+1 (800) 653-0017
hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Chris Stefanick is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and television host who has devoted his life to inspiring people to live a bold, contagious faith. His live events reach over 85,000 annually; his reality TV show, Real Life Catholic, videos, and radio spots reach millions. Chosen, a confirmation program he authored, has already formed over 500,000 teens. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Chris is founder and president of Real Life Catholic, a nonprofit operating as the headquarters for his various initiatives. Above all, Chris is proud to be husband to wife, Natalie, and father to their six children.
Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, became president of Franciscan University of Steubenville on May 21, 2019. The well-known Catholic speaker and author graduated from Franciscan University with his BA in theology in 1989, then earned an MDiv, MA in theology, doctorate in education, and executive juris doctorate. A solemnly professed member of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance, Father Pivonka was ordained to the priesthood in 1996. Father Pivonka held leadership positions at Franciscan University from 1996-2008 including as vice president for Mission and Planning. For his province, he directed Post-Novitiate Formation (2008-2012) and Franciscan Pathways ministry (2012-2019). He has hosted multiple video series including The Wild Goose on the Holy Spirit, Sign of Contradiction on St. Francis of Assisi, Metanoia on conversion, and in 2024, 10th Hour Production’s My father’s Father on God the Father. He has written seven books, including Living Metanoia: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in Christ (OSV, 2021) and his most recent, Joyful Sons and Daughters: Embracing the Father’s Love (Word Among Us, 2024). Father Pivonka also hosts Franciscan University Presents on EWTN and the In Person, In Focus, and the My father’s Father series on Faith and Reason.
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Special Year of St Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the saints death. This Franciscan Jubilee Year, opened by a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on January 10, runs through January 2027 and offers the faithful the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.
During our pilgrimage to Assisi, pilgrims will visit the Basilica of St Francis, the most important place of devotion associated with St Francis. Under the usual conditions – confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope – the plenary indulgence may be obtained. This indulgence may also be gained by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or any church dedicated to St Francis anywhere in the world.
Today we depart our local cities on our overnight flight(s) to Rome. As we cross the Atlantic, we prepare our hearts for the days ahead, uniting as pilgrims ready to walk in the footsteps of the Saints. Meals and drinks provided onboard.
Upon arrival in the Eternal City we gather our luggage, meet our tour manager, and transfer by private motorcoach to our hotel. This evening, we share a welcome dinner at the hotel, opening our pilgrimage in fellowship and thanksgiving. Rome, once the capital of the pagan empire, became the cradle of Christianity through the blood of martyrs like St. Peter and St. Paul. Overnight in Rome.
After breakfast, our pilgrimage begins in the heart of Catholicism: St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and the burial site of Saint Peter. If available, we will attend the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Leo XIV, joining pilgrims from across the globe to receive the Holy Father’s blessing. After free time for lunch (not included), we explore the Vatican Museums, one of the world’s greatest collections of sacred art, including treasures of the early Church. The highlight is the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment draw our minds toward heaven. We celebrate Mass at a Vatican chapel before returning to our hotel for dinner. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
After breakfast, we journey through the Umbrian countryside to Assisi, home of St. Francis and St. Clare. Upon arrival we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which contains the Porziuncola, the tiny chapel where Francis embraced poverty and began the Franciscan movement, as well as the Capella del Transito, where he passed peacefully into eternal life in 1226, 800 years ago this year. We then continue to the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, where Saint Carlo Acutis, a modern witness to holiness and the “patron saint of the internet” is entombed. After free time for lunch (not included), we celebrate Mass at the Basilica and settle into our Assisi hotel. Overnight in Assisi.
This morning we ascend by local minibus to the Hermitage of the Carceri, nestled in the quiet oak forests above Assisi, where St. Francis withdrew in solitude for prayer and contemplation. We then continue to the Convent of San Damiano, where the crucifix spoke to Francis with the words “Rebuild my Church,” sparking his radical embrace of poverty and mission. After free time for lunch (not included), we visit the Sanctuary of Rivotorto, the stone shelter where Francis and his first companions lived in radical simplicity, laying the foundation of the Franciscan movement. In the afternoon we enter the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis, the great double church adorned with Giotto’s frescoes of Francis’s life and housing the tomb of the saint himself. Here we celebrate Mass, joining pilgrims from around the world in prayer at the resting place of the Poverello of Assisi. Dinner and fellowship close the day. Overnight in Assisi.
After breakfast we travel to the medieval town of Gubbio, whose stone streets and ancient piazzas tell the story of St. Francis’s encounter with the fierce wolf that terrorized the townspeople. By taming the wolf and reconciling it with the villagers, Saint Francis became a living example of peace and harmony between man and creation. With a local guide, we explore this historic town before returning to Assisi. The afternoon is free for prayer, rest, or exploration on your own. Overnight in Assisi.
Today we journey to the La Verna Monastery, set amid the Tuscan mountains and forests, one of the most sacred Franciscan shrines. It was here, on September 14, 1224, that Saint Francis received the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ, making him the first recorded saint to bear them. The Chapel of the Stigmata contains the stone where this miracle occurred. We will celebrate Mass here at the Sanctuary and take time for prayerful reflection in the quiet of this holy mountain before returning to Assisi. Overnight in Assisi.
After breakfast we depart Assisi and stop at Greccio, a medieval hilltown famed as the birthplace of the Christmas crèche. On Christmas night in 1223, Saint Francis gathered shepherds to reenact the Nativity with a stable, an ox, and a donkey, where, according to tradition, the Baby Jesus miraculously appeared in the manger. To commemorate this event, the Franciscans built a convent and the Chapel of the Crib, consecrated in 1228, the year of Francis’s canonization. After our visit and free time for lunch (not included), we continue to Rome for a festive farewell dinner with traditional music and entertainment at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for our flight home, carrying with us the graces of our days in the footsteps of St. Francis, St. Clare, and Blessed Carlo Acutis.
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the city center to meet our local guide for a tour of the four major basilicas of Rome. We begin with St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome and the oldest papal residence, then climb the nearby Holy Stairs, believed to be those Jesus ascended during His trial before Pilate. We continue to St. Mary Major, the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and home to relics of Christ’s manger. In the afternoon, we visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the tomb of the Apostle Paul. We will celebrate Mass at one of these sacred sites before returning to our hotel. The evening is free for leisure and dinner together. Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Following breakfast, we step back in time to explore ancient Rome. With our guide, we visit the Colosseum, the site where early Christians witnessed to the faith through their martyrdom, and the Roman Forum, once the center of political and civic life. We also walk up Palatine Hill, traditionally regarded as the founding site of Rome. After free time for lunch (not included), we walk along the historic Appian Way to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where early Christians worshiped in secret and buried their dead. Here, surrounded by the faith of the martyrs, we celebrate Mass before returning to our hotel for dinner. Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
After breakfast, we enjoy a half-day guided tour of Baroque Rome, discovering its famous fountains and piazzas. We visit the Trevi Fountain, tossing a coin to ensure our return to Rome, and the Pantheon, the best-preserved monument of ancient Rome, whose massive dome has inspired architects for centuries. We continue to Piazza Navona, adorned by Bernini’s masterpiece, the Fountain of the Four Rivers. After the tour, the afternoon is free for personal exploration, shopping, or prayer at one of Rome’s many churches. Dinner together at the hotel closes the evening. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we transfer to Rome Fiumicino Airport for our flight home, carrying with us the spiritual graces, friendships, and unforgettable memories of our pilgrimage.
