Join Dr. Troy Hinkel for a prayerful pilgrimage through the heart of Italy as we visit the sacred places associated with some of the Church’s most beloved saints. This journey will lead us to Assisi and Rome, combining inspiring spiritual experiences with the beauty of Italy’s historic cities.

Our pilgrimage begins in Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare, where we will celebrate Mass at Santa Maria degli Angeli, visit the Basilica of St. Francis, the Basilica of St. Clare, and the Church of St. Mary Major, where Blessed Carlo Acutis is buried. We will also visit San Damiano and the peaceful Hermitage, places deeply connected to the life and prayer of St. Francis. 

Excursions will include visits to Perugia, home of the cathedral that houses the venerated Holy Ring of the Virgin Mary, and Siena, birthplace of St. Catherine of Siena and site of a remarkable Eucharistic Miracle. 

Our pilgrimage concludes in Rome, where we will attend the Papal Audience (subject to the Holy Father’s schedule) and visit some of the most important churches in Christendom, including St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and the Holy Stairs, along with a guided visit to the Colosseum. 

Throughout the pilgrimage there will be daily opportunities for Mass, prayer, reflection, and fellowship, making this a spiritually rich journey through the heart of the Catholic faith.

Dr. Troy Hinkel holds a master’s degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a doctorate in Modern European History with an emphasis on Church/State relations from the University of Kansas. Troy is the Co-Founder and Vice President of the Holy Family School of Faith and devotes his time to teaching as well as being a spiritual director/mentor to Catholic young adult professionals, adult parishioners, and business and lay leaders in the Greater Kansas City area. Troy is also the Co-Founder of the lay movement called, “The Movement of the Holy Family,” which renews the home and family life through encouraging its members to evangelize through friendship, good conversation, and praying the rosary. Troy and Laura, his wife of 28 years, have six children and reside in Lenexa, Kansas.

Susan Pieper is a Consecrated Virgin of the Order of Virgins in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Over many years, she has been formed through an intense prayer/interior life and trained as a Spiritual Director. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical University, the Angelicum in Rome, Italy. Susan serves as a Spiritual Advisor full time at the Holy Family School of Faith Institute in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS.

We have provided you with a day to day trip itinerary. Please note that the itinerary is subject to modifications if needed. We provide group transportation starting from the airport in Rome. On the day of arrival and departure the group transportation is scheduled based on the group air arrival and departure schedules. If you plan to make your own flight arrangements keep in mind you may also need to make your own transfer arrangements to/from the airport in Rome depending upon your arrival/departure times. Please contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to help you coordinate selecting a flight schedule that corresponds to the transportation schedule.

Your pilgrimage begins today as you depart the United States on your overnight flight to Rome. As you settle in for the journey across the Atlantic, take time to begin preparing your heart for the graces of the days ahead.

This pilgrimage will lead you through some of the most beautiful and sacred places in Italy, walking in the footsteps of saints such as St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Catherine of Siena, and many others who have shaped the life of the Church.

Relax, rest, and enjoy your flight as we look forward to arriving in Italy and beginning this unforgettable journey of faith together.  Overnight aboard your flight.

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at the Rome airport, you will be greeted by your private English-speaking tour manager who will accompany our group throughout the journey. Together we will travel by private motor coach through the beautiful Italian countryside on our way to Assisi, the beloved home of St. Francis and St. Clare.

Along the way we will pause for lunch on your own at a traditional Italian Autogrill, offering a first taste of Italy’s fresh and simple cuisine.

Before arriving at our hotel, we will make a sacred stop at Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Porziuncola, the small chapel so dear to St. Francis. Here we will celebrate Mass, entrusting our pilgrimage to the Lord at this place of deep Franciscan grace.

Afterward, we will continue to Assisi and check into our hotel, which will be our home for the next five nights. The evening concludes with a welcome dinner together, a beautiful opportunity to settle in, meet fellow pilgrims, and begin our journey of prayer, friendship, and discovery in this holy place.

Begin the day with a buffet breakfast at the hotel before walking together into the heart of Assisi for a deeply meaningful morning.

We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, the magnificent church built to honor one of the most beloved saints in the Church. Following Mass, enjoy a private guided tour of this sacred site, where breathtaking frescoes and centuries of faith tell the story of St. Francis’ life and mission.

Our pilgrimage continues with a visit to the Church of St. Mary Major, where the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis is located. Carlo used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist and has inspired pilgrims from around the world. This stop offers a powerful moment of prayer and reflection.

You will then have free time for lunch on your own, allowing you to explore Assisi’s charming streets, cafes, and shops.

In the afternoon we will visit the Church of Santa Chiara (St. Clare), where the body of St. Clare rests and where her deep friendship with St. Francis helped shape the Franciscan movement. Here we will spend time in Holy Hour, offering quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

The evening is free for dinner on your own, giving you the opportunity to enjoy Assisi at your own pace before returning to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we depart by minivans or taxis to visit two of the most peaceful and spiritually significant sites connected to St. Francis.

Our first stop is the Church of San Damiano, the small chapel where St. Francis heard the voice of Christ from the crucifix saying, “Francis, rebuild my Church.” This sacred place later became the home of St. Clare and the Poor Clares, making it one of the most important sites in the Franciscan story.

