Pilgrimage to Rome

Jose had accompanied a group of pilgrims from Hong Kong to Italy in the second week of June. It has a been an occasion of grace as he is on his Jubilee Year of Religious Profession this year. Jose had made his first vows as a Claretian Missionary on 31 May 1994 at Claret Bhavan, Bangalore in India.

The group had 42 members. The first three days were spent in Vatican, with attending the Pope's general audience on June 11. During the same time, a delegation of six religious leaders from Hong Kong, led by Cardinal John Tong was also present in Vatican.

The group paid a visit to the Catacombs, major Basilicas, Salesian General Curia and the room where St. John Bosco breathed his last, the Colosseum, the Vatican Museum etc. before traveling to La Verna and Assisi. Other major destinations of the pilgrimage were:

the Basilica of Our Lady of Loretto (The Basilica della Santa Casa),
 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/did-angels-really-carry-the-holy-house-of-mary-to-loreto-italy-25088

Our Lady of Pompey,

the relics of St. Padre Pio (San Giovani Rotondo),
 https://www.conventosantuariopadrepio.it/en/home/

The tomb of St. Nicholas,
 https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/saint-in-bari

Monte Cassino of St. Benedict,

Eucharistic Miracle Church of Lanciano
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html