Volto à Portugal!!!!!
Back in Portugal for the final stretch of this European summer experience!
Poland ended on a note! We took a morning bus back to Warsaw and arrived early afternoon. Arthur again picked us up, and this time brought us to a friends house (Agnieszka) to have coffee and cake. He had an appointment, so she stayed with is and accompanied us to a museum detailing the Warsaw Uprising at the end stages of WWII. It was a very powerful experience in the museum... As an American we don't "see" the destruction of the war first hand, but in Warsaw the devastation is still remembered...about 85-90% of the city was leveled...Mike and I experienced more Polish hospitality as Agnes let us sleep in her house and she slept next door at her parents. Furthermore she woke up to bring us to the airport at 4:50! We are truly blessed by all the people who has helped us this trip!
After a late departure from Warsaw, we were notified our flight from Brussels to Lisbon was delayed an hour. Upon arrival in Lisbon, our bags were missing... And we found out were still in Brussels and could be delivered to us in Fatima tomorrow...whatever, at least we're in a country where we can communicate again!
We got to Fatima around 5:30, walked to where we are staying (right next to the basilica) and then caught the 6:30 Mass. At dinner we met some of the other volunteers, including 2 American seminarians from the NAC! We headed out to the Capilha (where the apparitions took place) for a 9:30 rosary. We ran into both SVD Lisbon seminarians who are here for the night!
An organizer of the rosary procession asked me to be one of the statue holders! So I got to wear the white cape thing (not its technical name) and was the last group to process carrying the statue of Our Lady of Fatima! Then we concluded by singing Salve Regina.. It was AMAZING. You can just feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in this sanctuary!
I am so humbled to be able to bring people's prayer intentions to our Lady for her intercession... This has been the part of the trip I've longed for the most, and I pray that the next 2 weeks are very fruitful.
I'll keep you updated...
Que Deus vos abençoe!
--KPL
Poland ended on a note! We took a morning bus back to Warsaw and arrived early afternoon. Arthur again picked us up, and this time brought us to a friends house (Agnieszka) to have coffee and cake. He had an appointment, so she stayed with is and accompanied us to a museum detailing the Warsaw Uprising at the end stages of WWII. It was a very powerful experience in the museum... As an American we don't "see" the destruction of the war first hand, but in Warsaw the devastation is still remembered...about 85-90% of the city was leveled...Mike and I experienced more Polish hospitality as Agnes let us sleep in her house and she slept next door at her parents. Furthermore she woke up to bring us to the airport at 4:50! We are truly blessed by all the people who has helped us this trip!
After a late departure from Warsaw, we were notified our flight from Brussels to Lisbon was delayed an hour. Upon arrival in Lisbon, our bags were missing... And we found out were still in Brussels and could be delivered to us in Fatima tomorrow...whatever, at least we're in a country where we can communicate again!
We got to Fatima around 5:30, walked to where we are staying (right next to the basilica) and then caught the 6:30 Mass. At dinner we met some of the other volunteers, including 2 American seminarians from the NAC! We headed out to the Capilha (where the apparitions took place) for a 9:30 rosary. We ran into both SVD Lisbon seminarians who are here for the night!
An organizer of the rosary procession asked me to be one of the statue holders! So I got to wear the white cape thing (not its technical name) and was the last group to process carrying the statue of Our Lady of Fatima! Then we concluded by singing Salve Regina.. It was AMAZING. You can just feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in this sanctuary!
I am so humbled to be able to bring people's prayer intentions to our Lady for her intercession... This has been the part of the trip I've longed for the most, and I pray that the next 2 weeks are very fruitful.
I'll keep you updated...
Que Deus vos abençoe!
--KPL
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