DAY 1 - Tuesday, 1st September St. Rita of Cascia

This morning, we will fly from Dublin to Rome and upon arrival meet our Marian Pilgrimages representative who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. The picturesque landscape will make for an enjoyable drive to Cascia, stopping for lunch enroute.

Upon arrival in the town of St. Rita, we will celebrate Mass in the basilica dedicated to the Saint of the Impossible and afterwards visit the adjoining monastery, home to St. Rita for forty years. After checking into the four-star Hotel Monte Meraviglia, we will have time to relax in our rooms before dinner.


DAY 2 - Tuesday, 2nd September St. Benedict of Norcia

This morning, we will depart Assisi and travel through the Green Heart of Italy to the town of Norcia, birthplace of St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order, and his twin sister Scholastica. After Mass in the recently restored basilica dedicated to St. Benedict, we will have time to stroll through the unique town before driving to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of St. Carlo Acutis.

After checking into our rooms in the Domus Pacis, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, we will have time to relax before visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. During this special year for Franciscans, as we remember the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226 - a truly sacred place for Franciscans.


DAY 3 - Wednesday, 3rd September St. Francis of Assisi & St. Carlo Acutis

After morning Mass, we will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, today the resting place St. Carlo Acutis, a great follower of St. Francis of Assisi. The name Carlo Acutis became known throughout the world when in October 2020, in the presence of his parents and siblings, he was beatified in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. 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 same part of Assisi, centuries earlier, the young Francis had stripped himself of his fine garments in a public display of his desire to relinquish his lavish lifestyle in favour of a life of poverty and prayer. 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.

Today, as we walk through the medieval streets of Assisi, we will hear of the lives of both St. Francis and St. Clare growing up and their decision to dedicate themselves to spreading the Gospel and caring for the poor.

We will have the opportunity to pray at the tombs of these great saints and admire the wonderful works of art that adorn the Basilica of St. Francis. Time at leisure will give us the opportunity for shopping or to take an optional visit to the Convent of San Damiano. Located outside the walls of Assisi, the Convent of San Damiano is the place where St. Francis received his miraculous calling in 1205 and where St. Clare died in 1253 - an important stop on a pilgrimage to the Franciscan Holy City (Taxi to/from San Damiano payable locally).


DAY 4 - Thursday, 4th September Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

After breakfast, we will depart Assisi and enjoy views of the Adriatic Coast as we drive to Lanciano, site of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. After the celebration of Mass in the Church of St. Francis we will venerate the relics of the miracle which date back to the 8th century and afterwards see the exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles realised by St. Carlo Acutis.

As we continue our drive towards San Giovanni Rotondo on this 4th of September which is a significant date in the history of Padre Pio and the town of San Giovanni Rotondo. It was on this day in 1916 that the humble friar would return to San Giovanni Rotondo and where he would remain for over fifty years. Upon arrival in the town of St. Pio, we will check into our hotel and have time to relax before dinner.


DAY 5 - Friday, 5th September Padre Pio & San Giovanni Rotondo

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 we will see the cell where Padre Pio lived and died and 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 before the remains of the great saint of our time.


DAY 6 - Saturday, 6th September Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel
Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

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, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Carlo Acutis. Today we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave.

During this year that marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of the hospital, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, we will hear of the history behind the hospital which is considered Padre Pio's greatest creation. After dinner we will have the opportunity to participate in the Marian Torchlight Procession.


DAY 7 - Sunday, 7th September Pietrelcina

After breakfast, we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and drive to Piana Romana where this weekend marks the anniversary of the invisible stigmata which took place in September 1910. In this sacred place we will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage. Our guided tour of nearby Pietrelcina will take us to the room where Francesco Forgione (future Padre Pio) was born, the Church of Sant'Anna where he was baptised and Church of the Holy Family where are carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio's years spent in his native town. The remainder of the afternoon at leisure will give us the opportunity to enjoy a stroll through the quaint town before we drive the short distance to our hotel in Avellino where we will have time to enjoy the spectacular surrounding scenery before dinner.


DAY 8 - Monday, 8th September Return home

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive the short distance to Naples airport, concluding our pilgrimage, having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the catholic church.



IMPORTANT NOTE

The towns of Cascia, 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.


ASSISI

Please note 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.


AS RESULT OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL LOCAL FACILITIES IN CASCIA, ASSISI, SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, MONTE SANT ANGELO AND PIETRELCINA FOR HIRE OF WHEELCHAIRS OF MOBILITY AIDS.