DAY 1- Tuesday, 29th September Pietrelcina
We will depart in the morning from Bristol to Rome where we will be greeted by our Marian Pilgrimages representative. As we drive to Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio, we will hear of Padre Pio�s years spent in his native town and his dream of joining the Capuchin Franciscan Order. After lunch in a local restaurant, our walking tour will take us to the room where baby Francesco was born and the Church of Sant�Anna where he was baptised. Our visit to Pietrelcina will conclude with the celebration of Mass before we continue our drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio for over fifty years. After checking into our hotel, we will have time to relax before dinner. DAY 2 � Wednesday, 30th September Capuchin friary & Crypt of Padre Pio
Founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome English-speaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, after morning Mass, we will visit the English office and receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by Padre Pio. The arrival of Padre Pio in 1916 to San Giovanni Rotondo transformed the once unknown agricultural town into a hospital city and international place of pilgrimage. This afternoon we will walk in the footsteps of Padre Pio during his years in San Giovanni Rotondo as we visit the ancient church where the humble friar celebrated Mass and heard confessions and the capuchin friary where Padre Pio lived and died before we conclude our day at the crypt where we will have time for private prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time. DAY 3 � Thursday, 1st October Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel
Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Padre Pio had a great devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and travelled on pilgrimage to the shrine in Monte Sant Angelo. As we drive to Monte Sant�Angelo we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael in the Gargano and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. In 1956 Padre Pio presented to the world �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,� the hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo which today is regarded as one of the most important hospitals in Italy. This afternoon, we will visit the hospital and hear of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio�s greatest creation. We will have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio. DAY 4 � Friday, 2nd October Holy Face of Manoppello & Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and enjoy views of the Adriatic Coast as we drive to the town of Manoppello where we will visit the Basilica of the Holy Face. Relics, considered to be the burial cloths of Christ have been stored for centuries and are scattered throughout Europe however only two of the cloths have images upon them: the Shroud of Turin and the cloth at Manoppello. We will celebrate Mass and afterwards venerate the �Santo Sudarium�, the veil that has been carefully preserved above the altar, which is believed to have been the cloth lain over the head of Christ in the Tomb. We will hear of the examinations that have been carried out over the years on the veil and of the Ann Connor Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi & Padua � 2026 mysterious arrival of the cloth in the town of Manoppello. We will drive to Lanciano, and after free time for lunch will visit the church dedicated to St. Francis to venerate the relics of the first Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church which date back to the 8th century. The wonderful scenery to the �Green Heart of Italy� will make for an enjoyable afternoon drive to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare and resting place of Carlo Acutis. We will check into the Domus Pacis, located in the valley below the town of Assisi, and after checking into our rooms have time to relax before dinner. DAY 5 � Saturday, 3rd October Chapel of the Porziuncola & Chapel of the Transito
During this special year for Franciscans, as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi, we will visit the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis realised his true calling and the Chapel of the Transito where Francis died on the 3rd of October 1226 � a truly sacred place for Franciscans. After the celebration of Mass, we will see the Rose Garden where today miraculously grows roses without thorns and have time for private prayer. In the afternoon embark on a tour of Assisi, walking along the cobbled streets of the town, listening to episodes in the life of both Francis and Clare and their decision to follow a life of poverty and prayer. Our day will conclude at the Basilica of St. Francis with time for prayer at the tomb of the �Poor Man of Assisi.� Tonight, in the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, we will gather with fellow pilgrims as we mark the �Transito of St. Francis� and celebrate the life of the saint. DAY 6 � Sunday, 4th October Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi
The name Carlo Acutis became known throughout the world when in October 2020, in the presence of his parents and siblings, he was beatified in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The young Carlo had the capacity to enjoy life in a simple way, and just like Francis was not impressed by material things. This morning, we will celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, the resting place of the first millennial beatified and hear of the significance of this part of Assisi in the story of Francis. We will have the afternoon at leisure to immerse ourselves in the celebrations taking place through the town as we mark the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis. DAY 7 � Monday, 5th October Padua
After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to Padua, town of St. Anthony. St. Anthony of Padua Born in Lisbon in 1195 and given the name Fernando. At the early age of 15 years, he entered the religious order of St. Augustine however after some time and despite challenges from the Augustinians he left the Order and received the Franciscan habit, taking the name Anthony. Thought by his fellow friars to be uneducated Anthony became one of the great preachers and theologians of his day. Anthony died when he was only thirty-six and had been a Franciscan just 10 years. The following year Pope Gregory IX, moved by the many miracles that occurred at Anthony�s tomb, declared him a saint in 1232. Ann Connor Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi & Padua � 2026 This afternoon, we will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Anthony and afterwards have time for private prayer at the tomb of the saint. During our tour of the magnificent basilica, we will hear important episodes in the life of St. Anthony and afterwards have time for private prayer. DAY 8 � Tuesday, 6th October Padua
Padua�s Scrovegni Chapel is, without a doubt, an artistic masterpiece. Built on the ambition of Enrico Scrovegni, the Chapel is adorned with the frescoes of Giotto, who dedicated himself to the project for 855 days between the years 1302 and 1305. This morning, we will visit the chapel which is famous all over the world and now listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After free time for lunch, we will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage at the Sanctuary of St. Leopold Mandic, a capuchin friar best known for his work in the confessional, where, like Saint Padre Pio and Saint John Vianney, he sometimes spent 13-15 hours a day. We will have time for prayer at the tomb and afterwards have time at leisure for private sightseeing in Padua. DAY 9 � Wednesday, 7th October Return home
After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and drive to the airport after having walked in the footsteps of some of the great saints of the Catholic Church. Please note as San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant�Angelo and Assisi are all hill-top towns with a number of inclines which need to be negotiated to arrive at the various sanctuaries, they are not suitable for wheelchair users. As a result, there is no official local facility for hire of wheelchairs or mobile aids. As the streets of these quaint towns are cobbled, we recommend you wear suitable footwear