Day 1 - Saturday September 25th
Evening check-in at Orlando airport for flight to Dublin.
Day 2 - Sunday September 26th
Arrive in Dublin airport and meet our guide and coach before getting some breakfast. As
part of our arrival to this historical city, that dates back to 988AD our coach will take us on
a panoramic city sightseeing tour of the highlights of Dublins fair City OConnell Street,
Trinity College, Georgian Squares, Government Buildings, Dublin Castle, Christchurch & St
Patricks Cathedrals, Guinness Brewery, Phoenix Park, and Kilmainham Jail After our gentle
introduction we will visit the Shrine of St Valentine for Mass. After mass we will check into our
hotel for 1 night, Afternoon free to rest, or for personal visits to places of interest. Meals - B, D
Day 3 - Monday September 27th
Depart Dublin for Croatia, on arrival, you will be met by our guides and your coach for your
transfer to the Blessed village of Medjugorje. As we drive into Medjugorje, with the steeple
of St. James Church first greeting us, we will arrive at our hotel where we check in and have
Lunch. 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. Meals - B, D
Day 4 - Tuesday September 28th
After breakfast we will attend the 10:00am English Mass in the Church of St. James.
Following Mass, there will be an opening meeting where the guides will share with us
the history of the village, introduce us to the shrine and take us through the week. In the
afternoon we will visit the Blue Cross, a place of many apparitions of Our Lady. We also will
walk to Vickas old family home, to see and to pray in the room where she had apparitions
over a long period of time. After dinner, attend the evening prayer program. Meals - B, D
Day 5 - Wednesday September 29th
After breakfast, we gather at the statue of Our Lady to walk through the vineyards, to
the Hill of Apparitions (Podbrdo). We climb, in prayer, to the place where Our Lady first
appeared to six frightened children in June of 1981. This afternoon there is an optional
tour to Cenacolo, which is a community for recovering drug addicts. After dinner, we
attend the evening program. Meals - B, D
Day 6 -Thursday September 30th
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, following
our climb, we will have some free time. This evening we have a special treat as our program
director, David Parkes, performs for us in concert with an Evening of prayer through song.
David is an internationally acclaimed singer and often travels worldwide singing the word of
Our Lord. Meals - B, D
Day 7 -Friday October 1st
Enjoy breakfast in the Hotel after enjoy a free day in Medjugorje for personal prayer and
reflection. Return for our final dinner in the hotel. Meals - B, D
Day 8 - Saturday October 2nd
We meet as a group to join in the closing meeting on the church grounds. David and the guides
conclude the week with prayer and a short follow up on the week. After our good byes, take
our transfer to the Importanne Resort hotel in the Lapad area of Dubrovnik, located in gardens
of mature pines, cypress trees and oleander flowers. A short walk through the hotel gardens
leads to the promenade with an excellent choice of restaurants, bars and cafes. The old city of
Dubrovnik is 4 km away by public bus or taxi. Following our arrival we will enjoy dinner in the
hotel. Meals - B, D
Day 9 - Sunday October 3rd
After breakfast, we will take our bus in to the Old Town of Dubrovnik for Holy Mass. After
Mass, we will take a guided tour of this speculator city. Dubrovniks tempestuous past dates all
the way back to ancient times which has wrote a history filled with thrilling adventures, legends
and battles. After our tour we will have free time in the Old town to get some lunch and do a
little personal shopping or sight seeing. Dinner will be back in the hotel. Meals - B, D
Day 10 - Monday, October 4rd
Today will be free to enjoy the facilities of the hotel, or wander into the old town of
Dubrovnik. After an early dinner in the hotel we will take a transfer into Gruz Harbor in
Dubrovnik to board our over night ferry to Bari, Italy - arriving at approximately 7am the
following morning. Meals - B, D
Day 11 - Tuesday October 5th
Upon arrival at the port of Bari we will meet our guide and drive to its quaint historical
town where we will celebrate Mass in the famous Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari. Originally
constructed to house the relics of St Nicholas, His remains which are said to emanate a
miraculous manna liquid with special powers, are ensconced in a shrine in the beautiful vaulted
crypt. After lunch in a typical Italian restaurant we will drive to San Giovanni Rotondo, enjoying
the magical landscape of Puglia with its combination of wonderful coastline and century-old
olive trees. We will check into the four-star San Giovanni Rotondo Palace Hotel and have the
evening at leisure. Meals - B, L, D
Day 12 - Wednesday October 6th
We will celebrate morning Mass in the ancient church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio
celebrated Mass, heard confessions and received the gift of the stigmata. Afterwards we will visit
the English Office as we learn more of the life of St. Pio and receive a blessing with the glove and
crucifix used by the friar. In the afternoon we will visit the Capuchin Friary where the humble friar
lived and died and have time for prayer before the crucifix before which He received the gift of the
stigmata. We will end our day with a visit to the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina where, after seeing
the wonderful mosaics of Marko Ivan Rupnik, we will arrive at the crypt of St. Pio and have time
for prayer before the mortal remains of this great saint of our time. Meals - B, L, D
Day 13 - Thursday October 7th
This morning we will drive to the town of Monte SantAngelo and celebrate Mass at the Shrine
of St. Michael the Archangel, the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the Archangel
Michael. We will have time at leisure in this wonderful town before returning to our hotel for
lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the hospital, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, considered Padre
Pios greatest creation. We will enjoy a tour of the hospital and hear how Padre Pios great dream
has now become one of the most important hospitals in southern Italy. Meals B, L, D
Day 14 - Friday October 8th
After breakfast we will depart San Giovanni Rotondo and will enjoy wonderful views of the
Adriatic Coast as we drive to the town of Lanciano, site of the First Eucharistic Miracle of the
Catholic Church. We will celebrate Mass and afterwards venerate the relics of the Eucharistic
Miracle. After free time for lunch we drive to the town of Manoppello. We visit the Basilica of the
Holy Face which is home to the mysterious cloth displaying the true image of Our Lords Face
imprinted on the Veil of Veronica. Learn more of the history behind the arrival of the veil in the
town of Manoppello and have time for private prayer. Afterwards we will check into the House of
the Pilgrim, born from the will of the Capuchin friars, located next to the sanctuary. Meals B, D
Day 15 - Saturday October 9th
This morning we will depart Manoppello and enjoy our last glimpses of the Italian
countryside as we drive to Fiumicino airport for our return flight to Orlando. Meals B
|
 |
