Dining in the Kingdom: Unveiling the Transformative Power of the Eucharist
A Prayerful Study Program in Rome: 26 May - 2 June 2007 with Rev. Lawrence Madden, SJ, Director of the Georgetown Center for Liturgy and Rev. Anthony McSweeney, SSS Director of the Center Eucharistia
Program description
The program will be an opportunity to deepen your Christian identity and Eucharistic spirituality by exploring the history and practice of early Christian worship in Rome , alongside the study of Ignatian spirituality. The lectures, discussions and site visits will focus on the Eucharist, especially as reflected in the theology of the art and architecture of the ancient Christian sites of the city. Also included will be visits to the great Jesuit Baroque Churches and the simple prayerful rooms of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Activities in Rome will include stimulating presentations and seminars, site visits to numerous churches, the daily celebration of the Eucharist, and sung lauds or vespers at several venues, including the lay Community of Sant’ Egidio in the Trastevere district.
Program agenda
Sunday, 27 May
4:30 Arrival & tea / coffee at the Lay Centre
5:00 Welcome, introductions and opening lecture: Lives Transformed: A Roman Reflection on the Eucharist Rev. Anthony McSweeney, SSS
7:00 Sung Evening Prayer
7:30 Dinner at the Lay Centre
Monday, 28 May
7:45 Early Morning Mass at St. Peter’s
10:00 Guided Visit to the Excavations of the Vatican Basilica OR Guided Visit to the Basilica of San Clemente and Excavations with Robert White
12:00-4:00 Lunch break
4:30 Tea\coffee at Lay Centre
5:00 Seminar Session: “Gathered Together in Christ: the Focus on Christian Liturgy” Rev. Anthony McSweeney, SSS
6:30 Sung Vespers
Tuesday, 29 May
7:30 Departure from the Lay Centre for Catacombs of St. Priscilla
8:30 Celebration of the Eucharist with Lawrence Madden, SJ and Guided Visit to the Catacombs of St. Priscilla
11:00 Guided visit to the Basilica of St Agnes Outside the Walls with Fr. Anthony McSweeney, SSS. The visit will present aspects of the monumental complex clustered around the tomb of Saint Agnes. It will discuss the story of her life and martyrdom and that of her sister, Emerenziana as a paradigm for considering Martyrdom and its association with the Eucharist in the Early Church. It will look at the metaphorical aspects of the basilica itself, along with its varied history and offer a window into how a house of worship leads us to focus on the various ways that we are invited to participate in the life-giving sacrifice of Christ.
12:30 Lunch break
5:00 Departure for Trastevere and Visit with the Sant’Egidio Community. After an introduction to the work of the Sant’Egidio community, a lay community committed to prayer and serving the poor of Rome (and beyond), we will have a short break for an early dinner.
6:00 Dinner at a trattoria
7:15 Visit with the Sant’Egidio Community followed by Sung Vespers
Wednesday, 30 May
7:45 Departure for the Papal Audience from the Lay Centre
10:30 Papal Audience at St. Peter’s Square
2:15 Visit to the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. The group has been granted a guided visit to the private chapel of the Holy Father. The chapel, which was completed during the pontificate of John Paul II, features world-famous examples of modern mosaic which reflect the late pontiff’s vision to bring the Church of the East and West back into communion.
7:00 Pre-Dinner Reception near the Spanish Steps Hosted by Mrs. Peggy Hassett. Discover one of Rome’s restaurants or trattorie for your evening meal.
Thursday, 31 May
9:30 Guided Visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls with Robert White.
Presentation on Benedictine Life and Mission at St. Paul’s by Abbot Edmund Power, OSB
In the afternoon participants will gather for a conference on the current state of relations between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church as a paradigm for considering the hopes and challenges of the road to sharing the Eucharistic table between Christians.
3:00 Conference at the Anglican Centre in Rome with Fr. Donald Bolen from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity & Archbishop Peter Carnley, Former Primate of the Anglican Communion in Australia
4:30 Coffee break
6:00 Mass in the Rooms of St. Ignatius. Rev. Lawrence Madden, SJ. At the conclusion of the discussion and presentation at the Anglican Centre the group will walk to the Church of Gesù where we gather to Celebrate the Eucharist in the rooms where the founder of the Society of Jesus spent many years during his time in Rome.
Friday, 1 June
8:30 Departure from the Lay Centre for the Lateran
9:00 Celebration of the Eucharist in the Lateran Baptistery with the Renewal of Baptismal Promises Rev. Lawrence Madden, SJ
10:00 Guided visit to the Baptistery and the Basilica of St. John with Robert White
The Baptistery and Basilica of St. John Lateran date their original foundations to the gift of the Lateran estate to the Church in the fourth century. This morning will highlight the relationship between Baptism and the Eucharist in the context of the history of the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome.
12:00 Free time for lunch
4:30 Closing Seminar at the Lay Centre: “Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord” with Rev. Anthony McSweeney
6:30 Sung Vespers
7:30 Closing Dinner at the Lay Centre
Registration
Advanced registration is required . As the program can only accommodate a limited number of participants, we urge interested parties to register as soon as possible. Contact the GCL staff or visit their website for registration information and materials at http://centerforliturgy.georgetown.edu. Registration forms are available from GCL in hard copy by mail, or can be downloaded from the website.
Program fees
The fee of this course us $950.00 (approx €748,00).
The tuition fee includes:
All lectures and handouts
In-depth site visits by experts
Transportation to and from the sites
Three dinners
Coffee breaks
The tuition fee does not include:
Airfare and all other transportation not involved the site visits
Hotel accommodations: visit our lodging suggestions.
Travel insurance is left to the discretion of each participant
Meals other than those indicated in the schedule
Contact Information
Mr. Jeffrey Price, Administrator
The Georgetown Center for Liturgy
3513 N Street, NW • Washington, DC 20007 USA
tel +1 202.687.4420 • fax: +1 202.687.3728
pricej1@georgetown.edu
Robert White, Assistant Director
The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas
Via SS. Quattro 7 • 00184 Roma, ITALY
tel +39 06 772 6761 • fax: +39 06 772 676 235
info@laycentre.org
Please register early as limited space is available for this popular event.
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