By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Bishop Larry Silva accompanied by Msgr. Gary Secor, vicar general, was in Italy from Jan. 19 to Feb. 2, primarily for his ad limina visit to the Vatican and Pope Francis. While they were abroad, Msgr. Secor sent back photos and updates of their adventures. Here are some of the highlights.
Jan. 19: Settling in at the Hotel Sant ‘Anna. Concelebrating Sunday evening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica with a cardinal of the papal household, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica Cardinal Angelo Comastri, and dinner with Marianist Deacon Brandon Paluck, who once served in Hawaii.
Jan. 20: A visit to the “Angels Unaware” sculpture by Timothy Schmalz in St. Peter’s Square. It depicts migrants on a boat and was dedicated by Pope Francis on World Migrant Day in September 2019. … A visit to the Basilica of St. Sebastian and the catacombs there, coinciding with the feast of Sts. Sebastian and Fabian. The bishop and vicar general prayed at the tomb of St. Sebastian, patron saint of policemen, for the two Honolulu Police Department officers killed on Jan. 19 on Hibiscus Drive. … A stop at the Ardeatine Caves, the site of the massacre of 300 ordinary Roman citizens by Nazis in March 1944.
Jan. 21: A visit to St. Agnes Church in the Piazza Navona on the saint’s feast day and a stop at a number of churches and the Trevi Fountain.
Jan. 22: Train trip to Spoleto, north of Rome, to visit Hawaiian royalty and Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace benefactor Marquesa Kapiolani Marignoli and her son.
Jan. 23: A day in Assisi, the town made famous by St. Francis of Assisi.
Jan. 24: A visit with Msgr. Robert Sarno of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints to discuss how to further the cause of Joseph Dutton of Molokai. Dinner with Joan Lewis, EWTN Rome bureau chief who the bishop and monsignor also ran into at a restaurant earlier in the week on Jan. 20.
Jan. 25: Dinner with Archdiocese of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aclan and a stop into the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome.
Jan. 26: Settling in at the North American College Seminary in Rome where the bishop and vicar general stayed for the rest of their time in Rome.
Jan. 27: Along with the bishops from California and Nevada that form Region XI, Bishop Silva attended Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter just below the main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica followed by time in prayer at the tomb of St. Peter and later upstairs in the basilica. … The bishops met Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace’s Papal Apartments and spent almost three hours in a roundtable discussion with him.
Jan. 28: Bishop Silva presided at a Mass for visiting Region XI bishops and priests at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, the Cathedral Church of Rome.
Jan. 29: A visit to the Vatican Museums to see Hawaii-related collections items including Damien artifacts and a stop into the Church of San Pellegrino, an ancient Roman Catholic oratory dedicated to St. Peregrine of Auxerre.
Jan. 30: Mass with Region XI bishops and priests at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the first churches built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. An evening reception at Villa Stritch, the residence for U.S. priests working in various Vatican departments.
Jan. 31: Final ad limina Mass of Region XI bishops is held at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls followed by prayers at the tomb of St. Paul.
Feb. 1: Met with the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary’s superior general and other community members and saw St. Damien artifacts and some of his handwritten letters.
Feb. 2: Spent final day in Rome walking in Trastevere between various churches and sites before getting ready for an early departure back to Hawaii the next day.
Read more of Msgr. Secor’s reports from Rome at hawaiicatholicheraldblog.wordpress.com
