"And so we came to Rome" - Acts 28:14

Monday, January 23, 2012

Secretariat of State and Emmanuel Community

Later this afternoon, we were taken on a very exclusive tour of the Apostolic Palace (where the Papal Apartment is located - no photos allowed!) to see the offices and library of the Vatican Secretary of State.  We were shown around by an American priest of the Diocese of Scranton, Fr. Washington, who works in the English-speaking office (and, incidentally, was the priest who introduced us to the Holy Father at the Audience two weeks ago).  We were taken to what is surely one of the best photo-ops in Rome, the balcony of the Secretary of State, only about a hundred yards from the Papal window, and overlooking the front of St. Peter's Basilica.





Following the visit to the Vatican, we spent the rest of the evening with the Emmanuel Community's School of Mission in Rome.  The Emmanuel Community, founded by layman Pierre Goursat in France forty years ago, is dedicated to Eucharistic adoration, works of compassion, and evangelization.  We enjoyed conversation and dinner with young students from around the world participating in the nine month-long School of Mission, in which they live a structured life of prayer, study, and service.



1 comment:

  1. All of you are in my daily prayers... keep the posts coming!

    ReplyDelete