Pilgrimage to the Highlights of Italy and Its Miracles of the Eucharist
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Santa Clara De Asis Church,
Yorba Linda, California

Spiritual Directors: Fr. Michael Hanifin and Deacon Bob Soikkeli

October 9 to 24, 2011

DAY 1, Oct 9 (Sunday) – Los Angeles, California/ Rome, Italy
We start our journey with a transatlantic flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, in Fiumicino, Italy, just outside Rome. In-flight meals will be served.

DAY 2, Oct 10 (Monday) – Rome
Upon our arrival in Rome, our Tour Escort will welcome us to Italy. Rome is the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all over the world. After a short panoramic orientation of the Eternal City, we will check in to our hotel for our dinner and overnight rest. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME

DAY 3, Oct 11 (Tuesday) – Rome (The Vatican, Basilicas, and Scavi Tour)
MASS AND BREAKFAST
We will start at the Vatican Museum in the morning. Our next stop is the world-famous Sistine Chapel, where we can admire the awesome masterpieces of Michelangelo, as well as other artworks dating back to the times of ancient Greece and Rome. From there, we’ll continue to the largest church in Roman Catholicism, St. Peter’s Basilica. There, we‘ll take part in the “Scavi Tour”, visiting the excavations below St. Peter’s. We will spend time visiting the rest of the major Basilicas within the walls of Rome, including St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. We will also get to pray at the Scala Santa (the Holy Stairs), the same steps that Christ ascended to receive Pilate’s unjust condemnation. These stairs were transported from Jerusalem to Rome in the 4th Century by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME

DAY 4, Oct 12 (Wednesday) – Rome (Papal Audience, City Tour, Catacombs)
MASS AND BREAKFAST
On this morning, before we continue our tour, we will have a Papal Audience. Afterward, we will visit the famous Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in the world. From there, we’ll journey down the ancient road of Via Appia (the Appian Way), to visit the Catacomb of St. Callistus, burial site of the holy martyrs, like St. Cecilia and early Christians.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME

DAY 5, Oct 13 (Thursday) – Rome/Genazzano/Monte Cassino/Naples
MASS AND BREAKFAST
We say “Ciao” to Rome, as we proceed to Genazzano, a city rich in history. It is blessed with the presence of a miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin, housed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Then we’ll make a stop at Monte Cassino, a beautiful town founded by St. Benedict in 529 A.D., before moving on to Naples.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN NAPLES

DAY 6, Oct 14 (Friday) – Naples (Capri/ Sorrento Excursion)
MASS AND BREAKFAST
In the morning, we will be taken to the island of Capri by jetfoil. There, we will explore this lush little island which has captivated the whole world. From there, we’ll return to Italian mainland and visit Sorrento, a small tourist city of 16,500 in the Italy’s Campania region. Sorrento overlooks Naples Bay, and it is the seat of the eponymous Sorrentine Peninsula. Notable locales in this city include the ancient Amalfi Drive (connecting Amalfi and Sorrento), and the impressive sea cliffs over the Mediterranean. In the past, this scenic area has attracted such famous personalities as Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti. We’ll also spend some time leisurely strolling through this beautiful old town, taking in the lovely surroundings, before heading back to Naples.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN NAPLES

DAY 7, Oct 15 (Saturday) – Naples/Pompeii/San Giovanni Rotondo
MASS AND BREAKFAST
We will depart Naples to visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the great Roman city destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Here, we will find temples honoring the Roman gods Apollo and Jupiter, as well as the city’s forum. In the nearby modern city of Pompei, the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary was erected in the latter half of the 1800’s. The image of Our Lady of Pompei within the shrine is a derivation of an Eastern Orthodox Icon, which can be traced back to the 6th Century AD. Both in the East and West, the image represents Mary as Queen of Heaven. It was at this site a special devotion called the “Supplication of the Queen of Victories” was begun on October 1883. Since that time, it has come to be recited throughout the world twice a year, on May 8, and on the first Sunday in October. This devotion includes a request thought to have been given by Our Lady to a child healed at Pompei: “Whoever desires favors of me should make three Novenas of Petition and three thanksgivings.” After our day at this historic city, we’ll continue our travel to San Giovanni Rotondo.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO

DAY 8, Oct 16 (Sunday) – San Giovanni Rotondo (Monte Sant’Angelo excursion)
MASS AND BREAKFAST
In the morning, we’ll visit places associated with Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, including the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, site of his tomb, his monastic cell, his confessional, and the crucifix said to have given him his famous stigmata while he prayed. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Monte Sant’Angelo, to visit the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. It is here that six different Popes have knelt in prayer here, seeking the protection of St. Michael. In the evening, we’ll return to San Giovanni Rotondo.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN SAN GIOVANNIN ROTONDO

