The App of the International Assosiation for altar boys and girls C.I.M.
The goRome! App of the International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers to Rome 2018 consists of an education-adventure-game surrounding Saint Tarcisius and pilgrimage related content such as general information for pilgrims, spiritual impulses and suggestions for encounter. The app covers three phases.
Prior to the pilgrimage, the app focuses mainly on the game part. Saint Tarcisius, the patron saint of all altar servers, is the protagonist. You accompany him on his mission. Together you face important decisions, must solve exciting challenges and pursue a mysterious sign of peace.
During the core week of the pilgrimage and afterwards, there will be additional episodes to this game, which help you deepen the real experiences of your pilgrimage.
All pilgrimage related content is available from July 25th on. The pilgrimage then becomes an “augmented pilgrimage”. As altar servers, you are discovering Rome together, experience and share your community and demonstrate for a peace in Jesus Christ, who is “more”.
The App contains information on pilgrimage churches and points of interest, various greetings, a song section, interactive pilgrimage routes, prayer initiatives, and networking possibilities. It also allows you to log onto the language streams provided by VaticanNews during the audience with Pope Francis. In addition, several countries or dioceses implemented a country- or diocesan-specific section.
Need help getting around? The app’s interactive map allows you to locate particular places, your accommodation or the nearest drinking fountain. You may also use it to find points of interest, or to locate other pilgrims in order to meet and exchange some of your pilgrimage tokens. The app also helps you discern the various national and diocesan versions of the pilgrimage logo.
In case you get lost, the app provides some basic vocabulary so that you may ask for help in Italian. In case you are injured, the app provides some suggestions where to go for treatment or whom to call in case of an emergency.
Of course, the app is designed as a spiritual buddy also. For every day of the core week in Rome, you will find prayers and impulses, each suitable for individual or joint prayer. There is also a multi-lingual selection of basic Christian prayers, as well as excerpts from the Liturgy of the Hours. These also allow you to connect with other altar servers by praying the same prayers in different languages.
The main focus, of course, is on your personal pilgrimage – your genuine encounters with others and your personal quest for peace through your friendship with Jesus Christ. In order to keep track of all the highlights of the week, the app helps you to organize your individual schedule: note your group excursions, the liturgical services of your country or your diocese, as well as your own prayer times.
Sad to leave Rome at the end of the core week? Don’t be! The special button goHome! will accompany you into your life after the pilgrimage. It gives you some practical ideas on how to reach sound decisions in your life. Let the pilgrimage be only the beginning of your quest for lasting peace …