The Justice

Students experienced the power of religion, art and history on a week-long trip to Rome, organized by Catholic chaplain Father Walter Cuenin. Above, the picturesque town of Assisi. Photo courtesy of Sean Fullerton

Catholic services in a harmony of Spanish, French and other languages echoed through the grates in the floor and across the tombs of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

In the Vatican grottoes, alongside the burial sites of past popes, 12 members of the Brandeis Catholic Student Organization and Catholic chaplain Father Walter Cuenin celebrated Sunday mass in the Irish chapel of St. Columbanus. The mass was the spiritual culmination of a week-long trip to Italy that was subsidized by Catholic community members in the Boston area.

"Celebrating Mass in St. Peter's with the students, down in the crypts where the popes are buried" was the most meaningful experience of the trip to Rome, Cuenin said, because it drew members of the Catholic community closer together in a shared religious experience.

St. Peter's Basilica, the burial site of its namesake, one of the 12 apostles, is located in the home city of the pope and is known as one of the holiest places and greatest churches in Christianity. More than just a religious site, however, the church is also an architectural and artistic masterpiece, boasting the famous dome designed by Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta and Fontana. Because of the site's beauty, the group spent much of the day quietly taking it all in, joining together to pray at mass.

"The rest of the day we just explored St. Peter's Basilica," Rachael Cotter '10 recalled. "We got to climb the dome, which was incredible," she said.

For students on the trip-which cost students only $550 for flights, accommodation and most meals-visiting famous churches and religious sites in Rome brought the history of the Catholic Church to life.

"Rome is the Catholic homeland," Stephanie Sapowicz '10 said. "It was just really interesting to see not only the history of the art in Rome but also of the Church as well."

Carolyn Burns '10 said the group was thrilled to hear Pope Benedict XVI speak to a crowd of 15,000 at the Vatican. When the English-speaking priest at the pope's side announced that he was pleased to have a group from Brandeis visiting, "we made a pretty good amount of noise for a group our size," Burns said. "We represented Brandeis."

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools