Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - San Giovanni Rotondo

Our afternoon flight from Dublin will take us to Bari airport where we will be greeted by our Marian Pilgrimages representative and driver who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. As we drive to San Giovanni Rotondo we will hear of some of the episodes from the early years of Padre Pio and his time spent in his native Pietrelcina. Upon arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, we will check into our hotel and have dinner.


DAY 2 - English Office, Capuchin friary, Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

The English Office was founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo. After the celebration of morning Mass, we will visit the English Office and learn more of the life of Padre Pio before receiving a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar.

In the afternoon, our guided tour of the sanctuary will allow us to walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo. Our guide will take us to the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio celebrated Mass and heard confessions before continuing onto the capuchin friary, where we will learn more about the poor friar who prays as Padre Pio often described himself. Our day will conclude in the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where there will be time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 3 - Pietrelcina, Convent of Sant'Anna, Foggia & Torchlight Procession

After breakfast, we will drive to the town of Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. Our guide will recount to us episodes from the early years of Francesco Forgione (future Padre Pio) and his dream of becoming a monk with a beard. Upon arrival in the quaint town, we will celebrate Mass in the Church of the Holy Family and afterwards visit the museum which has carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's time in his native town.

Our guided tour of the town will take us to the Forgione family home where Francesco was born and the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised. After free time for lunch, we will visit nearby Piana Romana and have time for prayer before the tree before which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata. As we travel back to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will stop at the Convent of Sant'Anna in Foggia where Padre Pio stayed for a period of six months before making his permanent move to San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. We will visit the cell once occupied by the young friar and have time for private prayer before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo. This evening after dinner, we will return to the sanctuary and have the opportunity to participate in the Torchlight Procession.


DAY 4 - Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza & Way of the Cross

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. An important part in the story of Padre Pio, after morning Mass we will visit to the hospital and learn of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio's greatest creation, and of the wonderful work that continues to this day.

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


DAY 5 - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel

After breakfast we will check out of our rooms, have the morning at leisure and after lunch drive from San Giovanni Rotondo to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo.

Padre Pio had a great devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and travelled on pilgrimage to the shrine in Monte Sant Angelo. During our afternoon drive to the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the Archangel Michael, we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael and have the privilege of celebrating the closing Mass of our pilgrimage in the sacred cave. We will have time at leisure to stroll through this town, the Capital of Culture for the region of Puglia, known as the City of Two Sites. Afterwards we will drive to Bari airport for our return flight to Dublin.


Please note as San Giovanni Rotondo is a hill-top town with a number of inclines which need to be negotiated to arrive at the sanctuary, it is not suitable for wheelchair users. As a result, there is no official local facility for hire of wheelchairs or mobile aids.