The FIUV in Rome: Part 1

For this General Assembly, the FIUV used the Domus Australia for the first time.





The Domus is owned by the Bishops of Australia, who wanted to have a conference centre, church, and residence available in the heart of Rome. It is located near Termini railway station, well connected by bus to the Vatican.



One of the permanent residents is the Australian priest, Fr Mark Withoos, formerly of the PCED who now works as Cardinal Pell's secretary in the Secretariat of the Economy. Fr Withoos celebrates a Traditional Mass at one of the side altars of the church, St Peter Chanel, which is open to the public, most mornings at 6:45am. Many of the side altars have Altar Cards, and the sacristy is well stocked for the Traditional liturgy.

These are photographs of his Low Mass on morning just before the start of the General Assembly.

St Peter Chanel, a French priest and missionary, the church's Patron, is the protomartyr of South Seas; it is his martyrdom which is depicted above this side altar. The Australian bishops restored the church and rededicated it to him.