A is for Augustine: Retreat and Pellegrinaggio

Sisters and Friends:

Our Pellegrinaggio (pilgrimage) in Italia: A Journey in Search for Augustinian Community "Walk the Way of the Heart" (Sermon 4,9) has come to an end. Following a Holy Week Retreat in Cascia and a pilgrimage that included Pavia, Milan, Tolentino, Lecceto, Montefalco and San Gimigiano, we are now sent joyfully to bring the love of God and the Augustinian story to all we serve. We are deeply grateful to our SSND community for the opportunity to spend the past three months getting deeply in touch with our Augustinian roots, forming friendships with Augustinian friars and sisters, and enjoying wonderful

connections here at the Generalate in Rome. May Easter joy live on!

Sisters Mary Juan Camacho, SSND and Bridget Waldorf, SSND

Cascia

San Gimigiano piazza at night - visited for a stop to Sergio's gelateria - world-champion gelatieria

"Monk on the lookout" - painting within church at Certosa di Pavia

Chapel fresco in the Monastery at Montefalco,
home of some contemplative Augustinian sisters.

Augustinian Contemplative Sisters in Montefalco

School Sister of Notre Dame mailbox in San Gimigiano

Remains of Saint Rita of Cascia

Ceiling of Saint Rita Basilica in Cascia

Crucifix image where
Saint Rita prayed to take on suffering of Christ.

Facade of Saint Nicolas of Tolentino Basilica; Nicolas was the first from the Order of Saint Augustine to be canonized.

Fresco within Nicolas of Tolentino Monastery - expresses Nicolas learning at the feet of Augustine

Crypt with remains of Nicolas of Tolentino

Sanctuary of Nicolas of Tolentino Basilica; icons written
by current Augustinian friar in residence.

Fresco within Nicolas of Tolentino Monastery -
express scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary

Easter flowers and Candle in the sanctuary of
San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro; the site of Augustine's tomb

Standing in front of Augustine's tomb

The remains of Saint Ambrose and martyrs,
Gervasius and Protasius, at the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan

Sanctuary dome of Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan

Certosa di Pavia - a large monastery and complex, cared for by its residents, the Cistercians. The building of the structure was commissioned by the Visconti family in 1396 and the church within was to be the family's mausoleum. It is one of the largest monasteries in all of Italy.

Stained glass windows in the Milan Cathedral

Font below the Milan Cathedral - believed to be the site where Bishop Ambrose baptized Augustine in 387.

San Gimigiano as seen from the Augustinian Monastery

Ruins of Augustinian Hermitage in Rosia - just outside of San Gimigiano; current structure dates to the 12th century, but there is evidence of other structures below this one that date to earlier times.

Sign noting entrance to the Augustinian Monastery in Lecceto, Italy. The monastery has a rich history, including decades of abandonment - its story includes the renovation and current care by a group of Augustinian contemplative sisters, which took over the site in the 1970's.