On Sunday 25th October the Deaf Community will join Fr Norbert and his parish of Welwyn Garden City on a pilgrimage to Padua. As we follow in the footsteps of St Anthony join with us as we share our pilgrimage with you.
Sunday 25th October
With everyone safely arrived we joined together for Mass in the hotel chapel. Our pilgrimage has started with different people becoming a group sharing and worshipping together. Deaf and hearing, old and young, we are all here to experience this pilgrimage as one community.
Monday 26th October
A beautiful day greeted us as the bells of the basilica rang out ... at 6a.m.! In a chapel adjacent to the basilica, we started our first full day in Padua with Mass. Fr Norbert reminded us to open up to Christ and to let go of those things that hold us back. To loosen the knots that restrict our lives and be open to the Lord. We then had a tour of the basilica visiting the relics of St Anthony. Famous for his preaching, St Anthony's jaw, tongue and vocal chords are on display. His tomb is surrounded by photos of people who have been prayed for, with silver hearts, the symbol of thanksgiving, next to them.
In the afternoon we visited the Scrovegni Chapel to see the powerful frescos by Giotti showing the life of Mary, the life of Jesus and the Last Judgement.
We finished our day with a walk around the town seeing all the wonderful building lit up against the night sky.
Tuesday 27th October
Venice - what an amazing day; history, culture, faith and fellowship. From Mass in St Mark's Cathedral to the fascinating guided tour of the wonders that is Venice.
Originally St Theodore and now under the patronage of St Mark whose tomb is in the Basilica, Venice has so much beauty and inspiration at every corner. Fr Norbert reminded us of Jesus sending his disciples forth to spread the good news of the Gospel and encouraged us to do the same in our lives.
As we head back to Padua after a scenic boat ride back to our coach we are so blessed to be part of this group made up of pilgrims from Welwyn Garden City and Fulham, as well as the Deaf Community and members of Fr Norbert's family. What an amazing day!
Wednesday 28th October
The slightly damp weather that greeted this morning did nothing to dampen our day. After travelling to Arcella, the site of St Anthony's death, Fr Norbert celebrated Mass in the beautiful church of St Antonio di Arcella.
We then travelled on to Camposampiero where St Anthony preached from a walnut tree his famous Lenten homilies.
St Antony went to Camposamiero to then to Arcella to find peace and tranquillity - a time for prayer and reflection. Our opportunity for the same came this afternoon as we visited the Basilica di Santa Giustina. We sat before the relics of St Luke and after walking around the church viewing the painting by Veronese of the Martyrdom of St Justina and the tomb of St Matthieus we all at time to ourselves. It was an opportunity to pray for others as Fr Norbert had encouraged us to do at Mass in the morning.
Thursday 29th October
Today we have celebrated love in Verona - God's love for us which we can never be separated from, followed by a visit to the balcony made famous by William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet.
Whereas Shakespeare presents us with a tale of division and argument "a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;" and their families torn apart, in God's love there is no end and no division. We are all one family, all children of God and nothing can separate us from his love.
On our last night together, we enjoy an evening of fun and laughter sharing the joy of the Lord from which we draw our strength.
Friday 30th October
Our last day together and as our pilgrimage comes to a close Fr Norbert celebrated Mass at the church of St Sofia in Padua. We were welcomed by the parish priest who studied in Rome with Bishop John Sherrington. Fr Norbert gave us a quick quiz about the week, about St Anthony and the readings we had listened to each day at Mass. At the beginning of the week we heard the story of blind Bartimaeus. Jesus asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" Fr Norbert asked us to think back to the beginning of the week and what we asked of Jesus for ourselves or for a loved one and to take back home with us all we have received this week.
We have been blessed with a wonderful week, making new friends and meeting up with old ones. St Anthony, pray for us.
