Welcome to My 2009 Blog

First, let me say for the fourth time, but with an ever deeper appreciation for the blessed life I lead, thanks soooo much.

Thanks to everyone who makes CCVA possible, who supports me and the incredible group of young adults known as Chester County Voices Abroad.

Thanks to my traveling companions, friends old and new, especially my roommate Lisa, but most of all these two pairs. My life is so rich because of you!


To read reflections on the 2009 Summer tour:

• READ ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST.
  
  
• Scroll down the right side of this page
  and use the section marked "Blog Archive."
  
  
• Click on the small triangle next to month of June.
  A menu of 14 entries will appear.
  Entries in a blog are shown most recent first.
  Click the bottom link first.
  
  
• "Preliminaries at Simon & Jude" is the first entry
  of the journal, but the "last" entry in the Blog Archive.
  
  
• Continue using these links to move to the second day etc.
  
  
• To see some more great pictures that didn't make it
  into the pages of the journal see the slide shows in the right hand margin. More shows will be added as time allows.

Thanks to all those who posted pictures on Facebook, to those who have contributed to or commented on this blog. I hope you enjoy reading about the fruits of our labor this year.

Emily

Arrivederci Italia

Today, we say Arrivederchi to Italy. What an opportunity. What a thrill. What a gift! Riding on our Italian, CCVA buses one last time, dressed in our black and tan one last time, we made our way to the Naples airport. After checking our luggage, there was time for the traditional CCVA past time as we awaited the two hour commuter flight from Naples to Munich before embarking on our eight hour plane ride to Newark. No wagering please.

The trip to Munich went off like clock work. Even our parents had mastered counting / lettering off to make sure all 77 of us were still in tow. But just on the verge of a flawless trip, we finally hit a snag!

Thunderstorms, to which we had been alerted in Munich hours earlier, had indeed moved over our final destination, Newark, New Jersey. After an hour or so of circling in New England, our captian announced that we would land in Boston for refueling and to wait for clearer skys.

We turned the setback into an advantage, and spent the extra time catching up on the most recent movies or getting some extra sleep! The rest of the trip was uneventful. We reached Newark around 9 PM.

Our final - this time I really mean it - two hour bus ride later, and we were back at Saints Simon and Jude. Although about three hours behind our intended arrival, faithful family and friends met us to help with luggage and transportation home. There is hardly energy for hugs and thank yous. My parents and I all but fell into our house, looking forward to sleeping in our own beds and getting back to our busy everyday lives. I miss Italy and Lisa already!

The Grand Finale

We returned to the Church of St. Francis for a little warm up, but before going into the church we wandered just a few feet through a park to admire the view of the bay. There are hotels pearched right on these cliffs, with swimming piers! I think I want to come back.

Each venue in which we have presented has been remarkable in its own way. The same was true of this church and adjacent convent. In a small park across from the church, we found a very unique statue of St. Francis - an interesting interpretation of Francis in his youth.

The interior courtyard was a beautiful "sanctuary" from the hustle and bustle just beyond its walls - so peaceful.

Though Sorrento is clearly a tourist spot, it's compact but relaxed feel is very inviting. It might just edge out Venice as my favorite "small town" experience. The views were simply spectacular.

As we began our presentation, most every seat was full. To my amazement, the crowd continued to build. People were standing in the back and on the sides! It was simply electric - as moving as ever, yet with a quality hard to name. We threw ourselves into each hymn. It was our best effort yet - almost perfect, I think.

I struggled not to cry during Lord of All, thinking of all that CCVA has done for me over the past four years and what an impact it has had on the course of my life. We were all just a "little" emotional after the concert. (OK. Some of us were sobbing.)

As we made our way back through the town, it was difficult to acknowledge that Lisa and I would be be rooming together for this one last night. The past nine days certainly would be a memory that we will cherish forever.

But have I mentioned the national treasure of Italy? Not the architecture. Not the art and sculpture. No, not even the food and the wine. It always lifts my spirits and puts a smile on my face. Now I was ready for bed.

Those Are Lemons?

