Members of the Guild of St Stephen lining up for a group photograph before the Papal audience
A group of more than 100 members of the Archconfraternity, from parishes across the country, enjoyed a week-long visit to the Holy City and to Assisi this summer, during which they served Mass at the tomb of their patron.
The group included seven priests and two nurse/carers, as well as a number of members of the Central Council of the Guild, led by the honorary president, Anthony Ogunseitan and the honorary secretary, Tony Hawes, KSG, who also master-minded the whole trip.
Five nights were spent in Rome at the modern hostel, Domus Pacis, a short bus ride from St Peter’s, where the group were able to attend the audience with Pope John Paul II on the Wednesday.
The other two nights were at the Domus Pacis in Santa Maria degli Angeli, near Assisi.
One other particular highlight of the visit was the Mass in the Basilica Di San Lorenzo Fuori Muri, which was concelebrated by all seven priests at the altar above the tomb of St Stephen.
The parishes taking part in the visit were:
This group of servers with the big smiles, waiting to go in for the Papal audience, came from the parish of Our Lady, St John’s Wood, London and were led by the parish priest, Fr Colin Davies. Front row (l to r): Emily Colins, Clare Dunne, Maureen O’Sullivan. Middle row: Mark Woods, John Cheung, Jodie Crowley. Back row: Chibuzor Uchea, Nneka Uchea, Stevi-Ann Crowley, Fr Davies.
Outside the basilica of St Paul-outside-the-walls, this group had
just been video-filmed by the President, Anthony Ogunseitan, under the
imposing statue of St Paul.