Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has decreed the year 2,000 to be a holy “Liturgical Year” to celebrate the “Great Jubilee” commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Pope has announced that those making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or Italy will receive a plenary indulgence.  A pilgrimage to the Holy Land or Italy will be taking part in this major Church event of our lifetime. 

To receive a plenary indulgence for your Italy pilgrimage, each pilgrim must pass through the doors of four major basilicas in Rome:

St. Peter's Basilica
St. Mary Major
St. John Lateran
St  Paul Outside the Walls

At each Church, in Rome the pilgrim is to say the Lord’s Prayer, Rosary and Glory Be to the Father.  By completing these holy acts, each pilgrim visiting the Holy Land in the Jubilee Year will receive a plenary indulgence.

The Holy Shroud of Turin will be on display in 2000.   Book now for two nights in Turin as a Pre-Tour Option for $469.  Special departure dates will be added prior to the tour. 

Day 2 Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima
After an orientation drive through Lisbon, we drive to the town of Santarem, one of the oldest cities in the world.  We will walk through the narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle.  Behold the 750 year old Holy Miracle of Santarem, a relic of the Bleeding Host. Stolen by a woman in payment to a sorcerer, the host begin to emit a brilliant beam of light and began to profusely bleed.  Reverently returned to the church of St Stephen, this miracle has been on continuous display since 1269.   In the early afternoon, we drive to nearby Fatima, the location of the Blessed Mother who appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace.  After settling into your hotel, you may participate in the candlelight procession or relax.  Dinner and overnight

Days 3 & 4 Fatima
After breakfast, we will celebrate morning Mass at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.  We will tour Fatima and see the Basilica, site of Francesco's and Jacinta's graves; the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived; and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison.  Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) was built by Hungarian refugees and culminates in the Chapel of Calvary which overlooks all of Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary.  Don’t forget your white handkerchief for the Adeus farewell, when thousands of pilgrims wave a loving farewell to the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary.  Dinner and overnight in Fatima. 

Day 5 Fatima - Coimbra - Salamanca - Palencia
After breakfast we depart by motor coach to the city of Coimbra.  Here you will see the incorrupt body of St Isabel and the Carmelite cloister where Sister Lucia still lives.  We will drive into Spain to the old University town of Salamanca. An orientation drive through this lovely city includes the 16th-century Plateresque buildings, the Roman-style Cathedral with its altar depicting 53 scenes from Christ’s life, the Convent of the Holy Spirit, the House of the Dead from 1515, and Monterrey Palace. On to Palancia for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 Palencia - Loyola - Lourdes
After breakfast we leave for the beautiful city of Loyola.  We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica and enjoy a short tour of the home town of St Ignatius de Loyola.  It was in Loyola that Our Lady appeared to St Ignatius with the Christ Child and his profound conversion began.  Later in his life, St. Ignatius renounced his portion of his family’s wealth, wrote the famous book of spiritual exercises and became the founder of the Jesuit Order.  We cross into France and continue to the great pilgrimage center of Lourdes.  Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 & 8 Lourdes
During your stay in Lourdes you will have a chance to celebrate daily Mass at the Grotto, enjoy a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and walk in the footsteps of St Bernadette.  See  the Boly Mill where St. Bernadette was born, view the “Cachot” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived in humility.  Join your prayers with pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring the Virgin directed Bernadette to locate at the base of the grotto which has flowed uninterrupted since 1858.  Submerge yourself at the Baths which claim thousands of healings. Experience Christ’s love as you walk the life-size Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto.  Kneel in the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience to the request of the “Immaculate Conception”.  Contemplate Christ’s Passion as you pray the unique 3-dimensional Stations of the Cross; attend the blessing of the sick, and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady. Time for private devotions before dinner and overnight.

Day 9 Lourdes - Sete - Nice 
Breakfast, then we drive south-east to the French Riviera with a stop in Sete located on the pristine shoreline of the famous Mediterranean Coast. Our travels end today with our arrival in the glamorous French city of Nice, for a relaxing dinner and overnight.

