Visiting the Catacombs

 

Dear Friends,

Today I had the blessing and joy of visiting two of the catacombs in Rome: St. Callistus and St. Domitilla. The chapel pictured above is the chapel where an early pope was buried--there are nine who were buried in St. Callistus, a few of them martyrs. Around 500,000 Christians were buried there. It was beautiful to see the artwork, to pray at the sites of their graves, and to think about the generations of Christians who went down into the catacombs to pray at these tombs.

Another famous chapel is that where St. Cecilia was buried:

Saint Cecilia was buried here and venerated in this little chapel in the catacombs in the early centuries. Her body was then moved to a church in Rome. This early martyr's body was then exhumed in the 1500's and found to be incorrupt and in the position you see there. So a statue was made replicating the position of her body when she was found incorrupt. The statue remains here in the catacombs as a reminder.

You all continue to be in my prayers here in Rome. Studies, and life in general, are going well. Though it will be quite an intense next 5 weeks before Christmas!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari

Heading to Kansas!

Dear Friends and Family,

Sorry that I have not been punctual these past few weeks on posting to this blog. Among other pressing tasks, I was finalizing details for the following: I am very pleased to announce that as of this February I will become the chaplain for St. Martin's Academy ( https://saintmartinsacademy.org ) near Fort Scott Kansas for a period of five years. 

I am really excited to work with the young men, faculty, and staff there in an environment which seems quite favorable to a fruitful work in young souls. Among other things, they have a robust outdoors program, including extensive hiking and trips in nature and including daily work on their farm. 

I will be--God-willing--writing my doctorates while there. While this is a big change it was carefully discerned, including extensive discussion with my bishop and spiritual director. It would be indiscrete for me to comment on that process and the factors that led to this decision. I will simply say that careful attention was paid to the current circumstances in the world and in the Church, seeking to discern where I could most fruitfully and peacefully work for the good of souls while carrying out my studies. I am very much at peace that this is God's will. 

Please keep this in your prayers.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,

Fr. Pillari