DAY 9, Oct 17 (Monday) – San Giovanni Rotondo/ Corato/Lanciano
MASS AND BREAKFAST
We’ll depart San Giovanni Rotondo for Corato, to visit the house, museum and sanctuary of one of the greatest mystics of the century, Luisa Picaretta. Born in Corato in 1865, Luisa called herself “the little daughter of the Divine Will”, and she liked to talk to everybody about God’s Holy Will. As a result, everyone in town referred to her as “Luisa la Santa” (“Luisa the Saint”). After Corato, we’ll journey to Lanciano, famous for the Miracle of the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The miracle took place during the 8th Century, when a Basilian monk doubted the Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, only to find himself holding the Host that had changed into Real Flesh, and that the Wine on the altar had changed into Real Blood.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN LANCIANO

DAY 10, Oct 18 (Tuesday) – Lanciano/Loreto/Cascia/ Assisi
MASS AND BREAKFAST
We’ll continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine of Loreto, to see the famous Santa Casa di Loreto (Holy House of Loreto), the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, located within the walls of the Basilica of Loreto since 1294. Then, we’ll go to Cascia, site of our next Eucharistic Miracle. We will visit Basilica Santa Rita da Cascia, view the incorrupt body of St. Rita in the Chapel, and then see the Eucharistic Miracle in the nearby minor Basilica. Afterward, we will proceed to the Convent of St. Rita, to see her relics, such as her habit, her wedding ring, and the crucifix from which she received her forehead stigmata. Our final stop of the day will be the hometown of one of the humblest men who lived in this world, St. Francis of Assisi.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ASSISI

DAY 11, Oct 19 (Wednesday) – Assisi
MASS AND BREAKFAST
The day will begin with exploring the hilltop birthplace of St Francis of Assisi. Then we’ll go to St. Francis Basilica, to visit St. Francis’ tomb. Our next stop is the Basilica of St. Clare, which houses her incorrupt body, and the little Church of St. Damian, the site where Jesus appeared to St. Francis from the Crucifix, and said “Go, Francis, and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin”. Then, we’ll visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, in the lower plains of Assisi, and site of the Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi took place in 1240. within the Basilica is the small Church of the Porziuncola. It is here that Pope Honorius III granted a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble Church in the first two days of August every year, with Confession, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ASSISI

DAY 12, Oct 20 (Thursday) – Assisi/Orvieto/Siena/ Florence
MASS AND BREAKFAST IN ASSISI
We will depart Assisi for Orvieto, to see the city’s Cathedral, located in the main squareand a landmark of this tiny city. There, we will view the holy corporal containing the Sacred Blood of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto in 1263, and origin of the Feast of Corpus Christi. After Orvieto, we’ll move on to Siena, home to Saints Catherine and Bernardine, where we’ll visit the birthplace of St. Catherine, and view her incorrupt head at the Basilica of San Domenico. We will stroll through the Piazza Del Campo, one of Italy’s finest squares, and visit the Cathedral and Basilica of San Francesco, which contains the miraculous consecrated Host that has remained intact since 1730. At the end of our tour, we will leave for Florence.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN FLORENCE

DAY 13, Oct 21 (Friday) – Florence
MASS AND BREAKFAST IN FLORENCE
Our day will begin with a guided tour of Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany, including the magnificent Santa Maria Del Fiore (St. Mary of the Flowers) Basilica, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise’ in the Baptistery, and the sculpture-studded Signoria Square. We’ll also visit the Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross). At the conclusion of the tour, we will enjoy some free time in the afternoon.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN FLORENCE

DAY 14, Oct 22 (Saturday) – Florence/La Verna/Padua
BREAKFAST IN FLORENCE/MASS IN LA VERNA
After breakfast, we will visit the Uffici Gallery, which contains one of the richest collections of art treasures in the world. Afterwards, we will drive to La Verna to visit the Sanctuary of La Verna. It is here that Saint Francis of Assisi is said to have received the stigmata. We will celebrate Mass here, then continue our journey to Padua.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN PADUA

DAY Oct 23 (Sunday) – Padua (Venice excursion)
MASS AND BREAKFAST IN PADUA
Today, we’ll visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and view the saint’s richly decorated tomb. St. Anthony was a beloved miracle-worker, and one of the greatest preachers of the Roman Catholic Church. His reputation for his sermons is so strong, that his incorrupt tongue is kept in the Chapel of the Reliquaries. Before we leave for Venice, we will spend some time in prayer in the Basilica. Then, it’s off to a professionally-guided tour of the beautiful city of Venice. We will visit the Golden Basilica of St. Mark, the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace. Of course, our day in Venice wouldn’t be complete without a Gondola ride, so we will enjoy one before returning to Padua.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN PADUA

DAY 16, Oct 24 (Monday) – Padua/Milan, Italy/Los Angeles, California
BREAKFAST IN MILAN
After breakfast, we will be transferred from our hotel to Milan Malpensa Airport for our flight back home, bringing us to the conclusion of our memorable pilgrimage.

This fantastic journey throughout Italy is only $3410 (+ air) per person*

* Price subject to change. Airfare not included. See Travel Terms and Conditions for details.

Would you like to take this pilgrimage? If so, please print out this booking form, and mail it to us (along with your deposit) today!