Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Saturday, 12th September Rome

This afternoon we will fly from Shannon to Rome and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. 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 - Sunday, 13th September Rome

This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the Church of San Pietro in Montorio, a special place in the history of Ireland: the connection beginning with the Flight of the Earls in 1607, when Hugh O'Neill and Rory O'Donnell ended up in Rome after the Tudor conquest of Ireland. After Mass we will hear of the history behind the church and enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the �Eternal City� before we travel to St. Peter's Square for the Angelus.

St. Peter's 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. After free time for lunch, we will enjoy a guided tour of the basilica where we will have the chance to pray at the tombs of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII and admire Michelangelo's Piet� and Bernini's intricate Baldachin.

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. Our day will conclude with a visit to the basilica where we will venerate the precious icon and have time for prayer at the tomb of Pope Francis.


DAY 3 - Monday, 14th September Rome

This morning, we will celebrate Mass at the College of St. Isidore's, founded in 1625 by Irish Franciscan Luke Wadding OFM and now home to an international fraternity of OFM Franciscans. As we embark on a guided walking tour of Rome's historic centre, we will see the world-famous Trevi Fountain, pass by the Pantheon before arriving in Piazza Navona, Rome's most famous square, known for its lively atmosphere and the beautiful fountain of the Four Rivers. We will have time at leisure for lunch before our departure to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.

After checking into our hotel, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, we will have time to relax before visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola. 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. In this sacred place for Franciscans, we will conclude our day with some time for private prayer.


DAY 4 - Tuesday, 15th September Assisi

This morning, we will celebrate Mass in 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.

Afterwards 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, 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.

During our guided afternoon tour, as we walk along the cobbled streets of the ancient town, we will learn of the life of both St. Francis and St. Clare and how they chose to relinquish their lavish lifestyles in favour of a life of poverty and prayer. Our day will conclude in the Basilica of St. Francis where we will admire the famous frescoes and pray at the tomb of the founder of the Franciscan Order on this 800th anniversary year of his death.


DAY 5 - Wednesday, 16th September 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 6 - Thursday, 17th September Capuchin friary, Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

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 7 - Friday, 18th September 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.

In a year which marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza�, this afternoon we will visit the hospital and afterwards hear of the history behind what is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation.

Winding along the slopes of Monte Castellana, blessed by Padre Pio just hours before his death, is the monumental Way of the Cross. This afternoon 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 8 - Saturday, 19th September Pietelcina

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel. Views of the picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. After lunch in a local restaurant, our afternoon walking tour will take us to the room where Padre Pio was born, the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised and the Church of St. Mary of the Angels where we will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage. After time for shopping and private sightseeing, we will drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Shannon, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the catholic church.