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From St. Peter's To St. Peter's, July 20, 2007

Liz Clayton came to Worcester from Florida in August 2006 as an AMA missioned to St. Peter's Church. She ended her year in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome as one of the pilgrims at Mother Marie Eugenie's canonization.

(Read her experiences of AMA life in her two previous web postings: November 3, 2006 and May 12, 2007).

When I began my year as a volunteer at St. Peter’s in Worcester, I never imagined that I would end my year as a pilgrim at St. Peter’s in Rome. But after the dust settled on the end of our mentoring and ESL programs I had the unexpected privilege to be present at the canonization of Marie Eugenie – the foundress of the Religious of the Assumption.

After enjoying beautiful weather each day of our pilgrimage, we awoke on the morning of the canonization to the sound of rain hitting the windows. We tried to remain optimistic, thinking that it would soon clear, but as we settled into the puddles that had pooled in our seats we had to face facts: the rain wasn’t going anywhere. And yet, where the rain may have put a damper on a Red Sox game or a day in the park, it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm that morning in St. Peter’s Square. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world cheered, shouted, and waved flags as Pope Benedict announced the names of the new saints. The clouds may have been low but spirits were high – and the best was still to come!

That night over 6000 Assumption pilgrims gathered in Sala Nervi for a musical celebration of Marie Eugenie. Members of the many international provinces of the Assumption sang and danced in honor of our new saint. Her far-reaching influence was especially obvious as the room waved their country’s flags and sang the words of Marie Eugenie that we heard repeated so often that weekend: “The earth is a place of glory for God!”. The night ended spectacularly with Risa Bondoc – the girl whose miraculous healing cleared the way for Marie Eugenie’s Canonization – performing in the grand finale with all the other children from the Philippines. According to science this little girl shouldn’t be able to see, walk or talk – but there she was singing and dancing in front of thousands of people. It was a truly remarkable sight.

From a pilgrim in Plymouth to a pilgrim in Rome, this year as an AMA has given me so many new experiences and memories that I will treasure. As I prepare to return to Florida in just a few days I find that I am not thinking about all that I will leave behind in Worcester but of all that I will take with me. A new understanding of service. A new confidence in myself and my abilities. New friends in the Sisters of the Assumption and the people of St. Peter’s Parish. And something that Saint Marie Eugenie reminded all of us that wet morning in St. Peter’s Square: That come rain or shine – the earth is a place for the glory of God!

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Liz and her umbrella in canonization rain!

Proudly waving the American flag during the musical evening in Rome...

...and teaching English to new Americans at St. Peter's Church, Worcester