A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Italy, Croatia & Medjugorje

April 16, 2023 – Sunday
NEWARK / ITALY
Today we depart Newark Liberty Airport on our overnight flight to Italy, arriving the next morning. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

April 17, 2023 – Monday
ROME
This morning we arrive in Rome and meet our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director, who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We board our motor coach and enter the Eternal City for a visit to one of Rome’s wonderful Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, where the Apostle is buried. Here we celebrate Mass followed by free time to explore of the basilica’s beautiful grounds. Following free time for lunch, we continue on to the ancient Catacombs of St. Calixtus, passing by the ancient Appian Way, the traditional pilgrims’ route followed by Peter and Paul. Following our tour of the Catacombs, we arrive at our hotel for check-in. Following dinner, we enjoy a panoramic tour of “illuminated Rome by night”, including a walk to see the world famous Trevi Fountain. Overnight in Rome.

April 18, 2023 – Tuesday
ROME
This morning we arrive at the Vatican for a celebration of Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Following Mass, we enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, where we see a young Michelangelo’s wonderful Pieta followed by a visit to the Tombs of the Popes in the Vatican Grottos. Following free time for lunch near St. Peter’s Square, we will visit one of the great art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Our tour culminates with Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, which was recently restored to its original splendor. Finally, we visit Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Church of the Holy Cross), which house pieces of the True Cross. we depart for Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps for free time for shopping, prior to returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

April 19, 2023 – Wednesday
ROME – Papal Audience
Today we will visit the Vatican for an Audience with the Holy Father. Following our time with Pope Francis, we enjoy free time for lunch and shopping in Piazza Navona followed by a visit to the world-famous Pantheon. Later in the afternoon, we drive to Capitoline Hill, where we will enjoy a view of the ancient Roman Forum and see Constantine’s Arch, the Arch of Titus, the Circus Maximus and ancient Roman Aqueducts. We stop for some free time outside the famous Colosseum and an opportunity for some picture-taking. Later in the afternoon, we will visit another of Rome’s major basilicas, Saint Mary Major, the most important church in the world devoted to Our Lady. Here we celebrate Mass where Mass has been celebrated every day since the 5th century. While at St. Mary’s we enjoy some free time for prayer and further exploration of this wonderful basilica. From St. Mary’s we drive to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under the main altar. Here we will see its impressive statues of each of the Apostles. From here we cross the street to visit the Church of the Scala Santa. Here we see the Holy Staircase of 28 marble steps (now covered in wood) which is believed to be a staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by Saint Helen in the 4th century. Our day concludes as we gather for this evening’s special dinner at Ristorante La Carovana. Overnight in Rome.

April 20, 2023 – Thursday
ROME / PIETRELCINA / SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
Today we bid farewell to Rome with our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo. En route we will visit Pietrelcina, the birth place of Saint Padre Pio and where he experienced the first apparitions of Jesus, Mary and other saints. Here we will visit his home, the Church of Santa Ana where Padre Pio was baptized and the Convent of Friars Minor Capuchin Pietrelcina. We continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home town of Padre Pio, who was made a saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. Here we will learn of the extraordinary life and reputation for sanctity of the Franciscan Padre Pio da Pietralcina, who lived, labored and died here 50 years ago in 1968. We will visit and celebrate Mass in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Saint Pio celebrated Mass for many years. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

April 21, 2023 – Friday
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO / MONTE SANT’ANGELO
This morning we will visit the Saint Padre Pio Church and see the beautiful mosaic crypt that houses a glass reliquary containing Saint Pio’s body. Following Mass here, we drive to nearby Monte Sant’Angelo and visit one of the most ancient of Christian shrines, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, who appeared here in the 5th and 8th centuries. Here we will explore the sanctuary, including the Cave of Saint Michael. Following free time for lunch, we return to San Giovanni Rotondo where the remainder of our day is free to explore the sanctuary’s grounds. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

