Pilgrimage to Italy, Spain and France celebrating the Jubilee Year 2025
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Under spiritual guidance of Fr. Francis Folleh, C.S.Sp., Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Scarborough, ON
Tour Coordinator: Ms Therese Baduria 416-938-5855, theresepbaduria@gmail.com
oct 12
Depart Toronto to Rome, capital of Italy.
oct 13
Upon arrival we start the panoramic tour of the Eternal City including its famous landmarks: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Forum Romanum and Pantheon. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
oct 14
Full day in Rome. We visit St. Mary Major’s Basilica and Saint John Archbasilica. After lunch, we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica rising on the legendary burial place of St Paul, the Apostle.
oct 15
Early morning transfer to the General Audience with the Holy Father. Later we visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, world’s famous for Michelangelo’s paintings of the Last Judgement. We return to St. Peter’s Square after lunch and enter St. Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Door, open only for a Jubilee Year.
oct 16
In the morning we travel to San Giovanni Rotondo. On the way we make a stop in Lanciano, the site of Eucharistic Miracle in the 8th century where we celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
oct 17
Full day in San Giovanni Rotondo. After Mass we visit the modern sanctuary in which the Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina relics are preserved and pray by his tomb. We also visit the Old Church of Our Lady of Grace where Padre Pio lived, heard confessions, prayed and received the stigmata in 1918.
oct 18
Early morning departure to Bari where we board the plane for Barcelona, Spain. Mass, dinner and overnight in Barcelona.
oct 19
After breakfast a panoramic city tour of Barcelona including: the Sagrada Familia, the Columbus Monument, elegant tree lined Las Ramblas and Royal Square. After lunch we visit the mystical monastery in Montserrat with its famous Black Madonna, where we celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight.
oct 20
Today we leave Barcelona and travel to Lourdes, France where in 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous. Mass, dinner and overnight. After dinner attend a candlelight procession.
oct 21
Full day in Lourdes. After Mass at the Grotte de Massabielle, we enjoy a walking tour of the Sanctuary and continue in the footsteps of St. Bernadette visiting her birthplace and the “Cachot”; the small house where the young Bernadette lived with her family at the time of apparitions. Some free time in the afternoon to bathe in the healing waters or attend the “Blessing of the Sick”. After dinner you may wish to attend a candlelight procession one more time.
oct 22
After breakfast we leave for Bordeaux. Upon arrival we enjoy a panoramic tour and see Place de la Bourse ad its water mirror, the Pont de Pierre and the Bordeaux Cathedral. Mass, dinner and overnight.
oct 23
Moring departure to Nevers. St Bernadette left Lourdes for Nevers after taking her vows and she lived there as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity until her early death at the age of 35 of tuberculosis. We see St. Bernadette incorrupt body in a crystal casket at the convent of St. Gildard. Mass,dinner and overnight in Nevers.
oct 24
The visit of French shrines would not be complete without a visit to Lisieux and the Shrine of St. Therese the Little Flower where we travel today. St. Therese was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and was the youngest person to be designated a doctor of the church. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica dedicated to St. Therese. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.
oct 25
Today we travel to Paris, the capital of France. Afternoon city tour takes us to the Are de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Mass, dinner and overnight in Paris.
oct 26
Today our tour comes to an end and we fly back from Paris to Toronto.