Easter in Rome and Egypt

I just took my last exam for the term. I got a 91 on my Arabic test, which was both written and oral. I got a B in my Arabic class at Notre Dame, so I guess it really does help to study in an Arab environment.

Anyway, I have a two-week holiday until the next time so I am spending it in Rome and Egypt. My flight to Rome leaves in 4 hours, at 430am and I get to Rome on Holy Wednesday at 2pm Rome time. I'll be joining the UNIV Conference in Rome, which is an Opus Dei conference, and provides an audience with the Pope, private tours of Rome and the Vatican, the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, visit to Opus Dei Headquarters (...!), tickets to all the Masses, meals, lodging, seminars, etc. Basically, we're set to do everything that's worth doing in Rome during Easter.

I'm meeting up with my brother and Eric Sales and a few of my Opus Dei/Midtown friends to (I'd rather spend Easter with them and the Pope than in a Muslim country). It's pretty funny. I saw Julian just 10 days ago. I saw Eric like two weeks ago. And on my first day in Rome we're scheduled for an audience with the Pope and later that day I'm even meeting the Prelate of Opus Dei (leader of the Work) Wednesday night when I get there. It should be pretty epic. Here's a preview:



2008 UNIV Congress

Chicago
William Dardis (Midtown)
Robert Black (Midtown)
Michael Frelk (Midtown)
Thomas Frelk (Midtown)
Thomas Hinderer
Pat Rybarczyk
Matthew Schubert
Christopher Stevenson

Notre Dame
Julian Lagoy
Jon Lagoy
Eric Sales

New York
Bill Kipp (Midtown)
Phil Hunt

Washington
Matt Anthony
Uday Berry
Harlan Friddle
Marc McCarthy

Dallas
Kevin Majeres
Fr. Derrick Esclanda
Piotr Chomicki
Michael Fagan
David Hannegan
Jose Healy
Andrew Laird
James Mathew
William Moss
Roger Porres
Jacob Schaner
Tom Steigerwald
Juan Wester (Midtown)

Princeton
Tom Haine
Fr. Marty Miller
Ryan Anderson
Sherif Girgis
Mark Grobacker
Duncan Sahner
Christian Sahner
Brian Stephen
Martin Valdez-Vivas

Houston
J. L. Marti
Paul Fortunato
Alex Hoff
Alan Bayoneto
Christopher Charnock
David Hernandez
Thomas Johnson
Juan Marquez
Quentin McKeon
Patrick Spence
Federico Torre
Guillermo Torre
Matt West

Other Cities:
Erik Feely, Trinidad
Ryan Roper, Trinidad
Matthew Siray, Canada
Anton Freundorfer Canada
Paul Foley, Minnesota (Midtown)
Brendan Kenny, San Fran.
Chris Yetter, Pamplona
Bob Panoff, N. Carolina

Addresses and Phone Numbers :

Casa per ferie Arciconfraternitâ di Sant´Omobono (lodging)
Via Aurelia, 773. Telephone: 011-39-06-665-0271

Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (for the UNIV Congress)
Piazza di Santa Apollinare, 49. Tel: 06.681.641

Villa Tevere (Headquarters of Opus Dei; Prelatic Church)
Viale Bruno Buozzi, 75. Tel: 06.80.89.61

Auditorium Conciliazione (Get-Together with the Father, Prelate of Opus Dei)
Via della Conciliazione, 4. Tel:06.68139207

Church of St. Andrew “della Valle” (Holy Thursday services)
Piazza Vidoni, 6 (Corso Vittorio Emanuele).
Tel: 06.686.13.39

Cavabianca (Show on Sunday)
Via di Grottarossa, 1375. Tel: 06.336.17.41

Restaurants
Delfino: Corso Vittorio Emanuele., 67., Tel: 06.686.40.53
Gianicolo: Via Urbano VIII. Tel: 06.6840.331
McDonald´s:Corso Vittorio. Emanuele, 135, Tel 06.68.92.412
Pastarito: Via IV Novembre, 139. Tel: 06.69190472

UNIV Schedule 2008:
March 16 - 23

6.00am
Rise

7.00am
Leave for
St. Peters

8.00am
(M) Catacombs

9.00am
Mass St Peter's

9:30am
Sightseeing

(Tu) Villa Tevere (Opus Dei Headquarters) ...!
9:30-10:20

(Tu) UNIV Congress 10:45pm
(W) Audience w/ Pope 10:30am
(Th) Vatican Museum Tour
(Su) Easter Mass at 10.30

12pm Workshop
12:45-Lunch

(Sa) In line at St. Peters Plaza at 1:00pm
(F) Urbi et Orbi at 12.00

2.00pm
Sightseeing

(Tu) UNIV Congress 4:30-5:30pm
(Su) Cavabianca Show 4:00-5:30


(W) 5:00 Meeting with The Father (Conciliazione)
(Th) Mass of Lord's Supper 5:00
(F) St. Andrea Good Friday Liturgy (St. Peters-5pm)

(Sa) 6pm-Mass for Don Alvaro (S.Eug)

8.00pm
Dinner

(Th) Way of the Cross @ Colosseum
(Sa) Easter Vigil 9:00 PM

After Rome, I'm spending 8 days in Egypt by myself. I'm going to try and see as much of the country as I can in those 8 days. That includes Cairo and taking a cruise down the Nile River to Aswan and Luxor. I'll do my best not to get gringo'd, like I did in Ecuador during Christmas break.

I'll be back in April.

Cheers and Happy Easter to everyone.