Pilgrimage Itinerary

Padre Pio - an Icon of Divine Mercy

During this year which marks the 20th Anniversary of the Canonisation of St. Pio, Easter 2022 will also mark the 20th Anniversary of the entrustment to the world to Divine Mercy.

St. Pio is a classic icon of Divine Mercy. During his lifetime in San Giovanni Rotondo, he encouraged the faithful to go regularly to confession, and to seek the sacrament with sincerity of heart.

Padre Pio's life was to be Divinely entwined with a young Polish Priest, Fr. Karol Wojtyla, who made a pilgrimage to the then small town of San Giovanni Rotondo to meet Padre Pio and have his confession heard by him. The young priest would go on to be repeatedly touched by Padre Pio and his legacy, Saint John Paul II's life, like that of Padre Pio, was deeply rooted in the mystery of Divine Mercy. In 2000, Pope John Paul II both canonised Sister Faustina, the recipient of the message of Divine Mercy, and established Divine Mercy Sunday as a Feast Day for the entire Church. And in 2002, he entrusted the world to Divine Mercy, just two months before he canonised St. Pio. During our 5-Day pilgrimage we will highlight the Icons of Mercy that are Padre Pio and St. John Paul the Great, whose lives were intrinsically linked in the Divine Plan of Salvation, both of whom received and shared God's mercy in an extraordinary way.

ITINERARY:

Friday, 22 April - Pietrelcina

This morning we will depart from Dublin to Naples. In the arrivals hall we will be greeted by our Marian Pilgrimages guide and driver who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage.

As we drive to the town of Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio, we will begin to learn of the early years of Francesco Forgione and how he realised his dream of becoming �a monk with a beard.� We will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the Church of the Holy Family and during our guided walking tour of the town, we will visit the home of the Forgione family where baby Francesco was born and the Church of Sant �Anna where he was baptised. In nearby Piana Romana we will see the farmhouse of the family and have time for prayer before the tree beneath which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata. We will enjoy the breath-taking views and contrasting landscapes as we drive towards San Giovanni Rotondo. Arriving at our hotel, we will check into our rooms and have dinner.


Saturday, 23 April - English Office, Capuchin friary & Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

This morning we will celebrate Mass in the old tomb of the Church of Our Lady of Grace and afterwards visit the English Office where we will hear of the life of St. Pio and receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar.

Our afternoon guided tour of the capuchin friary will allow us to learn more about the �poor friar who prays� as he often described himself. Here we will have the opportunity to see the cell once occupied by the humble friar and the crucifix before which he received the stigmata. We will also see the confessional and sacristy where Padre Pio administered God's Mercy through the confessional for over fifty years. Our day will conclude with a visit to the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will have time for private prayer before the mortal remains of the great saint of our time.


Sunday, 24 April - DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

In 1956 Padre Pio presented to the world his greatest gift, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza� which today is now one of the most important hospitals in Europe. This morning we will celebrate Mass and afterwards learn of the history behind what is Padre Pio's greatest creation.

As we walk the Way of the Cross in the afternoon, it will allow us as Christians, to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love.


Monday, 25 April - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & St. Matthew's Monastery

After breakfast we will drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, home to the Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel. In the sacred cave we will celebrate Mass. This is a most holy shrine and one also visited on pilgrimage by countless Popes and Saints, including Padre Pio and Pope John Paul II.

This afternoon we will drive to St. Matthew's monastery. Located along the �Pilgrims Path,� the monastery is a place rich in history, art, culture, faith, and spirituality. We will pray the Rosary and afterwards receive a blessing with the relic of St. Matthew and Holy Oil.


Tuesday, 26 April - Convent of Sant'Anna, Foggia

This morning we will drive to the town of Foggia. We will celebrate Mass in the Church of Sant'Anna, where Padre Pio spent a brief period before his final transfer to San Giovanni Rotondo. We will receive a blessing with the mitten of St. Pio and afterwards see the cell once occupied by the capuchin friar. We will return to San Giovanni Rotondo for lunch and have the afternoon at leisure for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.


Wednesday, 27 April - Return home

This morning we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Dublin, returning to our homes filled with a sense of tranquillity, rejuvenation, and peace in our hearts.