Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *

DAY 1 - Saturday, 29th August Pietrelcina

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. Views of the picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio. Our afternoon walking tour will take us to the room where Padre Pio 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 Padre Pio's years spent in his native town and of his dream of becoming �a monk with a beard.� We will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage and afterwards continue our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio for over fifty years.

DAY 2 - Sunday, 30th August Capuchin friary & Crypt of St. Pio

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 3 - Monday, 31st August

Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & Historical Centre of 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. 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. Despite the transformation of the town, the traditions have very much remained. As we return to San Giovanni Rotondo we will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, sampling some typical local produce. There will be time at leisure for shopping or to stroll along the cobbled streets of the historical centre of the town, visited by Padre Pio during his early years in San Giovanni Rotondo.

DAY 4 - Tuesday, 1st September Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza & Way of the Cross

In a year which marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza�, this morning we will celebrate Mass at the hospital and afterwards hear of the history behind what is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation and of the wonderful work that continues today. Winding along the slopes of Monte Castellana, blessed by Padre Pio just hours before his death, is the monumental Way of the Cross. After lunch, 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 5 - Wednesday, 2nd 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 Carlo Acutis. Views of the picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to the �Green Heart of Italy�, to Assisi, town of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis. After checking into our rooms in the Domus Laetitiae, we will have time to relax before dinner.

DAY 6 - Thursday, 3rd September Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

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 St. Francis of Assisi was not impressed by material things. This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, the resting place of the first millennial canonised, and where the young Francis of Assisi publicly relinquished his lavish lifestyle, in favour of a life of prayer. During this special year for Franciscans, as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, this afternoon we will visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola, 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 in prayer.

Friday, 4th September Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi & Basilica of St. Clare of Assisi

Founder of the Order of the Poor Clares, 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, 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 morning 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. The remainder of the afternoon at leisure will allow us the opportunity for shopping and private sightseeing.

Saturday, 5th September Return home

We will celebrate morning Mass and after time at leisure drive to Fiumicino airport, concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of our time.



IMPORTANT NOTE

The towns of 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.


PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL LOCAL FACILITIES IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, ASSISI, MONTE SANT ANGELO OR PIETRELCINA FOR HIRE OF WHEELCHAIRS OF MOBILITY AIDS.