a Pilgrimage Chaplain
September 11, 2024
Portugal, Spain, France, Italy
When you experience the blessings of Marian Pilgrimages as you bathe in the healing waters of the Baths in Lourdes.
When you hear of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima.
When you contemplate the priceless works of art in Rome.
When you reflect on the Prayer of St. Francis while in Assisi.
You will be changed forever.
At the core of Marian Pilgrimages are apparitions and miracles associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the lives of saints.
You are invited to join a 15-day Healing Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrines of Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy with a Pilgrimage Chaplain on September 11-25, 2024, and take this important step to deepen your relationship with God.
Your pilgrimage begins with a Mass at the Church of St. Anthony in Lisbon, Portugal. The Church of St. Anthony was built on the site where St. Anthony of Lisbon (also known as St. Anthony of Padua) was born in 1195. Across is the Lisbon Cathedral, where St. Anthony was baptized. Travel onwards to Fatima, where you will spend two nights at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. The fame of this place is the result of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary to three shepherd children – Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta.
Leave Portugal for Spain and head for the medieval city of Burgos. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos, also known as Burgos Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of Santa Maria is Burgos’s historic jewel and one of Spain’s great Gothic churches.
Travel onwards to Lourdes, France, to spend two nights at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The sanctuary is the site of an apparition of the Blessed Mother seen by Bernadette Soubirous, who was later canonized. Pray the rosary and spend time in quiet reflection at the Grotto of Massabielle, the Blessed Mother’s apparition site. Not to be missed is the evening rosary procession, where “Ave Maria” is sung in unison and the rosary is recited in different languages.
Enjoy a leisurely drive along the Mediterranean coastline of the French Riviera, where you will have an overnight stay in the elegant city of Nice. Leave France for Italy for your two-night stay in the small town of Assisi, a place where spirituality seamlessly blends with the natural beauty of the Italian landscape. Journey through the narrow cobblestone streets and sacred sites of this charming city, where the spirit of St. Francis lingers in the air. Not to be missed is a visit to the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the Saint’s tomb and the masterpieces of Giotto and Cimab.
Leave Assisi for Loreto to visit the Holy House of Nazareth in the Basilica. Head for Lanciano to visit the Church of St. Legontian, site of an eight-century Eucharistic Miracle. Journey on to San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Padre Pio spent most of his life. Visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie), where Padre Pio used to say Mass and hear confessions. See also his cell, his confessional, and the crucifix from which he received his stigmata.
Cap off your pilgrimage with a two-night stay in Rome, the heart and home of the Catholic Church. Marvel at the unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces at the Vatican. View the awe- inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, built over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle.
Learn more about the people and places that helped shape our faith and the devotions they inspired. Join a 15-day Healing Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrines of Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy with a Pilgrimage Chaplain on September 11-25, 2024. May this pilgrimage be the stepping stone that will move all pilgrims forward, closer to Jesus.
Join a moving evening Rosary and Candlelight procession in Lourdes and Fatima where the “Ave Maria” is sung in unison in different languages.
Enjoy the scenic bus ride through the countryside of Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. An excellent opportunity for reflection, relaxation, and bonding time with fellow pilgrims.
Pray before the original icon of Our Lady of the Perpetual Help enshrined at the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome.
Rome is an open air museum! Marvel at its breathtaking beauty.
Throw a coin at the Trevi Fountain in Rome; legend has it that by doing so, you will go back to Rome again someday.
Find time to immerse yourself in the BATHS in Lourdes, where water from a spring at the Grotto of Massabielle flows.
Light a candle and say a prayer for your loved ones on your visit to the churches and various holy shrines while on pilgrimage.
See the Eucharistic Miracle at Lanciano and believe that Jesus is truly present in the wine and host after the priest has blessed it during mass.
Shop for rosaries, medals, and other religious souvenir items while on pilgrimage, and let your pilgrimage chaplain bless them before heading home.
Find the time to go to confession during the pilgrimage, and be ready to experience the healing love of God through the sacrament.
Spiritually-focused journeys
Insightful pilgrimage chaplains
Quality accommodations
Expertly-crafted itineraries
Friendly and bonded groups
Senior citizen friendly
The whole pilgrimage is a new and fulfilling moment in my life. It’s a nice feeling being with the Lord in His important day. And also, gaining new friends and becoming my new extended family is something I will treasure. I hope that this is just the beginning and we’ll continue to get in touch with one another despite the distance.
Brenda
Hello Co-Pilgrims,
It was indeed a wonderful Pilgrimage: very rich in history, a thanksgiving of blessings, a spiritual renewal and nourishment, and finally ending in a test of Faith.
Thank you so much Pilgrim Leader, Ging Igual, for standing beside us up to the last stretch of our 13-day journey - more particularly in the handling of an unexpected situation (cancelled flight in Mexico and re-direction of flights to make sure the 38 Pilgrims reach LA for their respective flight bookings). Ging, you were an angel to us so blessed with energy, passion, love and Milagrosa. We really felt the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe fielding angels every step of the way.
The Pilgrimage to California Mission Churches and Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me personal inspiration for the work and activities of the next chapter of my lifetime: farming with promotion of agriculture for millennials (inspired by the scenic view of farms in California), tourism (which is a major industry in all places we visited), and support for a favourite major seminary in Tagaytay and a scholarship fund for deserving individuals (thru a non stock non profit institution).
Thank you to my Co-Pilgrims and prayer partners for the prayer support, sharing of life experiences and friendships; Fr. Tony, thank you for your spiritual reflections and service; Fr. Jerry Orbos for an overflowing spiritual reflections and enabling us to have the needed personal encounter with Jesus and Mama Mary (it was like a 12-day Holy Retreat); and the Executive Resources for making a very nice pilgrimage package a part of our lifetime.
