Good evening to all!
So, it has been a few weekends ago that our group went to Cincinnati and it is high time that I put in the information of our trip last 24 August 2013.
Our Saturday began by meeting at the Cathedral Parking Lot. As always, there was a slight delay in the departure time from the Cathedral to Cincinnati. The rental car we had was a Subaru Outback and it was navy blue in color. I arrived at the parking lot at about 10 past 8 a.m. We finally left the Cathedral lot at about 8:20 a.m.
In the vehicle were myself (JP), Tim, Rachel, Yanet and Jonathan.
On our way to the Franciscan Provincial House, we had a lively discussion in the car on vocations and answering God's call. We arrived at the Franciscan Provincial House at approximately 9:57 a.m. at the Over the Rhine area of downtown Cincinnati. We were greeted by Friar Greg at the garden area of the Friary. There we started our tour. He pointed out that the garden was once a cemetery. According to official records, there were at least 40 people buried at the former cemetery. Most of the people buried were either Irish or German (there was one French individual amongst the tombstones). The church is located at the northwest corner of E. Liberty and Vine Streets. The church that the Franciscans maintain at the Provincial House is St. Francis Seraph. The church also does outreach programs to the poor single mothers in the neighborhood and schooling for underprivileged children (which are located across the street from the church on Vine Street. To the west of the church is a large communications facility where they can proclaim God's word through radio or television waves.
Friar Greg brought us in the Provincial House to show us the crypt area where the tombs of those that were once buried at the garden are now laid to rest. On our way down the crypt area, Friar Greg told us the history of the church. The church is the first church technically in the Cincinnati area. At that time (1819), it was located outside the city limits. The church was then named Christ Church. The church was built as a cabin type structure. It was decided in the 1850s to move the first church to the city limits but it fell apart as they "log rolled" church from one site to another. Thus on 1859, the church was rebuilt in brick. As you may have seen in the photos above, the early photos of the altar was just glorious and beautiful! Upon arriving at the crypt area, we were shown the tombs of the 40 individuals from the garden. All of the tombstones were laid carefully on the ground. Then we went back up to the church using the access at the back. We entered the church from the apse area of the church. There, we saw the Friar's pew and the two mural paintings to the east and west of the sanctuary area. A small square altar table laid in the middle underneath the two sided crucifix. There are two side chapels with beautiful Franciscan saint paintings hanging on the walls. The pulpit is located at the bottom of the steps by the congregation. Indeed, the church looked so much simple now than it used to be when it was originally built but the beauty of simplicity still lives in the lives of those who worship and serve at St. Francis Seraph.
After the tour of the church, Friar Greg suggested to us to try the neighborhood mom and pop restaurant called Tuckers. It seems to be a favorite place to go to in the neighborhood as Univ. Cincy students come over, people in Lexus drive to this little hole in the wall in the Over the Rhine area. We definitely enjoyed our breakfast - lunch - brunch meal at a very affordable price!
From Over the Rhine, we travelled up to the northern suburb called Mount Airy. At first, we got lost on our way there due to the confusion from all the construction going on I-64. Since our drive was short and we arrived about an hour early to the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, Yanet suggested that we all pray the rosary at the crucifixion scene shrine outside the the chapel. So, all of us recited the Joyful Mysteries and offered our prayers for the success of our Pilgrimage trip/drive from Columbus. After the rosary, we entered the chapel and was greeted by Friar Gene. Friar Gene immediately talked to us about the history of the Shrine of St. Anthony. He told us what the shrine looked originally and how it changed through the years. The crucifix behind the altar, which is famously known as the San Damiano cross, has a legendary history. During World War II, the Poor Clare nuns were afraid that the Nazis would storm their convent, so to save their precious jewels, the original San Damiano cross that St. Clare of Assisi venerated, they had an artist create a replica of the cross. That replica is now rumored to be inside the Shrine of St. Anthony in Mount Airy, Ohio. Friar Gene gave us also a tour of the Novitiate House and showed us their mess hall, the original image of St. Anthony that used to be at the Main Altar and a couple of rooms to give us a glimpse of what a novitiate's room looks like compared to an actual friar's. It was only here at St. Anthony that we were able to get a chance to have a group photo taken with Friar Gene.
