The Footsteps of St.

Gaspar
visiting

ROME * ASSISI * SITES OF ST. GASPAR

Hosted by

Fr. Jeffrey Keyes

SAN FRANCISCO/ACROSS THE ATLANTIC MON, OCT 1 Depart San Francisco today and connect with your overnight transatlantic jet flight to Rome, arriving the following day. ARRIVE ROME TUE, OCT 2 Arrive Rome today where you will be met and escorted to your waiting motor coach for the transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day. Located in the center of the Region of Lazio, Rome, the Eternal City, reflects every era and is definitely a feast for the eyes. The wonders of Rome surround you...a world of art, history and culture that has been attracting visitors since the beginning of Western civilization. (D) ROME - PAPAL AUDIENCE WED, OCT 3 This morning, attend an Audience with Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. After the audience, we will go to the Congregation of Doctrine of Faith. Next, we will visit to the Sistine Chapel, with its beautiful artwork by Michelangelo. You will also visit the Chiesa Nuova, where St. Gaspar gave his last mission. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) ROME THU, OCT 4 After an early breakfast, the group will depart for St. Peters Basilica to participate in the ordinations of the New Deacons of the Pontifical North American College. One of the new Deacons is Brandon Macadaeg of the Diocese of Oakland who served one of his pastoral assignments at St. Edward. Then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in fascinating Rome. (B) ROME FRI, OCT 5 After breakfast we will drive to the Basilica of Santa Prassede where Gaspar's parents were married. This Church contains the tombs of hundreds of martyrs from the first centuries, as well as many famous mosaics and the pillar of the Scourging. Continue to the nearby Basilica of San Silvestro e Martino ai Monti where Gaspar was baptized. Visit the basilicas of St. John Lateran, where St. Gaspar was ordained, and St. Paul outside of the Walls. End your day with Mass at 3:30pm at the basilica of St. Mary Major. Here we will participate in the first Mass where Brandon will serve as a Deacon before returning to the hotel for dinner. (B,D)

ROME SONNINO/ALBANO SAT, OCT 6 Today we depart for Sonnino, the small town in the mountains where St. Gaspar helped dissolve the brigands with his missions. See the Chiesa San Pietro, where we will celebrate Mass, along with the CPPS missionary house. On the return to Rome we will visit the Fossanova Abbey, where St. Thomas Aquinas died. Then we will stop at Albano Laziale, was first buried and which was his favorite Mission House. Return to Rome for dinner and overnight. (B,D) ROME SUN, OCT 7 Today we will drive to Santa Maria in Trevio, where the tomb of St. Gaspar is held and attend a public Mass. Then see the San Silvestre Monastery, in which St. Gaspar attempted to join and San Luigi dei Francesi. Nearby we will visit the Pantheon. The next stop will be the French Constable station near Sant Ignazio where Gaspar was arrested and deported. Next you will see the Church of the Gesu, where Gaspar was healed at the relic of St. Francis Xavier and spent a lot of time as a youth, and the Palazzo Altieri where Gaspar grew up while his father was a chef. Our last stop is at San Marco, where Gaspar served as Canon after his ordination. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B,D) ROME MON, OCT 8 Attend 8am Mass at St. Peters Basilica with Fr. Steven Lopes. Then take a trip to San Nicola in Carcere where St. Gaspar preached the inaugural sermon for the foundation of the Arch Confraternity of the Precious Blood. Nearby see the Teatro Marcello, where St. Gaspar died, and San Angela in Percerria, where his funeral was held. You will then be taken to the Casa Generalizia of the CPPS. Later you will visit Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, where Gaspar did his ordination retreat and preached 10 Lenten missions. Visit San Lorenzo Church. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B,D) ROME - SAN FELICE/ASSISI TUE, OCT 9 After breakfast depart for Umbria. Enjoy a visit to the Abbey of San Felice and celebrate Mass. This is where the order of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood was founded. Before departing for Assisi, enjoy a festive Pranzo at the Ristorante Rifugio San Gaspare. We then depart to Assisi, the town of St. Francis and St. Clare. In Assisi enjoy a tour that will include visits to the Basilica of St. Francis (view the exquisite artwork of Giotto), the Convent of St. Clare, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Portiuncula which houses the site of the beginning of the Franciscan order. Return to Rome for dinner on your own. Overnight in Rome. (B,L) ROME/SAN FRANCISCO WED, OCT 10 All too soon your pilgrimage is over as you board your flight back to San Francisco, arriving the same day. (B)