Tuesday, 6th May Arrive Italy

We meet as a group at 11 am at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church for Mass. This afternoon we will fly from Dublin to Verona and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. After checking into our rooms, we will have time to relax before dinner.

Wednesday, 7th May Padua St. Anthony of Padua

Born in Lisbon in 1195 and given the name Fernando. At the early age of 15 years, he entered the religious order of St. Augustine however after some time and despite challenges from the Augustinians he left the Order and received the Franciscan habit, taking the name Anthony. Thought by his fellow friars to be uneducated Anthony became one of the great preachers and theologians of his day. Anthony died when he was only thirty-six and had been a Franciscan just 10 years. The following year Pope Gregory IX, moved by the many miracles that occurred at Anthony's tomb, declared him a saint in 1232. This morning, we will celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the Basilica of St. Anthony and afterwards have time for private prayer at the tomb of the great saint. During our tour of this magnificent basilica, we will hear important episodes in the life of St. Anthony and afterwards have time at leisure for lunch. In the afternoon we will walk to the Sanctuary of St. Leopold Mandic. St. Leopold Mandic Born on May 12,1866 in Croatia, Leopold was an unlikely candidate for the priesthood due to his several health problems. He overcame these obstacles, joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order, and was assigned to Padua, where he spent the rest of his life. For several years Leopold taught patrology, the study of the Church Fathers, to the clerics of his province, but he is best known for his work in the confessional, where, like Saint Padre Pio and Saint John Vianney, he sometimes spent 13-15 hours a day. The tomb of St. Leopold Mandic is located near the little room in which the saint heard confessions. This afternoon we will have time for prayer at the red marble tomb, which is visited by an endless stream of pilgrims, attracted by the spiritual strength of a friend who continues to protect and comfort.

Thursday, 8th May San Damiano

This morning, we will depart Padua and drive to the small village of San Damiano, on the outskirts of Piacenza. We will visit the sanctuary, famous for the apparition of the Madonna delle Rose which first took place on the 16th of October 1964 to a peasant woman, a mother of three children who was seriously ill. The apparition of the Madonna to Rosa Buzzini would continue for several years thereafter. We will hear of the Blessed Handkerchiefs, the story of the Well and the Miraculous Water, all which attract pilgrims to the splendid sanctuary in this remote village. In this tranquil setting we will celebrate Mass and have time for private prayer before driving to our hotel in nearby Piacenza.

Friday, 9th May Siena

This morning, we will depart Piacenza and drive to the Tuscan town of Siena. Starting in the vibrant Piazza del Campo, our guided walking tour which will take us through the ancient streets of this medieval town. Our tour will take us to the Shrine of the house of St. Catherine where we will hear of the austere lifestyle the young Catherine chose to follow, and the great works of charity which earned her the title of �The Lady with the Lamp.� Our time in Siena will conclude with the celebration of Mass in the Basilica of St. Dominic before we drive to the �Green Heart of Italy� to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel and after time to relax before dinner.

Saturday, 10th May Assisi

After breakfast we will drive to the town of Assisi. We will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Clare where we will see the original San Damiano Cross which has been carefully preserved through the centuries and afterwards have time for prayer at the tomb of the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares. As we walk through the medieval town of Assisi, accompanied by our guide, we will hear of the lives of both St. Francis and St. Clare and how they relinquished lavish lifestyles in favour of a life of charity and prayer. Our walking tour will conclude at the Basilica of St. Francis where we can admire the impressive frescoes and later have time for prayer at the tomb of the �Poor Man of Assisi.� After free time for lunch, we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, made famous as the spot where Francis stripped himself of his fine clothes, thus relinquishing his wealthy lifestyle. In the same sanctuary today are the remains of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young boy who was very much impressed by the figure of Francis of Assisi and who, just like Francis, liked nothing more than to help the poor. Like Francis, he used his skills as a means of evangelisation and has been described by Pope Francis as a great example for young people today. We will have time for personal sightseeing and shopping before returning to our hotel. Situated within walking distance of our hotel is the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and where on Palm Sunday of 1212, he accepted Clare into the Order. We will conclude our day in this special place for Franciscans where we will see the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died, and the Rose Garden where today miraculously grows the roses without thorns.

Sunday, 11th May Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

This morning, we will enjoy views of the Adriatic Coast as we drive to the town of Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. We will celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Francis and later venerate the relics of this Eucharistic Miracle. During our afternoon drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, we will hear of the early years of Padre Pio and how he overcame many obstacles to fulfil his dream of joining the Capuchin Franciscan Order. Upon arrival we will check into our rooms and afterwards have dinner.

Monday, 12th May English Office, Capuchin friary & Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

The English Office was founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo. After the celebration of morning Mass, we will visit the English Office and learn more of the life of Padre Pio before receiving a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by the humble friar. In the afternoon, our 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 and heard confessions before continuing onto the capuchin friary, where we will 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.

Tuesday, 13th May Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel

After breakfast, we will drive to the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and have the privilege of celebrating Mass in the sacred cave. Walking the Way of the Cross in the afternoon will allow us as Christians to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus's journey of love.

Wednesday, 14th May Return home

We will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage in the Old Tomb where the remains of Padre Pio rested for over 40 years and after lunch enjoy views of the Adriatic coast as we drive to Bari airport for our return flight to Dublin