Posted by Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

We awoke in Rome on Saturday to a gentle rain and moderate temperatures. The priests on pilgrimage seemed well rested and eager to begin their second day. Breakfast or "collazione" as it is called here consisted of a plain roll and butter/jam, yogurt, a sweet roll, juice and coffee.  Perhaps less than or different from what we Americans are used to eating, it was enough to get us started.

As the priests prepared themselves for the coming day, my secretary Jason and I headed to the Apostolic Palace and the Office of the Head of Pontifical Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini.  He is the thin Monsignor whom you most often see to the right of the Pope during Papal Masses.  It is his office that issues the tickets to concelebrate with the Holy Father at these events.  Our priests would be doing so on Monday morning at 10 am as Pope Francis celebrates the Mass for the Epiphany in St. Pete's Basilica.  The church is set up both inside and outside for the Mass but no one is quite sure yet where it will take place.  To walk through the Apostolic Palace, although a thrill, is not an easy task for someone like myself who has difficulty walking.  With Jason's and some Swiss Guards' help, it was not too bad.  Mission accomplished, we headed for St. Paul's Outside the Walls to meet the other priests.

We arrived and went to the sacristy to prepare for Mass.  This is one of the four major basilicas in Rome and is the site of the tomb of St. Paul.  Additionally, on January 25, 1959, Blessed Pope John XXIII whom the Church will canonize later this year, first announced the Second Vatican Council from this place.  After visiting and praying at the tomb of St. Paul, the priests vested and processed to the main altar for Mass.  Father Michael Burns, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, read the first reading and Father Juan Daniel Peirano, pastor of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch, read the Gospel.  As bishop, I was the principal celebrant and homilist.  It was a beautiful, prayerful time during which we prayed for our Diocese and the intentions of the faithful entrusted to our care back home.  After Mass and a tour of the basilica, we boarded our bus and headed home for lunch, "pranzo.". For some reason, you seem to get hungrier when traveling!

After a hearty lunch, the priests all headed out in different directions, some for bus tours, others for shopping, still others for a vigorous afternoon walk.  Groups met up at the wonderful restaurants of Rome for supper around 8 pm and gradually made their way back to the hotel.  Sunday would be an early day since we will celebrate Mass at 8 am at the altar of the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II, who will also be canonized in the Spring.  Following Mass, we will tour around St. Peter's as we wait with thousands of other pilgrims for the Holy Father's noontime Angelus and blessing.  The afternoon is left to us.