PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY ROME (POPE FRANCIS) * MONTE CASSINO * SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (ST. PADRE PIO) * LANCIANO (EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE) * LORETO * ASSISI (ST. FRANCIS) * SIENA ST. ROSE OF LIMA PARISH— YEAR ANNIVERSARY 150 SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR FR. JIM CONOVER OCTOBER 12-21, 2015 $3,999 FROM NEWARK www.pilgrimages.com/stroselima * Optional 4 Night Post-Tour available * October 21-25; Florence, Padua, & Venice HIGHLIGHTS OF INCLUS IONS ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE * ALL AIRPORT TAXES & FUEL SURCHARGES * ACCOMMODATION FOR 8 NIGHTS IN FOUR STAR HOTELS * MEALS: BREAKFAST & DINNER DAILY * WINE & MINERAL WATER WITH DINNERS * MASS DAILY * ROUND TRIP TRANSFERS FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL * AIR-CONDITIONED MOTOR COACH * PROFESSIONAL TOUR ESCORT THROUGHOUT * LOCAL GUIDES THROUGH- OUT * SIGHTSEEING AND ADMISSION FEES * FLIGHT BAG & PORTFOLIO OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Like Us on Facebook www.206tours.com/facebook His Holiness, Pope Francis, St. Peter’s Square, Rome Sample Daily Itinerary Loreto. More than 50 popes have made a pilgrimage to the house transported by angels to this hill in central Italy in 1294. Tradition has it that this is the house in Day 1, Mon Oct 12 – Depart for Rome which Mary first prayed the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood, and in Depart the USA, Canada or other parts of the world, by overnight flight to Rome. which the Holy Family lived. Enjoy lunch before we make our way to Assisi, the Meals will be served on board. hometown of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment, and the founder of the Franciscan Order. We arrive in time for dinner at our hotel. Day 2, Tue Oct 13 - Arrive Rome Welcome to Rome, one of the most magnificent and interesting cities in the world, Day 8, Mon Oct 19: Assisi (The Life of a Saint, that inspired a Holy Father) also known as the “Eternal City”! You will be transferred to your hotel. This after- Today is a very special day, as we will spend a full day touring the home of the noon our guide will introduce us to our fellow pilgrims and our priest who will be Saint that inspired our Holy Father. Pope Francis chose his name in admiration of with us for the rest of the journey. We will make our way to Mass, followed by a the Saint of Nature and Servant to the Poor. Known for being a humble man him- welcome dinner with wine. This evening we will walk to St. Peter’s Square for Ro- self, Pope Francis spent most of his life denying the luxuries of life, and preferring to sary (optional). live in simplicity and humility. Following breakfast, we will begin a tour of Assisi. Visit the tomb of St Francis. Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of St Francis that Day 3, Wed Oct 14 – Rome: Papal Audience – Trevi Fountain / Piazza Novo- still retains something of the atmosphere of the early 1200s, the period when St na – Basilica of St. John the Lateran and St. Mary Major – Holy Steps Francis began his ministry. Contained within the huge 13th-century Basilica are Following breakfast, we will make our way to St. Peter’s Square to attend the Papal many of the saint's possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. You may Audience, led by His Holiness, Pope Francis. (Papal Audience: Is scheduled to take kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis, asking him to rebuild place every Wednesday, pending the schedule of Pope Francis.) Following the audi- His church. It was in St Mary of the Angels Basilica where St Francis spent most of ence, we will make our way to the Trevi Fountain built in the 15th Century to mark his life. Here we visit the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the the ending destination of the Aqua Virgo – a man-made channel erected in 19 B.C saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. You or Piazza Novona where at the center: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi “Fountain of the will have some free time to shop or eat lunch at an outdoor cafe with a view of an Four Rivers. After free time for lunch we will visit the Basilica of St. John the Later- ancient Roman temple, we go to the Church of St. Clare to view the relics of St. an, the Pope’s cathedral church where relics of both Peter and Paul remain under Clare. The foundress of the Order of Poor Clares followed the teachings of St Francis the main altar. It was here that Pope Francis was formally installed as Bishop of by living a life of poverty and humility. We will visit these two saints' tombs before Rome. Next we cross the street to see the Holy Staircase which is believed to be a dinner and retiring for the evening. staircase from Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem and brought to Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. Time permitting we may climb the steps on our knees in memory of Day 9, Tue Oct 20: Assisi – Siena - Assisi Christ’s Passion. Continue to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the most important and After breakfast we will head south to Siena, the birthplace of Saints Catherine the oldest church dedicated to Our Lady. St. Mary Major contains a relic from the (Doctor of the Church, and one of the two patron Saints of Italy, with St. Francis of manger of the infant Jesus. We will celebrate Mass, and then make our way to din- Assisi) and Bernardine (known as the “Apostle of Italy” for his efforts to revive the ner and overnight. Catholic faith in the 15th century). Siena is also one of Italy’s loveliest medieval cities. Here we will stroll the Piazza Del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares and Day 4, Thu Oct 15 : Rome: Vatican Museum – Basilica of St. Paul Outside visit the Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Francis, containing the miraculous conse- the Walls - Catacombs crated hosts that remained intact since 1730. After lunch, we will continue on to Following breakfast, we will depart to celebrate Mass in the largest church in Chris- view the incorrupt head of St. Catherine at the Basilica of St. Dominic (Her body is tendom, St Peter's Basilica, built on the site where St Peter was martyred. Unsur- preserved in Rome in the Basilica St. Maria sopra Minerva). We travel back to Assisi passed in beauty, a monument to the long history of the Catholic Church, to which for dinner and overnight. pilgrims come from around the world, St Peter's is the grandest of the world's churches. Marvel Pieta and Bernini's amazing bronze canopy. Following Mass, we Day 10, Wed Oct 21: Assisi - Rome – USA will visit of the Vatican Museums, containing a group of the most impressive edifices Following breakfast, we will board our bus that will bring us to Rome Airport for our with hundreds of galleries filled with art treasures. See awe-inspiring relics, and return flights home. We will bid farewell to our new friends and to a Pilgrimage works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith. We'll cover The Tap- which will be in our memories and hearts for a long time to come. We depart for estry Gallery, The Raphael Rooms and the most overwhelming Sistine Chapel, Mi- Rome Airport and fondly say, Arrivederci Italia! chelangelo's Masterpiece, restored mural of the Last Judgment. The tour ends as we make our way back into St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis visited the tomb of St. Peter, following his elevation, for a visit of devotion that lasted 45 minutes. He is Optional 4 Night Post-Tour of Florence, Padua & the first Pontiff to visit the necropolis since extensive archaeological excavations Venice with Fr. Jim—$1199 pp dbl— $549 sgl sup were conducted at the ancient site decades ago. We will also visit the tomb of St. John Paul II located at the Vatican. There will be free time for lunch, and then we Day 10, Wed Oct 21 – Assisi – Pisa - Florence will continue on to visit St Paul. Outside the Walls. Continue our tour via the Appian After breakfast, we are off to the beautiful town of Florence. On the way, we will Way -- the oldest road from Roman times--plus the famous Domino Quo Vadis stop to explore the university city of, Pisa. We will marvel at its amazing architectur- Chapel; see the ancient Baths of Caracalla, Arch of Drusus; Tomb of Celilia Metella, al structures and visit the famous Leaning Tower. After lunch, the bus will bring us and the catacombs of St Callixtus where the early Christians hid themselves to through the Tuscany until we arrive at our hotel in Florence. A true paradise for escape persecution. We will conclude our day and wonderful stay in Rome with culture and art lovers, Florence drew to itself the greatest artists of the Renais- dinner at a local restaurant in Rome. sance: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello and many others. You will have a free afternoon to stroll the streets of this city. Enjoy Day 5 Fri, Oct 16: Rome – Monte Cassino – San Giovanni Rotondo some of the best shopping in Italy, visit a museum, or just relax in a café in the Following breakfast, we will head south and cross through the Roman countryside Piazza della Signoria. We gather for dinner to share stories of our day. with its villas and vineyards. During your drive, your tour escort will explain the spiritual, historical, and cultural overview of Italy, which will help to orient you to Day 11, Thu Oct 22 – Florence this beautiful country and prepare you for all that you will experience in the days to After breakfast, we are off to Enjoy guided tour of Florence which includes magnifi- follow.