Fr. Tedley Villanueva, SSS
February 17, 2025
Italy
“Pilgrimage is, of course, a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a greater aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort, and simplicity of life.”
~ Pope Francis
In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee, or Holy Year, is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. A Jubilee Year is celebrated by the Church every 25 years. This has been the case since 1470, when Pope Paul II changed it from every 50 years. Pope Francis has given the 2025 Jubilee Year the theme of Pilgrims of Hope.
The year begins with the well-known custom of the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, following the other three papal basilicas in Rome. A Holy Door is one of the usually sealed entrances that lead into the major basilicas of Rome. It is only during a Jubilee Year that these doors are opened.
A Jubilee is a special year of grace in which the Catholic Church offers the faithful the possibility of asking for a plenary indulgence – a remission of sins for themselves or deceased loved ones. Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a pilgrimage this Jubilee Year 2025. Join a Pilgrimage to Rome with the Shrines of St. Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi with Fr. Tedley Villanueva, SSS on February 17-28, 2025.
Begin your pilgrimage with a 5-night stay in the beautiful city of Rome. A place rich in history, art, and spirituality, walking the streets of Rome is like embarking on a journey through time. Visit the major sites, shrines, and basilicas of Rome, including the four major basilicas, and pass through the holy doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and Sta. Maria Maggiore. A highlight of your visit is the opportunity to attend the Papal Audience with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Travel from Rome to Manoppello, where you will visit and attend mass at the Santuario del Volto Santo (Shrine of the Holy Face). The church houses a linen cloth that depicts the face of Jesus Christ. Proceed to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of Saint Padre Pio. Take a look at the cell where St. Padre Pio lived and died. See the crucifix in Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, the Church of Our Lady of Grace, where he received the stigmata. Offer prayers in front of his incorrupt body, displayed in a part-glass coffin at the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (sometimes referred to as Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church).
Make your way to Mont Sant’ Angelo to visit the grotto that is home to the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel (Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo), a hollowed cave where the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared and dedicated the shrine. After that, travel to Lanciano to see the Eucharistic Miracle, which has been miraculously preserved in a monstrance in the Church of St. Legontian since the eighth century.
Visit the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto, a shrine believed to be the home of the Holy Family and the place where Our Blessed Mother was conceived and born. Pious devotees hold that the same house was transported by angelic beings from Nazareth to Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia). Then, in 1924, the house was moved once more, this time to the Italian hilltop town of Loreto. See the Monastery and Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia, a minor basilica that houses the incorrupt body of St. Rita, and attend mass there when you travel to Cascia.
Wind down your pilgrimage with a two-night stay in Assisi, a 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.
The Jubilee has always been an event of great spiritual renewal and reflection. The Jubilee of 2025 will be a moment of joy, hope, and reconciliation. Join a Pilgrimage to Rome with the Shrines of St. Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi with Fr. Tedley Villanueva, SSS, on February 17-28, 2025. Renew your faith and join other fellow pilgrims who have been traveling to Rome for centuries for the chance to receive the plenary indulgence granted only every 25 years.
Visit the Generalate of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Rome, the official residence of La Salle’s Superior General and his council.
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.
Learn these simple Italian words: “grazie” (thanks); “ciao” (hello or goodbye); and “prego”(you’re welcome or please).
Shop for rosaries, medals and other religious souvenir items while on pilgrimage, and ask your Pilgrimage Chaplain to bless them before heading home.
Avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation while on pilgrimage, one of the conditions required to receive the plenary indulgence for the Jubilee year.
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 +• A US$ 500.00 deposit is required upon reservation together with a photocopy of a passport (valid for 6 months fromdate of departure) and Pilgrim’s Profile with a passport-size photo plus the visa fee and travel insurance payment.
• Full payment in U.S. dollars is required before ticketing but in no case shall it be later than 30 days before departure date.
The following cancellation charges will apply:
• 45 days before departure date – US$ 500.00 (nonrefundable deposit)
• 30 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
• 20 days prior to departure date – Full tour cost will be forfeited.
• US$ 300.00 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.
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 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
