Author Archives: hughpol

Sadly our last day and my last blog from Italy as we are getting up at 5.30 am tomorrow and I doubt I will feel like doing much other than getting on the coach. The weather is getting colder, the wind is up and I needed a blanket on the bed last night. We areContinue reading “11th October Sunday”

As I write the person in the room next to me is listening to the singing from the Beatification service which is has been going for an hour and a half now. The town is full of pilgrims who have come for it and particularly young people. We began our day down at the BasilicaContinue reading “10th October continued”

We have stumbled upon a beatification here in Assisi. The town is full of people, many young, for the beatification of Carlo Acutis who was only 15 when he died in 2006. His parents are Italian but have moved around. He was born in London. He was clearly a very devout young man who thenContinue reading “10th October”

We were celebrating a number of birthdays today, Margaret Delaney, Fr. Stephen and my sister, Rose. We set off at a reasonable time (much better than our very early starts the two days before for those of us who find 5.30 am testing) and dragged our bags, rattling through the streets of Rome to theContinue reading “9th October”

Just back from the Trevi fountain, Lemon and Mint ice cream for me, and a quick visit to the doors of my old university, the Gregorian run by the Jesuits, which is just up the road from there. looking very forbidding. The fountain is looking very clean. Policeman sat there blowing his car horn atContinue reading “8th October continued”

Just time before a trip to the Trevi fountain this evening to write about our Mass today in the crypt of St. Peter’s at the tomb of St. Peter. We had to be up early to get through security and ready for Mass at 8.15. There was hardly anyone around and so the help inContinue reading “8th October”

After the Catacombs we went back for lunch and then set out for St. Peters. Because there are so few people here it is easy to wander round. We had a lovely guide who spoke to us via ear pieces as we looked at the Holy Doors, the Pieta, and then the tomb of PopeContinue reading “6th and 7th October”

Began with a wonderful tour of the catacombs this morning with Brother Obet, a Salesian from the Philippines. I expect all Salesians to have heard of Sr. Ella but apparently not. He took us through the early Christian art and signs and the importance of Jesus as the Good Shepherd to them. Much more soContinue reading “6th October”

Slightly confusingly organised I am afraid.The very dark one top left is the picture of Pope Pius IX kneeling before the relic of the manger in St. Mary Majors, and the bottom left is of us all outside St. Mary Majors. Today, middle top, of us all in the catacombs of St. Calixtus and thenContinue reading “Yesterday and today on pilgrimage 6th October”

Feeling pretty tired just now as I was up at 2.30 am and it is now supper time. Great day though. The bus worked very well and Manchester Airport was a dream. Not often you can say that. Someone lost a watch and bracelet at security but got it back so that crisis was over.Continue reading “Pilgrimage to Rome. 5th October”