June 2 – 14, 2024 • Thirteen Days
June 30 – July 12, 2024 • Thirteen Days
July 14 – 26, 2024 • Thirteen Days
October 6 – 18, 2024 • Thirteen Days
Pilgrimage
only- Single Room $400 additional
These programs offer you an opportunity to deepen your personal relationship with God through visits to the major sanctuaries associated with SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi. Your life is enriched and transformed through participation in rituals, prayers, Eucharistic celebrations, historical visits and lectures. By journeying through their life stories, these two saints help us to “fix our gaze on God”.
Details Overseas flight to Rome ASSISI [7 days] Every significant place associated with SS. Francis and Clare will be visited. LA VERNA This is the sanctuary where Francis received the stigmata. GRECCIO [Rieti Valley] Celebrate Christmas liturgy where Francis revitalized the custom of the Christmas crèche. ROME [3 days] You will see St. John Lateran, the baptistry of the Franciscan Order and the Vatican of Francis’ day, St. Peter’s Basilica and San Francesco a Ripa. Depart for USA.
Sample Pilgrimage Program
The actual program schedule varies according to length of the pilgrimage and days of the week. (E.g.; A Papal Audience is possible only on Wednesdays). This example is provided to give the pilgrim a general idea of the pilgrimage content. Your program will have differences.
Sample Pilgrimage
Day 1 Depart from USA to Rome
Day 2
- 02:00 PM Pilgrims arrive at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport, also known as Fiumicino
- 03:00 Bus departs for Assisi; Break on the road (rest stop);
Orientation on Bus; Money Exchange - 06:00 Arrival, Keys, room assignments
- 07:00 Opening Ritual
- 07:30 Cena (evening meal)
- 08:30 Introductory walk through the city
Day 3
- 08:00 AM Breakfast
- 08:45 Presentation
- 10:00 Eucharist at Chiesa Nuova
- 11:15 Piazza del Comune; Visit to Casa Paterna, San Francesco Piccolino
- 01:00 PM Pranzo (midday meal); Riposo (rest)
- 04:00 Meet at Fountain; To Maria Maggiore, Visit, Ritual
- 06:45 Presentation on San Damiano Cross
- 07:30 Cena
Day 4
- 07:30 AM Breakfast
- 08:15 Presentation
- 09:15 To Santa Chiara: Personal Prayer before San Damiano Crucifix
- 09:45 Taxis to San Damiano
- 10:00 Eucharist at San Damiano
- 11:00 Visit; Ritual for Conversion and Healing
- 12:00 PM Taxis for return (optional)
- 01:00 Pranzo and Riposo
- 04:00 Presentation
- 05:15 Depart for San Rufino; Visit / Ritual
- 07:30 Cena
Day 5
- 08:00 AM Breakfast
- 08:45 Presentation
- 10:00 Piazza del Comune — taxis depart for Carceri
- 10:15 Eucharist in the crypt
- 11:15 Visit
- 12:30 PM Taxis return to Assisi
- 01:00 Pranzo
- 04:00 Meet at fountain in Piazza Comune; Taxis to La Maddalena; Presentation; Visit and
Ritual of the Lepers - 06:00 Taxis return
- 07:30 Cena
Day 6
- 07:30 AM Breakfast
- 08:15 Depart for city bus
- 08:45 Bus to Porziuncola; Visit
- 10:00 Eucharist; Time for Prayer
- 12:00 PM Picnic lunches / ritual; Afternoon free; Cena on one’s own
Day 7
- 07:00 AM Breakfast
- 08:00 Bus departs for La Verna
- 10:00 Arrival and break
- 10:30 Historical visit
- 12:00 PM Eucharist in Stigmata Chapel
- 01:00 Lunch (optional picnic on the mountain)
- 03:00 Procession (optional)
- 04:00 Bus returns to Assisi
- 07:30 Cena
Day 8
- 07:30 AM Breakfast
- 08:30 Depart for Basilica of St. Francis
- 09:00 Eucharist at Tomb of Francis
- 10:30 Visit
- 01:00 PM Festive pranzo; Afternoon free; Cena on one’s own
Day 9
- 07:00 AM Breakfast — luggage at front door
- 08:00 Bus departs for Greccio
- 11:00 Eucharist
- 12:00 PM Visit
- 01:00 Pranzo at Ristorante Belvedere
- 02:30 Bus departs for Rome
- 04:30 Arrival at Residenza Madri Pie
- 06:00 Orientation to Rome; Walk in the city of Rome; Cena on one’s own during the walk
Day 10
- To be Determined
Day 11
- 06:45 AM Breakfast
- 07:15 Depart for San Pietro
- 07:45 Eucharist at Tomb of St. Peter
- 09:00 Meet in Piazza
- 09:15 Historical visit; Pranzo out on one’s own
- 03:00 PM Bus departs for St. John Lateran
- 03:30 Visit
- 04:00 Ritual in the Canon’s Chapel
- 05:00 Departure for San Francesco a Ripa
- 05:30 Visit / prayer at San Francesco a Ripa
- 06:15 Bus returns. Cena out at Staff’s expense
Day 12
- 08:00 AM Breakfast; Free time to visit Vatican; Museum, Sistine Chapel; Pranzo out on one’s own
- 05:00 PM Evaluations