From 3 to 12 January 2019 the group of about 30 pilgrims guided by PhDr. Koudelková was staying in our pilgrim house during its regular pilgrimage to Rome. Some of them joined us during the fumigation of the pilgrim house on the day of Epiphany. Sisters Marie and Lucie accepted PhDr. Koudelková’s invitation for the trip to the Etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri on 10 January.
The carollers from Slovakia, who arrived for the Holy Father blessing, were accommodated in our pilgrim house at the turn of the year 2018/ 2019. The Holy Father gives the blessing to the (Three Kings) carollers from the whole world during the Holy Mass on 1 January. In their filled program they found time for carol-singing for the community of Velehrad on 31 December.
The preparation of the building C for the reconstruction culminates. On Saint Lucy´s Day 13.12. we mooved the chapel to a new temporary place. The furniture and other things were transported with the aid of P. rector Czudek and a technic of the Pontifical College Nepomucenum at Rome for storage to Nepomucenum. On 7 January the construction company started the works of demolition with much effort.
On 16th and 17th November four pilgrims togehter with sr. Lucie made a pilgrimage in the tracks of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome. They visited St. Peter´s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and other churches connecting to their activities and to the life of the first Christians in Rome.
From 6 to 9 November 2018 the members of the General meeting met at the regular annual meeting at the Czech Religious Center (CRC) Velehrad in Rome. They commemorated the 50th anniversary of founding of the CRC. The incorporated changes of the new statutes and the funding of the beginning reconstruction of the last part of the house on Via delle Fornaci belonged to the central themes. At the daily common Holy Mass we remembered the deceased members of the General meeting and the good that has been done through the pilgrim house. We prayed for the God's blessing for next 60 years of Velehrad.
We met at a friendly get-together in Frascati.
On Friday 28. 9. 2018 we commemorated the 50th anniversary of founding of the Czech Religious Center Velehrad in Rome with the celebration of the Holy Mass in St. Peter´s Basilica. The Holy Mass was celebrated by President of CRCV Mons. Jan Vokál, bishop of diocese of Hradec Králové. Before the celebration of the Holy Mass Mons. Vokál blessed a memorial plaque in the crypt of Basilica in place where, for some decade, were lying the remains of Card. Beran. In the end of the Holy Mass followed the prayer at the altar dedicated to St. Wenceslas. The prayer was ended by St. Wenceslas chant and by the Czech national anthem.
The Holy Mass was followed with hospitality at Center Velehrad on Via delle Fornaci 200. It began with common prayer and blessing by Mons. Vokál and continued with friendly talks at prepared snacks.
The new ambassador of Czech Republic to the Holy See Mgr. Václav Kolaja visited our pilgrim house on Friday 11 May 2018. He met the community of Velehrad in friendly talk about the activities of Velehrad and the possible cooperation and then F. Pavel Schwarz showed him the pilgim house.
From 22 to 27 February 2018 our pilgrim house accommodated the auxiliary Bishop of Bratislava Mons. Jozef Halko who guided a group of his friends through Rome.
18 February lemons ripened on the lemon tree and the almond trees were full of blossoms and bees in our garden.
Together with pilgrims from Slovakia we made a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Peter, St. Paul and other saints in first days of November. (We owe the photos to Mr. Biben)
