{"id":992,"date":"2012-09-05T10:13:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-05T10:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/vatican-museums-visitors-happy-priests-are-present\/"},"modified":"2012-09-05T10:13:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-05T10:13:00","slug":"vatican-museums-visitors-happy-priests-are-present","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/vatican-museums-visitors-happy-priests-are-present\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican Museums visitors happy priests are present"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Vatican City, Sep 5, 2012 \/ 04:13 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- A month-long pilot project to make priests available within the Vatican Museums to offer spiritual counseling to visitors is being hailed a success.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThere are so many themes that are spoken of. We might speak of art and faith or of economics and faith. Some people come to share their experiences or difficulties in their personal, professional or family lives,\u201d said Father Isaac Vondoame, one of two priests who were available in the museums throughout August.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe most special experience I\u2019ve had is that a woman came to up to me to confess after many, many years. After her confession, she began crying. She found Jesus Christ in one way or another, also here, in this place,\u201d Fr. Vondoame told CNA.<\/p>\n

\tTogether with Father Chidi Onwuka, the two Rome-based priests have been positioned at strategic positions within the Vatican Museums. Fr. Vondoame, who is originally from Togo, is a missionary with The Sons of Divine Providence, while Fr. Onwuka is a native of Nigeria and is a Missionary of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.<\/p>\n

\tThey estimated that \u201cdozens\u201d of people per day have stopped to chat with them.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWhen they see a priest at
\n\t\u00a0their disposal they are very happy,\u201d Fr. Onwuka said.
\n\tThe visitors usually ask questions about \u201cthe meaning of some of the artworks,\u201d but every once in a while someone uses the opportunity \u201cto share some other things that particularly regard their spiritual lives,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\tThe Vatican Museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. They are now home to some of the most renowned classical sculptures and Renaissance art in the world.<\/p>\n

\tAmong the most popular exhibits for visitors are the four \u201cRaphael Rooms,\u201d painted by the Italian Renaissance artist and his workshop, and the Sistine Chapel created by Michelangelo.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWhen people come here, most of the people are amazed by the beauty, the richness, how the earliest Christians were able to articulate their faith in art,\u201d Fr. Onwuka said, adding that he has also grown in his knowledge of \u201cthe relationship between art and faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn 2011 the Vatican Museums broke its own attendance records by bringing in just over 5 million visitors. That makes them one of the most visited museums in Europe, on a par with the British Museum in London, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Prado in Madrid.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vatican City, Sep 5, 2012 \/ 04:13 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- A month-long pilot project to make priests available within the Vatican Museums to offer spiritual counseling to visitors is being hailed a success.<\/p>\n

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