File

A PILGRIMAGE TO
ITALY
WITH FR. ART WEHR
SEPTEMBER 12 - 23, 2016
Participate in the Jubilee Year of Mercy by walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome!
www.catholicheritagetours.com/EEIT | (800) 290-3876
RELIGIOUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, Coliseum, Catacombs
Montecassino: St. Benedict & St. Scholastica
San Giovanni Rotondo & Pietrelcina: St. Padre Pio
Assisi: St. Francis, St. Clare
Lanciano: Eucharistic Miracle
Loreto: House of Our Lady
Siena: St. Catherine of Siena
Florence: Convent of San Marco, the Duomo
Padua: St. Anthony, St. Justina, St. Luke, St. Matthias
Venice: St. Mark, St. Lucy, St. Roch
Milan: St. Ambrose, St. Charles Borromeo
TRIP ITINERARY:*
Day 1. Monday, September 12: USA – Rome
Depart today on a transatlantic flight to Rome, Italy.
Day 2. Tuesday, September 13: Rome
Welcome to Rome! Today’s highlights will encompass Ancient
Rome. Visit the Catacombs, the burial place of early Christians
including many saints. At St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica,
see the Apostle’s tomb and his prison chains. Then, visit the
Coliseum, Rome’s historical symbol and greatest amphitheater
which staged the martyrdom of many early Christians. Tonight
enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers at your hotel in
Rome. (WD)
Day 3. Wednesday, September 14: Rome
Morning visit the Vatican Museums to see the world-famous
collection of art and sculptures from centuries of Church
history, including the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, time
permitting, an optional visit to the Vatican Mosaic Studio. Then,
walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica to gain the
indulgence of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, followed by a guided
visit to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, constructed on the
site of St. Peter’s tomb. Touch the beloved statue of St. Peter
and admire Michelangelo’s Pieta. Continue to downtown for
Mass at the Collegio Internazionale del Gesu, the Jesuit House in
Rome. After some leisure time, transfer to your hotel for dinner
and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 4. Thursday, September 15: Rome – Montecassino –
Pietrelcina – San Giovanni Rotondo
Leave Rome early towards Montecassino. This prestigious abbey
is the mother church of the Benedictine order and a center of
medieval art. St. Benedict founded it in 529 when he wrote his
famous Rule. Although destroyed in WWII, it has since been
rebuilt. Pray at the tomb that contains the relics of
St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica. Continue to visit
Pietrelcina, the birthplace of St. Padre Pio. In the afternoon,
arrive in San Giovanni Rotondo, made famous by its holy
resident, St. Padre Pio. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni
Rotondo. (BB, D)
Day 5. Friday, September 16: San Giovanni Rotondo: Excursion
to Monte Sant’Angelo
This morning, pray before the incorrupt body of St. Padre Pio.
Visit the old church and pray before the crucifix from which he
received the stigmata in 1918. See the confessional where
St. Padre Pio spent hours with multitudes of pilgrims.
Afterwards, take a short drive to Monte Sant’Angelo to visit the
Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel. A most celebrated shrine of
early Christianity, it was consecrated by St. Michael himself.
A panoramic view of the ocean and the surrounding countryside
awaits you. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni. (BB, D)
Day 6. Saturday, September 17: San Giovanni – Lanciano –
Loreto – Assisi
Depart this morning towards Lanciano, a small, medieval town
nestled in from the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In the 8th century,
in the little church of St. Legontian, a Basilian monk was having
doubts about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
During Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the Host was
extraordinarily changed into live flesh, and the wine changed
into live blood. Continue to Loreto to marvel at the beautiful
House of Our Lady. A choir of angels miraculously transported
the sacred adobe structure to Loreto in the 13th century.
Continue to medieval Assisi for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 7. Sunday, September 18: Assisi – Siena – Florence
In Assisi, see St. Mary of the Angels Basilica housing the Porziuncola
Chapel, where St. Francis spent most of his life; the rose bush in which
the saint rolled in order to overcome his temptation to abandon his
way of life; and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Then, visit
the Basilica of St. Clare to venerate her relics. She was the foundress of
the Order of Poor Clares and followed the teachings of St. Francis by
living in poverty and humility. Continue to the imposing 13th-century
Basilica of St. Francis, where the great saint is buried. It also houses
many of the saint’s possessions and a series of frescos depicting his life.
Afterwards, travel to the spectacular city of Siena for a short sightseeing including a walking tour with a visit to St. Catherine’s House.