From Mt. Airy, we travelled down to cross the Ohio River into Covington, Kentucky to visit St. Mary's Cathedral, Basilica of the Assumption. This magnificent structure sits at the highest point at downtown Covington. The Basilica has two cornerstones, the original one is at a pillar behind the Bishop's Chair and another one for the facade of the structure out front. This grandiose structure across the Ohio River is a definite gem! It boasts one of the largest stain glass church window in the world and one of the largest rose windows as well. The beauty of the mosaic Stations of the Cross are just really spectacular. The mosaic is made of glass. We were told not to touch any of the them as they can easily fall off or get stuck to someone's finger. The last Station of the Cross has one gem stone in it, the tear of the Virgin Mary is made out of Mother of Pearl. The wood work or reredos are equally spectacular. They are located at the Marian Shrine, Sacred Heart Shrine and St. Joseph Shrine. Each of the Shrine has a fleur-de-lis imbedded on the walls or part of the reredos, a symbol of French royalty and also a symbol of the Holy Trinity. The main sanctuary has a baldachinno, like the wooden canopy that we have at St. Joseph Cathedral. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel has beautiful paintings on the wall and two golden menorahs and a huge golden tabernacle. The Basilica is a classic representation of French Gothic Architecture. The main entrance to the Basilica is equally beautiful as seen in a photo album above.
We attended mass at the Basilica at 4:30 PM. After mass, we headed for Hofbrauhaus, a famous German touristy restaurant in neighboring Newport, KY. We ate outside as the weather very pleasant. We ate authentic German dishes and were very full at the end. We ended our Pilgrimage trip at around 7 PM and started to head home. We arrived at around 8:45 PM. During our ride, we started talking about ice cream and decided to try Jeni's Ice Cream at the Short North before heading back to the Cathedral parking lot in Columbus. So, our day officially ended at 10 PM. We all parted ways filled with joy and memories of the blessed day!
So, it has been a few weekends ago that our group went to Cincinnati and it is high time that I put in the information of our trip last 24 August 2013.
Our Saturday began by meeting at the Cathedral Parking Lot. As always, there was a slight delay in the departure time from the Cathedral to Cincinnati. The rental car we had was a Subaru Outback and it was navy blue in color. I arrived at the parking lot at about 10 past 8 a.m. We finally left the Cathedral lot at about 8:20 a.m.
In the vehicle were myself (JP), Tim, Rachel, Yanet and Jonathan.
On our way to the Franciscan Provincial House, we had a lively discussion in the car on vocations and answering God's call. We arrived at the Franciscan Provincial House at approximately 9:57 a.m. at the Over the Rhine area of downtown Cincinnati. We were greeted by Friar Greg at the garden area of the Friary. There we started our tour. He pointed out that the garden was once a cemetery. According to official records, there were at least 40 people buried at the former cemetery. Most of the people buried were either Irish or German (there was one French individual amongst the tombstones). The church is located at the northwest corner of E. Liberty and Vine Streets. The church that the Franciscans maintain at the Provincial House is St. Francis Seraph. The church also does outreach programs to the poor single mothers in the neighborhood and schooling for underprivileged children (which are located across the street from the church on Vine Street. To the west of the church is a large communications facility where they can proclaim God's word through radio or television waves.
Friar Greg brought us in the Provincial House to show us the crypt area where the tombs of those that were once buried at the garden are now laid to rest. On our way down the crypt area, Friar Greg told us the history of the church. The church is the first church technically in the Cincinnati area. At that time (1819), it was located outside the city limits. The church was then named Christ Church. The church was built as a cabin type structure. It was decided in the 1850s to move the first church to the city limits but it fell apart as they "log rolled" church from one site to another. Thus on 1859, the church was rebuilt in brick. As you may have seen in the photos above, the early photos of the altar was just glorious and beautiful! Upon arriving at the crypt area, we were shown the tombs of the 40 individuals from the garden. All of the tombstones were laid carefully on the ground. Then we went back up to the church using the access at the back. We entered the church from the apse area of the church. There, we saw the Friar's pew and the two mural paintings to the east and west of the sanctuary area. A small square altar table laid in the middle underneath the two sided crucifix. There are two side chapels with beautiful Franciscan saint paintings hanging on the walls. The pulpit is located at the bottom of the steps by the congregation. Indeed, the church looked so much simple now than it used to be when it was originally built but the beauty of simplicity still lives in the lives of those who worship and serve at St. Francis Seraph.
