DAY 1 - Friday, 24th April 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. After lunch in a local restaurant, our walking tour will take us to the room where baby Francesco 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 Francesco's dream of becoming a monk with a beard and of those who helped him to realise his dream. Our afternoon will conclude with the celebration of Mass before we continue our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio for over fifty years. After checking into our hotel, we will have time to relax before dinner.

DAY 2 - Saturday, 25th April 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 and St. Francis of Assisi. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. Before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will visit the cemetery where the remains of the parents of Padre Pio, Mary Pyle and those who played such an important part in the life of the great saint are entombed.

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. This afternoon 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 where carefully preserved is 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 where we will have time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.

DAY 3 - Sunday, 26th April Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza�, this morning we will have the privilege of celebrating Mass in the hospital chapel 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. This afternoon 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 give us the opportunity to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.

DAY 4 - Monday, 27th April Return home

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport, concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of one of the great saints of our time.