DAY 1 - Tuesday, 6th October Rome

This afternoon we will fly from Shannon to Rome 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, passing by the ancient monuments, we will see evidence that Rome has a history and an appeal like no other city in the world. After checking into our rooms there will be time to relax before dinner.


DAY 2 - Wednesday, 7th October Rome

This morning, we will attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square and afterwards have free time for lunch.

St. Peter's Basilica is without doubt one of the holiest temples of Christendom and home to masterpieces by artists of the calibre of Michelangelo and Bernini amongst countless others. We will enjoy a guided tour of the basilica as we admire Michelangelo's Piet� and Bernini's intricate Baldachin and afterwards have time to pray at the tombs of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII.

An afternoon drive will take us to the Pontifical Irish College which attracts visitors and pilgrims who arrive in abundance each year. We will celebrate Mass in the college which is the last of the many Irish Colleges that is still a seminary from the many that were once scattered over Europe. Our day will conclude with a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary where we will venerate the miraculous image of Salus Populi Romani; an Icon of the Virgin Mother and Child and have time for prayer at the tomb of Pope Francis.


DAY 3 - Thursday, 8th October Rome

This morning, we will celebrate Mass at the College of St. Isidore's, founded in 1625 by Irish Franciscan Luke Wadding OFM and now home to an international fraternity of OFM Franciscans. We will enjoy a guided walking tour of the main sights of Rome's historic centre before departing to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.

After checking into our hotel, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, we will have time to relax before visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola. During this special year for Franciscans, as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis understood his true calling and accepted Clare into the Order and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226. In this sacred place for Franciscans, we will conclude our day with time for private prayer.


DAY 4 - Friday, 9th October Assisi

This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the basilica dedicated to St. Clare and afterwards venerate the original San Damiano Cross before which Francis was praying when he heard the famous words of the Lord. In the crypt of the basilica rest the remains of St. Clare and the museum which carefully preserves items connected with the lives of both Francis and Clare.

Afterwards we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, made famous as the spot where the young Francis of Assisi publicly relinquished his lavish lifestyle, in favour of a life of prayer. The sanctuary is today the resting place of the first millennial canonised and another great follower of Francis of Assisi, Carlo Acutis. The young Carlo had the capacity to enjoy life in a simple way, and just like Francis was not impressed by material things. In this place of great significance, we will hear more of the life of Carlo and see his exhibition documenting the Eucharistic Miracles that took place through the centuries, including that which took place at the Convent of San Damiano.

During our guided afternoon tour, as we walk along the cobbled streets of the ancient town, we will learn of the life of both St. Francis and St. Clare and how they chose to relinquish their lavish lifestyles in favour of a life of poverty and prayer. Our day will conclude in the Basilica of St. Francis where we will admire the famous frescoes and pray at the tomb of the founder of the Franciscan Order on this 800th anniversary year of his death.


DAY 5 - Saturday, 10th October Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

Our morning drive along the Adriatic Coast will take us to the town of Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the catholic church. After morning Mass in the Church of St. Francis, we will venerate the relics of the Eucharistic Miracle that date back to the 8th century and see details of the exhibition on the Eucharistic Miracles realised by St. Carlo Acutis. As we drive this afternoon to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will hear of Padre Pio's early years in his native Pietrelcina and his dream of becoming a monk with a beard. Upon arrival in the town of St. Pio, we will check into our rooms and have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 6 - Sunday, 11th October San Giovanni Rotondo

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. Today, 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 the museum where are carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's years spent in San Giovanni Rotondo. In the English Office, established by Fr. Alessio Parente, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. Our day will conclude in the crypt where we will have time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 7 - Monday, 12th October Monte Sant Angelo

This morning, as we drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, home to the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave.

In a year which marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza�, this afternoon we will visit 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. 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 allow time for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.


DAY 8 - Tuesday, 13th October Return home

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive to Naples airport for our return flight to Shannon, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the catholic church.



IMPORTANT NOTE

Please note the narrow streets of Rome mean that tourist coaches cannot arrive at the main points of interest and a certain amount of walking is required. The towns of San Giovanni Rotondo and Monte Sant'Angelo are hill-top towns, with a number of inclines that need to be negotiated to arrive on foot at the sanctuaries.


Assisi

Assisi is an ancient, hill-top town. The narrow streets of the town mean that tourist coaches cannot enter, and a number of inclines need to be negotiated to arrive on foot into the centre of the town of Assisi.

Once inside the town, further inclines will need to be negotiated to arrive at the following points of interest
Basilica of St. Francis
Basilica of St. Clare
Tomb of St. Carlo Acutis

Such inclines, in addition to the ancient, cobbled streets, mean that Assisi is not suitable for wheelchair users or mobility aids.


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