When Martin Pieramico told his parents, Alexius and SharmaLee, that he was going to take them to Italy for their fiftieth wedding anniversary, he asked what they wanted to see most. SharmaLee promptly replied that her greatest wish was to go to St. Peter’s Basilica and find St. Jude’s altar. “I have prayed to St. Jude for the past fifty-five years and he has answered many prayers for family and friends.” It was her hope to thank him personally for helping her daughter recover from breast cancer. This past October, SharmaLee visited the St. Jude’s altar in Rome. She took along several St. Jude medals, which she took to the altar for personal touching so that in turn she could to give them to those in need of St. Jude’s blessings. Upon her arrival, Mass was being celebrated and she received the Eucharist at the altar. “It was truly wonderful.” Again, St. Jude had answered her prayer.

There were several highlights during the Pieramicos’ nine-day visit to Italy, which was also enjoyed by their son, Martin, and Vic Pommerville, a friend of the family. Aside from the lifelong wish to pray at the St. Jude altar, there was the visit to the Sistine Chapel, one of the most beautiful chapels in the world. The Pieramicos were awe struck by the majesty of the Michelangelo frescoed ceiling, which charted the creation of the world and fall of man surrounded by subjects from the Old and New Testaments.

On a Sunday morning, the Pieramicos attended Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore, which is famous for its superb mosaics and colonnaded triple nave. Later they visited Nicola Salvi’s Trevi Fountain, Rome’s largest and most famous, completed more than 240 years ago. Taking notice of the central figures of Neptune flanked by two Tritons, they indulged in several photo opportunities. In the ancient center there was more to see and before the day was completed, they toured Rome’s greatest amphitheater, the Colosseum, which was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. They also walked the patchwork of ruined temples, arches and the Via Sacra (Sacred Way) through the Forum. Standing between the Arch of Constantine and the entryway to Palatine Hill made the Pieramicos feel like at any moment, Roman chariots would come roaring down the cobblestone street toward them.

The Pieramicos couldn’t bypass where it all began, so they made their way to the Abruzzo region. Their destination was Giulianova, the past and present home of the Al Pieramico family. In this wonderful place of fantastic architecture, art and breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea, they felt like royalty. It was a dream come true as they visited the church, Mosciano Sant’Angelo, built back in 1397 where Al’s father Andrew and his family worshipped. They were later greeted by Al’s cousins from the neighboring town of Marciano with a welcoming party and gracious hospitality. By gesturing in English and Italian mixed in with local wine, everyone communicated extremely well. Typically Italian, the family indulged and enjoyed a four-hour marathon of dining at the Padere Mercanto villa, with conversations bantering from every nook and cranny. The next day, they visited the Mercanto winery in Marciano, and selected some of their finest wines to take home. This was truly one of the highlights of the entire trip… an event to cherish for a lifetime. After another wonderful meal with the Italian cousins, the goodbyes and final toasts were said with excellent nips of Limoncello and Ozo. The cousins promised that someday they would return the visit by coming to America.

For all things there is an end. The Italian countryside bus trip back to Rome was another stunning adventure. Dotted with small medieval towns and picturesque farms, the trip was comparable to sightseeing for free. At every turn and through every tunnel it was like a breathtaking postcard.

As dusk was turning in Rome the Pieramicos checked into their hotel and then took a trip to the Roman temple of all the gods, the spectacular Pantheon and its lit up awe-inspiring domed interior, followed by services at a nearby church.

On the Saturday of departure, the family visited the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument (the Wedding Cake) and Mass at San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter’s in Chains), which houses the two chains with which Peter was shackled in the Mameritine Prison. After a final sightseeing tour and an outstanding dinner, the Pieramico’s bid arriverderici to Roma and Italia, creating a memory, which once again was an answer to a prayer.

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