Day 1 Depart
Depart USA for overnight flight to Dubrovnik
Day 2 Opening Meeting
On arrival, you will be met by our guides who will direct you towards your coach ready to start our transfer to this most Blessed
village, Medjugorje. The guide on the transfer will inform us of what we can expect during our time here as we view the splendid
scenery on route. As we drive into Medjugorje, with the steeple of St. James Church first greeting us, we will arrive at our hotel.
With all rooms allotted on the bus, we are first introduced to our host family, and we can then rest in our rooms before being
called for a light snack, or dinner, which will be served depending on the time of arrival. Each evening, we will attend the parish
evening program. It begins with the rosary followed by Holy Mass and depending on the day, we finish with adoration.
Day 3 Blue Cross
We start our day with breakfast before attending 10:00am mass, which is intended for English-speaking pilgrims, in the Church
of St. James. The Church of St. James is placed under patronage of St. James the Apostle, who is patron saint of pilgrims. We do
not move very far and usually meet at the shrine of Our Lady of Peace for our opening meeting where the guides will share with
us the history of the place, introduce us to the shrine and take us through the week, and through their words and experiences
enlighten us to the messages and intentions of Our Lady. We break for lunch where restaurants are in abundance and boast
some of the best steaks and pizza. The afternoon takes us to Blue Cross, a place of many apparitions of Our Lady. It is situated at
the base of Apparition Hill where Our Lady appeared to the children and where they were hiding from the communist police at
the beginning of the apparitions. Many pilgrims venture here to bask in the peace that emanates from this special area. From
Blue Cross, we walk to Vickas old house. Vicka is one of the six Medjugorje visionaries and we visit her old family house to see
and to pray in the room where she had apparitions over a long period. After dinner, we can attend the evening prayer program.
Day 4 Hill of Apparitions
This morning after breakfast, we gather at the statue of Our Lady to walk through the vineyards, to the Hill of Apparitions
(Podbrdo). This has been the traditional route taken by millions of pilgrims. The guides regale us with accounts of the first days
of the apparitions, especially the first seven days, and tell us of the great spiritual journey the visionaries undertook. We simply
climb, in prayer, to the site of the first apparition, the place where Our Lady first appeared to six frightened children in June of
1981.The Joyful Mysteries greet us at several points of our climb where we pray for a short time.
Day 5 Cross Mountain
Our day begins with breakfast, and we then meet at the base of Cross Mountain (Krizevac) to start our ascent. We pray the
Stations of the Cross as we make our way to the summit. Our journey is rewarded by taking time for reflection and prayer by the
cross located at the top of the mountain. We make our descent in time for holy Mass. In the afternoon we will visit a
neighbouring Franciscan monastery and the Shrine of St. Anthony, which is located only 15 min from Medjugorje village. We will
continue from here towards Dubrovnik. We will arrive just before dinner and check in.
Day 6 Dubrovnik
One-way transfer from the hotel to the city centre. Attend Mass at either St. Blaise Church or St. Ignatius Church in Dubrovnik.
Guided tour of the Old Town centre with entrance tickets to museums etc. included. Return cable car ticket to Srd Mountain
included.Free time in Dubrovnik. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7 Dubrovnik to Rome
Our guide will collect us at our hotel for our transfer to the airport for our flight to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, we will meet our
Marian Pilgrimages representative and driver who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage The Basilica of St. Mary Major is the largest Catholic Marian Church in Rome and home to the venerated image of Salus Populi
Romani; an Icon of the Virgin Mother and Child, credited with saving the city of Rome from the plague during the late sixth
century. It is before this icon that Pope Francis prays before embarking, and upon returning from each international Apostolic
journey.
We will celebrate Mass in this wonderful basilica and afterwards spend time in prayer before this precious image of Salus Populi
Romani before we drive to our hotel during which time we will catch glimpses of some of the many ancient monuments
scattered throughout Rome, evidence that the Eternal City has a history and an appeal like no other city in the world.
Day 8 St. Peters Basilica, Basilica of St. John Lateran & Holy Stairs
St. Peters Basilica is without doubt one of the holiest temples of Christendom and home to masterpieces by artists of the calibre
of Michelangelo and Bernini amongst countless others. Accompanied by our guide, this morning we will explore the basilica and
afterwards have time for prayer at the tombs of the great saints; St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII.
In the afternoon we will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of all churches and seat of the
Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis. After time for private prayer, we will walk to the nearby Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs. According to
tradition, the Holy Stairs are the steps which led up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ
climbed on his way to trial. The sanctuary attracts millions of pilgrims each year who wish to honour the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Day 9 Papal Audience & Walking tour of historical centre, Trevi Fountain & Piazza Navona
This morning, we gather with fellow pilgrims in St. Peters Square to attend the Papal Audience. After free time for lunch, our
guide will take us on a walking tour of Rome, as we stroll along the quaint cobbled streets that will lead us to Trevi Fountain,
Pantheon and the elegant Piazza Navona a true symbol of Baroque Rome, with the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers
dominating the square. We will have the remainder of the afternoon free for shopping and private sightseeing.
Day 10 Assisi
After breakfast we will drive through the countryside to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis, St. Clare and resting place of Blessed
Carlo Acutis. After morning Mass in the Basilica of St. Clare, we will venerate the original San Damiano Cross which has been
carefully preserved through the centuries and afterwards have time for prayer at the tomb of the founder of the Order of the
Poor Clares. As we walk through the medieval town, accompanied by our guide, we will hear of the lives of both St. Francis and
St. Clare and how they relinquished lavish lifestyles in favour of a life of charity and prayer. Our tour will conclude at the Basilica
of St. Francis where we can admire the impressive frescoes and later have time for prayer at the tomb of the Poor Man of
Assisi.
The name Carlo Acutis became known throughout the world when on the 10th of 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 St. Francis of Assisi was not impressed by material things. This afternoon we will visit the Sanctuary of the
Renunciation, the resting place of the first millennial beatified, and future saint, and where the young Francis of Assisi publicly
relinquished his lavish lifestyle, in favour of a life of prayer. In this place of great significance, we will hear more of the life of
Blessed Carlo Acutis and have time for private prayer at his Tomb. Our day will conclude in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli
Angeli a sacred place for Franciscans, and home to the Chapel of the Porziuncola where Francis began to realise his true calling
and where Clare was accepted into the Order.
Day 11 Depart
After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive to Rome for our flight home.
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