A Pilgrimage of Thanksgiving, Rome, 19-26 October 2014
Twelve members of St Gregory’s congregation were among the nearly 70 strong group who set off for Italy on 19th October 2014. Our destination was Rome, our purpose was to celebrate with Father Anthony Pateman the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood at the English College.
For the next eight days our home was the Villa Palazzola, an ancient monastery set in the hills above Lake Albano.
Villa Palazzola is a former monastery built in the 13th Century on the site of a Roman villa, and is situated in the Alban Hills above Lake Albano. It is 18 miles from the centre of Rome, which is reached by what seemed at first to be a rather hazardous drive down the very steep hillside. However, after the first few trips our confidence in the bus and coach drivers’ skill was such we were able to turn our attention to the spectacular scenery all around.
Accommodation was in single or double rooms, some en-suite. There were also areas where families/small groups could be accommodated close together. There were plenty of small kitchen areas where tea and coffee could be prepared – an essential for English visitors!
Food was served in the Dining Room which looked and felt just like a Refectory with its long wooden tables, familiar to all of us who have spent time in convents and monasteries. Full board was included in the price with a generous supply of wine during lunch and dinner. Breakfast was simple – cereal, cheese, ham, bread, yoghurt and hot or cold drinks. Lunch and Dinner was typically either soup or pasta, followed by tender meat (delicious fish on Friday) and salad. An enormous bowl of fresh fruit, including crisp apples, juicy oranges, enormous purple plums, melon, grapes etc was the pièce de resistance to finish off each meal.
Accessibility. Coaches and mini buses were used throughout our stay to transport us to and from the Villa.
Daily programme:
7.45 Morning Prayer
8.00 Breakfast in the Refectory
9.30 Excursion or activity of the day
13.00 Lunch
17.30 Evening Mass
19.30 Dinner
One regular and very popular addition to the programme was singing the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) after dinner each evening. Added to this were some special celebrations:
Twelve members of St Gregory’s congregation were among the nearly 70 strong group who set off for Italy on 19th October 2014. Our destination was Rome, our purpose was to celebrate with Father Anthony Pateman the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood at the English College.
For the next eight days our home was the Villa Palazzola, an ancient monastery set in the hills above Lake Albano.
Villa Palazzola is a former monastery built in the 13th Century on the site of a Roman villa, and is situated in the Alban Hills above Lake Albano. It is 18 miles from the centre of Rome, which is reached by what seemed at first to be a rather hazardous drive down the very steep hillside. However, after the first few trips our confidence in the bus and coach drivers’ skill was such we were able to turn our attention to the spectacular scenery all around.
Accommodation was in single or double rooms, some en-suite. There were also areas where families/small groups could be accommodated close together. There were plenty of small kitchen areas where tea and coffee could be prepared – an essential for English visitors!
Food was served in the Dining Room which looked and felt just like a Refectory with its long wooden tables, familiar to all of us who have spent time in convents and monasteries. Full board was included in the price with a generous supply of wine during lunch and dinner. Breakfast was simple – cereal, cheese, ham, bread, yoghurt and hot or cold drinks. Lunch and Dinner was typically either soup or pasta, followed by tender meat (delicious fish on Friday) and salad. An enormous bowl of fresh fruit, including crisp apples, juicy oranges, enormous purple plums, melon, grapes etc was the pièce de resistance to finish off each meal.
Accessibility. Coaches and mini buses were used throughout our stay to transport us to and from the Villa.
Daily programme:
7.45 Morning Prayer
8.00 Breakfast in the Refectory
9.30 Excursion or activity of the day
13.00 Lunch
17.30 Evening Mass
19.30 Dinner
One regular and very popular addition to the programme was singing the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) after dinner each evening. Added to this were some special celebrations:
- Tuesday 21st October - marriage of William Franklin and Dorothy Williamson.
- Wednesday 23rd October – an audience in St Peter’s Square with Pope Francis.
- Friday 24th October – celebration of the 50th anniversary of the marriage of Monica and Phil Waller.
- Saturday 25th October – Mass at the English College.
