TUESDAY, 25th AUGUST - Arrive Italy

This afternoon, we will fly from Shannon 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 Italy and of our plans for the forthcoming days. Upon arrival we will have time to relax in our rooms before dinner.


WEDNESDAY, 26th AUGUST - Pietrelcina

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and as we drive to Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio, we will hear of Padre Pio's years spent in his native town. Our day will begin with Mass in the Church of the Holy Family before we embark on a guided tour of the town which will take us to the Forgione family home where Padre Pio was born and the Church of Sant Anna where he was baptised. Our visit to Pietrelcina will conclude with a visit to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels where the newly ordained Padre Pio celebrated his first Mass on the 10th of August 1910. After lunch we will visit nearby Piana Romana where Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata before driving to our destination of San Giovanni Rotondo where Padre Pio lived for over fifty years. After checking into the Hotel Colonne, we will have time to settle into our rooms before dinner.


THURSDAY, 27th AUGUST - English Office, Capuchin friary, Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

After morning Mass in the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio celebrated Mass, we will visit the English Office where we will hear more of the life of St. Pio and receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix of the capuchin friar.

After lunch we will walk to the nearby Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina and have time for private prayer in the crypt before the mortal remains of the great saint of our time. Our guided tour of the sanctuary will begin in the upper church, inaugurated in July 2004 to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo to pray at the tomb of the saint. Our tour will take us to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace and the capuchin friary where we will walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio as we see the cell where the humble friar lived and died and the crucifix before which he received the stigmata.

FRIDAY, 28th AUGUST - Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Matthew's Monastery

Padre Pio was a follower of St. Francis of Assisi and by joining the Capuchin Franciscan 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. The morning at leisure will allow us the opportunity for personal sightseeing and free time lunch, with the option of sampling some of the fine local produce in one of the many local trattorias that line the streets of the quaint town with its unique whitewashed houses.

Our day will continue with an afternoon drive to the ancient St. Matthew's Monastery where we will receive a blessing with the relic of St. Matthew and the Holy Oil.


SATURDAY, 29th AUGUST - Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

After morning Mass, we will visit the hospital during this year that marks the 70th anniversary of the inauguration of Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza. Today we will hear of the history behind Padre Pio's greatest creation of the wonderful work that continues today. An afternoon at leisure will give us the opportunity for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer and after dinner we will participate in the Marian Torchlight Procession at the sanctuary.

SUNDAY, 30th AUGUST - CATHEDRAL OF SALERNO

After morning Mass, we will depart the town of St. Pio and drive through the countryside to Salerno often considered as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. This afternoon we will walk through the historical centre of the town that leads us to the famous Duomo, which houses the relics of St. Matthew, the city's patron saint, in its beautiful Baroque crypt. The Duomo is without doubt a place of extraordinary beauty that will leave us speechless, for sure. There will be time at leisure before driving the short distance to our destination of Pompeii. This evening we will enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience, with dinner in a restaurant located just a few metres from the ruins of Pompeii, sampling traditional ancient Roman dishes.


MONDAY, 31st AUGUST - BASILICA OF VIRGIN OF HOLY ROSARY OF POMPEII

This morning we will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii. In this sacred place, we will venerate the precious painting of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary and child Jesus and hear of the history of St. Bartolo Longo, responsible for bringing the miraculous painting to Pompeii, which brought many of the local people back to the faith. We will visit the museum dedicated to the recently canonised St. Bartolo Longo and see the rose sent by Padre Pio to the basilica just before his death which has been carefully preserved through the years.

An afternoon at leisure will allow the opportunity for some personal sightseeing, whether you decide to visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the nearby town of Sorrento or return to the basilica, spend time in prayer and admire some of the wonderful works of art adorning the impressive basilica (Optional afternoon excursions to Pompeii and Sorrento payable locally). This evening we will come together on this final night of our pilgrimage.


TUESDAY, 1st SEPTEMBER - RETURN HOME

After breakfast, we will depart our hotel in Pompeii and drive to Naples airport, concluding our pilgrimage journey.