Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Monday, 21st September Convent of Sant'Anna, Foggia

This morning, we will fly from Dublin to Naples and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will have lunch on arrival and afterwards drive to the town of Foggia. Although Padre Pio spent just a brief period in Foggia, the Convent of Sant'Anna proved a stepping stone which saw Padre Pio's permanent move to San Giovanni Rotondo. In this place of great significance, we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage and afterwards see the cell where Padre Pio stayed over the six-month period. After a blessing with the relic of St. Pio, we will drive to our hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo and after checking into our rooms will have time to relax before dinner. DAY 2 - Tuesday, 22nd September San Giovanni Rotondo

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. This morning, 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 where carefully preserved is the crucifix before which he received the stigmata. Our morning will conclude in the crypt where we will have time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.

In a year which marked the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza�, this afternoon we will have the privilege of celebrating Mass in the hospital chapel and afterwards hear of the history behind what is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation and of the wonderful work that continues today.

An evening of prayer on this vigil of the feast day will culminate with the celebration of Mass on the open Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina as we celebrate Padre Pio's life and recall his final hours before his passing.


DAY3 - Wednesday, 23rd September Feast Day of St. Pio

Padre Pio had a great devotion to the Archangel Michael and travelled on pilgrimage to the shrine in Monte Sant'Angelo. On this Feast Day of St. Pio, we will visit the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, a shrine that has been visited by many saints and Popes through the centuries including St. John Paul II, St. Carlo Acutis and St. Francis of Assisi. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. Before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will visit the cemetery where the remains of the parents of Padre Pio, Mary Pyle and those who played such an important part in the life of the great saint are entombed.

An afternoon at leisure will allow us the opportunity to return to the crypt for private prayer and after dinner will have the opportunity to participate in the Procession through the town as the local people, pilgrims and capuchin community come together to give thanks for the gift of Padre Pio.


DAY 3 - Thursday, 24th September Pietrelcina

Views of the picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. After morning Mass, our guided walking tour will take us to the room where baby Francesco was born and the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised. As we walk along the cobbled streets of the quaint town, we will hear of Francesco's dream of becoming a monk with a beard and of those who helped him to realise his dream. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive to nearby Piana Romana where 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. Afterwards, we will drive to our hotel where we will have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 4 - Monday, 25th May Return home

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport, concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of one of the great saints of our time.