Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 Tuesday, 13th October Basilica of St. Mary Major

This morning we will depart from Dublin to Rome and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. After lunch in a typical Italian restaurant, we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage.

The Basilica of St. Mary Major is the largest Catholic Marian Church in Rome and home to the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani; an Icon of the Virgin Mother and Child, credited with saving the city of Rome from the plague during the late sixth century. This afternoon we will visit the majestic basilica and after venerating the image of Salus Populi Romani, have time for prayer at the tomb of Pope Francis.

As we drive to our hotel, passing by the ancient monuments, we will see evidence that Rome has a history and an appeal like no other city in the world. After checking into our rooms there will be time to relax before dinner.


DAY 2 Wednesday, 14th October Papal Audience & Basilica of St. John Lateran

This morning, we will attend the Papal Audience in St. Peters Square and afterwards have free time for lunch.

St. Peters Basilica is without doubt one of the holiest temples of Christendom and home to masterpieces by artists of the calibre of Michelangelo and Bernini amongst countless others. We will enjoy a guided tour of the basilica as we admire Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's intricate Baldachin and afterwards have time to pray at the tombs of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII.

Our afternoon drive will take us to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest of the major basilicas and the cathedral of Rome. It was here that St. Francis of Assisi and his early companions received the blessing of Pope Innocent III to: Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but only after the Pope had a dream of Francis' upholding this basilica, preventing it from falling into ruin - a fitting stop on our pilgrimage during this Franciscan Jubilee Year.


DAY 3 Thursday, 15th October College of St. Isidores & Chapel of the Porziuncola

This morning, we will celebrate Mass at the College of St. Isidores, founded in 1625 by Irish Franciscan Luke Wadding OFM and now home to an international fraternity of OFM Franciscans. We will enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic centre of Rome and after free time for lunch depart to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.

Upon arrival we will check into the Domus Pacis, located within walking distance of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. During this special year for Franciscans, as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis understood his true calling and accepted Clare into the Order and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226.


DAY 4 Friday, 16th October Basilica of St. Francis & Basilica of St. Clare Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

After morning Mass, we will visit the basilica dedicated to St. Clare and afterwards venerate the original San Damiano Cross before which Francis was praying when he heard the famous words of the Lord. In the crypt of the basilica rest the remains of St. Clare and the museum which carefully preserves items connected with the lives of both Francis and Clare.

Today we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, made famous as the spot where the young Francis of Assisi publicly relinquished his lavish lifestyle, in favour of a life of prayer. The sanctuary is today the resting place of the first millennial canonised and another great follower of Francis of Assisi, St. Carlo Acutis. The young Carlo had the capacity to enjoy life in a simple way, and just like Francis was not impressed by material things. In this place of great significance, we will hear more of the life of Carlo and see his exhibition documenting the Eucharistic Miracles that took place through the centuries, including that which took place at the Convent of San Damiano.

After free time for lunch, we will walk along the cobbled streets of the medieval town of Assisi to the Basilica of St. Francis where we can admire the famous frescoes and conclude our day in prayer at the tomb of the Poor Man of Assisi.


DAY 5 Saturday, 17th October Convent of San Damiano & Cathedral of San Rufino

Located in a beautiful setting just outside the walls of Assisi, this morning we will celebrate Mass at the Church of San Damiano. One day whilst praying before a crucifix at the Convent of San Damiano Francis heard the words, �Go rebuild my church, which as you can see is falling into ruins.� This event at San Damiano would be significant in the gradual conversion of Francis.

Years later, San Damiano would become home to Clare and her Order of Poor Clares and the location of a Eucharistic Miracle that would take place in September 1240, a miracle which is documented in the exhibition realised by the young Carlo Acutis. After Mass in the ancient church, accompanied by a Franciscan friar, we will visit the convent where we will see the refectory, the dormitory where St. Clare died and beautiful cloister.

As we return to the town of Assisi, we will visit the Cathedral of San Rufino and see the baptismal font used to baptise both Francis and Clare and at the altar dedicated to St. Carlo Acutis where we will venerate the heart relic of the first millennial saint. An afternoon at leisure will give us the opportunity for shopping and private sightseeing.


DAY 6 Sunday, 18th October Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

Our morning drive along the Adriatic Coast will take us to the town of Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the catholic church. After morning Mass in the Church of St. Francis, we will venerate the relics of the Eucharistic Miracle that date back to the 8th century and see details of the exhibition on the Eucharistic Miracles realised by St. Carlo Acutis.

As we drive this afternoon to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will hear of Padre Pio's early years in his native Pietrelcina and his dream of becoming a monk with a beard. Upon arrival in the town of St. Pio, we will check into our rooms and have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 7 Monday, 19th October Capuchin friary & Crypt of St. Pio

The arrival of Padre Pio in 1916 to San Giovanni Rotondo transformed the once unknown agricultural town into a hospital city and international place of pilgrimage. Today, we will walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo as we visit the ancient church where the humble friar celebrated Mass and heard confessions, the capuchin friary where Padre Pio lived and died and the museum where are carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's years spent in San Giovanni Rotondo. In the English Office, established by Fr. Alessio Parente, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. Our day will conclude in the crypt where we will have time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 8 Tuesday, 20th October Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel

This morning, as we drive to the town of Monte Sant Angelo, home to the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. We will have free time for lunch and personal sightseeing in Monte Sant Angelo before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo. We will visit the cemetery and the chapel where the remains of Padre Pio's parents are entombed and have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure for shopping and private sightseeing in the town centre.


DAY 9 Tuesday, 21st October Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

In a year which marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza this morning we will celebrate Mass at the hospital, hear the history behind what is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation and of the wonderful work that continues today.

Winding along the slopes of Monte Castellana is the monumental Way of the Cross. This morning we will walk the Way of the Cross which allows us as Christians to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love. The remainder of the afternoon at leisure will allow time for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.


DAY 10 Wednesday, 22nd October Return home

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Dublin, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the catholic church.