12 Day Catholic Pilgrimage Italy & Venice

Rev Rafael Bercasio

St Teresita Catholic Church

El Mirage AZ

Check in at Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport (PHX) for your overnight

flight to Rome, Italy via Charlotte.

Dinner and breakfast served on board.

Arrive Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) 09:50 AM. Meet your professional

tour manager and driver. Visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the

Walls, where St. Paul is buried, and Domine Quo Vadis Church, where

St. Peter met the Risen Christ. Mass of Thanksgiving. Dinner and

overnight in Rome.

Attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square (pending papal schedule).

After lunch, visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St.

Peter’s Basilica (Pietà and tomb of St. John Paul II). Mass near the

Vatican. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Visit three of Rome’s great papal basilicas:

· St. Mary Major – relics of the Holy Crib

· St. John Lateran – Cathedral of the Pope

· Santa Croce in Gerusalemme – relics of the Passion

· Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) – climb on knees in prayer

Afternoon walking tour: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza

Navona. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Travel to Assisi (2.5 hrs). Visit the Basilica of St Francis Santuario

della Spogliazione (Blessed Carlo Acutis), and Basilica of St. Clare. End

at St. Mary of the Angels (Porziuncola and Chapel of Transito). Mass,

dinner, and overnight in Assisi

Excursion to La Verna Sanctuary, where St. Francis received the Stigmata

in 1224 Mass and reflection time in the mountains.

Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Depart for Loreto, home of the Holy House of Nazareth.

Continue to Lanciano, site of the Eucharistic Miracle, and celebrate Mass

in the miracle chapel. Dinner and overnight in Lanciano or San Giovanni

Rotondo.

Visit the Shrine of St. Padre Pio, his old church, and the modern San Pio

Shrine.Proceed to Monte Sant’Angelo to celebrate Mass in the Grotto of

St. Michael the Archangel. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo

Early departure north to Siena (5-1/2 hours + lunch stop)

Visit Basilica of St. Dominic, Shrine of St. Catherine, and Piazza del

Campo. Continue to Florence. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Morning visits to Accademia Gallery (David) and Duomo (Santa Maria

del Fiore). After Lunch, drive to Padua (2 hrs.) to visit the basilica of St

Anthony and Santa Giustina (tomb of St. Luke). Celebrate Mass, then

continue to Venice (1 hr. 15 min). Dinner and overnight in Venice (1st

night).

A leisurely spiritual day in Venice – the “City of Water.”

· Private boat to St. Mark’s Square

· Mass inside St. Mark’s Basilica and guided tour of its golden mosaics

· Visit Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs

· Free time for a gondola ride, shopping, or visiting Murano or Burano

Islands

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) for

your 12:15 PM flight to Philadelphia, connecting to Phoenix. Arrive home

at 9:09 PM (local time) with lasting memories of your spiritual journey