Day 10 Nice - Siena - Assisi
Depart from Nice for Siena, Italy’s loveliest medieval city was home to St. Catherine and St. Bernardine.  Here we will stroll the Piazza del Campo, one of Italy's finest squares. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral.  Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, containing the miraculous consecrated hosts that have remained completely intact since 1730.  View the incorrupt head of St. Catherine, the mystical bride of Christ, at St. Dominic’s Basilica.   Later we drive through the panoramic Umbria region to the pilgrimage center of Assisi, where St Francis tended the poor and sick and founded the Franciscan order.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 11 Assisi - Rome
Breakfast, then we celebrate Mass at the tomb of St Francis.  Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of St Francis which still retains an unspoiled quality similar to the early 1200’s when he began his ministry.  Contained within the huge 13th-century Basilica are many of his possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, asking him to rebuild His church.  It was St Mary of the Angels Basilica, where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we visit the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. After stopping at an outdoor cafe with a view of an ancient Roman temple, we go to the Church of St Clare to see the saint's incorrupt body.  The foundress of the Order of Poor Clare’s followed the teachings of St. Francis and lived life in poverty and humility. This afternoon we drive to Rome for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 Rome
Begin our day with Mass at St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world.  This morning we will tour St Mary Major, this is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, after she appeared to Pope Liberius in 358 requesting a church be built in her honor. This shrine contains a relic from the manger where the infant Jesus was laid.  We will tour the Catacombs of St Callixtus where the early Christians hid themselves to escape persecution.  You will see the Cathedral of Rome and the Holy Stairs. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or stroll along the charming streets of Rome.  Walk to the city’s center, past numerous fountains ending at the famed Spanish Steps.  You may wish to stop at an outdoor cafe for an espresso before retiring for the evening.  Dinner and overnight.

Day 13 Rome (Papal Audience at the Vatican)
After breakfast we go to Vatican City and attend the weekly Papal Audience and Blessing given by His Holiness, John Paul II.  Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site where St. Peter was martyred.  This largest religious temple in the world has housed 264 popes. Unsurpassed in beauty, importance and history, pilgrims from around the world are welcome to the most grandiose, sacred church in the world.  View historical treasures such as a piece of the true cross, the lance that pierced Christ’s side and numerous papal tombs. Michelangelo’s mural of the Last Judgment restored on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is considered one of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces, in addition to his Pieta and 4 mighty piers supporting the magnificent dome. In the afternoon take time to visit the Vatican Garden, Library and Museum to see the awe-inspiring relics and works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith.  In the afternoon we will drive past the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and explore St Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the remains of St. Paul under the main altar.  Many relics are displayed, along with the chains that once bound the apostle while a prisoner in Rome.  We will visit the Church of St Peter in Chains to see Michelangelo's incomparable statue of Moses.  Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 14 Rome - USA 
Depart Rome for our return flight to the USA.  We fondly say, Arrivederci Roma! 

Days 15 - 17 Medjugorje 
The beauty of this simple village is enhanced by the opportunity to share our faith with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Each morning at 10 we assemble at St James Church for the English-language Mass.  Your guides will accompany you throughout the week as you follow the same path up Apparition Hill which the young visionaries first encountered Our Lady.  Contemplate the inspired artistry of the bronze plaques depicting each mystery of the rosary as you climb.  Touch and pray before the cross which commemorates the spot where Mary appeared to the visionaries.  At 6 pm you are welcome each evening to join the villagers and pilgrims to pray the rosary.  Be present in the church when the apparitions occur and then stay for the Croatian Mass and the Blessing of the Sick. Your guide will arrange a meeting with the visionaries in their own homes.  You will have the opportunity to see and climb Krizevac Mountain, where in 1933 the villagers built a 30’ high cross on the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion.  Contingent upon his schedule, you may visit Father Jozo's parish to attend his holy preaching. In 1981, when the apparitions began, Father Jozo was the pastor of St James parish, and is considered by many to be the highlight of a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

Day 18 Medjugorje - Split - Rome 
After English Mass we depart for Split airport for our one-hour flight to Rome. Transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 19  Rome - USA
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
 

   Round trip flight from New York / Lisbon / New York
   12 nights accommodation in centrally located 3 star hotels:
          3 nights  Fatima, Portugal 
          1 night    Palencia, Spain
          3 nights   Lourdes, France 
          1 night     Nice, France 
          1 night     Assisi, Italy 
          3 nights    Rome, Italy 
   Breakfast and dinner daily
   All transfers by private motor coach 
   Sightseeing and entrance fees 
   Papal Audience
   Local guides and tour escorts
   Luggage handling and hotel taxes
   Mass daily
   Flight bag and portfolio of travel documents

Not Included:  Lunch.  Airport tax of $85. Travel insurance at $99. Tips to guides and drivers ($5 per day).  Items of personal nature. 

OPTIONAL ADDITION:  Garabandal, Spain may be included for special groups, if desired.

Single supplement 
Land only 

$599
$2,199