Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney is on pilgrimage with a group of faithful, including priests and laity of the Diocese of Paterson, to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome, Italy.
Upon arriving in Rome, the diocesan pilgrims visited Assisi, Italy, where they paid homage to the tomb of the newly canonized saint, St. Carlo Acutis, and walked through the hometown of St. Francis and St. Clare.
Bishop Sweeney shared photographs and the following dispatches from Assisi.
Follow the journey on social media:
Bishop Kevin Sweeney’s Instagram
Diocese of Paterson Facebook (English)
Diocese of Paterson Facebook (Spanish)
Day 1: 9/27/25
Rome, sweet Rome – and beautiful Assisi!
We landed in Rome this morning and got on a bus to head to Assisi. We’ll be having Mass this afternoon, but I wanted to send a message “right away,” because a few of us (Father John Calabro, Father Ed Rama, and Father Charlie Lana) just had a chance to visit St. Mary Major Church in Assisi. We were blessed to visit the resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.
Here are some photos, “stay tuned for more details,” and please pray for us as we pray for you.
Day 2: 9/28/25
A beautiful morning in Assisi
Yesterday afternoon, we celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Angels (thinking of Msgr. Mark Condon and the parishioners of Our Lady of the Holy Angels, in Little Falls).
In the Basilica is the Portiuncula, the second church that St. Francis restored and the place where Francis died (the “transitus”) on Oct. 3, 1226.
This morning, we celebrated Mass at Chiesa Nuova (new Church), built over the site of Francis’ family home, where his father imprisoned him for a short time, until his mom helped him “escape” and respond to God’s call.
We are currently on a walking tour of Assisi and visiting the Church of St. Clare, location of the San Damiano Cross, from which Jesus first “spoke” to Francis, asking him to “rebuild my Church.”
Stay tuned for more details. Continue to send your intentions. Please pray for us, as we are praying for you.
Day 3: 9/29/25
Feast of the Archangels
We begin Day 3 of our pilgrimage with another beautiful morning. Today, we travel from Assisi to Orvieto and then to Rome. More on Orvieto in a moment, first a few thoughts and photos from yesterday afternoon:
After our walking tour of Assisi, we visited the Church of San Damiano, the first Church “rebuilt” by Francis, which became the home of St. Clare until her death in 1253.
It was then on to the Basilica of St. Francis, where St. Francis and some of his first companions are buried.
This morning, we traveled by bus and cable car from Assisi to Orvieto to visit the beautiful Cathedral and the place of a Eucharistic Miracle in 1263.
After Mass, we will have a guided tour of the Cathedral and the town of Orvieto. Then, “all Roads lead to Rome.” Please continue to pray for us. We’re praying for you and your special intentions. St. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, pray for us.
