The Rome Experience is a cultural and spiritual pilgrimage for diocesan seminarians. Founded in 2007 at the request and under the direction of the Bishops Advisory Board, the Rome Experience provides seminarians preparing for the diocesan priesthood the opportunity to contemplate and nurture their divine call to the priesthood and to holiness as they pray and study in the heart of the Catholic Church, beside the Chair of St. Peter, and at the tombs of the saints and martyrs.
It is inspired by the thought and work of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, who dedicated many years of his life to caring for the spiritual and human needs of diocesan priests, and remains a spiritual guide for many priests today. The Rome Experience is designed to complement existing programs of formation in diocesan seminaries for seminarians that have completed at least their first year of theology.