The Footsteps of St. Ignatius
A Bridges Foundation Pilgrimage Through Spain - June 2 to 11, 2027
For nearly 40 years, the Bridges Foundation has shared the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola through its retreats and Magis program. Now, Bridges invites you to walk in the footsteps of St. Ignatius—deepening faith and community through his story, history, and example.
Steve Givens is executive director of the Bridges Foundation and has served for nearly a decade as a prayer companion and Magis presenter. A spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer, he contributes regularly to Living Faith and Jesuit Media Lab and has led retreats for lay and religious communities, including several religious orders.
Diagnosed in 2007 with a rare blood disease, his years of chemotherapy inspired his book Embraced by God: Facing Chemotherapy with Faith (2010).
Marcus Fryer, SJ, currently is missioned to Loyola Middle School in St. Louis, serving as the school’s chaplain, assistant principal, and teacher, while also supporting Loyola’s development efforts.
He formerly served as dean of students and pastoral director at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver and as an assistant pastor at a parish in New Mexico, among other ministries. He joined the Society of Jesus in 2006 and was ordained in 2017.
$3,699/person* Double Occupancy - $4,399 in Single Occupancy**
Prices Include
8 Nights in Superior Hotels
Daily Mass Arrangements
Tour Escort Services
Transportation by Modern Coach Bus
8 Breakfasts and 8 Dinners
One glass of wine, beer, or soft drink with included dinners
All Entrances and Activities per the Itinerary
Prices Do Not Include
Airfare to or from Spain
Tips/Gratuities
Passport or Visa Fees
Anything not explicitly stated in the "Prices Include" section
*Prices assume a minimum of 20 participants.
**Single accommodations are subject to availability.
Accommodations for this proposal generally follow a 4-star standard. In some cases, as in Loyola and Manresa, this standard is set aside in favor of placing the group in accommodations with truly exceptional locations - both being adjacent to major pilgrimage destinations. Both accommodations meet Bayard Pilgrimage standards for cleanliness and service, although they may lack some of the amenities of the 4-star establishments selected for the rest of the pilgrimage.
Although there are days in this itinerary that do not reference a specific location for Mass, the group will have Mass each day throughout the pilgrimage.
Bayard Pilgrimages will be able to provide a group flight reservation once the group's return date is less than 11 months away (July, 2026). This is typically the earliest timeframe in which airlines publish their flight details.
Based on historical averages, we estimate that the cost for the flight itinerary will be between $1,200 to $1,400/person. This figure provides for a basic-economy class seat with an allowance of one checked bag per passenger.
The itinerary for this pilgrimage is designed so that participants can easily secure their own flights (instead of using the group reservation) and feel confident that they will not miss out on any major pilgrimage activities - even if their arrival flights are delayed.
Bayard Pilgrimages allows for participants to opt in/out of group flight reservations up until 120 days before departure. Afterwards, we cannot guarantee the price or availability of group flight reservations.
Upon arrival in Madrid, you will meet your local tour escort and transfer to your hotel located in the heart of Madrid’s historic center.
This evening, we will celebrate our first Mass of the pilgrimage at a nearby church.
Following Mass, we will enjoy our first shared meal of the pilgrimage and celebrate our safe arrival in Spain!
We begin the day with a guided tour of Ignatius’s childhood home. The tour culminates with Mass and a private visit to the room where Ignatius experienced his spiritual conversion. The readings include some of the very texts that Ignatius read leading up to his conversion as well as accounts of how Ignatius later assisted others through spiritual conversation.
Our group will also visit the basilica adjacent to the castle. Together, they form much of the Sanctuary of Loyola as well as the Loyola family archives.
This morning you will travel to Pamplona, the birthplace and childhood home of St. Francis Xavier the great Evangelist of the 16th century. After the battle of Pamplona, young St. Francis Xavier was sent to the University of Paris where he would meet his roommate, Ignatius, with whom he would later co-found the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. Visit the site where Ignatius was wounded defending the city against the French in 1521, visit Xavier (Navarre) where you will tour the castle in which Francis Xavier was born and which contains a sculptured Crucifix, The Smiling Christ. We end the day with our arrival in Zaragoza.
Begin the day with Mass and a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, built to commemorate the place where the Virgin Mary standing atop a pillar carried by Angels, appeared to St. James. The basilica’s small, wooden statue of Our Lady of the Pillar has been a regular stopping point for pilgrims, both now and during Ignatius’s life.
Continue to Manresa, stopping along the way in the small town of Verdú, the birthplace of St. Peter Claver, SJ, who dedicated his life to the aid of enslaved people in the New World. Upon arrival in Manresa, you will settle into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
High resolution images for the Spirituality Center were difficult to find. To get a better impression of this amazing retreat center, we encourage you to visit the website linked in their description above.
This morning you will explore Manresa, a place of profound conversion for Ignatius, and visit the Cave of Saint Ignatius where the saint retired to meditate and write his Spiritual Exercises. You will see the Chapel of the Rapture where St. Ignatius remained motionless in ecstasy for eight days and visit the Basilica of la Seu, the large Gothic Church that has come to symbolize Manresa. You will enjoy an audiovisual presentation and a tour of the museum at Manresa. Ignatius remained in Manresa for about a year and a half before continuing his journey to Barcelona.
In the afternoon you will make your way to Montserrat, home to the dramatically set Benedictine monastery known as Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. On a rugged mountainside, you will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna.
It is believed that the founding of the Society of Jesus by St. Ignatius of Loyola was inspired by the Black Madonna’s apparition to St. Ignatius during his pilgrimage to the Shrine of Montserrat. Visit the museum containing works by many of Spain’s great artists and celebrate Mass in the Basilica housing the image of La Moreneta, Our Lady of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia. This evening we return to Manresa for dinner and an overnight stay.
Departing Manresa, we soon arrive in the capital of Catalonia: Barcelona. Our introduction to the city begins with a remarkable view enjoyed from the heights of Tibidabo Hill which overlooks the entire city.
Continuing to the lively city below, we visit one of Europe's most vibrant markets known as La Bocqueria. Here, we are given time to explore the myriad shops and restaurants that so perfectly reflect what it means to live in one of the world's great cities.
Afterwards, we continue on foot to explore the nearby Gothic Quarter where we soon discover the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral. Constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, the cathedral houses the Crypt of Saint Eulalia where St. Ignatius spent many hours of prayer and reflection. After time for prayer and reflection, we continue to our hotel to close the day.
On our last day in Barcelona, we visit a structure that has come to define the city to Catholics all over the world. Construction of La Sagrada Familia started in 1882 and was originally designed by modernist architect Antoni Gaudi who worked on the project until his death in 1926.
Since then, many subsequent architects have lent their expertise to the project while doing their best to fulfill Gaudi’s original vision for what he considered his masterpiece. Even today, the structure is still incomplete although it is mostly finishing touches that remain. Our group will enjoy an in-depth tour which will culminate in the celebration of the final Mass of our pilgrimage within one of the cathedral’s many chapels.
After time for lunch, we will proceed to the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart. Here, we will have the opportunity to view and pray before the Sword and Dagger of St. Ignatius which he laid at the feet of La Moreneta to renounce the path of soldierly ambition and embrace his higher calling.
This evening, we gather at a local restaurant to enjoy a special Farewell Dinner during which we are invited to reminisce and share in the many graces granted to us throughout our pilgrimage.
Please note that early departures from Barcelona may need to request a to-go breakfast box instead of dining in the hotel.