Over spring break, juniors and seniors who are currently enrolled in Italian classes at Padua Academy went on an adventure of a lifetime. These girls traveled to Italy with Mrs. Alinda, Mrs. Maguire, and their Italian teacher, Signor Pellegrini, to learn to about Italian culture and to strengthen their abilities to speak the language. Out of the six cities they visited while on the trip, one stood out for all of them.

    On the sixth day of the trip, the girls and their chaperones traveled to Padua, Italy. There the girls visited the University of Padua, St Anthony’s Basilica, and had a chance to tour the city. Signor Pellegrini enjoyed visiting Padua. “My favorite part of the trip was the university we toured. When we were in the courtyard, there were plaques of all professors that came from far and wide all over Europe—from Spain to Cyprus and all over Northern European countries.” The girls and their chaperones toured the University of Padua and learned about what school was like at that time.

    Signor elaborates, “My favorite part of that tour was the story our guide told us. She said that when the university was still running, the same course would be taught by two different professors. The students paid tuition so they were able to choose their teacher. The professor that was the best drew all the students’ support and the lesser lost their job and was replaced. This constant academic competition resulted in keeping high standards for the University’s education.” As a teacher, Signor Pellegrini values quality education and was interested in the University’s way of hiring their professors. One of Signor’s favorite parts of the tour of the University was seeing Gabriele Falloppio’s tomb. Falloppio was an important sixteenth-century physician and anatomist.

    Mrs. Maguire felt the trip to Padua was truly an incredible experience. She says, “Being in Padua, Italy was profoundly moving. When I got placed at Padua Academy as a student-teacher in 1996, I knew nothing of St. Anthony of Padua. I soon learned that he was the saint one prayed to when searching for something that had been lost. However, this extends beyond just lost objects, for me, it has been about searching for and finding a home here at Padua Academy; my faith as a convert to Catholicism, and a family of teachers, students, alumnae, and parents with whom I can share both my successes and my burdens. When I converted to Catholicism in 2000, it was because of my students; when I got to visit the Basilica of my beloved St. Anthony, it was again because of my students. What a blessing!” Many of the girls felt the same way. Being able to go to the place where their school is based on was a really amazing experience.

    Mrs. Alinda says, “In Padua, I loved the time we spent at the Basilica of St. Anthony.  I was particularly moved when we spent time praying by the tomb of St. Anthony.  It was a space that felt holy and peaceful, and a time to simply ask for St. Anthony’s intercession.  As we moved through the church, we passed by many beautiful side chapels, but one in particular caught my attention.  One of the side chapels was decorated with Polish saints, including St. Faustina, who I developed a devotion to during my college study abroad in Krakow, Poland.  To have a mixing of some of my favorite charisms in one place felt like a true blessing.”

    Going to Padua, Italy was a life-changing experience for these Padua girls!