We will then continue to the Hermitage (Eremo delle Carceri), nestled in the quiet forest on the slopes of Mount Subasio. This beautiful and secluded place served as a retreat where St. Francis and his companions would withdraw for prayer, contemplation, and deeper union with God.

During the day, we will celebrate Mass and spend time together in Holy Hour, allowing the silence and beauty of these holy places to deepen our prayer.

The remainder of the day will be at leisure with lunch and dinner on your own, offering time to explore Assisi, enjoy its local cafés and shops, or return to your favorite places of prayer.  Overnight in Assisi.

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we depart by private motor coach for a full-day excursion through the beautiful region of Umbria, often called the “green heart of Italy.”

Our journey takes us to Foligno and the historic province of Perugia, cities rich in Christian heritage and centuries of faith. During the day, we will celebrate Mass and spend time together in Holy Hour, allowing for moments of prayer and reflection amid the beauty of these ancient towns.

In Perugia, we will visit the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, home to the revered Chapel of the Holy Ring, where tradition holds that the wedding ring of the Virgin Mary is preserved. This treasured relic has drawn pilgrims for centuries and offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the mystery of the Holy Family and the sacred vocation of marriage.

You will have free time for lunch and dinner on your own, giving you the opportunity to explore Perugia’s charming medieval streets, cafés, and local shops before returning to Assisi.

Overnight in Assisi.

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we depart by private motor coach for the beautiful medieval city of Siena, one of Tuscany’s most historic and spiritually rich destinations.

Our visit begins at the birthplace of St. Catherine of Siena, the great Dominican mystic, Doctor of the Church, and patron saint of Italy. Here we will reflect on her remarkable life of prayer, courage, and devotion to Christ and His Church.

We will also visit the Basilica of St. Francis, home to one of the Church’s most extraordinary Eucharistic Miracles. Preserved hosts from a miracle that occurred in 1730 remain incorrupt to this day, offering pilgrims a powerful reminder of the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

During our time in Siena, we will celebrate Mass and spend time together in Holy Hour, deepening our prayer at these sacred sites.

In the afternoon, we will return by private coach to our hotel in Assisi. The evening is free for dinner on your own, giving you time to enjoy Assisi at a relaxed pace before overnight at the hotel.

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart by private motor coach for Rome. Along the way, we will stop in the beautiful hilltop town of Orvieto, known for its stunning cathedral and deep Eucharistic history.

Here we will visit the magnificent Duomo of Orvieto, one of Italy’s most breathtaking cathedrals. This sacred place is closely connected to the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, which inspired the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi. During our visit we will celebrate Mass, offering our prayers in this remarkable setting of faith and beauty.

You will have free time for lunch and shopping, allowing you to enjoy the charm of Orvieto’s small streets, cafés, and artisan shops.

In the afternoon we continue to Rome, where we will check in to our hotel, which will be our home for the next three nights.

Later in the day, we will walk to the nearby Church of Santa Maria alle Fornaci for a time of Holy Hour, offering prayer and reflection as our pilgrimage continues in the heart of the Eternal City.

The day concludes with a group dinner at the hotel and overnight in Rome.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will walk together to St. Peter’s Square to attend the Papal Audience (subject to the availability of His Holiness). Joining pilgrims from around the world, we will hear the Holy Father’s message and receive his blessing, an unforgettable moment in the heart of the Church.

Following the audience, you will have free time for lunch on your own, allowing you to explore nearby cafés or continue discovering the beauty of Vatican City.

In the afternoon, we will meet our private motor coach and travel to one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, the Colosseum, for a private guided tour. As we walk through this ancient amphitheater, we will reflect on the courage and witness of the early Christian martyrs who gave their lives for the faith.

We will also visit the Church of St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli), where the chains believed to have bound St. Peter during his imprisonment are preserved. Time may be set aside here for a Holy Hour, offering a powerful opportunity for prayer in this historic church.

The evening will be free for dinner on your own, followed by overnight in Rome.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will walk together to St. Peter’s Square, taking time to pray and experience the beauty of the Vatican in the quiet of the morning.

Later in the morning, we will be picked up by private motor coach and travel to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas of Rome and one of the most important Marian churches in the world. Here we will celebrate Mass and enjoy a guided tour, discovering the rich history, sacred relics, and stunning mosaics that make this basilica so significant in the life of the Church.

You will then have free time for lunch on your own, offering an opportunity to enjoy a Roman café or explore the surrounding neighborhood.

In the afternoon, we continue to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Holy Father. During our visit we will tour the basilica and also visit the nearby Scala Santa (Holy Stairs), which tradition holds were the steps our Lord ascended during His trial before Pontius Pilate.

The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure, allowing time for personal prayer, last-minute shopping, or exploring the Eternal City.

In the evening, we gather for a special farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant in the charming Borgo Pio district, within walking distance of our hotel. It will be a joyful opportunity to celebrate the graces of the pilgrimage and the friendships formed along the journey.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and depart by private motor coach for Rome’s airport.

As our pilgrimage comes to a close, we carry with us the many graces received, the holy places visited, and the friendships formed along the journey. Our tour manager will assist with the transfer and ensure a smooth arrival at the airport for your return flight to the United States.

We pray that the memories and spiritual fruits of this pilgrimage will continue to inspire your faith long after returning home.