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It's official! Wanda Gawronska, niece of Blessed Pier Giorgio, will be in the U.S. in early June. She will be the guest on "EWTN Live" on Wednesday, June 3rd.

Can't make it to Italy this summer for the Pier Giorgio Pilgrimage? How about the Grand Canyon in May? Join friends of Pier Giorgio for a great outdoor adventure!

I am more than happy to say that I visited the beautiful Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls today. This is a great jubilee year in honor of the 2000th birthday of St. Paul. Along with that celebration, comes the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence. What a great gift from the Church!

Everyone has a favorite city and Rome is high on my list. The sights are spectacular and numerous; the churches are magnificent; the cappuccino is delicious; and the Pope is here! Today, the piazza was packed for his Sunday Angelus. I would have to give the French the prize for the biggest cheering.

I have been meaning to post something since arriving in Rome but have had little free time. This is a good problem to have!

An interview with Wanda Gawronska, niece of Blessed Pier Giorgio, will air as an episode of the series "Witness" on Canada's Salt + Light TV on February 15th. The interview was conducted during a convention of Catholic youth in December 2008. Click for the schedule and information on live video streaming.

So many of you have contacted me to ask about the letters of Pier Giorgio. WHEN IS THE BOOK COMING OUT?! It seems like I have been promising it for nearly a year and I am just as anxious as all of you. Good news! We now have an American publisher on board and the project is moving full-speed ahead. 

This is the last week to sign up for the Pier Giorgio Pilgrimage 2009 (See details below.) Final travel plans are being made and we will not be able to add to the group. Last date to sign up is Friday, January 30th!

Check out Pope Benedict on his own YouTube channel!

Today is the feast of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian -- two great early martyrs for the Faith. These saints play a small role in Pier Giorgio's life story. One of the churches in the town of Pollone, Italy -- where the Frassati summer villa is located -- is named for these two saints.

A new DVD about Pier Giorgio has been released!

"The year has begun well, after toasting it in with my family I went to Holy Martyrs Church; there in the Church, crowded with people, we prayed that there would be peace in Italy and Peace among us.  And this Peace, which is the burning Desire of us all, we hope will come in this year in which the Graces of the Lord are multiplied."

In the Byzantine Catholic church, the birth of Our Savior is celebrated with a special greeting extended by the priest: "CHRIST IS BORN!"

Well, here we are, less than a week away from the celebration of the birth of Christ. How has your Advent been going? I'm happy to say that I've had a prayerful few weeks, thanks in large part to my wonderful morning prayer group, and have been cultivating the spirit of joyful expectation.

Just taking a moment today to wish you a blessed feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn and patroness of the Americas. By the way, this is also the anniversary date for FrassatiUSA which relies on her patronage as well as that of Pier Giorgio. 

The other night, I was reading a bedtime story to a little six-year-old friend of mine. She looked at me, at one point, and said with a sigh, "I miss the good old days when..." and gave an example of something she missed doing. It was so odd to hear a six-year-old talking about the good old days! She was right to miss them, though.