Hello to all our followers!
The Tassie pilgrims have made it to Assisi! We apologise for not having put somethng up sooner, but internet access is somewhat limited in Assisi. On Saturday all pilgrims made their way to Melbourne, where we made a quick visit to the skydeck and St Patricks Cathedral before headed back out to the airport to check in for those very long flights from Australia to Europe. We were lucky enough for the airport chaplain to set up a spce for us to have Mass before we boarded our 14 hour flight to Dubai and further 6 hour flight to Rome. Arriving in Rome in 27 degree heat (quite hot when coming from the rain and cold in Tassie), we met Daniele, our trusty tour escort and boarded a bus for a further three hours to Assisi.
Assis is just beautiful.....a very peaceful, gentle place where you could just sit and take in the magnificent scenery for days. This morning we visited the Basiliica of St Francis, including the tomb of St Francis and had our own Mass in a gorgeous side chapel. Pilgrims are currently off exploring the beauty of this place with their small groups until we will meet up again in about 15minutes to go and visit the Church of St Damiano (where St Francis heard Christ speaking to him from crucifix), the Hermitage, and Church of St Clare. With any luck we may get to Vespers with the Poor Clare Nuns this evening, and maybe to the castle at the top of the hill.
For those of you who are unaware, Assisi, like many old Italian Villages is set on top of a hill. So you either walking up a steep hill or going down a steep hill, nothing in the middle!! It helps to work off those sugar coated croissants we had for breakfast though!!
So as the pilgrims are walking around you just have me! However I hope to get some of our pilgrims on when we have more internet access in Rome. Tomorrow we are off to Siena, Orvieto and eventually Rome by tomorrow evening. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!
You will hear from us again soon, with a few photos too.
All pilgrims are doing really well!!
Rachelle
Great to hear that you have arrived safely and enjoying Assissi. I did not make it there when recently in Italy but know what you mean about towns on hills and walking off the croussants! and gelatto! You are in my prayers daily and in our collective parish prayers. Keep having fun. Kathy Cane, Catholic Parish of the Huon Valley
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