0919UA3 - Catholic Italy Ordination Pilgrimage 11 days from Oklahoma City


Airline Name Baggage Information
United Airlines http://bit.ly/yoafSS

Special Package with this Trip :
International departure taxes of $133 plus current fuel surcharges of $500 are included (subject to change).

Tour Code Departure Date Cost per person
UAA0919CY 09/19/2023 $4999.00
Trip Details

We depart Oklahoma City to connect with our overnight flight with dinner arriving the next day. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast aloft.
We arrive in Rome this morning where we have a walking tour of the Roman Fora, the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afterwards, we celebrate Mass at the Church of Holy Mary in Monserrat. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
This morning we visit Vatican City where we see the treasures of the Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo's recently restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter’s. This afternoon, we continue our tour with a visit to the Holy Stairs and Basilica of St. John Lateran. We conclude our day at one of the Catacombs, burial place of early Christians. We celebrate Mass here and view the 2nd and 3rd century fresco paintings. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Following an early morning departure from Rome we travel north through the Umbrian countryside. We stop at Orvieto for a visit and Mass at the breathtaking Cathedral, which is known as the jewel of Italian architecture. Inside the Cathedral is the Chapel of the Corporal, which houses the chalice cloth involved in the Eucharistic Miracle, which occurred in nearby Bolsena. In the 13th century a pilgrim priest named Peter of Prague was celebrating Mass at the crypt of St. Christina. He was having a faith crisis concerning the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and while speaking the words of the consecration, blood started to drip from the consecrated Host. Subsequently Pope Urban instituted The Feast of Corpus Christi. Afterwards we continue to Assisi. Our first stop is in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis' Church of the Little Portion. We then proceed to the hilltop village of Assisi for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
This morning, we begin at the Basilica of St. Francesco with Mass. After our visit of the Basilica and the tomb of St. Francis, we begin our walking tour of the village. Included is a visit to the Church of St. Clare to view the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis. We pass by the famous Temple of Minerva in the Piazza del Comune. This afternoon, we can enjoy this picturesque hillside village on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
This morning we drive to Florence where our first stop will be “Piazzale Michelangelo” for the best panoramic view of this spectacular city one could ask for. Free Time for lunch on our own and then we proceed with a tour of the Academia Gallery, where we view one of Michelangelo’s most famous works, “David” (OR MEDICI). We continue with the celebration of Mass and a visit of the Duomo (also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), in the heart of the city and the fourth largest in the world! There we admire the cupola by Brunelleschi, completed in 1240, its campanile by Giotto. Once outside we view the Baptistery’s with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti. We transfer to Florence’s delightful nearby spa town of Montecatini Terme whose streets invite us to stroll after dinner at our hotel.
This morning, we return to Florence to spend more time in this beautiful city and visit Piazza della Signoria, dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio and its embattlement crowned tower. Across from the Palace, we visit the Loggia dei Lanzi with the statues of the Perseus by Cellini; Giambologna's the “Rape of the Sabines” and “Hercules.”. Free time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon we visit the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. Among the most famous Italians interred here, lie Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli. The rest of the day is free for personal shopping browsing this fascinating city on our own. We return to Montecatini Terme for dinner at our hotel and overnight.
This morning, we journey through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. After we celebrate Mass at the Dominican Church commemorating St. Catherine, we then walk down to the famous Piazza del Campo. This shell shaped square is the dramatic setting for the annual Palio bareback horserace. The piazza's focal point is the Palazzo Pubblico, the public palace, which dates back to 1250. We continue uphill to visit the monumental Cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Free time for lunch and browsing. In the afternoon we continue south through Umbria returning to Rome where we arrive in time for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. Following lunch on our own, we tour some of Rome’s sites, including the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Church of St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo's possibly most celebrated sculpture, the "Moses." Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Today, we will make our way to St. Peters for ordination of Stephen Jones and others by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley at 11:00 AM. After the ordination, participants will walk to the nearby Pontifical North American College for a reception at 1:00 pm. We are free for the balance of the day with dinner on our own.
We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always.