April 22, 2023 – Saturday
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO / LANCIANO / ASSISI
This morning we depart San Giovanni Rotondo for Lanciano, where a priest who was doubtful about the Real Presence, during his celebration of Mass, witnessed the host had turned into flesh and the wine into blood. We celebrate Mass in the Church of San Francesco; the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. Following free time for lunch, we drive to the medieval town of Assisi, home of Saint Francis, the gentlest of saints. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

April 23, 2023 – Sunday
ASSISI
Today we enjoy a full day in Assisi. We begin our day with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built to enclose the tiny Church of the Porziuncola, Saint Francis’ place of prayer and where he consecrated Clare as the Bride of Christ. We will next visit the Lower Basilica of St. Francis, where we celebrate Mass, followed by a visit to the Basilica of Saint Clare, Francis’ friend and foundress of the Poor Clare nuns, and see the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis in San Damiano. Following some free time for lunch in Assisi’s historic center, we go to San Damiano to pray in the place where Francis wrote the “Canticle of the Sun”. Our day concludes with a visit to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to view the body of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

April 24, 2023 – Monday
ASSISI / LORETO / ANCONA
This morning we drive to Loreto, one of Italy’s leading pilgrimage sites, where local tradition says angels moved the house that had been the Holy Family’s home in Nazareth. Upon our arrival in Loreto, we enjoy free time for lunch in Loreto’s historical center, where we will see the Fontana Maggiore. We will visit the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto and its grounds. Following Mass and free time at the shrine, we drive to the port town of Ancona and board our overnight ferry boat ride to Split. Dinner and overnight at Sea.

April 25, 2023 – Tuesday
SPLIT / MOSTAR / MEDJUGORJE
This morning we awake on Croatia’s beautiful Dalmatian Coast. We disembark our ship and meet our local guide for a walking tour through Split’s historic inner city built around Emperor Diocletian’s 4th century palace, a well-preserved fortress and a living part of the old town. Split’s Roman heritage is very evident at Peristyle Square on the grounds of Diocletian’s Palace. During our tour we will visit the Temple of Jupiter. From Split we will cross the border into Bosnia Herzegovina, through the gorge of the Neretva River, and arrive in Mostar, set in a beautiful valley. Here we will visit Saint Peter and Paul Monastery and enjoy a walk across the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge). Later in the afternoon, we drive to Medjugorje, where upon our arrival, we will visit and celebrate Mass in one of the local churches prior to arriving at our hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight in Medjugorje.

April 26, 2023 – Wednesday
MEDJUGORJE
Today we enjoy our entire day at the Sanctuary beginning with a visit and celebration of Mass at Saint James Church. Following Mass, we will ascend Apparitions Hill (Podbrdo) where it is believed that on June 24, 1981, Our Lady Queen of Peace first appeared to the six young children. Those who wish to, may climb to the top of Cross Mountain (Krizevak) where the children say that Mary prays at the cross every day. We will also visit the Franciscan Monastery at Siroki Brieg to attend talks and healing services with the local residents. We also enjoy free time for exploration, personal prayer, confessions and reciting the Rosary. Dinner and overnight in Medjugorje.

April 27, 2023 – Thursday
MEDJUGORJE / DUBROVNIK
This morning we bid farewell to Medjugorje and return to the Dalmatian Coast for a visit to Dubrovnik, considered to be the most beautiful medieval city on the Mediterranean Sea with a history dating back to the 7th century. Here we enjoy a walking tour of Old Town, including a visit and celebration of Mass at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Following free time for lunch and shopping in Dubrovnik’s historic center, we continue our walking tour with visits to the Church of St. Blaise & St. Savior Church, as well as Dubrovnik’s cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Our day of sightseeing concludes as we board a cable car for a scenic ride up to Mount Srd for a fantastic panoramic view of the city and seaport below. This evening we gather for a special “farewell dinner” at a local restaurant. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

April 28, 2023 – Friday
DUBROVNIK / NEWARK
Following breakfast, we transfer to the airport and our return flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer to the Lord.