Michael Furey, one of the Diocesan seminarians, shares his experience attending the Jubilee of Seminarians in Rome

As part of the Jubilee year of hope numerous celebrations are taking place to celebrate all those who make up the membership of Christ’s Body, the Church. These include the youth, teenagers, married couples and families and the clergy and religious amongst many other groups of people. During the Jubilee of seminarians, held on 23rd and 24th June myself and five of my confreres from St Mary’s College Oscott travelled to Rome to partake in the ceremonies and celebrations.

We arrived in Rome ahead of Corpus Christi Sunday, and although this was not part of the jubilee  of seminarians, we attended morning mass in the city then took part in two processions, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon with the Holy Father Pope Leo, beginning at the Basilica of St John Lateran and ending with Benediction at the Basilica of St Mary Major. This was a very profound occasion for all of us present and I would describe the occasion as “walking with Peter and the Lord.” For there was the successor of St Peter, carrying Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Rome to St Mary Major and those of us in the procession journeyed with them as pilgrims of hope.

On Monday 22nd June, the jubilee began with seminarians from all over the world gathering at the Basilica of St Paul’s outside the Walls for the recitation of the Rosary in multiple languages followed by a concert performed by the choir of the diocese of Rome and conducted by Monsignor Marco Frisina, the choir’s director with stunning pieces of music.

The next morning, Tuesday 23rd June, the seminarians from England and Ireland gathered at eight o’clock to walk along the Holy Mile to St Peter’s Basilica and pass through the Holy Door before attending a catechesis session with Pope Leo. The atmosphere at the Pope’s arrival was tremendous with clapping, cheering, singing and many lucky seminarians, including one of our Oscott contingent, got the chance to shake hands with and speak to the Pope. Amidst all the excitement however, the moment the Pope made the sign of the cross to begin the catechesis the atmosphere went from raucous to reverent silence and respect. Speaking in Italian, the Pope spoke of the challenges posed today by social media and reflected on the last encyclical letter written by Pope Francis on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ, Dilexit nos among other contemporary topics.

Later that evening, the seminarians from English speaking countries gathered for mass at the church of San Salvatore in Lauro celebrated by Cardinal Arthur Roche, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Worship and the Sacraments. The cardinal greeted many of those present after mass and we then made our way to the Venerable English College for a buffet supper and a time of socialising. This was a joyous occasion, and the jubilee was attended by seminarians from four of the five English seminaries, the English Colleges of Rome and Valladolid (Spain), Oscott (Birmingham) and Allen Hall (London). The only English seminary community not present was the Beda College in Rome, whose students had already broken up and returned home following the diaconal ordinations of those who will next year, please God be ordained priests.

It is reported that a total of six thousand seminarians from all around the world were registered to attend the catechesis with the Pope and it was a truly momentous occasion, one which we will not see again until the next jubilee year. It was a once in a lifetime experience for those of us who participated in the event.

My concluding remarks are ones of encouragement to all who read this article to continue to pray for seminarians and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in the diocese of Nottingham and in the whole Church, as we journey together as pilgrims of hope and so build God’s kingdom here on earth.