DAY 1 - Pietrelcina & Piana Romana

This morning we will depart from Dublin to Naples. Upon arrival we will meet our guide and enjoy our first glimpse of the Italian countryside as we drive to the four-star Bel Sito Hotel le Due Torri where we will spend the first night of our pilgrimage. After lunch on arrival, we will check into our rooms and have time to relax.

In the afternoon we will drive the short distance to the town of Pietrelcina, birthplace of St. Pio, where we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage. During our guided tour of the quaint town, we will learn of the early years of Francesco Forgione and how he overcame many obstacles in order to fulfil his dream of becoming �a monk with a beard.� We will visit the Forgione family home where baby Francesco was born and the Church of Sant �Anna where he was baptised. Our day will conclude with a visit to nearby Piana Romana where we will see the family farmhouse and in the Chapel of St. Francis have time for prayer before the tree beneath which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata.


DAY 2 - Convent of Sant'Anna & Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and enjoy views of the contrasting landscapes as we drive to the town of Foggia where we will celebrate Mass in the Church of Sant 'Anna. Afterwards we will see the cell occupied by Padre Pio during his brief period spent in Foggia as he attempted to return to monastery life. We will drive the short distance to our destination of San Giovanni Rotondo, home to St. Pio for over fifty years.

After lunch we will visit the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will admire the wonderful mosaics depicting the lives of St. Pio and St. Francis of Assisi before arriving at the crypt where we will venerate the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 3 - English Office & Capuchin Friary

This morning we will begin to learn of the life of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo. We will celebrate Mass in the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where he spent many hours each day hearing confessions and afterwards in the English Office, will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar.

In the afternoon we will continue in the footsteps of Padre Pio with a guided tour of the friary where we will see the cell where Padre Pio lived and died and have time for prayer before the crucifix of the stigmata. Our day will culminate with a visit to the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will have time for private prayer before the mortal remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 4 - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & St. Matthew's Monastery

This morning we will celebrate Mass in the sacred cave at the Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel and afterwards have time at leisure in the wonderful town of Monte Sant' Angelo, famous for its quaint cobbled streets and white-washed houses.

In the afternoon we will visit nearby St. Matthew's monastery and receive a blessing with the relic of St. Matthew and Holy Oil.

After dinner there will be the opportunity to attend the Vigil Mass in the sanctuary as the faithful join together to celebrate the life of St. Pio.


DAY 5 - 23 September - FEAST DAY OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA

This morning we will celebrate Mass and afterwards 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. We will have the afternoon at leisure and after dinner enjoy the procession through the town as the local people join together to celebrate the life of Padre Pio.


DAY 5 - Return home

This morning we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and make our way to Naples airport as we return to our homes, filled with a sense of tranquillity, rejuvenation and peace in our hearts.