This morning we got on the bus for our last big journey, this time to Sorrento. On the way, we stopped in the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We hoped the dormant volcano would not suddenly spring to life as we followed our guide through the ruins. A quick moving and light shower made umbrellas necessary, but we were happy for the inconvenience. It had been almost 100 degrees here just the week before!

We heard of a once thriving civilization prior to the volcanic devastation. As we walked, we could clearly see what would have been the theater, public baths, shops and temples.

Our guide made it unmistakenly clear that unlike the hot lava flows of Hawaii, falling ash - asphyxiation - was the cause of death at Pompeii. The display is pretty graphic.

We were amazed by the lava rock casts left of the citizens of Pompeii, who, having expired, were encapsulated by lava. It was eerie seeing actual impressions of those that died; still in the physical positions, it took barely seconds for death to come.

We took a last look at Vesuvius, as it towered over the town before resuming our drive to Sorrento.

By the time we arrived in Sorrento, the weather had improved significantly. We were met by bright sunshine and the group took some pictures of the breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea from the mountain top on which our hotel was pearched. Then there was free time to shop until our dinner later on in the evening.

We spent another delightful evening wandering the streets of town while stopping in the many shops that lined them, hoping to pick up some last minute gifts for our families and friends. The quaint little stores sell everything - leather, perfume, jewelry, art work, clothes, wine, food.


The surprise of the evening was the size of the lemons that grow in Sorrento! No wonder the town is the home of a sweet, lemony Italian liqueur called Limoncello. There are dozens of shops that make and bottle the spirit right in front of you. Each shop keeper claims that they make the best and they insist that you give them the opportunity to prove it by giving you a free taste. Fortunately, my Dad could draw on the vast experience of Mr. Campbell. Because he has been to Sorrento many times, he helped narrow Dad's search for "the best" before things got too rowdy.

The morning would bring our last day in Italy. Nevertheless, we looked forward to our day trip to the Isle of Capri. It's just outside our window! Amazing!

The Isle of Capri

Boat travel was indeed a consistent method of transportation on this year’s tour to Italy. Up early, the choir boarded another small ship that would take us to Capri for the day. After a scenic and all too brief ride, we docked, marveling at the beauty of the Island. We scurried quickly to get in line for a cable car ride up to the highest peak on Capri. The view below was spectacular.

Stefano and Ilaria walked us up to the Island gardens where we stopped to take pictures before heading back down to the beach for a swim. The water was a crystal shade of blue to which photographs cannot do justice. As we got used to the temperature and admired the rock formations on the beach, I had to pinch myself. We were swimming in the Mediterranean Sea!

We had had a chance to enjoy an occasional swim in a hotel pool, but this was a unique experience. A word to the wise, the rocky coast line here is unlike most I have experienced. A number of us returned needing band-aids from our trusty first aid kit. Nonetheless, after spending the rest of the afternoon soaking up the sun, we got back on the boat, then walked to the hotel to get ready for our evening’s concert, our last in Italy. Showered and refreshed, we met for rehearsal at a beautiful, local church, the Church of Saint Francis.

Afterwards we walked to dinner, where we expressed our gratitude to Stefano, Ilaria, Roberto and Salvatore. Our tour managers and drivers had made our time in Italy go so smoothly. I hoped they enjoyed us as we enjoyed them. It would be difficult to say goodbye.

There were heartfelt and good natured tributes ... shall we say a parody or two - even a memorable one "for or to" Mrs. Campbell. Yes, she did enjoy it, and took it in the spirit of the evening. In true CCVA style, we had laughed, sang and prayed together. It was a beautiful moment, and we left the restaurant appreciating the time we've spent together and the new friends we've made, looking forward to our final performance.

Michel's Masterpiece

Today was our last day in Rome and I must admit that I very sad at the prospect of leaving the Eternal City the next morning. So far Rome had been everything I had hoped -- its holiness nurturing my soul and its beautiful history and art nurturing my mind.

Today would be no different as we began our day at the Vatican Museums, composed of never ending rooms of classical Greek and Roman statues, ceramics, and tapestries. We learned that very few bronze statues still exist in Rome. So the example displayed in this room was more significant that one might have thought.

