Day 1 
- Depart Chicago O'Hare

Day 2
- Arrive in Europe

- Wieskirche

Day 3
- Oberammergau

- Passion Play

Day 4
- Neuschwanstein

- Dachau

Day 5
- Altotting

- Marktl am Inn

- Munich

Day 6
- Austria

- Bologna

Day 7
- Feast of St. Francis

- Lorety & Assisi

Day 8
- Assisi & Rome

Day 9
- Vatican

- Papal Audience*

- Imperial Rome

Day 10
- Christian Rome

Day 11
- Tour of the Vatican

Day 12
- Return to U.S.A.

 

 

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LEGEND: (M = Aircraft Meals / B = Breakfast / D = Dinner)

Day 1: Tuesday, September 28th, 2010: US departure
Depart the U.S. for Munich, Germany! Enjoy dinner, drinks and video entertainment onboard as you fly into the European continent. Airfare included from Chicago. IL,(Airfare is available from other cities for an additional price). Please call for more information.

Day 2: Wednesday, September 29th: Arrive in Europe, Wieskirche. After our connection, arrive in Munich, Germany. Travel through the gorgeous Bavarian countryside to the beautiful and richly decorated village of Oberammergau, site of the world famous Passion Play (performed for several centuries every ten years by the town’s population as an act of thanksgiving for having been spared of the bubonic plague). Visit the beautiful Wieskirche on the way to Oberammergau. A thanksgiving Mass for a safe arrival is scheduled here. Enjoy dinner with your fellow pilgrims! (M, D)

Day 3: Thursday, September 30th: Oberammergau with Passion Play. Travel to the nearby Ettal Monastery for morning Mass. Then return to Oberammergau to attend the professionally produced and internationally famous Passion Play! The paly ends late in the evening with an intermission for dinner. (B, D)

Day 4: Friday, October 1st: Neuschwanstein & Dachau. Embark on a beautiful excursion of the Bavarian landscape. Visit one of the most photographed castles in the world, King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle is an imposing testament to grandiose dreams. After this memorable visit, continue on to to the site of the former concentration camp of Dachau. Tour the camp’s site, memorials and museum. A special prayer will be offered here for all the victims of the Holocaust (especially those who died here, and also for the 50 million victims of the abortion holocaust that is destroying our Country). Continue to Munich for a two night stay.
 

Day 5: Saturday, October 2nd: Altotting, Marktl am Inn and Munich. Head east towards the beautiful Marian Shrine of Altotting. Unlike any other Marian Shrine, Altotting looks and feels like a small Bavarian town with different churches and shops surrounding the old, unique and small chapel of Our Lady of Altotting. The beautiful image of Our Lady of Altotting is inside this chapel centered above the Altar. Continue traveling east to the charming town of Marktl am Inn, birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. Visit the church where little Joseph Ratzinger was Baptized and tour the small town’s exhibit hall right across the street from Pope Benedict’s birthplace (an old police station - pictured above). Enjoy a casual walk of Old Munich this afternoon with it’s beautiful churches and beer halls. (B, D)

Day 6: Sunday, October 3rd: Travel through Austria into Italy. After breakfast, say “Auf Wiedersehen” to Germany and journey into Italy by crossing Austria through the Tyrol countryside. Arrive this evening in Bologna for Mass at St. Domenico Church, the resting place of St. Dominic, the famous saint that founded the Dominican Order. Join your fellow pilgrims for a welcome to Italy dinner. (B, D)

Day 7: Monday, October 4th (Feast of St. Francis): Loreto & Assisi. Head east towards the Adriatic coast of Italy, to a little piece of the Holy Land, the Marian Shrine of Loreto. See the beautiful black Madonna of Loreto while visiting the Holy House of Nazareth, where Mary received the Annunciation. Only 3 walls are present because the fourth wall is actually a grotto in Nazareth. Archeological studies have scientifically matched the composition of these two places. A pious tradition tells us that the Holy House was transported to Loreto by Angels in order to protect it from invading infidels. This Shrine has been frequented by many Popes. Holy Mass is scheduled at the Holy House where the word was made flesh. Then head West crossing the Apennine Mountains towards the Umbria region, the land of St. Francis and St. Clare. Upon arrival to lower Assisi, visit the ‘Porziuncula’ (the first Franciscan house), the Transit Chapel (where St. Francis died), and the thorn-less rose garden, all inside the stunning St. Mary of the Angels Basilica. Dinner and overnight in the Assisi area. (B, D)

Day 8: Tuesday, October 5th: Assisi & Rome. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Assisi including the Lower and Upper Basilicas of St. Francis filled with world famous Giotto frescoes that depict the lives of Jesus and St. Francis, as well as other saints. Visit the tombs of St. Francis and his disciples. Visit other important sights such as the place of St. Francis’ birth, his home, also the remains of St. Clare and the famous Cross of San Damiano at the Church of St. Clare. Mass celebrated in Assisi. This afternoon, depart the Capital of Italy and ancient home of the greatest empire in western civilization, Roma (Rome). Four night stay in Rome. (B, D)

