Msgr. Marnell Mejia
June 3, 2025
Italy
A Jubilee is one of the most significant events in the Catholic Church, celebrated only once every 25 years. Pope Francis officially inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee of Hope by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24, 2024. Passing through the Holy Door during the Jubilee symbolizes entering a new life in Christ and embarking on a journey of spiritual conversion. Take part in the Jubilee Year 2025 and embrace the call to be a Pilgrim of Hope! Join a 12-day Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy with Msgr. Marnell Mejia on June 3-14, 2025.
Begin your pilgrimage with a three-night stay in the awe-inspiring city of Rome, often hailed as the greatest open-air museum in Europe. Immerse yourself in its timeless beauty as you visit its renowned landmarks, sacred shrines, and historic basilicas. Experience the spiritual essence of the Jubilee by passing through the Holy Doors of the four major basilicas—St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major—each rich in history and significance.
Depart from Rome and journey to San Giovanni Rotondo, the beloved town where St. Padre Pio spent much of his life. Visit the humble cell where he lived and passed away, and see the crucifix in the Church of Our Lady of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie), where he received the stigmata during prayer. Spend a moment of reflection and prayer before his incorrupt body, displayed in a glass-paneled coffin at the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, also known as the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church.
Next stop is Lanciano to view the Eucharistic Miracle, still miraculously preserved in a monstrance at the Church of St. Legontian since the 8th century. Head for 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.
On to Assisi for a two-night stay in this medieval city built on a hill and the home 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.
Make your way to Padua to visit and celebrate mass at the magnificent Basilica of St. Anthony de Padua, which houses the remains of St. Anthony. Next, journey on to Milan, one of Italy’s most captivating cities, where history, art, and culture converge in awe-inspiring landmarks. Marvel at the magnificent Cathedral of Milan, or the Duomo di Milano—officially the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary. With its 135 soaring spires and countless intricate statues, the Duomo is a monumental testament to six centuries of faith and artistic mastery. From Milan, head to the enchanting town of Como. Take a scenic boat ride on the breathtaking Lake Como, surrounded by stunning views.
Cap off your pilgrimage in Turin, where you can explore the city’s historic monuments and visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, home to the revered Shroud of Turin. This sacred linen cloth is believed to be the burial garment of Christ.
Embark on a spiritual journey during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, walking through the Holy Doors in Rome. Join Msgr. Marnell Mejia for a 12-day Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy from June 3-14, 2025. Rediscover God’s infinite kindness and embrace His grace during this year of reconciliation.
Rome, the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy. It is the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life),...
ROMERome, the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy.
It is the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain.
Rome, as a millennium-long center of power, culture and religion, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its roughly 2,800 years of existence. The historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe’s and the world’s most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a “global city.”
San Giovanni Rotondo was the home of St. Pio of Pietrelcina from July 28, 1916 until his death on September 23, 1968. It is a city in the province of...
San Giovanni RotondoSan Giovanni Rotondo was the home of St. Pio of Pietrelcina from July 28, 1916 until his death on September 23, 1968. It is a city in the province of Foggia, Puglia region in southern Italy.
San Giovanni Rotondo centers on the tomb of St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar, priest and mystic known for his devotion to God, care for the sick and supernatural gifts. He was declared a saint in 2002.
The Shrine of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo receives 7 million pilgrims each year. The large and ultramodern Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church was built in devotion to the saint and to accommodate the increasing throngs of pilgrims that visit the place.
The city is renowned for its hospital and medical research center Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (Home for the Relief of the Suffering) founded by St. Pio of Pietrelcina and is considered one of the most efficient hospitals in Europe.
The Miracle of Lanciano is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic miracle. In the city of Lanciano, Italy, around 700, a Basilian monk was assigned to celebrate...
LancianoThe Miracle of Lanciano is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic miracle.
In the city of Lanciano, Italy, around 700, a Basilian monk was assigned to celebrate Mass in the small church of St. Legontian. Celebrating in the Latin Rite and using unleavened bread, the monk had doubts about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
During the Mass, when he said the Words of Consecration (“This is my body. This is my blood”), with doubt in his soul, the priest is said to have seen the bread change into living flesh and the wine change into live blood which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size (the number supposedly corresponds to the number of wounds Christ suffered on the cross: one in each hand and foot from the nails, and the wound from the centurion’s spear).
