Day 1 - Saturday, October 7, 2000 - Indianapolis / Washington DC
Since this is the beginning of our Jubilee 2000 pilgrimage, our trip will
start at our nation's number one pilgrimage church, the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. We are met in Washington by our
coach and taken to the Shrine for an afternoon tour. Dinner will be on your
own.
Day 2 - Sunday, October 8 - Washington DC / Rome
This morning, we celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception.From there we proceed to the airport for our flight to New
York, connecting to Rome.
Day 3 - Monday, October 9 - Rome
Upon arrival in Rome this morning, we are met by our guide and then board
the coach for our first glimpse of the eternal city. We view in passing the
Coliseum, the Roman Forum, Imperial Forum, Palatine and Capitoline Hills. We
proceed to the North American College where we will celebrate Mass. We
transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Before retiring for the
evening, you may want to join the walk to St. Peter's
Square.
Day 4 - Tuesday, October 10 - Rome
This morning after Mass, we visit the Vatican Museum and Gallery, Raphael's
rooms with the wonderful frescoes, the Sistine Chapel (where Michelangelo's
recently restored master-pieces adorn the ceilings and walls), and Pincio
Garden. We continue into St. Peter's Basilica. We see Michelangelo's Pieta
and then view Vatican City This afternoon will offer a walking tour of Rome
where we will visit the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navonna, Trevi Fountain, and
the Pantheon, a 2000-year-old pagan temple.We return to the hotel for
dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Wednesday, October 11 - Rome (Papal Audience)
Today, we attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square (provided the Holy
Father is at home) to listen to the words of His Holiness, Pope John Paul
II, and receive his blessing with pilgrims from all over the world. The
afternoon is free for personal sightseeing. Dinner
is on your own.
Day 6 - Thursday, October 12 - Rome / Florence / Rome
Today, travel to Florence and see the highlights of this beautiful city,
beginning with a panoramic view from the Piazza Michelangelo. Then we move
onto the historical center of the town, the Piazza della Signora.We also
visit the Duomo (the Cathedral) and Baptistry with the golden doors
Ghiberti, Giotto's Bell Tower, Uffizi Gallerias, Giotto Campanile, Medici
and Santa Marco. The Church of Santa Croce contains the tombs of
Michelangelo, Galileo and Dante. Dinner on your own in Florence before
boarding the bus for trip back to Rome.
Day 7 - Friday, October 13 - Rome
This morning, we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, built in honor of
Mary after the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). From there we move on to St.
Paul outside the walls. From there we continue on the Old Appian Way to the
Catacombs of St. Calixtus, stopping at Quo Vadis along the way.We visit
St. John's Lateran Church and the Cathedral church of the Pope originally
built by Constantine when he ended the persecutions. Here we will see the
Altar, which probably was used by Pope Sylvester I (314-335) and holds
relics of Sts. Peter and Paul.Next to the Basilica is the Baptistery, and
across the street we see the "Holy Stairs" from Pilate's Palace. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Saturday, October 14 - Rome / Assisi / Rome
This morning, we travel to Assisi. Before ascending the hills of Assisi, we
stop at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels built in 1569 to protect the
Porziuncola (the church St. Francis that was restored in 1205 and the
birthplace of the Franciscans). We also see the statue of St. Francis with
the live white doves, the thornless rose bushes and the cave where St.
Francis prayed in solitude. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to
enjoy a walk around Assisi, a captivating town of peace and tranquility
where the Holy Father brought together all the religions of the world, a
town of unique spirituality and a symbol of Christianity to all mankind.
Here you can visit one of Christianity's most revered shrines- the Basilica
of St. Francis-and see the frescoes depicting events in the saint's life.
Also to see is the Basilica of St. Clare, which to this day houses her
incorrupt body in a crystal casket in the crypt. Off the main nave of the
Basilica is the crucifix from which Christ spoke to St. Francis in San
Damiano. Dinner will be at a restaurant in Assisi before we return to Rome
for overnight.
Day 9 - Sunday, October 15 - Rome / Subiaco / Rome
Today, we travel to Subiaco where we will visit Sacro Speco, the cave where
St. Benedict lived as a hermit and wrote his famous Rule for monasteries at
Monte Cassino. From there, celebrate Mass at the Monastery of St. Benedict.
Evening - group dinner at a restaurant in Rome.
Day 10 - Monday, October 16, 2000 - Rome / Indianapolis
After breakfast, we travel to the airport for our return flight. We head
home inspired by the holiness of the saints who have preceded us and in our
resolution to emulate their love for God.