Pilgrimage Itinerary

Day 1 - Pietrelcina

We will depart in the morning from Shannon to Naples. On arrival, 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, we will hear of the early years of Padre Pio and how he fulfilled his dream of becoming a �monk with a beard.� After lunch in a local restaurant, we will enjoy a walking tour which will take us to the Forgione family home where Padre Pio was born and the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised.

Our visit to Pietrelcina will conclude with Mass in the Church of the Holy Family and a visit to the museum where precious items have been preserved dating back to Padre Pio's years spent in Pietrelcina.

We will visit nearby Piana Romana and see the tree before which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata. Afterwards we will drive to San Giovanni Rotondo and after checking into our rooms have time to relax before dinner.


Day 2 - English Office, Capuchin friary, Crypt of St. Pio

This morning we will celebrate Mass in the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio celebrated Mass and spent hours each day hearing confessions of those who had travelled from afar to confess to the Capuchin friar.

Founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, after Mass we visit the English office during which time, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by Padre Pio.

Our afternoon guided tour of the sanctuary will take us to Church of Our Lady of Grace, where Padre Pio celebrated his last Mass and 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 we will have time for prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.


Day 3 - �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 one of the most important hospitals in Italy. An important part in the story of Padre Pio, after morning Mass we will learn of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio's greatest creation. In the afternoon, we will walk the Way of the Cross which will allow us as Christians, to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love.


Day 4 - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, Abbey of Pulsano, Torchlight Procession

Padre Pio had a great devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and travelled on pilgrimage to the shrine in Monte Sant'Angelo. As we drive to the quaint town, we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. We will have time for private prayer and after lunch enjoy a stroll through the narrow streets of this unique town.

Located in the mountains above Monte Sant'Angelo is the Abbey of Pulsano. Founded in the 6th century by Pope Gregory the Great, the complex was expanded in the 12th century. For several hundred years, the monks lived here in rock caves, in seclusion and silence, focusing only on prayer and work. This afternoon we will pray the Rosary in this sacred place and later return to San Giovanni Rotondo where after dinner we will participate in the Torchlight Procession at the sanctuary.


Day 5 - Cemetery of San Giovanni Rotondo, Calderoso & St. Matthew's Monastery

This morning we will visit the cemetery in San Giovanni Rotondo where rest the remains of Padre Pio's parents, Mary Pyle, and our good friends Fr. Alessio Parente and Fr. Joseph Pius. We will have time for prayer at the resting place of these figures who played such an important part in the life of Padre Pio. Afterwards we will drive through the picturesque countryside to Calderoso, the farm which was one of three farms donated to Pa-dre Pio during the 1950's and now provides the hospital with some wonderful fresh produce. Surrounded by century-old olive trees, we will celebrate Mass in the ancient church and afterwards enjoy lunch in the Masseria which will give us the opportunity to sample some of the produce from the two remaining farms. Before re-turning to San Giovanni Rotondo we will visit St. Matthew's Monastery where we will receive a blessing with the relic of St. Matthew and Holy Oil.


Day 6 - Mass at the Old Tomb

This morning we will celebrate Mass in the old tomb of the Church of Our Lady of Grace, where the remains of Padre Pio rested for over forty years, remembering especially during this Mass our deceased family and friends.

In the afternoon we will come together as a group where there will be Exposition and Adoration of the Eucha-rist - one of the most beautiful ways to spend time in prayer. Afterwards, there will be confessions and time to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.

Day 7 - Friary of Sant 'Elia a Pianisi

This morning we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and travel to the Convent of Sant 'Elia a Pianisi. It was dur-ing his time in Sant �Elia a Pianisi where on the 27th of January 1907, the 19-year-old Br. Pio made his solemn profession of vows, to be forever part to the Order of Capuchin Friars. We will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage in this place of great significance, where Padre Pio finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a friar. After lunch we will continue our drive to our hotel in Avellino where we will spend the last night of our pilgrim-age.

Day 8 - Return home

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive the short distance to Naples airport for our return flight to Shannon.


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.