The elements can still be seen today. The flesh, which is the same size as the large host used in the Latin Church, is fibrous and light brown in color and becomes rose-colored when lighted from the back. The blood consists of five coagulated globules and has an earthly color resembling the yellow of ochre.
Over the last 12 centuries, different Bishops of the diocese of Lanciano made authentications of the holy relics. All testified that these facts were miraculous and true.
Loreto is home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy. It is an important hill town to the south of Anacona. It is inland from the Adriatic...
LoretoLoreto is home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy.
It is an important hill town to the south of Anacona. It is inland from the Adriatic coast in the Marches region of central Italy.
The main attraction for visitors to Loreto – pilgrims or otherwise – is the imposing basilica and fortress complex which also includes the museum and the Holy House of the Virgin Mary.
The Holy House of Loreto is one of the most revered Marian shrines in the world. Since medieval times, the Holy House has been believed to be the very home in which the Virgin Mary lived, conceived and raised the young Jesus.
A large basilica has been built around the small shrine, and the sacred site attracts as many as 4 million Catholic pilgrims and visitors each year.
Assisi is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis, Italy’s patron saint. Framed by the long, undulating hills of Umbria and the forests of Monte Subasio, Assisi is one...
AssisiAssisi is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis, Italy’s patron saint.
Framed by the long, undulating hills of Umbria and the forests of Monte Subasio, Assisi is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world and one of Italy’s most spell-binding gems.
Assisi is closely associated with the work of the Franciscan Order. Its medieval art masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto, have made Assisi a fundamental reference point for the development of Italian and European art and architecture.
Together with almost all its surrounding territory, Assisi was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000, described as constituting a unique example of continuous history: a city-sanctuary beginning with its Umbrian-Roman origins, through the Medieval Age and up until today.
Turin is a city and important business and cultural center in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River. It’s famous...
TurinTurin is a city and important business and cultural center in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River.
It’s famous for being the home of Italy’s royal family. Today, Turin, with its fine, aristocratic atmosphere, old world sophisticated shops, grand boulevards and palaces, leafy park and several art galleries, is an increasingly popular tourist resort.
Turin was the first capital of modern Italy. Its setting is pleasant, with the Po River flowing through the city, the genteel hills overlooking the city and scattered with pleasant villas and surrounded by the Italian Alps off in the distance. Around the city, a crown of churches and castles, some up on a hilltop, some lost in a park, provide plenty of interesting views. Turin also has an aristocratic atmosphere – the centre is filled with posh 19th century cafes, regal-like arcaded mansions, debonair glittering restaurants, and grand churches.
Turin is home to the famous Shroud of Turin. More recently, it has become the home of the Slow Food Movement.
Italy’s famed gelato is a big hit! Make a game of tasting one in every Italian city you will visit — compare and enjoy!
Learn these simple Italian words: “grazie” (thanks); “ciao” (hello or goodbye); and “prego” (you’re welcome or please)
Climb the stairs on bended knees at the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) in Rome, known to be the steps Christ walked on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate.
Shop for rosaries, medals, and other religious souvenir items while on pilgrimage, and ask your pilgrimage chaplain to bless them before heading home.
Whisper a prayer for your loved ones before the incorrupt body of St. Padre Pio while on your visit to San Giovanni Rotondo.
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
with With a Pilgrimage Chaplain
READ MORE +
1) A non-refundable US$ 1000.00 deposit is required upon
reservations together with a photocopy of a passport (valid
for 6 months from the date of departure), Pilgrim’s Profile, and
the visa fee (if applicable).
2) Full payment in U.S. dollars is required before ticketing but in
no case shall it be later than 90 days before the departure date.
3) The following cancellation charges will apply:
> 90 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
> 60 days before departure date – Full tour cost will be
forfeited.
> US$500.00 Admin Fee for any visa denial
BASIC TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: 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, and other expenses not
mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.
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!
