merlap iv participants
What an Adventure!
by John Hess, Dayton, Ohio Companion
What an adventure! Companion group, I was
asked to be a delegate to merlap iv. This gave my
wife Rita—also a Companion—and our son Matt
the opportunity to travel with the other delegates
to Rome. We arrived in Rome a few days before the
start of merlap so we could do some sightseeing.
From the airport, we dropped our luggage at the
hotel and headed to St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s
Basilica was just an amazing place with its grand
size, architecture, statues, and marble work. Even
though the crowds were large and the lines long,
once you entered the Basilica it was a peaceful and
prayer-filled atmosphere. Over the next several
days we visited the Colosseum, Pantheon, St. John
Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary
Major. What an exciting opportunity to travel as
a family to the four major Basilicas in Rome. The
buildings were all beautiful and overwhelming in
size and there were so many mosaics and frescoes to
take in.
merlap iv was held at a lovely hotel called Casa
La Salle. It was a convenient ten-minute walk from
the Metro. Each morning started with Mass at 7:30
in the chapel. Each province or mission took a turn
presiding at Mass, so it was usually a combination
of English and Spanish. There was also bilingual
continued on page 8
November 2018 • The New Wine Press • 7