Pilgrimage to Italy w/ Fr Coleman and Our Lady of Grace Parish
November 8 - 18, 2027
$200 discount check or Zelle payment
Space is limited
Italy has long stood at the heart of the Catholic faith, a land where the Church’s history, saints, and sacred traditions are woven into daily life. Fr Casey Coleman and Our Lady of Grace Parish invite you invite you on pilgrimage through some of Italy’s most spiritually significant destinations, offering time for prayer, reflection, and encounter with the living heritage of Catholicism..
In Rome, The Eternal City, we will visit and worship in the four major papal basilicas, attend a Papal audience in St Peter's Square, visit the famous Roman Catacombs, tour ancient Rome including The Pantheon, Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and visit the incredible Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.
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We will also travel to Assisi, the beautiful, medieval hilltop town home to St Francis and St Clair. On the way, we will have lunch and an optional wine tasting at the beautiful Castello Vicchiomaggio nestled on a hilltop overlooking the Greve in Chianti Valley. Later in the pilgrimage we will visit the Papal summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo as well as the Benedictine Abbey at Montecassino.
For many pilgrims, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Italy, and we hope you will join Fr Coleman on this journey of spiritual discovery. Please see itinerary below for more details, and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. Many thanks, and God bless!
DAYS 1 & 2: USA > Rome
Depart USA on overnight flight to Rome, Italy. Upon arrival in Rome we will be greeted by our tour escort and bus driver. After a group lunch at a local restaurant, we start our pilgrimage with Holy Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls Major Basilica, one of the four major basilicas we will visit during our pilgrimage. After, check-in at our hotel with the rest of the afternoon on our own before our Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (L|D)
DAY 3: Rome
Papal Audience -The Audience with the Pope consists of small teachings and at the end of the Audience, the Pope will pray the Our Father and impart his Apostolic Blessing upon the crowd which also extends to loved ones that are sick and suffering. Lunch at a local restaurant. The Vatican Museums - The Vatican Museums contain masterpieces of painting, sculpture and other works of art collected by the popes through the centuries. St Peter’s Basilica -St. Peter's is one of the holiest sites in Christendom, standing on the traditional site where Peter was crucified and buried. After tour of the Scavi and St Peter's tomb, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B|L|D)
DAY 4: Rome
After breakfast, we start the day with a tour of the famous Catacombs of St Callisto - one of the most extensive and significant catacombs in Rome, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Named after Pope Callixtus I, who expanded the catacombs during his papacy (217–222 AD), these underground burial chambers became a central place for Christian burials. We then celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of Domine Quo Vadis where tradition tells us St. Peter, fleeing from the city to avoid martyrdom, meets Jesus to whom he addresses the following words “Domine quo vadis (Lord, where are you going)?” ​After lunch at a local restaurant, we will enjoy a City Tour including views of The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Remainder of the day free to enjoy Rome. (B|L)
DAY 5: Rome > Greve in Chianti > Florence
After an early breakfast, we leave Rome and head north to incomparable Greve in Chianti, Tuscany. We will have lunch and an optional wine tasting at the beautiful Castello Vicchiomaggio nestled on top of a hill overlooking the Greve in Chianti Valley. The Vicchiomaggio Castle is built in solid stone whose fulcrum is the high crenellated tower dating back to 1100. The castle has a Catholic Church, Chiesa di Santa Maria a Vicchiomaggio, so we will celebrate Holy Mass at this
unique site before our tour, lunch and tasting. After lunch, we continue to The Renaissance City of Florence with a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo with its stunning view of Florence. Upon arrival we'll check into our hotel with the rest of the afternoon and evening free to explore this legendary city. Overnight in Florence. B|L
DAY 6: Florence
After breakfast we will enjoy a tour of Florence including the Galleria dell’ Accademia where we will see another masterpiece of Michelangelo - the statue of David, Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo - a masterpiece of Gothic architecture including the Baptistry of St John with its famous bronze doors, including the "Gates of Paradise," Piazza della Repubblica - originally known as the Roman Forum during the Roman era, it became the Mercato Vecchio (Old Market) in the medieval period. In the 19th century, during the Italian unification, the area was redesigned and transformed into Piazza della Repubblica to celebrate the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy. and the Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence, known for its gold shops. Holy Mass in a local church. Lunch on our own, and the remainder of the day free. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. B|D
DAY 7: Siena > Assisi
After breakfast, we checkout of our hotel and bid farewell to Florence. We travel south the Tuscan country for the medieval, hilltop fortress town of Siena, the home of St Catherine. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica of Saints Dominic and Catherine which houses the first-class relic of Catherine's head. After Mass, we will walk to Piazza del Campo, the iconic main square that is not only the heart of Siena but also one of the most remarkable medieval squares in Europe. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will enjoy a guided tour that includes the beautiful Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena). We continue on to Assisi for dinner and overnight at the hotel. B|L|D
DAY 8: Assisi
Today we say, "Buongiorno" to Assisi, a charming hill town in the heart of Umbria. Assisi is home to two of Italy's most revered Saints, St Francis and St Clare. We start our day with Holy Mass at the Papal Basilica of St Francis. After, we will enjoy and half-day guided tour of the Basilica of St Francis, the town of Assisi, the tomb of St Carlo Acutis, and the Basilica of St Clare. After lunch on our own and time to spend shopping or revisiting the Basilicas, we depart for The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Assisi valley. We will visit the Porziuncola, a small chapel within the basilica, where St. Francis founded the Franciscan Order. We continue our journey back to Rome for dinner and overnight at our hotel. B|D
DAY 9: Rome
After breakfast, we are off on a full day walking tour of Ancient Rome and the final two Major Papal Basilicas. But first, we will visit the St Peter in Chains Minor Basilica where tradition tells us the chains believed to have bound St Peter during his imprisonment in Jerusalem and Rome are housed. The relic is displayed under the main altar. The Basilica is also home to the third masterpiece of Michelangelo we will see - "Moses." We will then begin our tour with views of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit St John Lateran Archbasilica, the home church of the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis. St John Lateran is the oldest christened church in the western church. We then visit The Holy Steps and St Mary Major Basilica. After Holy Mass at St Mary Major, it's back to the hotel and dinner on our own. B|L
DAY 10: Castel Gandolfo & Montecassino
This morning we tour the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo. Now a museum, it had served for centuries as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the Pope. The Papal Palace itself is an architectural gem, featuring a mix of Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. We will explore the rooms that were once used by popes for private audiences, meetings, and relaxation. This afternoon we travel south to the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino, one of the most famous abbeys in the world. Founded by St. Benedict in 529 AD, the Abbey of Montecassino is one of the oldest monasteries in Italy. The original abbey was destroyed several times, most notably during World War II, but it has been reconstructed to preserve its historical and religious significance. Lunch in a local restaurant in Cassino before Holy Mass at Montecassino Abbey. Return to Rome for our Farewell Dinner. (B|L|D)
DAY 11: Rome > USA
Today we say "Arrivederci e grazie, Padre Coleman!" after an incredible pilgrimage in Italy. (B)