DAY 1 - Monday, 15th June 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. As we drive to our hotel we will hear of the traditions of this part of Italy and of the plans for the days ahead. We will have lunch on arrival and time to relax in our rooms before our afternoon visit to Pietrelcina.

Our guided afternoon walking tour of Pietrelcina will take us to the room where Francesco Forgione (future Padre Pio) was born and the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised. We will hear of the dream of the young Francesco to become a monk with a beard and conclude our tour with Mass in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels where Padre Pio celebrated his first Mass. The first day of our pilgrimage will conclude with a visit to Piana Romana where Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata in September 1910.


DAY 2 - Tuesday, 16th June Convent of Montefusco & Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

After checking out of our hotel we will visit the Convent of Montefusco where Padre Pio stayed whilst studying theology and meet one of the capuchin friars who will take us to the cell occupied by Padre Pio and the choir loft where the young friar spent much time in prayer. After Mass we will continue our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio for over fifty years. After checking into our hotel, we will have lunch before our afternoon visit to the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will pray before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 3 - Wednesday, 17th June English Office & Capuchin friary

Today, we will walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo as we begin our day with Mass in the ancient church where the humble friar celebrated Mass and heard confessions, before visiting the English Office where we will receive a blessing with the glove of St. Pio. Our afternoon guided tour of the capuchin friary will give us an insight into the life of Padre Pio as we see the cell where Padre Pio lived and died, visit the museum where are carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's years in the friary and visit the Church of Our Lady of Grace where he celebrated Mass his last Mass. 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 - Thursday, 18th June Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel

Padre Pio was a follower of St. Francis and by joining the Capuchin Order chose to follow the Rule of the Poor Man of Assisi. During this year which marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, as we visit the Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, we will be following in the footsteps of these two great saints who both travelled on pilgrimage to the once remote shrine.

As we drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. Time at leisure for lunch will give us the opportunity to sample some local produce in this quaint hill-top town which enjoys spectacular views of the stunning coastline. Before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo, a stop at the local cemetery will allow us to visit the chapel where the remains of the parents of Padre Pio, some close family members and Mary Pyle are entombed.

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. This afternoon we will have 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 5 - Friday, 19th June 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.

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.


DAY 6 - Saturday, 20th June Return home

After breakfast, we will drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Dublin concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of one 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.


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