On December 3-11, nineteen pilgrims from St. Mary Church, West Warwick, traveled to many of the Holy Places in Italy. They traveled with the written intentions of fellow parishioners and friends throughout Rome, Assisi, Florence and Venice. This grace-filled experience included daily Mass, with the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy at the tombs of St. Peter the Apostle, pictured above, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mark the Evangelist in Venice. They attended the Papal Audience and also visited many basilicas, churches and holy places throughout the course of their travels. Along with the pilgrims, those in attendance were Father Douglas J. Spina, pastor, spiritual director for the pilgrimage and celebrant of the Mass; Father Christopher M. Mahar, a priest of the Diocese of Providence who is presently serving in the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Deacon John J.B. Silvia, Jr., deacon assistant of St. Barnabas Church, Portsmouth. “As St. Mary Church prepares for its 175th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, May 5, 2019, the many blessings and wonderful memories from this pilgrimage will linger for years to come,” said Father Spina.
