Welcome to the Mundelein Seminary 2003 Pilgrimage Journal!  The pilgrimage experience occurs in a seminarian’s third year of theology in their preparation for priesthood.  This journey is a 55-day journey following in the footsteps of St. Paul.  The “Footsteps of Paul” pilgrimage takes the group on a tour through Turkey, Greece, and into Rome, visiting many of the Biblical sites of the New Testament, and especially those of the Acts of the Apostles.  And when in Rome, there will be an extended stay of several weeks, thus allowing for an opportunity for studies in a more traditional classroom setting, in addition to hearing talks and presentations at all the Biblical sites throughout Turkey and Greece.  The extended stay in Rome also provides an opportunity to visit other sites of spiritual significance in our Catholic faith and tradition.  The pilgrimage certainly promises to be an enlightening and inspirational experience which will help dozens of future priests to grow in knowledge of Scripture, history, and holiness by establishing a tangible connection to those Biblical sites and their spiritual significance.

Here follows a day-by-day account of the journeys of 29 members of the seminary class of 2004.  We invite our brother seminarians, families, benefactors and friends to “virtually” follow along on our pilgrimage, reading the accounts and journal entries of each day.  (We hope to update the website every few days, because internet access will be intermittent.) 

It is our hope and prayer that by reading about our journeys and experiences, that you, too, will be touched by God’s grace and be able to grow closer to Jesus Christ vicariously through us.  Thank you for your support and encouragement.  And we remain, as always, mutually yours in prayer.

             – The  Mundelein Seminary Class of 2004

Pilgrimage Pictures

Daily Journal

• Departure (Day 1)

• An Introduction to & Background information on Turkey

• Arrival in Turkey (Day 2)

• Antakya [Antioch on Orontes] (Day 3)

• Tarsus (Day 4)

• Nyssa, Nevsehir, Cappadocia, and Gorem and Zelve Valleys (Day 5)

• Antioch in Pisidia (Day 6)

• Perga, Aspendos, Antalya (Day 7)

• Antalya, Laodiciea, and Hieropolis (Day 8)

• Ephesus and the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Day 9)

• Smyrna & Pergamon (Day 10)

• Assos, Alexandria Troas, Troy (Day 11)

• Istanbul (Day 12)

• Istanbul (Day 13)

• Istanbul (Day 14)

• Istanbul, Thessaloniki (Day 14)

• We arrive in Thessaloniki (Day 15)

• Thessalonika (Day 16)

• Thessaloniki, Kalambaka, and the Bema of St. Paul in Beroea (Day 17)

• Meteora, Athens (Day 18)

• Athens: the Acropolis, Mars Hill & the Aeropogus (Day 19)

• Corinth (Day 20)

• From Athens to Rome (Day 21)

• Rome: major Pauline Sites, and other ancient sites (Day 22)

• Rome:  Classes begin (Day 23)

• Rome (Day 24)

• The General Audience with the Pope (Day 25)

• Rome:  A Day of Prayer (Day 26)

• Pompei (Day 27)

• Rome:  A Holy Day of No Obligation! (Day 28)

• Rome:  Good Castles and Good Spirits (Day 29)

• Rome:  Just Classes (Day 30)

• Rome:  A Prince, a Pope, and a Pinhead (Day 31)

• Rome:  General Audience II, the sequel (Day 32)

• Rome:  Classes (Day 33)

• The Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and the C.D.F. (Day 34)

• Rome: Classes (Day 35)

• Rome: the Catacombs, Basilicas, and the Holy Relics (Day 36)

• Rome: Classes (Day 37)

• Rome: Classes (Days 38)

• Rome: Classes (Day 39)

• Monte Cassino, Aquino (Day 40)

• Rome:  A Day of Prayer (Day 41)

• Rome:  classes (Day 42)

• Rome:  A Holy Day of No Obligation (Day 43)

• Rome:  Meeting with Congregation for the Sacred Liturgy (Day 44)

• Rome:  Private Audience with the Pope! (Day 45)

• Rome:  our last full day there! (Day 46)

• Travel to Assisi (Day 47)

• Assisi (Day 48)

• Florence (Day 49)

• Siena (Day 50)

• Ravenna (Day 51)

• Padua (Day 52)

• Venice (Day 53)

• Milan (Day 54)

• Ciao!  Arrivederci… (Day 55)

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