Easter in Rome! What a wonderful place to be at such a wonderful time! 2,000 university students gathered in Rome for UNIV 2022. Among them were students from DHEF’s Ashwell House, from Coniston, the student residence in Manchester and a group of nine girls from Scotland. With girls from Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Canada, France, Spain and Poland, the UK group spanned the globe.
Brilliant sunshine, ice cream and magnificent architecture were waiting for the girls when they arrived. But the question they soon had to answer was: “Did you come to Rome as a tourist or as a pilgrim?” These were words spoken by the priest, during the first meditation after arriving in Rome. “It made us think not only about our journey to UNIV but also our journey through life,” said one participant
The annual UNIV gatherings started in 1968 under the inspiration of St Josemaria. They have been an inspiration to thousands of students ever since.
This was a time for the girls to experience some of the profound truths of the Catholic faith. Going up the Scala Sancta on their knees, praying by the tomb of St John Paul II, seeing Pope Francis at arm's length in an audience, visiting the seven churches on Maundy Thursday and walking the Way of the Cross in the Colosseum, all made a deep impression.
A moving moment for the group was the Mass they attended in the Catacombs. Kneeling on cold stones in a small circle surrounding the altar in an underground chapel, the girls could not help thinking of the first Christians who knelt there before them.
One of the UK group, Sarah, said: “When I first heard about UNIV, I thought this is the opportunity for me to start taking my faith seriously. This trip has made me realise that I ought to be an apostle to those around me. And that I don't know how to do that… yet!”
UNIV gave these girls a special opportunity to see the beauty of Rome and the beauty of their Catholic faith, which left a deep imprint on each heart.
