AMU Students in Rome Attend Papal Inauguration Mass
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Published on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 00:40
Ave Maria University students spending the semester in Rome have been spending a lot of time by St. Peter's Basilica these last few weeks, culminating Tuesday with their attendance at the Mass inaugural Mass for Pope Francis. Pictured at right, (from left to right) Glenna Walsh (Thomas More College), Erin DeCleene (AMU), Kim Scharfenberger (AMU), Stephen Lajoie (TMC), Mary Bettag (Silver Lake College), Alexandra Clark (AMU), Ashley Clark (AMU)
"I am truly so excited to see how Pope Francis's papacy blesses the Church," said student Kim Scharfenberger in an email.
"In his homily, he stressed the importance of tenderness, especially when in the service of others. We got the opportunity to see this firsthand, when he stopped the vehicle in the middle of greeting people and personally blessed a disabled man. We were only a few yards away when he did that! There was such a genuine kindness in his demeanor and his speech-- even when he was merely passing by people, he would make eye contact as often as possible. It was such a blessing to be there and to witness the official beginning of what promises to be a beautiful papacy!"
Below, left, AMU's Erin DeCleene (who took these pictures) holds the papal Mass booklet. At right, Miss Scharfenberger in foreground.
Ave Maria University students spending the semester in Rome have been spending a lot of time by St. Peter's Basilica these last few weeks, culminating Tuesday with their attendance at the Mass inaugural Mass for Pope Francis. Pictured at right, (from left to right) Glenna Walsh (Thomas More College), Erin DeCleene (AMU), Kim Scharfenberger (AMU), Stephen Lajoie (TMC), Mary Bettag (Silver Lake College), Alexandra Clark (AMU), Ashley Clark (AMU)
