Pilgrimage interest high

The eight-day pilgrimage, being sponsored by The Evangelist, will occur next October. Less than two weeks after the first announcement of the trip, more than 60 people have already signed up.

The pilgrimage will include tours of Vatican City, major basilicas (St. Peter's among them), the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and many other sites. An optional day trip to Assisi is also being offered.

Virginia Hanley, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Latham, is looking forward to the trip. "I've read about Rome my whole life, all through Catholic school," she said. "Now I want to go see it."

Ms. Hanley will be traveling with her sister, Elaine Carmoli, and friend, Elizabeth Marcil. Ms. Carmoli said the trip "sounded great to me. We're looking forward to it. It's our treat for the millennium."

The 260 pilgrims from the Albany Diocese will be among the record setting 26 million people expected to visit the Eternal City during the Holy Year.

According to W. Jon Harrington, diocesan pilgrimage coordinator, it will be the trip of a lifetime. He was in Rome 25 years ago during the last Holy Year. "You never forget the experience of being in Rome during Holy Year," he said. "It's a lasting experience."

Last week, during a meeting held at the Pastoral Center in Albany, Mr. Harrington answered questions for more than 30 potential pilgrims. He stressed the importance of registering early for the trip.

"Everyone wants to go at the last minute," he said. "We only have room for 260 people. If you wait until the last minute, it will be all filled up. There is limited space to get to Rome, so you need to make your commitment early."

He said the diocesan pilgrimage is scheduled at an ideal time because the weather in Rome in October is perfect. Pilgrims will have a choice of accommodations, ranging from two-star to five-star facilities. Breakfasts are included as well as two dinners.

The tours will be lead by professional tour guides well versed in Catholic attractions, he said. The air-conditioned tour buses will pull right up to the attractions.

(For more information, see back page or www.evangelist.org, or call 453-6688.)

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