Day 1 � Pietrelcina Wednesday, 1st October
We will depart in the morning from Gatwick to Naples. On arrival, we will be greeted by our Marian Pilgrimages representative and driver who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. As we drive to the town of Pietrelcina, birthplace of Padre Pio, we will hear of the years Padre Pio spent in his native town and of how he fulfilled his dream of becoming a �monk with a beard.� Upon arrival, we will have lunch in a local restaurant before celebrating the opening Mass of our pilgrimage in the Church of the Holy Family. We will visit the museum which has carefully preserved items dating back to Padre Pio�s years in Pietrelcina before driving the short distance to our hotel in Benevento and after checking into our rooms we will have time to relax before dinner.

Day 2 � Pietrelcina & Piana Romana, Thursday, 2nd October
After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and return to Pietrelcina. We will celebrate Mass this morning in the Church of Sant�Anna where Padre Pio was baptised and afterwards embark on a tour of the town, visiting the Forgione family home where Padre Pio was born and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli where he celebrated his first Mass. In nearby Piana Romana we will see the tree before which Padre Pio received the first signs of the stigmata before driving to San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio for over fifty years. After checking into our rooms, we will have time to relax before dinner.

Day 3 � English Office, Capuchin friary, Crypt of St. Pio, Friday, 3rd October
This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio celebrated Mass and spent hours each day hearing confessions. Founded by Fr. Alessio Parente to welcome Englishspeaking pilgrims arriving in San Giovanni Rotondo, after Mass we visit the English office during which time, we will receive a blessing with the glove and crucifix used by Padre Pio. Our afternoon guided tour of the sanctuary will take us to Church of Our Lady of Grace, where Padre Pio celebrated his last Mass and the capuchin friary, where we will learn more about the �poor friar who prays� as Padre Pio often described himself. Our tour will conclude in the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where we will have time for prayer before the remains of the great saint of our time. After dinner, we will have the opportunity to join with the Capuchin community in the Church of Our Lady of Grace as we mark the �Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi.�

Day 4 � Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel & Historical town of San Giovanni Rotondo Saturday, 4th October
On this Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, we will make our own pilgrimage to the town of Monte Sant�Angelo, walking in the footsteps of another great saint who stopped in this sacred place on his way to the Holyland. Padre Pio too had a great devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and also travelled on pilgrimage to the shrine. As we drive to the quaint town, we will hear of the apparitions of the Archangel Michael and celebrate Mass in the sacred cave. We will have time at leisure and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to San Giovanni Rotondo.From the moment of his arrival in the town of San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio had a deep affinity for the local people of the town. His presence transformed San Giovanni Rotondo from what was regarded as a remote agricultural town into a �Hospital City� and place of pilgrimage. Despite the transformation of the town, the traditions have very much remained. In the afternoon we will have free time to stroll through the cobbled streets of the historical centre of San Giovanni Rotondo and hear of the history of the town, its unique traditions and see some of the places visited by Padre Pio. After dinner we will have the opportunity to participate in procession held through the town as we celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, on this special feast day.

Day 5 - �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza� & Massera Calderoso, Sunday, 5th October
In 1956 Padre Pio presented to the world his greatest gift, �Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza� which today is one of the most important hospitals in Italy. An important part in the story of Padre Pio, after morning Mass we will learn of the history behind what is regarded as Padre Pio�s greatest creation. After our visit to the hospital, we will enjoy a drive through the picturesque countryside to Calderoso, the farm which was one of three farms donated to Padre Pio during the 1950�s and now provides the hospital with some wonderful fresh produce. Surrounded by century-old olive trees, we will hear of the history behind the farm and afterwards enjoy lunch in the Masseria, giving us the opportunity to sample some of the fine local produce. We will return to San Giovanni Rotondo and with the evening at leisure.

Day 6 � Mass at the Old Tomb, Monday, 6th October
This morning, we will celebrate Mass in the old tomb of the Church of Our Lady of Grace, where the remains of Padre Pio rested for over forty years and afterwards walk the Way of the Cross which will allow us as Christians to pause and enter reflectively into those last moments of Jesus�s journey of love. In the afternoon there will be time for confession or to return to the crypt of St. Pio for private prayer.

Day 7 � Friary of Sant �Elia a Pianisi, Tuesday, 7th October
This morning, we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and travel to the Convent of Sant �Elia a Pianisi. It was during the period spent at the convent of Sant �Elia a Pianisi that the 19-year-old Br. Pio made his solemn profession of vows, to be forever part to the Order of Capuchin Friars. We will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage in this place of great significance, where Padre Pio finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a capuchin friar. After lunch we will continue our drive to our hotel in Avellino where we will spend the last night of our pilgrimage.

Day 8 � Return home. Wednesday, 8th October
After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive the short distance to Naples airport for our return flight to Gatwick, having walked in the footsteps of one of the great saints of our time.