The 70 members of the seminarians, faculty and staff from Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology and Borromeo Seminary who are on a weeklong pilgrimage to Rome began their experience on March 3. The group is sharing regular highlights of their experience.
(See photo gallery above.)
As their trip nears its end, the group enjoyed a free day on March 8 that allowed them the flexibility to visit individually or with groups different locations in the area. Many opted to join the two Franciscan friars traveling with them in a visit to Assisi. Father Mick Joyce, OFM Cap celebrated Mass at the tomb of St. Francis in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Father John Paul Kuzma was among the concelebrants. Both friars serve on the seminary faculty.
While in Assisi, the group was able to venerate the body of Blessed Carlo Acutis and to pray for the youth of the diocese. Blessed Carlo, who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15, is buried in Assisi. He is on the path to sainthood and some of his relics were in the diocese earlier this year.
Those who toured Assisi were able to renew their baptismal promises at the font where St. Francis and St. Clare, founder of the Poor Clare nuns, were baptized. They also saw St. Clare’s tomb and a San Damiano cross, before which St. Francis heard the Lord tell him to rebuild his Church.
The trip is in conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Saint Mary Seminary, which was established in 1848, a year after the Diocese of Cleveland was founded.