Our Field Trip With our Church

April 27, 2007 This past Wednesday we went on a trip with our church. We left Belforte at 5:00 in the morning and returned home about 9:30 pm. We went to the Sanctuary of San Gabriel in Teramo which is in the region of Abruzzo.

We had no idea what we were doing so we decided to just follow our priest, Don Franco. He led us through the main church and back into a rather large room with some beautiful mosaics and stained glass windows. Then he got in line to give his confession! There were 30 confessionals and some had signs that they spoke English and French. Here are two of the photos.












There was a museum and also walls and walls of testimonials of people who felt they had been healed with San Gabriel's help. San Gabriel is the patron saint of the Abruzzo region. We celebrated mass in the large new sanctuary. There were 7 or 8 priests that gave communion. There were a few couples there celebrating 10, 20, and 50 year anniversaries!

The mountains around Teramo still had quite a bit of snow on them.















This sign was outside the restaurant we ate at. It is not unusual here in Italy to share the restaurant with dogs, but this one wanted them to stay outside!

















After lunch we went to Loreto. This a picture of the basilica in Loreto and also some street art that was in front of the basilica.




























Inside the Basilica there is part of the house that Mary, the Mother of God, was born in. This is special, in that this was where the Annunciation took place. Legend has it that the angels (i angeli) transported the house first to Croatia and then to the Marche region December 10, 1294.

To this day, here in the Marche (including Belforte), on the night of December 9th, bonfires are lit to help guide the angels to Loreto. It is now known that the house was indeed transported by the Angeli, but these angels were part of a noble family from Epirus! Documents show that the house was part of a dowry given to the daughter when she married a son of the king of Naples. Studies have proved that the materials and the type of structure have never been available in this area and were common to Nazareth. It was very inspiring to be in that special place. No cameras were allowed, but here is a photo of a postcard which shows the inside. The wall where the altar stands was the opening to the grotto that was the rest of the house. The altar and much of the art was added in the 1500's.




Thursday was our 41st anniversary and we went out for steak! We went to Frontino again, but this time by car! Yes, it is true we finally have a car! It is a 2007 Fiat Panda 4x4.
















In addition to our car we finally have residency in Belforte and we each received our carta d'identità! Hopefully, our citizenship will soon follow!

We also found out that all of our permits for the house are ready and hopefully they can start working on the house as soon as we get back to Italy. We will be in the states for 3 weeks beginning May 1st.

Ciao!