Lenten Rome: Jubilee Edition

March 17th – 26th, 2025
$4,900 (plus air)

Small group – around 20 people. Daily Mass. Excellent local guides. Amazing meals.

If you’ve been with me for any amount of time, you know I love the Lenten Station Churches of Rome. And that’s why this pilgrimage has become one of my favorites. Each day in Rome we will experience the ancient tradition of visiting some of the oldest churches in the city, on their “station” day. I picked these dates to include some of my favorites… San Clemente (which has a beautiful procession beginning centuries below the current streets of Rome), Santa Cecilia (you can expect some lovely music tonight), Santa Maria in Trastevere (possibly the first place Holy Mass was celebrated in Rome), Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls (the burial place of Saint Laurence and Saint Stephen), San Marco (where Mark wrote his Gospel), and Santa Pudenziana (where Peter started his ministry in Rome). We will break up our time in Rome with three nights in Assisi.

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If you have any questions: mtn@thecatholictraveler.com

Is this pilgrimage trip for you?

You need to be flexible.
This pilgrimage is not for grumpy people or those unable to be joyfully flexible. Italy is Italy and we need to be up for anything.

This being the Jubilee Year, which happens every 25 years, means the crowds could be crazy. While I will always do my best to avoid lines and crowds, there could be times when it’s unavoidable.

If you are easy-going and excited to travel, even with some uncertainties mixed in, this could be the trip for you!

If this pilgrimage doesn’t work for you, no worries, I’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years and plan to do many, many more.

You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We can walk up to 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up. Also keep in mind that if we encounter crowds, at the holy doors, for example, we could be required to stand in lines for long periods of time.

You need to be able to carry your own luggage.
You are responsible for your luggage. We do not have porters. Our lovely hotel in Rome does not have an elevator, so keep that in mind when deciding how many pairs of shoes to bring. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.

Itinerary

You’ll get the full itinerary closer to departure, but…

We begin with 3 nights in the Borgo neighborhood of Rome, just two blocks away from Saint Peter’s Square.

Then we head north to Assisi for 3 nights in the city center, just off the main piazza.

We return back to the same hotel in Rome for another 3 nights.

In Rome we will visit the day’s Station church, including San Clemente (which has a beautiful procession beginning centuries below the current streets of Rome), Santa Cecilia (you can expect some lovely music tonight), Santa Maria in Trastevere (possibly the first place Holy Mass was celebrated in Rome), Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls (the burial place of Saint Laurence and Saint Stephen), San Marco (where Mark wrote his Gospel), and Santa Pudenziana (where Peter started his ministry in Rome).

Our Station Masses will sometimes be with the English speaking community early in the morning and sometimes at the official Station Mass which takes place in the evenings and in Italian. The English Masses are great because we share the church with hundreds of other English speakers in Rome for the same reason. The evening Italian Masses are great because they are often with a bishop or cardinal, with the church’s best choir, and usually include a solemn procession.

In addition to going through the four Holy Doors of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls, we will visit lots of other amazing churches, including those containing:

  • the stairs Christ climbed when He was condemned to death;
  • the relics of the Passion;
  • a Eucharistic Miracle in Rome;
  • a Marian apparition or two;
  • where Paul was martyred;
  • the tombs of Saint Catherine and Saint Monica;
  • and lots more…

We will tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We will have several walking tours around the city.

In Assisi we will visit the tombs of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. We will visit San Damiano, the Hermitage, and the Porziuncola. We have some excellent meals here and also an afternoon at an Umbrian winery.

As always, we have some special surprises planned along the way.

Mass will be celebrated daily.

Price

$4,900 per person – ground only.

$1,000 deposit secures your spot.

Final payment of $3,900 is due February 17th, 2025.

The cost is per person, in double occupancy, meaning two people to a room.

Traveling alone?
I match singles with other traveling singles (of the same sex) and that always works out great. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with a stranger, you can request a single room for an additional $900. Single rooms are extremely limited.

Included in the price

Accommodations for 9 nights
3 nights in Rome
3 nights in Assisi
3 nights in Rome

Breakfast daily plus 7 additional meals in some of my favorite restaurants, never hotels!

Drinks, including unlimited wine, is included in all our group lunches and dinners.

Winery visit, tasting, and lunch
We will spend the afternoon at one of my favorite Umbrian wineries about an hour from Assisi.

Aperitivo
We will have a traditional aperitivo in one of my favorite Roman bars.

Airport transfers
Airport transfers both ways between the Rome airport and our Rome hotel. Send me your flight info and my driver will pick you up. Easy.

All group ground transportation

Full time service of a tour director
I’ll be with you at all times.

No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for the meals you have on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and anything you want to do in your free time.

Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!

All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included.

Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.

Social planning
Plan your trip with your traveling companions before you leave! I’ll set up a private Facebook group for the tour to give you a chance to meet before you meet.

You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. I also include free time for you to explore, shop, and relax on your own.

Not Included

Your flights
You should arrive in Rome no later than March 17th, we will begin at 3 PM on March 17th. If you want to arrive early, contact the hotel directly and let them know you are with The Catholic Traveler. This will ensure that you don’t have to switch rooms once the pilgrimage begins.

You should depart no earlier than March 26th, our last group activity will be a dinner March 25th and you’ll have the hotel room for the night. If you want to stay longer, contact the hotel directly and let them know you are with The Catholic Traveler. This will ensure that you don’t have to switch rooms once the pilgrimage ends.

Some airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Most of these airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.

No Hassle Cancellations

No other tour or pilgrimage company offers this level of free cancellation coverage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all, up to 60 days before the start of the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all within 60 days of departure, you’ll get everything back minus the deposit.

If for any reason I need to cancel or postpone the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

In all cases, you are responsible for working with the airline to get credit or refunds for changed or cancelled flights.

Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are in Italy. If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A “Cancel for Any Reason” plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.

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