Coronavirus update
Announcement 11th March 2020
current situation

As a result of the impact that the Coronavirus has had, we would like to inform our pilgrims of the current situation and procedures in place. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going into the unknown but with the help our of Our Lord and through prayer and guidance we will act in a manner worthy of which we are being called.

With over 25 years’ experience in arranging pilgrimages, through the years as a company, we have found ourselves in situations similar to that which we face today. Our team of experienced staff in Dublin, Boston & London are working closely with the airlines and our ground handlers at the various pilgrimage sites as the situation unfolds, and it is the intention of Marian Pilgrimages to operate all our planned pilgrimages. We are receiving daily updates from our ground handlers at our various destinations and are speaking regularly with our group leaders and spiritual directors, ensuring everybody is well informed.

Should the need arise for us to postpone or re-schedule your pilgrimage, our long-standing collaboration with hotels and airlines means that we will be in a position to negotiate with them and re-organize and reschedule. Rest assured that together we will find the most favourable solution for you, with our office staff always on hand to offer advice and direction.

With Marian Pilgrimages you can be sure that when booking your pilgrimage, you can do so, safe in the knowledge that we are fully licensed and bonded.  If you have planned to travel on your annual pilgrimage and have not yet secured your place,  please feel free to call and reserve your spot, and in the unlikely event that your flights are cancelled and your pilgrimage is unable to go ahead, we will be happy to refund all monies paid.

As a family-run company, the health and safety of all pilgrims and staff have always been and continue to be our number one priority.  We will continue to assess the situation on an ongoing basis and communicate any changes immediately to our Pilgrims. We would like to reassure our pilgrims that our existing policies and procedures are in line with the guidance provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EASA and if there is any change in the Travel Advisories from the State Department we will be in contact with our pilgrims immediately.

Please, join us in prayer as we consecrate all our pilgrims and staff to Our Lady and St Joseph. Lord, in this time of the unknown we ask you to bless all who are unwell, we implore you to protect us, eliminate all fear and anxiety and increase our trust in you.

Marian Pilgrimages Team

Italy
On the 9th of March the Italian government declared the country in isolation, with travel permitted within regions for purposes of work or emergency. While the isolation measures are in effect the Department of Foreign Affairs is advising against travel to Italy, until further notice.

At the time of writing, this period of isolation in Italy will be in place until Friday, the 3rd of April and as our pilgrimage season in Italy begins on Monday, the 20th of April, this recent development will not affect our pilgrimages and all arrangements are scheduled to go ahead under the advisement from the Department of Foreign affairs.

Lourdes
All our planned pilgrimages are scheduled to go ahead, with the first pilgrimage planned for Easter week and continuing up until October.

Medjugorje
All our planned pilgrimages are scheduled to go ahead, with the first pilgrimage planned for Easter week and continuing up until October.

Fatima
All our planned pilgrimages are scheduled to go ahead, with the first pilgrimage planned for Easter week.

Oberammergau
All our planned pilgrimages are scheduled to go ahead, with the first pilgrimage planned for May 15th May 2020.  

Holyland
On March 5th, 2020, Palestine declared a State of Emergency. In response to the decree, His Excellency, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem made an announcement to all pilgrims and locals in the area, notifying them that all Catholic sites in Palestine are currently closed and are scheduled to re-open at the end of April.

Following this announcement, alternative arrangements for all our affected pilgrims in the Holy Land were put into place, making sure they could continue their pilgrimage with minimal disruption. We are expecting all groups to return safe and sound to the US and Ireland within the next few days.