After the tour of the church, Friar Greg suggested to us to try the neighborhood mom and pop restaurant called Tuckers. It seems to be a favorite place to go to in the neighborhood as Univ. Cincy students come over, people in Lexus drive to this little hole in the wall in the Over the Rhine area. We definitely enjoyed our breakfast - lunch - brunch meal at a very affordable price!
From Over the Rhine, we travelled up to the northern suburb called Mount Airy. At first, we got lost on our way there due to the confusion from all the construction going on I-64. Since our drive was short and we arrived about an hour early to the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, Yanet suggested that we all pray the rosary at the crucifixion scene shrine outside the the chapel. So, all of us recited the Joyful Mysteries and offered our prayers for the success of our Pilgrimage trip/drive from Columbus. After the rosary, we entered the chapel and was greeted by Friar Gene. Friar Gene immediately talked to us about the history of the Shrine of St. Anthony. He told us what the shrine looked originally and how it changed through the years. The crucifix behind the altar, which is famously known as the San Damiano cross, has a legendary history. During World War II, the Poor Clare nuns were afraid that the Nazis would storm their convent, so to save their precious jewels, the original San Damiano cross that St. Clare of Assisi venerated, they had an artist create a replica of the cross. That replica is now rumored to be inside the Shrine of St. Anthony in Mount Airy, Ohio. Friar Gene gave us also a tour of the Novitiate House and showed us their mess hall, the original image of St. Anthony that used to be at the Main Altar and a couple of rooms to give us a glimpse of what a novitiate's room looks like compared to an actual friar's. It was only here at St. Anthony that we were able to get a chance to have a group photo taken with Friar Gene.
From Mt. Airy, we travelled down to cross the Ohio River into Covington, Kentucky to visit St. Mary's Cathedral, Basilica of the Assumption. This magnificent structure sits at the highest point at downtown Covington. The Basilica has two cornerstones, the original one is at a pillar behind the Bishop's Chair and another one for the facade of the structure out front. This grandiose structure across the Ohio River is a definite gem! It boasts one of the largest stain glass church window in the world and one of the largest rose windows as well. The beauty of the mosaic Stations of the Cross are just really spectacular. The mosaic is made of glass. We were told not to touch any of the them as they can easily fall off or get stuck to someone's finger. The last Station of the Cross has one gem stone in it, the tear of the Virgin Mary is made out of Mother of Pearl. The wood work or reredos are equally spectacular. They are located at the Marian Shrine, Sacred Heart Shrine and St. Joseph Shrine. Each of the Shrine has a fleur-de-lis imbedded on the walls or part of the reredos, a symbol of French royalty and also a symbol of the Holy Trinity. The main sanctuary has a baldachinno, like the wooden canopy that we have at St. Joseph Cathedral. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel has beautiful paintings on the wall and two golden menorahs and a huge golden tabernacle. The Basilica is a classic representation of French Gothic Architecture. The main entrance to the Basilica is equally beautiful as seen in a photo album above.
We attended mass at the Basilica at 4:30 PM. After mass, we headed for Hofbrauhaus, a famous German touristy restaurant in neighboring Newport, KY. We ate outside as the weather very pleasant. We ate authentic German dishes and were very full at the end. We ended our Pilgrimage trip at around 7 PM and started to head home. We arrived at around 8:45 PM. During our ride, we started talking about ice cream and decided to try Jeni's Ice Cream at the Short North before heading back to the Cathedral parking lot in Columbus. So, our day officially ended at 10 PM. We all parted ways filled with joy and memories of the blessed day!