The Irish would call this Sunday in Rome a "soft day," with a touch of fog and drizzle. After eating a quick breakfast at Bonus Pastor, the priests on pilgrimage boarded the bus for St. Peter's Basilica and our 8 am Mass together at the Tomb of St. Peter.  We entered the basilica at the door facing Domus Sanctae Marthae where the Holy Father lives.

There were few pilgrims present already and we headed to the sacristy, vested and headed downstairs to the crypt Church.  Once again I presided and preached.  Fr. Joel Wilson, currently studying theology at The Catholic University in Washington, read the first reading, Fr. Thomas Valla, St. Gregory's Parish, Hamilton, read the second reading and Fr. Jack Bogacz, St. Justin's Parish, Toms River, proclaimed the  Gospel.

The Mass was so reverent and so moving.  Just to think we were celebrating Mass at the Tomb of the chief of the Apostles was awesome. We sang hymns and prayed the prayers so familiar to us, especially the Profession of Faith, with even deeper fervor, placing on the altar the intentions of all who asked us to pray for them while in Rome.

After Mass, we gathered around the Tomb itself and prayed for the Pope and for the Diocese of Trenton.  The priests took a bit of a tour around the crypt visiting the graves of the popes.  We then headed back upstairs to the sacristy.

After packing up our vestments we had the opportunity to visit in the Basilica.  I was fortunate to lead a small group around areas that were blocked off, thanks to the kindness of security guards.  It's still amazing to me what a purple hat can do here!  We visited the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament where we knelt in prayer, then visited the tombs of Blessed Popes John XXIII and John Paul II who will be
canonized in April.  Back home, the Diocese will have celebrations for each new saint.

Michaelangelo's "Pieta" was the next stop and then the beautiful Christmas Manger scene across from it.  The Fathers continued to visit different shrines and other places in the Basilica.  Some actually braved the heights and went up to the dome --- the "cupola" --- to get a completely different perspective of this massive church.

At noon, our priests gathered with tens of thousands of pilgrims and visitors to pray the Angelus with Pope Francis and to receive his blessing.  Many returned to Bonus Pastor for lunch --- the food has been great! --- and an afternoon of touring, exploring and just taking it all in.  By 1 pm the sun came out and the streets filled with tourists.  Dinner time rolled around 7:30 pm and some stayed in the hotel while others found more places to enjoy supper.  It seems like all we do is go from meal to meal --- the pasta is superb!  How do the Romans stay so thin?

Tomorrow, Monday, we return to St. Peter's, this time to concelebrate 10 am Mass with the Holy Father for the Solemnity of the Epiphany. What a thrill that will be!