With a Pilgrimage Chaplain
October 7, 2025
Portugal, Spain, France & Italy
“In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future will bring. “
“Hope finds its supreme witness in the Mother of God. In the Blessed Virgin, we see that hope is not naive optimism but a gift of grace amid the realities of life.”
~ Pope Francis
During this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us dedicate time to journey with Mary to encounter Christ. Join a 16-day Marian Jubilee Pilgrimage, A Communion with Mary and the Saints, with a Pilgrimage Chaplain on October 7-22, 2025.
Begin your pilgrimage 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. 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.
Journey on to Coimbra, the site of the Carmelite convent, where Sister Lucia, the last of the Fatima visionaries, lived and died. Head for Braga, the third largest city in Portugal. Visit the magnificent sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte (Shrine of Good Jesus on the Mountain), well-known for its intricate zigzag Baroque-style staircase, about 600 steps, that leads up to the main basilica. Enjoy your two-night stay in Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not to be missed is your visit to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the burial place of the relics of St. James the Apostle, discovered in the ninth century.
Still in Spain, stop by the awe-inspiring Covadonga, home to the Santa Cueva de Nuestra Senora de Covadonga, where Our Lady of the Covadonga is enshrined. The next stop is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu, where St. Ignatius of Loyola spent a night in vigil and made his vow of chastity. For Ignatius, it was a time of great grace to strengthen his resolve to follow Christ.
Proceed to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, an apparition site of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858. Here, 18 apparitions were reported. 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 the “Ave Maria” is sung in unison and the rosary is recited in different languages.
Head for Paris, the cosmopolitan capital of France and one of Europe’s largest cities. Paris has the well-deserved reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities. Enjoy a delightful tour of the city that includes a cruise on the River Seine. Celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Rue de Bac, an important place of prayer and pilgrimage that draws believers from all over the world who wish to prayerfully reflect and ask for the Virgin Mary’s protection. Enjoy a full-day excursion to the pilgrimage town of Lisieux, hometown of the endeared St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
Leave France for Italy for your two-night stay in Rome, the heart and home of the Catholic Church. Dubbed the greatest open-air museum in Europe, Rome will steal your breath away. Head for the Vatican City and gain a plenary indulgence and pass through the Holy Doors of the four Papal Basilicas: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. John Lateran (pilgrims need to fulfill certain conditions while passing through the holy doors).
Wind down your pilgrimage in San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Padre Pio spent most of his life. Offer your prayer petitions before his incorrupt body, displayed at the new Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
A Jubilee Year is always a time of abundant grace. It is a major celebration during which all pilgrims have the opportunity to immerse themselves in God’s infinite mercy. Become a Pilgrim of Hope with Mary in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Join a 16-day Marian Jubilee Pilgrimage, A Communion with Mary and the Saints, with a Pilgrimage Chaplain on October 7-22, 2025. May the Blessed Virgin Mary lead you closer to Christ, strengthening your trust in the Lord, echoing the final words of the Te Deum: “In you, Lord, is our hope, and we shall never hope in vain.”
Join a moving evening rosary and candlelight procession in Lourdes and Fatima, where the “Ave Maria” is sung in unison in different languages.
Rome is an open-air museum! Marvel at its breathtaking beauty.
Michelangelo’s sculpture of the Risen Christ (or Christ the Redeemer) is one of the treasures of the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Basilica in Rome, Italy.
Light a candle at every pilgrimage site for prayer requests from friends and families back home.
An enchanting Seine River cruise, gliding from one bridge to another with a view of the finest monuments of Paris.
Find time to immerse yourself in the BATHS in Lourdes, where water from a spring flows at the Grotto of Massabielle flows.
It is customary for pilgrims who visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to give St. James the Apostle a hug. This tradition is called “Abrazo del Apostol,” meaning “hug the apostle.”
The Baroque basilica of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga is 400 meters above sea level and provides visitors with awesome, sweeping view of Braga.
Climb the stairs on your knees at the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) in Rome.
Shop for rosaries, medals, and other religious souvenir items while on pilgrimage, and let your pilgrimage chaplain bless them before heading home.
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 Fr. Joey Faller
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Processing Time: 15 – 30 days
VISA FEE: Php 14,000.00 *
* Subject to change without prior notice!
1) US$ 1,000.00 deposit is required upon reservations together with a recent passport-size photo, a signed photocopy of passport (valid for 6 months from date of departure and arrival in Manila), and Pilgrim’s Profile.
2) Full payment in U.S. dollars is required before ticketing but in no case shall it be later than 90 days before 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.
> In case of visa denial, the deposit of US$500.00 will be forfeited.
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, tips for drivers, guides, tour escorts, 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 subagents 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.
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