In October, once again, a number of young people from around the diocese travelled to the heart of the Church, Rome. Here we encountered the living breathing body of the Church in a place decorated and adorned with the lives of many saints, martyrs, and popes. As we ventured around the cobbled streets, offering prayers in some of the most significant places in the whole of Christendom, we paused to reflect upon the theme of martyrdom. Rome itself has been the site of extreme persecution against Christians since the Early Church and it is here where we can witness their courage in the remains of places like the colosseum, and the catacombs. We were incredibly privileged to be able to celebrate the Holy Mass in the Catacombs of San Callisto, a place where many thousands of Christians were interned during times of persecution. Mass was offered by our two accompanying priests, Fr Henry Woodhouse and Fr Christopher Ainslie, and was a pivotal moment of reflection on how fortunate we are to have the freedom to live out our faith in Britain. The theme of martyrdom echoed into our hearts as we discussed the ‘white martyrdom’ many people experience today in their schools, workplaces, and even in their own families. As a constant reminder of our call to inner conversion, we reflected on the persecution we could encounter as Catholics in the world today. One of the most significant parts of the pilgrimage was when we travelled through the basilicas of St John Lateran, the cathedral of the Holy Father, and St Peter’s. In witnessing the beauty of God’s Church, it was a moment to see how tradition and history play a huge part in connecting the past saints to the modern day. On Wednesday we saw Pope Francis as he gave his general audience at St Peter’s Square. As he came right by us, in the popemobile, he certainly gave us that nod only a northerner would recognise as you pass someone you know. The Holy Father spoke of the sacraments, and particularly that of Confirmation. In which, “through the laying on of hands we receive the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit, emboldening us to spread and defend the faith as Christ’s true witnesses in the world. Confirmation increases and deepens the life of the Spirit poured out upon us at Baptism and encourages us to actively engage in the life and mission of the Church. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the young people who receive this sacrament towards a deeper personal encounter with the Lord and a more generous commitment to the spread of the Gospel in years to come.” As with any pilgrimage, it is important to think about why we went there in the first place; what is it we want to bring or offer, what is it we want to receive from it? Part of our intentions for this pilgrimage is for our Diocese of Hallam. As part of our pilgrimage, we visited the Church of St Alphonsus, the home of the Redepmtorists in Rome. It was here where we prayed before our diocesan patron, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, for our Bishop Ralph, for our Clergy, and for our faithful both living and dead. And so nourished by the experience of the eternal city, by the sacraments, and by fellowship, we returned to our daily lives, with this experience of the call to holiness echoing as we landed home on the Vigil of The Solemnity of All Saints. Together let us pray for the Holy Father, for the Church, for her tradition and teaching, and especially for the catechesis of our young people, that they may experience the grace and peace of God. Josh Glicklich
