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Fr. Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, was ordained bishop at Christ the King Seminary, in the very church where he served as a lowly, diligent sacristan before he entered the seminary. It is his humility that has endeared him to so many people. Even as our provincial superior, he was very understanding and welcomed confreres with open arms. These are the very same traits that make him effective and efficacious in the Diocese of Abra. “Manete in me” (Remain in me) is his motto. Bishop Pol is Bishop Pol because he has truly, humbly and conscientiously remained in God. (Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD)
Walk through the holy doors, gain plenary indulgence, and experience God’s boundless mercy. Embark on a 13-day Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy with Bishop Pol Jaucian, SVD, from September 22 to October 4, 2025, organized by the Alay sa Diyos Community. Let this pilgrimage be a time of renewal, grace, and a profound encounter with God.
Begin your pilgrimage with a four-night stay in the eternal city of Rome, the spiritual heart of Catholicism and the home of Popes and Saints. During your stay, visit the major sites and shrines, including the four major basilicas – St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Walk through the Holy Doors, a rare privilege granted only during the Jubilee Year. Stand in awe before the magnificent St. Peter’s Square, climb on bended knees the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) – the steps walked by Christ on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate – witness the grandeur of Michelangelo’s Pieta, and immerse yourself in the spirituality that exists here.
Leave Rome for Subiaco, where St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order, withdrew as a hermit before establishing twelve monasteries. It was here that his monastic rule began before he moved to Montecassino. When you arrive at the village, you will be welcomed by the Ponte di San Francesco, a stunning medieval arch bridge built in 1358, gracefully spanning the River Aniene.
Visit the Monastery of St. Benedict, also known as the Sanctuary of the Sacro Speco (Holy Cave), which enshrines the very grotto where the young St. Benedict of Norcia lived in solitude during the early sixth century. The monastery is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, adorned with thirteenth- and fourteenth-century frescoes and paintings. Perched dramatically on the mountainside, it stands as one of the most breathtaking monastic sites in the world—a place where history, art, and deep spirituality converge.
Head for Montecassino to see the Abbazia di Montecassino, which was established by St. Benedict in 529 and serves as the mother monastery of the Benedictines. The elaborate church from the 17th century is decorated inside with exquisite mosaics, frescoes, and marble. The relics of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica, his twin sister, are housed in a bronze urn beneath the high altar of the Basilica. Before leaving for Naples, the group will be scheduled for Mass.
Travel to Mont Sant’ Angelo to see the grotto that houses the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel (Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo), a sacred cave where the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared and consecrated the shrine himself.
Continue with your pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Padre Pio spent most of his life. Visit the cell where St. Padre Pio lived and died. In the Church of Our Lady of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie Church), stand before the crucifix where St. Padre Pio received the stigmata while deep in prayer. Then, enter the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (sometimes referred to as Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church) to pray before his incorrupt body, displayed in a part-glass coffin.
Next, travel to Lanciano,to view the Eucharistic Miracle, still miraculously preserved in a monstrance at the Church of St. Legontian since the 8th century. From there, make your way to Loreto to visit the Basilica of the Holy House, a shrine believed to be the house where our Blessed Mother was conceived and born and where the Holy Family lived. Pious devotees believe that the same house was flown over by angelic beings from Nazareth to Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia). Then the house was again transported to the hilltop town of Loreto in Italy in 1294.
Your journey continues to Cascia, the hometown of St. Rita, the beloved patron saint of impossible causes. Visit and celebrate mass at the Monastery and Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia, a minor basilica where the incorrupt body of St. Rita is preserved.
Wind down your pilgrimage with a two-night stay in Assisi, the medieval city built on a hill and the hometown of St. Francis, the founder of the Franciscan Order. The sublime city of Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In particular, the Basilica di San Francesco, which houses the tomb of St. Francis, is considered a masterpiece.
Follow in the footsteps of the saints and embrace the call of His Holiness Pope Francis to a special year of grace and renewal during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. Join a 13-day Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy with Bishop Pol Jaucian, SVD, on September 22 to October 4, 2025. May this life-changing journey renew your faith, uplift your spirit, and fill your heart with the enduring hope that only God can give.
