The Diaconate Ordination of Josh Allen

About the Trip

This Fall, Atlanta Seminarian, Josh Allen will be ordained as a transitional deacon in Saint Peter’s Basilica. This pilgrimage, lead by Father Richard Tibbetts, will celebrate Josh’s journey to the priesthood.

The trip is open to Josh’s home parish of Saint Theresa, his summer parish of Saint Philip Benizi, his friends at Holy Spirit and Saint Monica and anyone with a love of the priesthood!

Please consider joining Josh on this most special occasion!

Dates

October 1, 2010 – October 10, 2010

Price

$2,999 (with air)
$2,299 (ground only – email if you are interested in this option)

$300 deposit secures your space.
Final payment due August 27, 2010.

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Atlanta (flight details below)

Accommodations for 8 nights – Hotel Umbra, Hotel Alimandi

Breakfast daily plus 6 additional meals – Meals in authentic Italian restaurants. Water and wine and tips already included with group meals.

All group ground transportation – Airport transfers, coach service in Rome, travel from Rome to Assisi and from Assisi to Rome.

Full time service of a guide – A guide will be with you at all times, except during free time. Suggestions of what to see and do during free time will be available in advance.

Local guides per itinerary – Local guides for the San Callisto Catacombs, Ancient Rome and the Vatican Museums.

All tips for group meals, local guides, drivers, hotel staff – No need to worry about tipping, it’s already included!

Sightseeing tours, including admissions to sights seen as a group – Entry and guides for Saint Paul Outside the Walls, San Callisto Catacombs, Saint Mary Major, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capital Hill, Mamertine Prison, Pantheon, Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce, Scala Santa, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, San Ruffino, Santa Chiara, Basilica of Saint Francis, Santa Maria degli Angeli.

No hidden costs – If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price!

Guaranteed cost – Once we receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up, even if the Euro increases!

Tour Cancellation/Interruption Coverage – Details here.

Itinerary

Friday, October 1, 2010
Overnight flight from Atlanta to Rome.

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Assisi: After landing in Rome, we’ll head north to Umbria. First we’ll make a quick stop just outside Assisi at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli to visit the Porziuncola, the small chapel where St. Francis founded the Order of the Friars Minor. We’ll celebrate Mass here. Our hotel for the next three nights is Hotel Umbra, just off the main square, Piazza del Comune. Once we settle into our hotel we’ll get oriented with the area before our traditional Umbrian dinner outdoors (weather permitting).

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Assisi: Early this morning we’ll celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Francis. After Mass we’ll tour the basilica built in his honor. Next we’ll go to San Ruffino, the Cathedral of Assisi and also the place where both Clare and Francis were baptized. Then we’ll visit the Basilica of St. Clare and view the San Damiano cross that spoke to Francis instructing him to rebuild the Church. We’ll have the afternoon free before meeting up for dinner this evening.

Monday, October 4, 2010
Assisi: Today is the Feast of Saint Francis. We’ll celebrate Mass at his basilica and visit his tomb. You’ll have the remainder of the day to explore Assisi on your own. Visit San Damiano, the Hermitage, climb to the Rocca Maggiore or just find a quiet place to relax.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Rome: We’ll depart by train early this morning and travel to the Eternal City. We’ll experience early Christian Rome with a visit to the San Callisto Catacombs. Our guide will lead us deep underground to where so many early Christians, including six popes and Saint Cecilia, were laid to rest. Then we’ll visit the burial place of Saint Paul, the ancient basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. We’ll celebrate Mass here. Then we’ll head to Hotel Alimandi, located just steps away from the Vatican. After a few hours for lunch and rest, we’ll head back out for an evening tour of Rome. Tonight we’ll walk through floodlit Rome visiting the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and ending at Saint Peter’s Basilica. We’ll have dinner along the way.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Rome: This morning we’ll attend the Papal Audience in Saint Peter’s Square. Next we’ll travel to Saint Mary Major for Mass. Then we’ll dig in to Ancient Rome with tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Capital Hill. We’ll also visit Mamertine Prison, which once held Saints Peter and Paul. We’ll end at the Pantheon. This evening we’ll join Josh and the other seminarians for a prayer service with adoration and reconcilliation.

Thursday, October 7, 2010
Rome: This morning we’ll attend Josh’s ordination at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Following the celebration, we’ll join the reception at the North American College.

Friday, October 8, 2010
Today we’ll attend Josh’s first Mass as Deacon. You’ll have the rest of the day to explore Rome on your own.

Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rome: This morning we’ll tour the Vatican Museums. Here we’ll see masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo, and more. We’ll spend some prayerful time in the Sistine Chapel before crossing over into Saint Peter’s to tour the basilica. This afternoon we’ll reflect on the Passion of our Lord. We’ll begin at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme which holds relics of the Passion, including two thorns from the crown of thorns, a nail from the crucifixion, a portion of the Titulus, and splinters from the cross. Next we’ll walk to Santa Scala, the stairs Christ climbed the day he was sentenced to death. You’ll have the opportunity to climb the stairs on your knees. From here we’ll visit the Cathedral of Rome, Saint John Lateran where we’ll celebrate Mass before having our farewell dinner.

Sunday, October 10, 2010
Return to Atlanta from Rome.

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Contact Mountain Butorac at
404.717.2460 or mtn@thecatholictraveler.com