Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

Wednesday, 7th May

Arrive Italy

This morning, we will fly from Dublin to Rome and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. The wonderful scenery of the Green Heart of Italy will make for an enjoyable drive to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel before our evening visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and where on Palm Sunday of 1212, he accepted Clare into the Order. We will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage and afterwards see the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died, and the Rose Garden where today miraculously grows the roses without thorns.


Thursday, 8th May

Assisi

After morning Mass, we will drive to Assisi and enjoy a guided tour of the medieval town as we will learn of the lives of both St. Francis and St. Clare and how they relinquished lavish lifestyles in favour of a life of charity and prayer. Our walking tour will include visits to the Basilica of St. Clare and Basilica of St. Francis where we will have time for prayer at the tombs of the great Franciscan saints.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, made famous as the spot where Francis stripped himself of his fine clothes, thus relinquishing his wealthy lifestyle. In the same sanctuary today are the remains of Carlo Acutis, a young boy who was very much impressed by the figure of Francis of Assisi and who, just like Francis, liked nothing more than to help the poor. Like Francis, he used his skills as a means of evangelisation and has been described by Pope Francis as a great example for young people today. We will have time for private prayer and have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure for personal sightseeing and shopping.


Friday, 9th May

Holy House of Loreto & Lanciano

This morning, we will have an early departure from Assisi to the town of Loreto, home to the Holy House of Nazareth which is undoubtedly the most treasured and venerated shrine of Our Lady throughout the world. According to tradition, the Holy House is part of the Virgin Mary's house, which was transported by angels from Nazareth, arriving in Loreto on the 10th of December 1294. We will celebrate Mass and after time for private prayer have lunch in a local restaurant.

Our afternoon drive to the town of Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church, will provide us with wonderful views of the Adriatic Coast. Arriving at the Church of St. Francis, we will venerate the relics of the Eucharistic Miracle and later see the exhibition, realised by Carlo Acutis, on the Eucharistic Miracles that have taken place through the centuries.

As we drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will hear of episodes in the early life of Francesco Forgione (the future Padre Pio) and his dream of becoming a monk with a beard. Arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, we will check into our rooms before dinner.


Saturday, 10th May

English Office, Capuchin friary, Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

We will begin our time in San Giovanni Rotondo with a visit to the English Office, founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims. After a cup of Irish tea, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. Our morning will continue with a guided tour of the capuchin friary where we will learn more about the poor friar who prays as Padre Pio often described himself.

After lunch, we will return to the sanctuary for afternoon Mass before making our way to the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will have the afternoon for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time. This evening there will be the opportunity to participate in the Torchlight Procession.


Sunday, 11th May

Historical Centre of San Giovanni Rotondo

Stations of the Cross

From the moment of his arrival in the southern Italian town, Padre Pio had a deep affinity for the local people of San Giovanni Rotondo. His presence transformed San Giovanni Rotondo into what was regarded as a remote agricultural town into a �Hospital City� and place of pilgrimage. Despite the transformation of the town, the traditions have very much remained. This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the Church of San Nicola, nestled in the historical centre, where Padre Pio celebrated Mass in 1917. We will enjoy time at leisure and lunch in a local restaurant before returning to our hotel. 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. We will have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio.


Monday, 12th May

Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, Town of Vieste

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano before the celebration of Mass. We will have time to stroll through the cobbled streets of this quaint town and afterwards have lunch in a local restaurant which enjoys beautiful views of the Gargano before driving to the seaside town of Vieste.


Tuesday, 13th May

Vieste

The town of Vieste boasts not only a wonderful medieval village but also stunning views of the coast. This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the famous cathedral, one of the oldest Romanesque-style churches in Puglia and afterwards stroll through the village with its whitewashed houses, set within a real vibrant town with a genuine southern Italian atmosphere. After lunch in one of the many trattorias serving typical local dishes, we will have the afternoon at leisure for shopping and private sightseeing and after dinner have time to enjoy a walk along the promenade leading to the old port and enjoying views of the Tremiti Islands.


Wednesday, 14th May

Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari

This morning, we will check out of our hotel in Vieste and drive along the coast to Bari. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, one of Bari's most famous sights and home to the remains of St Nicholas of Bari. We will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage and afterwards enjoy a walk through charming old town with its maze of narrow streets before driving to the nearby airport for our return flight to Dublin.