Thanksgiving and fun

Because Sian had offered to help at the Church this morning it was an early start (well for holiday time it was early).  Arriving at St Pauls outside the wall I was fostered out to another sister so that Sian could find volunteers to help put the booklets on the chairs, sometimes she is such a teacher and then act as usher.  This meant that she greeted some important people and showed them to thier places, checked tickets, explained to tour guides that Missa was about to begin and at communion time helped Bishop Campbell from Dunedin give out communion. 

Mass was wonderful, the sisters all walked in together which was very moving.  People took thier photos and greeted and smiled at them as they walked by.  Great singing lead by ACU choir.  The chaplain from Sian's campus is one of the coordinators.  Cardinal Pell's homily was stirring and we enjoyed the taste of kiwi with a prayer of the faithful in Maori and  iwi taking part in the presentation of the gifts.

As we left the Mass we met heaps of people we knew.  Bishop John was once again around as was Bishops Denis and Colin. I had my photo taken with a friend of Sian Bernard Keilly who is the priest at the Cathedral in Auckland.  I think that because he has that important job he is called monsieneur but we just called him Bernard.

We then headed back to the city of Roma to become tourists.  As I want to come back the Trevi fountain was an important stop off.  First up required lunch and Jill joined us in a quaint little pizza place that had good cheap food, didn't charge to sit at a table and the toilets were clean - I mean what more can a bear ask for.

There were lots of Josephites when we got to the fountain so we helped with taking photos. I have a good eye. Mind you I did require a little help with getting money to throw in the fountain.  Thank goodness Sian was there. After coin throwing were heading to meet Bishop John and pick up a pack to take home with us when we bumped into the New Zealand provincial.  She took rather a fancy to me if I do say so myself and insisted that a picture was taken.