Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Tuesday, 1st September St. Rita of Cascia

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 picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to Cascia, stopping for lunch enroute.

As we drive to Cascia, we will hear about the early years of Rita growing up in her native Roccaporena, her years as a mother and widow, and later in Cascia as an Augustinian Nun. Upon arrival in the town of St. Rita, we will celebrate Mass in the basilica dedicated to the Saint of the Impossible and afterwards have time for private prayer before the remains of the Precious Pearl of Umbria and she has been often described.

After checking into the four-star Hotel La Reggia, we will have time to relax in our rooms before dinner.


DAY 2 - Wednesday, 2nd September Augustinian Monastery, Cascia & St. Benedict of Norcia

This morning, we will return to the town of Cascia to visit the Augustinian Monastery, home to Rita for forty years. Here we will be met by an Augustinian friar who will take us through the monastery where we will see the cell of Rita, the ancient cloister and picturesque Rose Garden.

We will continue to the town of Norcia, birthplace of St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order, and his twin sister Scholastica. After Mass, we will visit the recently restored basilica and have free time for lunch before continuing our drive to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.

After checking into our rooms in the Domus Pacis, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, we will have time to relax before visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. During this special year for Franciscans, as we remember the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226 - a truly sacred place for Franciscans.


DAY 3 - Thursday, 3rd September St. Francis of Assisi & St. Carlo Acutis

After morning Mass, we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, today the resting place St. Carlo Acutis, a great follower of St. Francis of Assisi. The name Carlo Acutis became known throughout the world when in October 2020, in the presence of his parents and siblings, he was beatified in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. 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 same part of Assisi, centuries earlier, the young Francis had stripped himself of his fine garments in a public display of his desire to relinquish his lavish lifestyle in favour of a life of poverty and prayer. 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.

After free time for lunch, we will walk through the medieval streets of Assisi to the Basilica of St. Francis. Accompanied by a Franciscan friar, we will hear episodes in the life of the Poor Man of Assisi and later have time for private prayer at the tomb of the saint. Our day will conclude with some time at leisure giving us the opportunity for shopping or personal sightseeing.


DAY 4 - Friday, 4th September Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

After breakfast, we will depart Assisi and enjoy views of the Adriatic Coast as we drive to Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. After the celebration of Mass, we will venerate the relics of the miracle which date back to the 8th century and afterwards see the exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles realised by St. Carlo Acutis.

As we continue our drive towards San Giovanni Rotondo we will hear of Padre Pio's early years growing up in his native Pietrelcina and his dream of becoming a monk with a beard. Upon arrival at our hotel, we will have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 5 - Saturday, 5th September Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & San Giovanni Rotondo

Our morning drive to the town of Monte Sant Angelo will take us to 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. Pio, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Carlo Acutis. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave.

This afternoon we will begin to 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 we will see the cell where Padre Pio lived and died and the crucifix before which he received the stigmata.

In the English Office, established by Fr. Alessio Parente, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar before concluding our day at the crypt before the remains of the great saint of our time. After dinner we will have the opportunity to participate in the Marian Torchlight Procession.


DAY 6 - Sunday, 6th September Monastery of the Resurrection & Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

Perched on the side of Monte Castellano is the Monastery of the Resurrection, home to the Capuchin Poor Clares Nuns. In this picturesque and peaceful setting, we will celebrate Mass remembering especially our pilgrims who have travelled with us through the years and those who have asked us to keep them in our prayers during this pilgrimage.

Today we will also visit the hospital, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, during this year that marks the 70th anniversary since its inauguration in 1956. We will visit the museum and hear of the history behind what is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation. 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. Time at leisure will give us the opportunity for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio.


DAY 7 - Monday, 7th September Pietrelcina

After breakfast, we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and drive to Pietrelcina where we will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage and afterwards have free time for lunch. Our afternoon walking tour of the town will take us to the room where Francesco Forgione (future Padre Pio) was born, the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised and Church of the Holy Family where are carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's years spent in his native town.

In nearby Piana Romana where last weekend marked the anniversary of the invisible stigmata we will pray before the tree beneath which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata and afterwards visit the Forgione family farm before driving to our hotel in Avellino where we will have time to enjoy the spectacular surrounding scenery before dinner. DAY 8 - Tuesday, 8th September Return home

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive the short distance to Naples airport, concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the catholic church.


IMPORTANT NOTE

The towns of Cascia, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant'Angelo and Pietrelcina are all hill-top towns, with a number of inclines that need to be negotiated to arrive on foot at the sanctuaries.


ASSISI

Please note Assisi is an ancient, hill-top town. The narrow streets of the town mean that tourist coaches cannot enter, and a number of inclines need to be negotiated to arrive on foot into the centre of the town of Assisi.

Once inside the town, further inclines will need to be negotiated to arrive at the following points of interest
Basilica of St. Francis
Basilica of St. Clare
Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

Such inclines, in addition to the ancient, cobbled streets, mean that Assisi is not suitable for wheelchair users or mobility aids.


AS RESULT OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL LOCAL FACILITIES IN CASCIA, ASSISI, SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, MONTE SANT ANGELO AND PIETRELCINA FOR HIRE OF WHEELCHAIRS OF MOBILITY AIDS.