Join us from June 8 - June 20, 2026

Summary

Join us for our Pilgrimage to Italy to visit the Sanctuary of St Josephine Bakhita (https://canossianebakhitaschio.org/visita-santuario-2/). Experience the beauty of Northern Italy, visiting key sites important to the life of St. Bakhita. We’ll visit the Bakhita Sanctuary (Schio) where Fr. Tony will celebrate Holy Mass, and have a guided tour of the Bakhita Museum. We’ll visit the chapel in Venice where St. Bakhita was baptised. 

In Padua, attend Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony and marvel at the well preserved Giotto frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

In Rome, explore the Eternal City’s spiritual treasures, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilicas of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary of Angels, and St. John in Lateran. From Rome, we’ll make a day trip to Assisi to visit the Basilicas of St. Francis, St. Clare, and the church where Blessed Carlos Acutis rests (to be canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2025; the first Millennial saint!).

This pilgrimage offers a profound opportunity to reflect and pray at the resting places of St. Bakhita, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, St. Carlos Acutis, Pope St. John Paul II, and Saints Peter and Paul in Rome. Immerse yourself in the rich history and faith of these sacred places!

Information sessions will be held at the Bakhita Parish church:

Sunday, March 9, 2025, 12 noon

Monday, March 10, 6:00 pm

Proposed Itinerary

*The dates of the pilgrimage are set, however, the daily itinerary may be subject to variation or modification.*

Monday, June 8 - DAY 0 - Depart from Columbus CMH

Tuesday, June 9 - DAY 01 – VENICE / PADUA (40KM)

(-,-,D) Arrival at Venice airport and reception by our English-speaking assistant.

Transfer to the hotel in Padua. Dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, June 10 - DAY 02 – PADUA

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today we visit freely the Basilica of St.

Anthony. Rest of the day free for religious and personal activities. Dinner and

overnight at the hotel.

Thursday, June 11 - DAY 03 – PADUA / SCHIO / PADUA (65+65KM)

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Schio, where we will visit

freely the Sanctuary of S. Giuseppina Bakhita. Transfer back to Padua. Dinner and

overnight at the hotel.

Friday, June 12 - DAY 04 – PADUA

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit (with local guide)

Cappella degli Scrovegni (entrance included). Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and

overnight at the hotel.

Saturday, June 13 - DAY 05 – PADUA / VENICE (40KM)

(B,-,-) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Venice by boat (ticket

included). Free time for personal activities. Free dinner and overnight at the

Hotel.

Sunday, June 14 - DAY 06 – VENICE

(B,-,-) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. This morning, we will transfer to

“Tronchetto” in Venice Mestre where we will take the boat (ticket included) to

reach Venice Island. Visit (with local guide) to St. Mark’s Basilica (entrance

included), Doge’s Palace (external visit) and Bridge of Sighs. Return to the hotel

for overnight.

Monday, June 15 - DAY 07 – VENICE

(B,-,-) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to “Tronchetto” in Venice Mestre

where we will take the boat (ticket included) to reach Murano Island, where we

witness the ancient skill of glassblowing at an arts centre. Time for shopping in

Murano. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Tuesday, June 16 - DAY 08 – VENICE / ROME (530KM)

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Rome. Arrival and visit (with

local guide) the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Proceed to the hotel for

dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, June 17 - DAY 09 – ROME

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will visit (with local

guide) the Basilicas of St. Mary of Angels and St. John in Lateran. This afternoon

we will have a panoramic city tour (with local guide) of Imperial Roman, passing

by the Colosseum, Roman Forums and Arch of Titus (all external visits). Dinner

and overnight at the hotel.

Thursday, June 18 - DAY 10 – ROME / ASSISI / ROME (175+175KM)

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Assisi where we will visit

(with local guide) the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare. You will also have

time to visit the Basilica of St. Mary of Angels with its “Portiuncula”. Transfer

back to Rome. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Friday, June 19 - DAY 11 – ROME

(B,-,D) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will visit (with local

guide) St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. You will also have the possibility to

visit the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel (entrance not included, see

separate supplement). This afternoon we will visit (with local guide) Baroque Rome

including Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, Spanish Steps and the Pantheon (entrance

included). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Saturday, June 20 - DAY 12 – ROME / DEPARTURE

(B,-,-) Buffet breakfast at the hotel. At appropriate time, transfer to the airport

to take our return flight.