Continue to Florence for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 8. Monday, September 19: Florence
Today, visit the Convent of San Marco which was founded in the 13th
century and contains the great works of Fra Angelico. Cells and
cloisters show the simplicity of the life of the Dominican monks. Also
visit the famous Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, Europe’s fourth
largest church and the city’s most famous symbol. Admire its marble
pavement and Brunelleschi’s large red dome. Enjoy the rest of the day
at leisure. Later this evening, your private motor-coach will take you to
your hotel for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 9. Tuesday, September 20: Florence – Padua
This morning, head north to Padua. Once there, visit the Abbey of
St. Justina, a 4th-century martyr, where, in addition to her relics are
those of the Evangelist St. Luke and the Apostle St. Matthias. Then,
render homage to St. Anthony of Padua, the “Wonder Worker,” at his
Basilica. Dinner and overnight in Padua. (BB, D)
Day 10. Wednesday, September 21: Padua – Excursion to Venice
Depart early for an excursion to Venice with visits to the Basilica of
St. Mark, its Pala D’Oro and its Treasury. Enjoy free time to experience
a gondola ride and other sites in The Floating City on your own. Upon
your return to the main Venice station, walk to S. Geremia Church to
render homage to St. Lucy, patron of the eyes, and to S. Rocco Church
to pray at the tomb of St. Roch who is venerated for his intercession
during the plagues. Return to Padua for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 11. Thursday, September 22: Padua – Milan
Upon reaching Milan, visit the Church of St. Ambrose to pray before
the relics of this great bishop of Milan. Today’s final visit is to Milan’s
Duomo, the giant Gothic cathedral, to pray before St. Charles
Borromeo’s relics. He was the cardinal archbishop of Milan for 20 years
and was one of the great reformers responsible for counter-attacking
the Protestant Revolution. Enjoy some free time before an evening
farewell dinner. Overnight in Milan. (BB, FD)
Day 12. Friday, September 23: Milan – USA
Transfer to Milan’s airport for you return flight to the USA. (BB)
For more information:
Call
Buffet Breakfast (BB); Dinner (D); Welcome Dinner (WD);
Farewell Dinner (FD)
(800) 290-3876 or email
[email protected]
or contact a Group Coordinator:
* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.
Angelita Fan at [email protected] or (916) 730-0818
Emily Esguerra at [email protected] or
(916) 484-1900
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Accommodations in First Class hotels
Daily Holy Mass
Deluxe motor-coach for scheduled
transfers and sightseeing
All breakfasts and dinners
Services of a professional English-speaking
tour escort
Admission fees for all included sightseeing
Porterage for one suitcase per person
at the hotels
Service charges, government fees
Medical travel insurance during the trip
(for travelers under 80 years of age)
PRICING INFORMATION
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Land services per person (pp) in double
occupancy: $2,485
Roundtrip air from Sacramento (SMF):
$1,480 pp (includes estimated air taxes &
surcharges of $630 as of January 2016,
subject to change)
Single supplement at hotels: $545
Non-refundable deposit of $250 pp is due
by: May 31, 2016
Balance due by: June 30, 2016
ADDITIONAL COSTS:
 Gratuities to tour escort, local guides,
driver, and church stipends
 Optional trip cancellation/ interruption
travel insurance
(Also see “Not Included” section under Terms &
Conditions.)
Terms & Conditions
RESERVATION AND PAYMENT
A non-refundable deposit of $250 per passenger and a
complete registration form are required to hold space
on this pilgrimage. The last day to accept initial
deposit without penalty is May 31, 2016. For
passengers registering after this date, there is an
additional late fee of $100. Prices after May 31, 2016
are subject to change depending on air space
availability. The full balance is due no later than June
30, 2016. To maintain our prices as low as possible
and to avoid charges that add cost to our pilgrimages,
we do not accept credit cards. Space for this
pilgrimage is limited; there are 30 seats reserved from
Sacramento (SMF). Therefore reservations are
processed in the order they are received. A minimum
of 20 passengers is needed to form the group.
PILGRIMAGE PRICES
Pilgrimage prices have been based on current costs of
services included in the itinerary and on a minimum of
25 passengers. In the event of less than 25
passengers, change in currency conversion rates or
amendments in local government taxes, we reserve
the right to adjust the price accordingly. The
estimated air taxes and surcharges from Sacramento
(SMF) are $630 and are subject to change until
ticketed. The exchange rate used is US $1.08 per Euro.
CANCELLATION PENALTIES
All cancellations requested by participants must be in
writing and are subject to the following fees. If
cancellation is received more than 120 days prior to
departure, the deposit will be retained. Then the
following per person cancellation fees apply:
* 120-90 days prior to depart: 25% of total price
* 89-60 days prior to depart: 50% of total price
* 59-30 days prior to depart: 75% of total price
* 29-0 days prior to depart: 100% of total price
If air tickets have been purchased at the time of
cancellation, the air ticket fare will count as part of
the refund, if a refund applies.
