Spoleto

Today a group of professors from the UPS went on an outing to Spoleto…

Streets of Spoleto, where automobile traffic is restricted to residents only

The city is older than Rome… Overlooking the city is a fortress constructed in the 1300s, at the command of Innocent VI. Heading the construction was the Spanish cardinal Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Alboroz, who was papal legate to the Papal States in a campaign to pacify the area and pave the way for the return of the pope to Rome. The fortress, called La Rocca (the Rock) overlooks the city and has a commanding view of the mountain passes.

La Rocca (the Rock) is the Fortress of Spoleto

The Rock was never conquered in six centuries that it served as a military fortress. In 1815 it was converted into a penitentiary, and remained as such until 1982. Since that time the Rock has been restored, although much of the original art and frescoes had been destroyed during the long period that it served as a prison. Now it is a cultural center for Spoleto and Umbria.

The city is surrounded by forest land - and is perched on a mountain top. It was once surrounded by a double wall.

View of Spoleto from the mountain forests surrounding the city

… and there are many interesting historical and geographical features to Spoleto, which is located precisely in the geographical center of Italy.

View of Piazza Duomo from the entrance of the cathedral - at the opposite end of the piazza are the Steps of the Discourse, and at the top of the steps is the City Hall

Two popes came from this city. Neither was a native, but both served as archbishop here before his election. The first was Urban VIII. The second was Pius IX.

Bronze bust of Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini) originally located in the cathedral now in the Museum of the Diocese

Besides sight-seeing, we had the chance to mix and talk and enjoy each other's company.

José Ramón Uria, Associate professor of canon law (L), discusses chestnuts and new wine with Cosimo Semeraro, professor of Church History (C) and Antonio Arto, professor of psychology, at the end of the afternoon. 

Reflecting back on the relics pilgrimage

Three weeks ago today I woke up in Tijuana… nervous about bringing the relics of Don Bosco across the border into the USA to begin our phase of the pilgrimage… After the final mass in the Oratory in Castillo area of Tijuana (Fr Tim Ploch, provincial of California, concelebrated with Padre Cleofás Murgüia, provincial of Guadalajara), and a brief visit to the breakfast kitchen, Mexico Guadalajara's latest work in TJ, still under construction but fabulously operative, we boarded the vans and the trucks to cross into the USA. 

Final blessing at final mass in Mexico (Castillo, Tijuana)

Breakfast Kitchen for TJ's poor celebrates Don Bosco's coming

Three weeks ago today… we reached the Mexico-USA border crossing at Otai. It seems that the agent from Argentina that was supposed to clear the exit from Mexico had not fully understood one of the Mexican protocols. In spite of this problem, the border authorities on the Mexican side did all to see us through. Then there was the difficulty with the American side: the drivers did not have the proper entry visas. Again, the American officials were very good to us and did everything to speed our crossing. All in all, it took us four hours to cross the border at Otai. 

Provincials Cleofás and Tim on the phone in no-mans land

Once we had crossed from Baja into Alta California, we a quick stop for fuel at the Otai Mesa Chevron, where a delegation of young people gave us a colorful welcome and greeting Don Bosco on his first stop in the United States. 

Province youth meet  us at the Chevron station

From Otai, it took us eight hours to drive from to San Francisco and SS Peter and Paul. With our arrival at 2:00 am, three weeks ago today, after 14 months of preparation that involved so many people in very strenuous ways, our journey began. 

Fr Tim Ploch at the festive Sunday mass in SS Peter and Paul Church when Salesian Jubilarians renewed their vows

Two weeks ago today, I woke up in Bellflower, not know what to expect on the final two days in California with Don Bosco… Savio had organized so many possibilities, and the people of the parish and beyond responded. An estimated 8,000 people took part in the prayers and festivities of that Saturday, when we also stood by our brother Steve Standard making his perpetual profession. 

Families at St Dominic Savio venerate Don Bosco's relics

Don Bosco's Relics in Savio in preparation for evening mass

The next morning, a church-full of parishioners and pilgrims at St Dominic Savio accompanied us as we loaded the relics on the truck for the last time. A few minutes later our little committee headed for Long Beach Airport … only to be redirected to the Ontario Airport because a heavy fog had settled in at Long Beach. Ontario Airport was ready to welcome us, but they did not have the proper equipment and so loading the relics on the cargo jet became a major task that took almost two hours to accomplish. 

  

Loading our precious cargo on tarmac at Ontario California airport

Here I am, flying with Don Bosco's relics from Southern California to Louisiana

The flight took nearly 4 hours from Ontario to New Orleans, but we arrived to officially hand over the relics to the Salesians in Louisiana and the New Rochelle Province. The journey was finally over for us.

Meeting the Salesian Sisters from Texas upon my arrival in New Orleans

One week ago today, I arrived in Rome for the new semester… with the experiences of the relics of Don Bosco still very front and center in my mind and heart. Every night this week I have dreamed about the relics-journey: reliving the joy and also the anxieties (like, will we find diesel at the next stop? will we be able to get up those steps? will we be able to load this tiny cargo jet?)

In just two days, Don Bosco in his relics will complete his journey in the United States. The last stop is Chicago, on 4 October, and from there the crossing will be made into Canada.