Day 1 - Pietrelcina & Piana Romana Wednesday, 11th June
We depart Dublin Airport early for our flight to Naples, where on arrival we will meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will be with us throughout our pilgrimage. We will travel directly to Pietrelcina, the birthplace of Padre Pio, and listen to the story of his yearly years as Francesco Forgione, his desire to participate in the suffering of Jesus and his dream of becoming a �monk with a beard.� After lunch in this beautiful village, we will hear how he chose the Capuchin Order and those he met along the path to priesthood before embarking on a walking tour of the town of Pietrelcina with visits to the Forgione family home where baby Francesco was born, the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli where he celebrated his first Holy Mass. We will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the Church of the Holy Family after which we will have some free time to explore Pietrelcina or enjoy a local coffee and pastry. We will then travel on to nearby Piana Romana, the local lands farmed by the Forgione family where we will pray before the tree where Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata, his participation in the work of the Crucified Christ which is the theme of our pilgrimage this June, the month of the Sacred Heart. After our time in Pietrelcina we will travel the short distance to Avelino and check into our hotel, in time for dinner and a good night's rest before we travel to San Giovanni the following day. (Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2 - Convento of Montefusco, English Office, Capuchin friary & Crypt of St. Pio Thursday, 12th June
After breakfast, we depart our hotel early this morning for our journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, enjoying the picturesque views of the Italian landscape as we travel to Padre Pio's home for over fifty years. We stop on the to way Montefusco to visit the Capuchin Convent of St Egidio where Padre Pio spent 6 months and his cell where he slept while staying with his brother Friars. We celebrate Holy Mass at the historic convent chapel before continuing our journey to San Giovanni where we check into the Hotel Colonne and have lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the English Office which was founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo. We learn more of the life of Padre Pio before receiving a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. Our afternoon guided tour of the sanctuary will allow us to walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo. Our guide will take us to the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio celebrated Mass before continuing onto the Capuchin friary to learn more about the poor friar who prays as Padre Pio often described himself. Our day will conclude in the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where there will be time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & St. Matthew's Monastery Friday, 13th June
Local history tells of the miraculous appearances of St Michael the Archangel to a local farmer in a cave in 490AD and the consecration of the Church of St Michael by the Saint himself, the oldest shrine to the Archangel in Western Europe. Enroute to the shrine we will hear about its history of the shrine and Padre Pio's devotional visits before celebrating Holy Mass in this sacred cave and sampling the serene atmosphere of this holy place. We will have time for lunch in a local restaurant (payable locally) or to enjoy the free time wandering the cobbled streets of this quaint town for shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing over a coffee and pastry. On our way back to San Giovanni Rotondo we pay a visit to the spectacular cliff top Monastery of St Matthew the Apostle where we receive a blessing with the tooth of the Saint and author of one of the four Gospels. We also some have time for private prayer in the Monastery Chapel and cloister, to take in the spectacular views of the nearby town of San Marco in Lamis, visit the perpetual Crib in the Monastery or buy blessed holy oil and souvenirs in the Monastery shop before returning to our hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 - Padre Pio & San Giovanni Rotondo Saturday, 14th June
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. Today we visit the old town of San Giovanni Rotondo where we will celebrate Mass in the Church of San Nicola, where Padre Pio celebrated Mass in 1917. We will visit a local museum to see the crafts and traditions that have existed since before Padre Pio arrived in San Giovanni which were widely used during his time in the local area. We will stop for lunch in a traditional restaurant in the Old Town to sample delicious locally produced cheese and meats, after which we will have time to stroll through the cobbled streets of the historical centre of San Giovanni Rotondo and hear of the history of the town, including some of the places visited by Padre Pio during his time with the local people. We will then have time to explore the old town on our own or to return to the hotel and sanctuary area for some free time before dinner in the Hotel. After dinner in the hotel, we will have the opportunity to participate in the Torchlight Procession in honour of Our Lady at the sanctuary, a highlight of the San Giovanni liturgical week which brings together pilgrims, local residents and the friars. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 - Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza & Way of the Cross Sunday, 15th June
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 Europe. An important part in the story of Padre Pio, after morning Mass we will learn of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio's greatest creation. Afterwards, as we walk the Way of the Cross, we will pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love. The afternoon at leisure will allow time for confessions or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer, followed by dinner in the Hotel and a good night's rest in preparation for our early start back to Naples for our flight home the following morning. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 - Return home. Monday, 16th June
This morning, we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Dublin, after having walked in the footsteps of one of the great saints of our time, eager to return again next year. (Breakfast)

iPlease note that, like many Italian towns, San Giovanni Rotondo and the Shrine of St Michael the Archangel are built on a hill-top with inclines and cobbled streets. As such they may not be suitable for wheelchair users and no official wheelchair hire facilities exist.