What an Adventure!, continued from page 7
evening prayer before dinner. This was an enriching
experience as it allowed us to hear liturgy and music
from other cultures. During the week, we shared
our meals in the hotel restaurant. The food was
very good, and the conversation was lively. It was
interesting to hear how other lay associate programs
were formed, how they live their Precious Blood
spirituality, and the types of mission work they share
in response to the cry of the blood.
The first two days of the meetings were
spent listening to reports from the different
provinces, missions, and vicariates around the
world. Information was shared about the history,
organizational structure, and relationship between
the lay associates and the c.pp.s. members. There is
a wide variety of activities among the lay associate
groups. Precious Blood spirituality activities include
reaching out to the marginalized, prayer, retreats,
adoration, and parish ministry.
In the middle of the week, the group boarded
two buses to make a pilgrimage to San Felice, the
first mission house of St. Gaspar. The two-hour
bus ride gave us the opportunity to see and enjoy
the countryside of Italy. We saw many fields of
sunflowers and numerous olive groves. We celebrated
the Eucharist at San Felice. It was spiritually moving
to celebrate Mass where St. Gaspar founded the
congregation. We then shared a traditional Italian
lunch. It was delicious, and after several hours we
were fed both spiritually and physically.
The last two days of meetings were full of small
and large group discussions. One day was spent on
developing a profile of a lay associate. The next day
was focused on defining elements of a lay associate
program. This was done by breaking into small
groups to discuss the characteristics of a lay associate
and the structure of its program. The information
from the small groups was combined to define the
profile and the elements of a lay associate program.
On our final day in Rome, we traveled by Metro
with the delegation to the Chapel of San Giuseppe
where the Relic of the Precious Blood was displayed.
This was a privilege and rare opportunity to
venerate this relic. Then we walked to Santa Maria
in Trivio where we were able to pray and reflect at
8 • The New Wine Press • November 2018
the tomb of Saint Gaspar. We continued on by foot
to San Nicola in Carcere which is the birthplace of
the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood. The
merlap iv group celebrated Eucharist and this
concluded our pilgrimage.
What an amazing trip to share with my wife and
son. The places we experienced helped to strengthen
our faith and our Precious Blood spirituality. merlap
iv was something that I will never forget—all these
lay associates from around the world whose programs
may look different but the end result is the same.
Precious Blood lay associates serve God, minister
to those on the margins, and spread Precious Blood
spirituality—all led by St. Gaspar’s example.
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