Ms. Emma
Lord, we cannot find words enough to say how grateful we are to You. Our pilgrimage made us realize that Your love for us is more than what we deserve.
To all our co-pilgrims, thank you for making us feel we belong to this new family. To Fr. Dante, thanks for your prayers and pieces of advice for our spiritual nourishment. To Sis Lea, for taking care of each one of us. To Sis Joy, thanks for the contagious joys and laughters.
To our prayer partners, Sis Maribel, Melvy and Didick and Bro Mon and Sis Jot, thank you for your prayers. We will pray for you, too!
To The Pilgrim’s Center - Executive Resources, thank you for accommodating us in this Eastern Europe Pilgrimage.
God bless us all always!
Albert and Adee
Dear Pilgrims' Center:
My husband Aldo & I would like to praise & commend our Pilgrim Chaplain Fr. Dante Venus & our Tour Leader Bro. Monty for the very successful & memorable pilgrimage to Italy & the Holy Land we were very fortunate to join on March 26-April 8, 2018.
It was very hectic to be sure, but still they managed our time very well that we were able to visit more places than was promised in the itinerary, and we are very appreciative of that. Likewise, the solemnity of the whole pilgrimage experience was still observed despite many of us in the group, myself included, often forgetting that we were pilgrims & not tourists 😉😉, taking photos, selfies, etc. instead of, or before focusing on what the local guide was explaining or on the scripture readings. I cannot fault us pilgrims on this because for many of us seniors, and I speak for my husband & I, that trip might be our first & last time to visit those places, so we made sure they were properly documented. Nonetheless, it was a truly spiritually uplifting & life-changing experience for us. We continue to thank our Lord for making that experience of a lifetime possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God! Thank you very much to Fr. Dante, Bro. Monty & to each of us pilgrims in the group for the prayers, love, care & concern shown to each other. Let us continue to pray for and with each other. It is my hope that we meet each other again soon, to strengthen our bonds of friendships.
Most sincerely, Leclec Cabusora
Leclec Cabusora
My husband and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Israel - with Franciscan Fr Reu Galoy. Thank you Pilgrim Center for the arrangements. We are so happy and satisfied with all that you have done for us. Kudos to Yanyan and Monty from Pilgrim Center, and Fr Reu and Ronin for your caring services. It was a spiritual journey and we felt the abiding presence of the Lord all throughout.
Ann Arguelles Cortes
Our pilgrimage was worth all the hardships (I was having leg pains). We had an excellent leader in the person of Adrian, two priests Fathers Val and Ron, who gave us very nice pieces of advice and homilies, and of course the members of the group who were all very nice. Looking forward to join another pilgrimage.
Emily Bautista
It was the most profound experience I had in my whole life....Walking with the Footsteps where Jesus walked made my life more grateful and humble....My faith become stronger as I express it...A growing faith is a sharing faith....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! SHALOM!
Carmen Nierra
Vir & I would like to express our gratitude for a wonderful pilgrimage we had from Sept 5-18. From checking-in last Sept 5 & all during the tour, we felt the care from a family. No words can ever describe how thankful we are.
I almost cried last Sept 8, (my birthday) when we (2 of us have the same birthday) were given a surprise mini celebration when after our dinner, we were given a cake. I really felt the love of a family then.
All these things made possible because of your capable coordinator Ms. Ging Igual. She's such a wonderful leader. Kudos to her.
Rest assured that i will refer your company to all my friends who are planning to go on pilgrimage .
Good day & may God always guide & protect all of you in the Pilgrims' Center/ Executive Resources, Inc.
Cora and Vir Franca
I am honored to be included in this pilgrimage. The Pilgrims' Center has very good itineraries worth remembering. No hours wasted. They took very good care of us in spite of our big number of 47 people. The daily mass and homilies of Fr. Manny Cruz held in different shrines and churches were very inspirational and transforming. Accommodations were nice most especially the one on top of the Mountain with an awesome view built in 1909. It's like travelling back in time. I definitely would want to do it again with Pilgrim Center.
Peter Joseph Mapua
The Pilgrims' Center always gives you the best. They let you feel like an Executive in terms of personal service & attention especially during pilgrimage. Their choices of pilgrimages and pilgrim chaplains are outstanding. You go back home very fulfilled and immersed...
Marlene Silvestre
1) A US$ 1,000.00 deposit is required upon reservation together with a recent passport-sized photo, a signed photocopy of a passport (valid for 6 months from date of departure), and Pilgrim’s Profile.
2) Full payment in U.S. dollars is required before ticketing but in no case shall it be later than 45 days before departure date.
3)The following cancellation charges will apply:
>60 days before departure date – US$ 1,000.00
>44 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
>30 days prior to departure date – Full tour cost will be forfeited.
>US$ 500.00 Admin Fee for any visa denial.
BASIC TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Philippine Travel Tax (PHP1,620.00), airport taxes, visa fees and documentation expenses, insurance, hospitalization and other medical expenses, tours and transportation during free periods, porterage of extra pieces of luggage in excess of maximum allocation, drinks and beverages taken during meals, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, tips for drivers, guides, tour escorts, and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.
THE PILGRIMS’ CENTER – EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC. has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various contractors. Executive Resources, Inc., its employees or its sub-agents therefore only act as agents for the contractors providing the various services described in the tour and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with losses or accidental expenses due to delays of schedule, overbooking, defaults or “force majeure.” All tours and arrangements are subject to the general conditions specified by each contractor. Tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions.
*** RATES AND ITINERARY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE! ***