As with most tours, the best was saved for last. This time, in the form of the Sistine Chapel, where we continued to experience the greatness of Michelangelo.

Once more I stood speechless staring at paintings I had previously only read of in books. Not only was the artistry magnificent, but so was the historical significance of the space. This was the chapel where the College of Cardinals meet in conclave, which our guide told us means "lockable room," to elect the Supreme Pontiff, the leader of the Catholic Church.

Perhaps because it was summer, maybe because supervision in the chapel seemed too casual, photographs were being snapped everywhere. With some reservation, Dad did likewise.

Although I could have starred at the ceiling forever, our tour guide ushered us out back into Saint Peter’s to give us free time for the rest of the afternoon to shop and get lunch or even to climb to the top of the church’s dome!

My dad and I along with a small troop from the choir jumped at the chance to see the spectacular view from the top of the Basilica. Here's a shot on our way up, while we were still inside. You just cannot appreciate the familiar stained glass shown here, unless you have seen what surrounds it! Dad's getting pretty good with his new camera. No?

We made our way up the long, winding, and even slanted steps. Finally, when it seemed like we had been walking forever, we reached the top and took plenty of pictures of the view looking over Vatican City, an absolutely breathtaking sight.


What or who goes up, must however, come down, and we soon found ourselves back in the church itself. We took still more pictures before getting some lunch and making some purchases along St. Peter's Square!

Thanks to Dad's pervious visit with Fr. Joe and the Villanova Pellegrinaggio, he was able to point out two important features in the square. First, was the stone which marks the spot where Pope John Paul II was shot. (At one time, the marker had been a simple red stone.) Secondly, he called our attention to the a mosaic that John Paul had installed after his recovery. It's a window dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God - significant because it symbolizes John Paul's contention that it was her protection and intervention that saved his life.

Then we made our way to the Basilica of John Lateran. We discovered that the buildings adjacent to the church were actually used in earlier time days to house the pope for a time.

We saw clearly the umbraculum, an historic symbol of the Roman Church and the authority of the pope over it. The insignia only appears on papal basilicas.

The interior of the basilica was as incredible as any we had seen. The statues of the twelve apostles lined the nave of the church, six on a side. The altar was spectacular. Tradition holds that the crypt above holds the heads of Saints Peter and Paul.

Next on the agenda were the Catacombs di San Callisto. We made our way underground through the winding corridors of tombs. It was an eerie and dark maze of earth, a perfect setting for a haunted house in which anyone could easily get lost, if not for our excellent tour guides. One of the highlights of the tour was certainly the grave of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music and a very important inspiration for our choral group.

Soon we were back into the light, taking a break for some dinner before getting ready for our last presentation in Rome. As in the States, we saw "outdoor dining" everywhere there was a square in Italy. To our surprise, we were actually going to get a chance to try it out. Ours was another dine and dash routine. Even though we had our concert attire on the bus, we needed time to dress and rehearse before the performance at the Chiesa Nuova. Still, the cool breeze was refreshing and the pasta, as always, hit the spot.

As it turned out, our late evening concert served up a few unusually stressful wrinkles. First, many of us had "over done" - using free time to use up rather than conserve energy. Second, our guests for the evening included ACIS and Encore "brass." Third, a college choral director "visitor" was on hand to "see a signature CCVA performance." Fourth, tapestries, which hung almost everywhere in the church, sucked up the sound from both our instruments and voices. Rehearsal was, how do you say, tense. Could we rise to the challenge? St. Peter's and Mary Major seemed like rolling out of bed, just now. This was not going to be easy.


Rally we did, however. Another large crowd was responsive and appreciative. But there was a lesson to be learned here. Some of us might have tried to see a little too much Rome today, and for the rest of the trip, no running up steps when an elevator is available! It had been an exhausting day - really.

We headed back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before saying Arrivederci to Rome the next morning.