Price Information

The current estimate is $3000 per person (land tour only; flights not included in price). Detailed price information will be available June 2025.

Deadlines

September 15, 2025 - Initial deposit due to secure your spot ($750 for an individual, or $500 per family member)

January 15, 2026 - second deposit (one half of balance due)

March 15, 2026 - final payment (remaining balance due)

Included in the Price

- Deluxe private motorcoach for all the transfers according to the above program;

- Baggage allowed on the motorcoach: 1 big suitcase (dimensions: 75x55x30cm) per

pax in the motorcoach trunk + 1 small carry-on hand luggage, like backpack or bag

(dimensions: 30x30x15cm) per pax;

- Boat for Venice Island, including the transfer of the luggage;

- Road taxes, parking fees and special permissions to enter the cities;

- All the driver's expenses (single room, meals, etc.);

- English-speaking assistant at Venice airport on the first day;

- Accommodation in well located Tourist Class Hotels (3***) or Religious Houses

in Padua and Rome, in double/twin rooms;

- Accommodation in a top centrally located hotel in Venice Island;

- Accommodation City Taxes in the hotels;

- Half-board: buffet breakfast (B) and dinner (D) daily, except for the dinners

(D) on Venice Island;

- Visits with an English-speaking local guide in Padua (1HD), Venice (1HD), Rome

(1HD+2FD) and Assisi (1HD);

- Entrances to:

1) Cappella degli Scrovegni in Padua;

2) St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice;

3) Pantheon in Rome;

- Headphones for the city tours where compulsory;

- Entrance fee to Venice Island;

- Roundtrip boat ticket to reach Venice Island;

- Roundtrip boat ticket to reach Murano Island;

- Hotel taxes and service charges;

Excluded from the Price

- Flights

- Lunches and drinks;

- Tips for our driver;

- All what is not specifically mentioned in "Included in the Price".

Agency Information

The land tour in Italy is being organized by:

Rusconi DMC Europe

https://rusconiviaggi.com/

Flight Information

In the Fall of 2025, we’ll suggest a flight itinerary. If you’d like to use a travel agency to organize your flights, we suggest:

Lisa M. Stephens, Europe & Italy Specialist

Travel Partners in Dublin

Phone: 614-792-0002 Ext: 405

Web: www.travelpartnersindublin.com

Email:  lstephens@travelpartnersindublin.com

4980 Blazer Parkway, Dublin, OH 43017

Our package includes ONE bus transfer from Venice VCE Airport to Padua and ONE transfer from Rome to the Rome Fiumicino FCO Airport. We’ll schedule these transfers to coincide with the flight arrival and departure windows that we’ll suggest in the Fall. Anyone arriving outside these windows will need to make other arrangements. We’ll have information available to help facilitate this.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance with cancellation for no reason is encouraged. For more information:
https://www.travelpartnersindublin.com/travel-resources/

Accessibility Statement

Italy is very up to speed on accessibility options for all. Please note, however, that our tour bus may not always be able to get us as close as we might like to a basilica or museum. Sidewalks and streets, especially in the historic centers are often of cobblestone and of irregular surface. In particular, in Venice, no motor vehicles are allowed. We’ll get around on foot or by water ferries. But there are bridges everywhere over the canals, with accessibility ramps for strollers and wheelchairs.

Allergies and Intolerances

During the registration process we’ll ask if you have food allergies and/or intolerances. The agency in Italy will communicate these to the restaurant chefs where we are scheduled to have breakfasts and dinners. However, for all lunches throughout the tour, and dinners in Venice, we are on our own. On the following website, you can create cards In Italian to print and carry with you when you are out dining on your own. You can show these cards to the restaurant staff.

https://www.selectwisely.com/