March 31st:

Today we spent the first half our day in Ostia Antica, the historic port city of Rome. There we walked through the very large remains of the old city. We witnessed a location that two saints were martyred at, the remains of the church that St Monnica and St Augustine likely attended, bathhouses, markets, a restaurant, and… ancient toilets. Dr. Prudlo gave an excellent lecture on the importance of Rome winning the Punic Wars and how the course of Christian history providentially benefited from that victory.

We then went to the Basilica of St Paul, one of the four major basilicas in Rome. There we sat the tomb of St Paul and the chains that bonded his handed when imprisoned. Some of the frescos in that Church date back to the 4th century. It was an incredible building and we were fortunate to have a tour from a Benedictine monk who lived at the monastery attached to the church.

We ended our day by trying an American restaurant in Rome, western inspired. While the children were more than satisfied I think the adults were underwhelmed.

March 30th,

Today the students travelled to Florence Italy to be led by Dr. Prudlo as a guide.  We traveled via a high speed train from Rome.

March 29th:

Today for Sunday Mass we split into two groups. An earlier group led by Mr. Bremer accompanied by Sister and a few students went to a Latin low Mass at Santisma Trinita. The second group led by Mr. Allee was filled with many students experiencing their first Divine Liturgy at the Russian Pontifical College. The liturgy was almost entirely in Russian with a little Italian mixed throughout.

After lunch, everyone attended the Capitoline Museums and viewed countless marble statues from antiquity. It was particularly enjoyable watching the students point out figures and scenes from history that they recognized from class.

Then, a majority of the students went back to the hotel to rest until dinner. However, a small group stayed out to witness more of the museums and then went to the Basilica and Convent of Augustine Sisters, Santi Quattro Coronati. There the students witnessed frescos largely depicting the life of Sts Constantine and Helena that were around 1000 years old. The convent then had a beautifully sung Vespers service at 6pm.

At 7pm everyone gathered together again for dinner at Hostiaria Isadoro, an Italian restaurant built in the Emperor Nero’s old wine cellar. Dinner was filled with many laughs and plenty of delicious pasta.

We began our day by walking along the Appia Antica, the oldest highway in the world.  We saw the tomb of the Roman Senator Seneca.  We then visited the famous catacombs of St Sebastian and St Callixtus.  This was a very solemn and unique experience.

Friday, May 27: The group has arrived in Rome and posed for a photo in Saint Peter’s Square.

An Ambitious Plan for a classical curriculum

Holy Family Classical High School has twelve upperclassmen who would love to walk through the streets of the Eternal City and heart of the Catholic Church in Rome.

If this trial trip is successful, it will become a permanent part of the curriculum.

This pilgrimage to Rome is the culmination of the high school journey and curriculum  It will deepen their faith by standing in the footsteps of martyrs in the Colosseum or walk with popes in Saint Peter’s Square or academics in the Vatican Museums or pilgrims on their way to dozens of holy sites.

High School History and Art Teacher Mr. Joseph Bremer will lead the group. He says, “Rome is the heart of our civilization and the church. Our high school students spend years reading and learning about the beauty of the West and the Catholic Church; but reading and experiencing are two entirely different things. We want to give every high school student at Holy Family the opportunity to see the beauty of Christ and his church firsthand, for ‘Roma, non e basta una vita’ (one life is not long enough for Rome).”

Rome, Italy

Rome is the spiritual and historical heart of the Church. As the home of the Vatican and the burial place of Saints Peter and Paul, Rome holds deep significance as the center of Catholicism. Pilgrims can attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, visit the tombs of early martyrs, walk the ancient catacombs, and pray at the four major basilicas.

It’s a place where Scripture, tradition, and history come alive—where Catholics can connect more deeply with their faith, experience the universality of the Church, and be renewed in their spiritual journey.

The Pilgrimage

Led by Mr. Joseph Bremer and aided by Sister Belinda Ugoh, Trevor Allee and Katherine Fugikawa, the group will stay at the monastery on San Giovanni in Trastevere. Each day, they will depart for excursions to see ancient Rome, medieval Rome, the Renaissance and Baroque Rome with trips to Florence and Assisi.