PILGRIMAGE CANCELLATION
If Catholic Heritage Tours cancels the pilgrimage
before September 12, 2016 due to lack of
participants, it will refund all monies paid to Catholic
Heritage Tours for the scheduled pilgrimage, with
the exception of airline cancellation fees, if any.
There is no additional liability. Catholic Heritage
Tours cannot assume responsibility for any
additional cost or any fees relating to the issuance
and/or cancellations of individual air tickets or other
arrangements made for this pilgrimage.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
For travelers under 80 years of age and who are
residents of the US, Canada or Puerto Rico, the price
includes travel insurance during the trip covering trip
delay, baggage delay, baggage loss, accident and
sickness medical expense, and emergency medical
transportation. To qualify for coverage of a preexisting medical condition, the insurance premium
must be paid within 15 days of the initial trip
deposit. We also offer and strongly recommend
optional trip cancellation and interruption insurance,
which is not included. Travelers who are 80 years of
age and older may still purchase travel insurance
through Catholic Heritage Tours. Please call for
details.
AIRLINE SEATING
Seating requests under the group air reservation
may be made; however, please know that
sometimes airlines do not provide group seating
assignments prior to departure, and sometimes
when they do, changes cannot be made until checkin at the airport. In these cases, we will ask that the
request be made directly to the airline at the ticket
counter on the day of departure. Passengers may
also exchange seats with other group members once
on the plane.
GROUP TRAVEL
This is a group pilgrimage – not an individual trip –
with its goal being the benefit of the group as a
whole. All planned activities are for the entire group;
therefore passengers are expected, but not required,
to participate in these activities. One may choose not
to participate in parts of the sightseeing; however,
there is no refund for missed sightseeing.
GROUP AIR RESTRICTIONS
Due to the airlines’ reduced capacity and restrictive
group reservation terms, group air reservations are
often difficult to coordinate. The number of
connections, length of layovers, and all conditions
surrounding air travel cannot be guaranteed and
may change before departure. Accordingly, if
passengers require specific air travel needs and are
not flexible concerning group air travel, they may
wish to consider purchasing the Land-Only package
and secure their own preferred air arrangements.
SINGLE ROOMS AND ROOMMATES
A limited number of single rooms are available at the
single supplement price. In case they are all taken,
there may be an additional fee for a double room in
single occupancy. If passengers wish to have Catholic
Heritage Tours assign a roommate, we will do our
best; however, if we cannot find a roommate, we
will ask if the passenger would like to pay the single
supplement fee.
PILGRIMAGE SCHEDULE
Catholic Heritage Tours’ itineraries depend mainly on
the opening times of the visited shrines and on the
celebration of Holy Mass. Therefore, in order to cover
the activities of the day, breakfast will be scheduled
early and dinner will be late in the evening, as is the
custom in Europe. Pilgrimage itineraries are prepared
in advance and are subject to change.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Participants will take full responsibility for being fully
able to participate in the daily scheduled activities of
the group, noting that pilgrimages organized by
Catholic Heritage Tours require physical fitness in
order to keep up with the group’s pace. There is daily
walking, sometimes up or down slopes, and at times
sidewalks and terrain may be uneven. We recommend
preparing oneself by walking before the trip. One may
choose not to participate in parts of the sightseeing;
however, there is no refund for missed sightseeing.
For their safety, passengers 80 years of age and older
as well as anyone in need of walking assistance are
required to be accompanied by a travel companion.
BAGGAGE
Porterage at the hotels for one suitcase on the
pilgrimage is included. Its weight should not exceed
50 pounds, nor 62 linear inches (L+W+H). A handbag
not exceeding 12x11x6 inches is allowed inside the
motor-coach.
NOT INCLUDED
Beverages and food not included on the menu served
on the pilgrimage; laundry; fees for excess baggage;
fees for passport/visas; Mass stipends; tips for tour
escort, driver, and local guides; and all other items of
a personal nature.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
A valid passport with expiration date at least 6
months after traveling dates is required for all
participants. As of January 2016, US citizens do not
require a tourist visa for Italy. Other nationalities,
please contact the Italian embassy or consulate.
RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY
Catholic Heritage Tours acts only as an agent for the
various independent suppliers that provide hotel
accommodations,
transportation,
sightseeing,
activities, or other services connected with this
pilgrimage. Such services are subject to the terms and
conditions of those suppliers. Catholic Heritage Tours
and
their
respective
employees,
agents,
representatives, and assigns accept no liability
whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident,
delay, or any other incident which may be caused by
the negligence, defect, default of any company or
person in performing these services. Responsibility is
not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses
of any kind due to sickness, mental disorders,
weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of
nature, local laws or other such causes.
P.O. Box 67  St. Mary’s, KS 66536
Phone: (800) 290-3876 or (785) 437-2191
Fax: (785) 437-3093
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.catholicheritagetours.com/EEIT