I T I N E R A R Y

June 15th Today, we depart on our transatlantic flight to Rome, Italy.

June 16th   Arrival to Rome airport and transfer to the Vatican.  We will be staying for three nights at the Pilgrim Guesthouse of the Franciscan Sisters, which has an immediate view of St. Peter Basilica and Square.  

June 16th-19th   Vatican and Rome:  Each day pilgrims will be accompanied by a priest chaplain who will celebrate Mass for the group.  In this great Jubilee Year we will go through the Holy Doors opened by Pope Francis at St. Peter Basilica, thereby gaining pilgrims all the blessings of the Jubilee Indulgence.  Guided Tours will be given of the Major Basilicas of St. Peter, St. Mary Maggiore and St. John Lateran and the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.  Pilgrims will have the opportunity to prayerfully ascend the Scala Santa (Holy Steps of Pilate).  Pilgrims will make a visit to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the ancient Pantheon, and have an opportunity to try the delicious Roman gelato (ice cream) at one of the famous gelateria!  The Wednesday Papal Audience will be scheduled at the Vatican (pending the availability of the Holy Father).  Some free time will be given for the possibility of ascending the inner Cuppola Rotunda of St. Peter’s.  Dinner and breakfast will be arranged each day for our pilgrim group.

June 19th   Rome - Assisi  Group will rise for breakfast and depart Rome by bus for transfer to Assisi.

June 19th- 21st   Assisi    The group will spend two nights at the Benedictine Monastery Guesthouse in Assisi. Breakfast and dinner daily. The Monastery has sweeping view of the Assisi Valley below from its rooftop patio where pilgrims may gather. It is a short walk to the main square of Assisi, the Piazza Commune, the hub of the hilltop life, with its outdoor cafes, gelato, artisanal shops and ancient fountain. The Guesthouse is also a very short distance to the ancient Church that now houses the tomb of Bl. Carlos Acutis. We will visit the Crypt Tomb of St. Francis of Assisi and have a tour of St. Francis Basilica by one of the Franciscan friars. Up at the Piazza Vescovado we will visit the ancient fountain near the Bishop’s residence where St. Francis dramatically stripped himself of all worldly possessions and gave himself only to God. We will visit the Chiesa Nuova, the cite of Francis’ family home where He was imprisoned by his father. We will enjoy a walk to St. Clare Basilica to venerate her tomb and holy relics. We will pray in the chapel before the large St. Damiano Crucifix from which Jesus came alive and spoke to Francis. From there we will walk down through the ancient olive groves to the San Damiano Church, where Jesus first spoke to Francis. It was there that St. Clare embraced holy poverty and lived a contemplative life with her nuns for 37 years. Flowers mark the very places where she ate, prayed and rested as abbess of the monastery she founded. We will also visit the Portiuncola Chapel contained in the Basilica Our Lady of the Angels, where Jesus and Mary both appeared to Francis and granted to the whole Church a great gift through his intercession: a Plenary indulgence blessing is granted for pilgrims who pray there. The Transitus Chapel with the beautiful mural of the angels carrying Francis to heaven marks the very spot where Francis died, and the mystical Rose Garden blooms with thornless roses where he overcame temptation.   

June 21st  Assisi - Medjugorje  Early departure from Assisi for bus transfer to Rome Airport for flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia and bus transfer to Medjugorje.  Dinner at the Two Hearts Hotel.

June 21st- 25th  Medjugorje    We will stay at the Two Hearts Hotel for five nights with breakfast and dinner each day.  On June 24th and 25th, we will be present in Medjugorje to celebrate the 44th Anniversary of Our Lady Queen of Peace appearing in Medjugorje.

June 26th   Medjugorje - USA   Breakfast at Two Hearts Hotel and bus transfer to Split Airport for flights to return to the USA