Twenty men from the Diocese are spending much of the Christmas season on a pilgrimage in Rome that will run from Jan. 3 to 11, and will include concelebrating Mass with Pope Francis for the Epiphany. 

The visit to Rome began early for Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and two others, who arrived Dec. 30 and have been staying in Domus Sanctae Marthae, the guest house where Pope Francis lives.  During that time the Bishop, along with Jason Parzynski, a seminarian of the diocese and secretary to the Bishop, and Father Erin Brown, campus minister at College of New Jersey, Ewing, had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father and speak with him.  Bishop O’Connell was invited to concelebrate Mass privately with the Holy Father. 

Bishop O’Connell and Father Brown also had the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Peter during their second day in Rome. The tomb is located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

The other priests from the Diocese of Trenton were set to arrive in Rome Jan. 3.  All members of the party will be staying in a hotel in Lecce, Italy. The pilgrimage will include the celebration of Masses in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls and St. Peter’s Basilica, with the Epiphany Mass set for Jan. 6 beginning at 10 a.m. local time.  The Mass is scheduled to be broadcast via EWTN.

The trip will also include a papal audience Jan. 8, and a scheduled meeting between Pope Francis and Bishop O’Connell Jan. 9. 

Tours of Rome and Assisi are also part of the itinerary.