Day 1 - Thursday, April, 28, 2011
I
arrived in
Frankfurt,
Germany this morning around 9:00
AM. The
flight was under 10
hours and Lufthansa was an awesome airline to fly with. Talk
about good customer service. The
only downer about the
flight was the air
conditioning and the
fact that we never saw night.
Since this flight goes up
to the North
Pole,
daylight practically dominated the 10
hours.
To make things interesting, the
cabin was really warm. I
guess that helps some
people sleep...
Upon arriving I
was blessed to get on
an earlier flight that got into Rome at 12:30
PM instead of my original schedule
that had me arrive
at 5:30
PM.
I
arrived to a
really warm and sunny Rome.
My aunt and uncle picked me up
from the
airport and brought me
home to freshen up. I
ended up
catching a ride
with them into the city
eventually leading me
to St.
Peter's
Square.
As I
crossed the
Tiber River, I
saw many scafeltines set up
for the
big screens that will be set
for those who will not be
able to be in front
of the
Church.
Many people were walking the
streets and many groups from all
over the
world are
coming to Rome either tomorrow or
Saturday anticipating the start
of the
weekend ceremonies that will conclude
with the
Beatification of John Paul II.
As I
walked the Via della
Conciliazione, the
main road
that leads to the front
of the
Vatican, I
ran into the
President and CEO of Life Teen international,
Randy Raus.
What a
small world to run into people you know. I
quickly walked through the
crowd infested streets to St.
Peter's
square and got in
line to enter the Basilica
of St.
Peter before the
chaos of the
next couple of days.
After passing through a metal detector
and having your bags screened I made
my way to the front
of the
facade. I
noticed lots of workers in the
main square setting up the
chairs that VIP's
will be
seated in
and the
many plants and flowers that will decorate the front
of the main altar.
Lots of hard
work goes into these ceremonies that people often times miss.
To my shock
and surprise, the
tombs of the
Popes were closed today to prepare for the
Beatification ceremonies that will come. I
was a bit
disappointed because I
really wanted to go
and spend some
quiet moments there offering up all
of intentions people have given me,
nonetheless I
was able to go in the
main church and see what will be the
plan for the post-
Beatification.
After a nice tour, I
visited my favorite
place to pick up
religious articles for a
really good price to pick up 1200
Beatus JPII medals for all
of the
Kennedy Catholic families. The banner I
have brought to Rome with me
will be
at the
Beatification ceremony. I
will definitely have pictures to post
of that soon.
Today has been an eventful day,
and it’s
just the
beginning.
My thoughts and prayers go out
to my wife,
whom I miss
dearly,
and all
of the
Kennedy Catholic Family.
May God bless all
of you! PAX!
I arrived to a really warm and sunny Rome. My aunt and uncle picked me up from the airport and brought me home to freshen up. I ended up catching a ride with them into the city eventually leading me to St. Peter's Square. As I crossed the Tiber River, I saw many scafeltines set up for the big screens that will be set for those who will not be able to be in front of the Church. Many people were walking the streets and many groups from all over the world are coming to Rome either tomorrow or Saturday anticipating the start of the weekend ceremonies that will conclude with the Beatification of John Paul II.
As I walked the Via della Conciliazione, the main road that leads to the front of the Vatican, I ran into the President and CEO of Life Teen international, Randy Raus. What a small world to run into people you know. I quickly walked through the crowd infested streets to St. Peter's square and got in line to enter the Basilica of St. Peter before the chaos of the next couple of days. After passing through a metal detector and having your bags screened I made my way to the front of the facade. I noticed lots of workers in the main square setting up the chairs that VIP's will be seated in and the many plants and flowers that will decorate the front of the main altar. Lots of hard work goes into these ceremonies that people often times miss. To my shock and surprise, the tombs of the Popes were closed today to prepare for the Beatification ceremonies that will come. I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted to go and spend some quiet moments there offering up all of intentions people have given me, nonetheless I was able to go in the main church and see what will be the plan for the post-Beatification.
After a nice tour, I visited my favorite place to pick up religious articles for a really good price to pick up 1200 Beatus JPII medals for all of the Kennedy Catholic families. The banner I have brought to Rome with me will be at the Beatification ceremony. I will definitely have pictures to post of that soon. Today has been an eventful day, and it’s just the beginning. My thoughts and prayers go out to my wife, whom I miss dearly, and all of the Kennedy Catholic Family.
May God bless all of you! PAX!
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