees are in danger, too. Dinner at the hotel was our first real Italian meal and what a treat it was! Since none of us were driving, we pooled our euros to buy bottles of wine and truly enjoyed the meal, the company and the atmosphere. Most of us went up on the rooftop after dinner to check out the view—it was worth the climb up the steps. But with some of us, the travel, the walking, the good meal and a little wine combined with a slight breeze, was catching up with us and found ourselves ready for bed after the first of what would become such wonderful days ahead. Basilica di San Francesco e sacro convento is composed of two churches built one above the other, the lower one dates from 1228 – 1230 and the upper one from 1230 – 1253 and a crypt dug in 1818 which houses the Saint’s tomb. The Lower Basilica was decorated by some of the greatest painters of the 13th and 14th century: Cimabue, Giotto, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini. The Upper Basilica is adorned by Giotto’s frescos illustrating the life of St. Francis. There are also works by Cimabue, Virgin with child, four angels and St Francis by Cimabue. These were three special doors in this ancient city. Gerry in front and Glenn looks a sign explaining the Cavallini and Torriti in the Upper Basilica. Lower basilica of St Francis. renovations of precious old architecture. ~8~ (please, continue) ~9~ Breath-taking views from this mountain-side city with registered olive trees in the fore ground. Basilica di Santa Chiara is an example of Italian Gothic architecture and was completed in 1260, five years after her canonization. The pink is from the iron oxide in the stone. Street performers with donation cups prepare for the celebration of St. Francis. Dr. Moynihan, editor, journalist and celebrated orator, gives a talk and a blessing before we eat. History collides! The Roman Temple of Minerva dating from the 1st century, the 13th century Plazzo del Captiano del Popolo, the Torre del Popolo, completed in 1305, and the 14th century Plazzo dei Priori.