Never Too Much Rome

We began our day by visiting the Church of Saint Peter in Chains with another great professional tour guide. Although its exterior was not particularly characteristic of a church, what it contained was so much more important. Inside was a famous sculpture of Moses created by Michelangelo, in which he is depicted with horns (as a result of the literal translation of the Hebrew word for ‘light’) and a rare depiction of Saint Sebastian (rare insofar as he was clothed!)

But the most important relic was still to be seen; the chains in which Saint Peter was imprisoned while he was in jail. I could hardly believe the amount of Church history that we were witnessing on this tour. What a blessing to be part of such an amazing trip.

Next, we moved onto the Coliseum, which I fondly remember writing an AP Art History Essay almost two years, a lifetime ago! Ever since then I’d been anticipating the day when I would finally be able to see the columnar history displayed on its façade, featuring Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns as well as Roman Pilasters. Look closely and compare the decoration on each row in the picture below!

Again, awe struck, as we drove up to this ancient wonder, and continued to be amazed as we toured the structure, despite its unfortunately bloody past. It’s astonishing to think of the accomplishments of the ancient world as you stand in one of these creations. People without the advantageous of the technology we have in today’s modern world were still able to design and build monumental structures that remain standing to this day.

Walking through the structure and looking at the magnificent views of the ruins of Ancient Rome made me feel like I was truly a part of history, traveling back to a time when life was so much simpler, but no less amazing.

We left the Coliseum and got back on the bus for a driving tour of the city, where we saw glimpses of Roman hallmarks such as Mussolini’s Terrace and the Roman Senate.

Our tour ended at the Pantheon, another significant building, characterized by its coffered dome and open oculus. The original Pantheon of Rome was built between 27 & 25 BCE. It was dedicated to 12 gods of heaven.

What we see today is a reconstruction done in 118 CE under the leadership of emperor Hadrian, who intended the rebuilt Pantheon to be a sort of ecumenical temple where people could worship any and all gods they wished. Later, it was given to Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated it as a church dedicated to Mary and the Martyr Saints in 609.

This is the official name which it continues to bear today and masses are still celebrated here. The Pantheon has also been used as a tomb: among those buried here are the painter Raphael, the first two kings, and first queen of Italy. Monarchists maintained a vigil at these latter tombs. We stopped in, singing for the tourists inside, before free time for lunch, shopping and a quick trip back to the hotel to dress for perhaps the main event of the tour. Afterwards, we took an opportunity to take a group shot of the adults on the tour. They were impossible!


One of my Dad's goals for the trip was to visit the four major or papal basilicas of Rome. St. Peter's, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Each possess a Holy Door, used only in a Jubilee Year, an altar for the exclusive use of the Pope and a papal throne. It's also the Jubilee Year of the Apostle Paul, declared by Benedict XVI, almost a year ago. Villanova University has sponsored a world class, year long lecture series this year in support of the Jubilee Year, so it was a must see for that reason as well.

Since all but St. Paul was on the tour agenda, Mom and Dad used their free time to visit St. Paul's. Apparently, there was a beautiful gift shop and aside from a little trouble finding a cab for the ride back, they arrived at St. Mary Major with plenty of time to spare.


Since our return, the Jubilee Year of St. Paul has closed. The remains of St. Paul entombed at the Basilica Outside the Walls have been in the news. Pope Benedict announced that recent scientific tests verify that the sarcophagus long believed to be the tomb of St. Paul contains remains dating from the first or second century. "This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul," he said.

Then came the event that will always remain in my mind as the highlight of my four years with CCVA; our private Mass with Cardinal Foley at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

It was such an honor to be able to celebrate Mass with this great man of the Church in such a magnificent Basilica. The time allowed us an opportunity to appreciate CCVA - how it inspires us as we inspire others. The Mass was simply perfect! And Cardinal Foley’s gratitude was incredibly touching. Yes, he is a "hometown boy," a native of Philadelphia, a graduate of St. Joe's. Now a Cardinal, still, he took time out of his busy schedule to spend time with us and greet each of us personally.

Later that evening after dinner, we were treated to two more of Rome’s famous landmarks, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps for some group pictures before going to bed. We were exhausted, but all for a remarkable cause!