23 years, 5 World Youth Days, the Camino, plus other pilgrimages I've organized later, I am returning with a group of parish families. Perhaps my pilgrimaging has gone full-circle...who knows? One thing is certain, John McMahon will not be told "no" when he has an idea...his idea is to provide a new catechetical tool for newly confirmed youth.
St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) began these very same walks as a catechetical tool. He would teach and pray with the youth as they walked between the four major and three minor basilicas of Rome. His walks became so renowned that eventually even cardinals and bishops would follow him.
We endeavor to follow this example. With the written guide I saved from 2000, we will start at Saint Peter's (attending a Papal audience) and walk from the inner sanctum of Roman Catholicism to basilicas outside the ancient city walls. As a metaphor, we will reflect on personalizing our pilgrimage theme to seeking the next step in each of our lives with Jesus. Strolling past stone walls, we'll also reflect on how the church is or is not reaching out beyond the inner sanctum to the people of today.
I expect some interesting stories. We hope to capture some of them here to share with our faith community...so stay tuned.
Please also give us your prayer requests. We will pray over them and carry them with us on the journey.
May the Peace of Christ be with you, and thank you for your continued support.
-Christopher Dawson
---
The Four Major Papal Basilicas:
Basilica
San Pietro in
Vaticano (St. Peter in the Vatican)
Basilica San Paolo fuori le Mura (St.
Paul outside the walls)
Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano (St.
John in Lateran)
Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (St.
Mary Major)
The Three Minor Basilicas:
Basilica San Sebastiano fuori le Mura
(St. Sebastian outside the walls) and catacombs
Basilica Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
(Holy Cross in Jerusalem)
Basilica San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
(Saint Lawrence outside the walls)
