DAY 1 - Shrine of St. Philomena

This morning we will depart Dublin airport to Naples. Upon arrival we will be met by our Marian Pilgrimages guide who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We will drive to the nearby Shrine of St. Philomena where we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage. St. Philomena was a Greek Princess and Virgin Martyr who died at just 13 years of age. After Mass we will enjoy a tour of the museum which will reveal details of the series of events which led to untimely death of the teenage princess and of the many miracles that have occurred since the translation of her remains to this beautiful sanctuary. After time for private prayer before the Altar of St. Philomena we will drive to our hotel in nearby Avellino where we will spend the first night of our pilgrimage.


DAY 2 - Pietrelcina

The beauty of the countryside will make for an enjoyable morning drive to the town of Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio.

We will celebrate Mass in the Church of the Holy Family and afterwards visit the museum where precious items have been preserved from Padre Pio's years in Pietrelcina. Our guided walking tour of the quaint town will reveal to us the early years of Padre Pio as we visit the Forgione Family home where Padre Pio was born and Church of Sant Anna where he was baptised.

During this Marian Jubilee Year in Pietrelcina, we will pass through the Holy Door of the parish church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and have time for prayer before the much-venerated statue of the Madonna della Libera, which sits just above the altar where Padre Pio celebrated his first Mass.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit nearby Piana Romana and see the tree before which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata. As we drive towards San Giovanni Rotondo, we will stop at the Church and Convent of Sant Anna in Foggia where we will see the cell occupied by Padre Pio and hear of his six month stay in the capuchin friary before continuing onto San Giovanni Rotondo where we will spend the following four nights of our pilgrimage. Arriving at our hotel, we will check into our rooms before dinner.


DAY 3 - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, Capuchin friary, Crypt of St. Pio

Padre Pio had a great devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. This morning, we will drive to the town of Monte Sant' Angelo, home to the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. During our drive we will hear of the apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel in the Gargano and upon arrival, celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. There will be time for private sightseeing in this unique town with its quaint, white-washed houses. As we return to San Giovanni Rotondo we will visit the local cemetery, resting place of the remains of the parents of Padre Pio and Mary Pyle.

After lunch we will learn of Padre Pio's years in San Giovanni Rotondo with a tour of the sanctuary which will include a visit to the capuchin friary, we will learn more about the poor friar who prays as he often described himself. Our day will conclude in the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will have time for prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 4 - English Office, Station of the Cross

After morning Mass, we will visit the English Office where we will hear more of the life of Padre Pio and receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. After lunch we will walk the Way of the Cross, it will allow us as Christians, to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love.


DAY 5 - Historical Centre of San Giovanni Rotondo, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

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. His presence transformed San Giovanni Rotondo into what was regarded as a remote agricultural town into a Hospital City and place of pilgrimage. Despite the transformation of the town, the traditions have very much remained. During our afternoon walk through the cobbled streets of the historical centre of San Giovanni Rotondo, we will hear of the history of the town, it's unique traditions and see some of the places visited by the humble friar. We will have time at leisure for shopping and soak up the atmosphere of the town, much-loved by Padre Pio.

In 1956 Padre Pio presented to the world his greatest gift, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza which today is now one of the most important hospitals in southern Italy. After lunch we will hear of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio's greatest creation. We will have time at leisure, with the opportunity to return to the crypt of St. Pio before our departure to Bari airport for our return flight to Dublin.


Please note as San Giovanni Rotondo is a hill-top town with a number of inclines which need to be negotiated to arrive at the sanctuary, it is not suitable for wheelchair users. As a result, there is no official local facility for hire of wheelchairs or mobile aids.