Christendom College Makes Pilgrimage to Rome

Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 5/1/03)

Students and faculty from Christendom College in Front Royal recently made a Lenten pilgrimage to Rome.  Led by College President Timothy T. 'Donnell, the group stayed on the College's campus in Rome, the Domus Mariae Hotel, located minutes from Vatican City. While there, the group was granted a private audience with Pope John Paul II.

"He is truly a beautiful man, and holiness just radiates from him," said Lori Omann, who will be receiving her associate of arts degree this May. "To be able see the Vicar of Christ on earth from only a few feet away was such an enormous blessing and several in our group were able to greet him and kiss his ring.  It was very emotional; a feeling that words cannot express."

Additionally, the group had audiences with J. Francis Cardinal Stafford, president of the Council for the Laity; and Jan Cardinal Schotte, secretary general to the World Synod of Bishops.  They also attended a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at which Cardinal Ratzinger expressed a warm welcome to the college.
During the nine-day pilgrimage, the group joined the faculty and staff of Christendom's Semester in Rome Program.  Through the Semester in Rome Program, currently in its inaugural year,
college students have the opportunity to spend a semester studying in Rome during junior year.

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