Believe it or not…. this is the fourth attempt at this blog. Somehow I’ve managed to delete every ‘almost finished’ post! Must be overtired, overexcited, overstimulated!!!!
Yesterday, we awoke still quite disbeliving of the experiences of the evening before. We decided to return to the Vatican and see if the banners were up. Every saint has a banner hanging from the Piazza. They weren’t up of course… we’re on Rome time here. We decided a little detective work wouldn’t go astray so we went in search of some progress. Well, we found ‘A’ saint …. not ours…. but ONE saint meant there was definitely movement afoot. We entered the Vatican on the opposite side to most visitors so therefore walked towards the crowd. We gave but a WEE SQUEAL when we saw Poppy Massalos and Mary Fletcher, good friends from Brisbane . They emerged from the crowd right in front of us. Now the sounds from four of us couldn’t have been THAT intrusive but the guards who were in quite a large group chatting and using their mobiles, thought otherwise and we were told TO LEAVE. We moved a little and with MORE very firm orders AND hand gestures we realised we were being evicted! One eviction down… another to go. The four of us decided to move on down the street to find where the Saturday concert would be held as Mary was to do some busking. (Mary is the composer of the MacKillop songs in so many of our schools eg With a Josephite Heart, Born in 1842) We boldy entered the foyer, TRIED to explain our purpose and were told to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. These Italians AREN’T much fun!!!! Dinner was quite a hoot that night too. We asked for the menu only to be told we could have PIZZA MARGERITA or LASAGNE. There WAS nothing else left!!!!
Saturday morning was leisurely and midday saw us in our scarves with our tickets to the concert. Channel 10 stopped us and some of you have seen the footage. Actually we think we’ve been on all commercial stations and in a few newspapers! It’s fun, a laugh and excitement actually makes us do and say things we wouldn’ ordinarily say! THE CONCERT…. we were fortunate to get in very early to help Mary set up her area…. and we couldn’t resist performing alongside her at times! The crowds swelled and FINALLY ( us at the top of the line of course) we were let in and we had excellent seats. THE SHOW was very much the BRISBANE concert for the 100 yrs celebration but so much sleeker, more poignant and VERY professional. The speakers engaged the audience, the prayer ritual very touching and inclusive of all the sisters’ ministeries and the countries in which they are now serving the communities. Because Mary had to busk for the second performance we were there to meet little Sophie Delecio (little burn’s victim so devoted to Mary MacKillop) Sophie knows now that there is a photo of her in the Yr 3 classroom. Saw all the dignitaries – politicians and clergy and MANY oddly dressed nuns! Pat took us to dinner down the Via Venetto and assured us the 1st course would be a small portion. We ate TWO huge meals so waddled home!!! TOMORROW can’t come soon enough!!!! We’re so excited and the buzz in Rome is electrifying!!!!
