First Day in Rome

First Day in Rome

The day after their arrival the students were woken early and bussed in for a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. The early wake up meant that students arrived to a mostly empty St. Peter’s Square, avoiding crowds and moving quickly through the security line. The students then had the opportunity to attend a private Mass at the Altar of St. Joseph with chaplain Msgr. Fucinaro and Fr. John Bayer, a visiting priest from Cistercian Abbey.  After Mass, the students were split into small walking groups and were given orientation tours of Rome, led by faculty and staff. These walking tours gave them a chance to learn a bit about Rome and its history, see some major monuments, learn how to navigate the city, and most importantly, experience their first Italian cappuccino and gelato! All the groups gathered on the Capitoline Hill for some closing words from Dr. Hatlie and a group photo, before heading back to campus for lunch and more orientation meetings! In the evening, the Capp Bar was open for the first time with the offer of a free coffee for each student. What a great way to prepare for their first day of classes the next day!