Day 9: Wednesday, October 6th: Vatican (Papal Audience) & Imperial Rome. After breakfast, join pilgrims from all over the world for a once in a lifetime experience, an Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican (pending on the Holy Father’s schedule).  After the Pope’s message, the Holy Father will impart his blessing on you and your family (bring your personal religious articles – rosaries, etc…- as they will be blessed too). After the audience board our motor-coach and head to the historical center. Enjoy a motor-coach, panoramic tour of Rome including the famous Coliseum (Flavian Amphitheater) built in 72 AD, flanked on one side by the Arch of Constantine and surrounded by the massive Roman Forum. Then see the huge Circus Maximus (also used in the movie Ben Hur), the Vittorio Emanuel II monument (“wedding cake building” – housing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier), Piazza Venezzia featuring the old Venice embassy building (used by Mussolini to give his famous speeches), the Capitoline Hill and more. Mass is celebrated at St. Peter in Chains, where the chains that once imprisioned St. Peter are housed inside the Altar. This church also has tone of Michelangelo’s masterpieces (The Moses). Remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 10: Thursday: October 7th: Christian Rome. After breakfast, embark on an unforgettable excursion of the treasures of our faith. First, travel south, down the ‘Via Apia’ (Apian Way) for a powerful journey, experiencing how our early brothers and sisters survived and persevered in preserving our Lord’s Church. Tour through an amazing complex of underground tunnels with an unending number of crypts, mausoleum tombs and chapels that fill every passageway that comprise the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. One of the highlights of this visit will be the place where the body of St. Cecilia was found. A very realistic statue that marks this place portrays the way her body laid, giving a final and resounding testimony to the Blessed Trinity at the time of her death. Mass celebrated here at the Catacombs. Then visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the 4 Patriarchal Basilicas of the Church. In addition to having portraits of every Pope, St. Paul Outside the Walls is most famous for housing the remains of St. Paul. After this visit, travel to St. Mary Major (another one of the 4 Patriarchal Basilicas) where you can see relics of the Manger from Bethlehem. Commissioned in the year 360AD approximately, Santa Maria is the first Basilica to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Snows). The famous icon of Mary, Health of the Roman People, believed to be painted by St. Luke, can be found in the beautiful Cappella Paolina built by Paul V. Then visit San Giovanni Laterano (St. John Lateran), the Cathedral of Rome (and another one of the Church’s four major Basilicas) originally dedicated to Christ Our Savior, and later to St. John the Baptist and to St. John the Evangelist. Adjoining is the Lateran Palace which was the official residence of the Popes before the Avignon captivity. Afterwards, visit the ‘Scala Sancta’ (Holy Stairs) where you may climb the same steps Our Lord climbed on the way to see Pontius Pilate. The climb may only be done on your knees. Approximately on every 5 steps, a small circled glass window allows the pilgrim to see the real marble steps below the wooden protective cover. It has been said that at one point pilgrims could still see the marble with drops of the blood of Christ through these small windows. End our day at ‘Santa Croce in Gerusalemme’ (Holy Cross of Jerusalem), where incredible relics can be found (fragments of the Holy Cross, one Nail, part of the inscription INRI, two thorns from the Crown of Thorns, fragments of the pillar of the scourging and of the rock of the Holy Sepulcher). We owe these beautiful relics, including the Holy Stairs, to St. Helena, the mother of Rome’s first Christian Emperor, Constantine. (B)


Day 11: Friday October 8th: Tour of the Vatican. Tour the impressive Museo Vaticano (Vatican Museum) with a fascinating collection of historical artifacts and precious objects of art, including the magnificent Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel) with the famous Michelangelo frescoes featuring the Last Judgment. Afterwards, tour the largest Church in the world, the Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter’s Basilica). Descend below the main Altar of St. Peter’s Basilica and visit the Crypt of St. Peter where the remains of the first Pope lay, surrounded by the tombs of many Popes. This is your chance to pay your respects to John Paul the Great at his tomb. This afternoon depart for the Prelatic Church of Santa Maria della Pace (St. Mary of Peace) where we celebrate our Farewell Mass and have time for Confessions. Afterwards, enjoy a memorable farewell dinner with your new family. (B, D)

Day 12: Saturday, October 9th: Return to U.S.A. Board your coach to the Fiumicino Airport. Say ‘ciao, ciao’ to our escort and board the plane bound for the USA. As our airplane takes off, take one last look at a beautiful land that now holds a special place in our hearts, and say Arrivederci Italia! (B, M) Upon arrival in the USA, clear US Immigrations and Customs. Welcome Home!

12 - Day Trip Inclusions:

• Air transportation from Chicago to Munich and Rome to Chicago.  (per itinerary).  Airfare available from other cities.  Please call for price difference. 

• Private Motor-coach in Germany and Italy with professional Chauffeur (some tours require walking).

• Airport Transfers in Germany and Italy (for those flying with the group)

• Accommodations included throughout the itinerary. 

• 18 meals:  10 Breakfast, 8 Dinners (plus meals & drinks onboard plane)

• Expert Local guides on selected featured tours in Rome and Germany.

• Roman Catholic Priest as chaplain and Spiritual Director. 

• European Tour Manager throughout your stay. 

• Relevant Radio Staff

• Juan Landa as Tour Director (Mater Dei)

• Admissions to all featured and selected visits of the touring program.  Including the Oberammergau Passion Play. 

• Tour program includes: Vatican City including Munich during Oktoberfest, Altotting (Marian Shrine),  Merktl Am Inn (Pope's birthplace), Weiskirche, Oberammergau (Passion Play), Ettal Monastery, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Imperial Rome Tour (Coliseum and Forum), Christian Rome Tour (Catacombs of St. Callixtus, Holy Steps, Holy Cross of Jerusalem, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls), Assisi (Tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare), Loreto (Mary's Home: Holy House of Nazareth), Bologna (tomb of St. Dominic), and more. 

• * General Audience* with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI (*All Papal activities are pending on the Holy Father's Final Schedule.)

• Full documentation packet with luggage tags & re-usable wallet.

• Spiritual program including daily Mass, Rosaries, Meditations, and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• Hotel sales tax, Italian hospitality taxes & service charges.

Does Not Include:

• AIRLINE TAXES: US/Europe airport, departure, connection and
  transportation taxes and fuel surcharges (approximately $395)

• Tour Manager, Tour Guide's and Motor-coach Chauffeurs gratuities
  . (See registration for price, terms & Conditions)
   

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