On today's Feast of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church, here is a wonderful opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Eternal City and the Shrines of Italy this fall.
Father Steve Mattson, pictured, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing, is leading a pilgrimage to Italy from September 28 to October 8. The raison d'être of this 11-day pilgrimage is to attend the ordination to the transitional diaconate of parishioner Thomas Crowley by Bishop Robert Barron at Saint Peter's Basilica on October 1.
However, the parish has also taken the opportunity to work with the pilgrimage company, Catholic Journeys, to create a remarkable itinerary that includes Assisi, Monte Cassino, Loreto, Siena, and Pietrelcina. Here are the details:
Day 1 | September 28: Fly from Detroit to Rome.
Day 2 | September 29: Arrival in Rome.
Day 3 | September 30: Papal Audience at the Vatican – Saint Peter's Basilica, including the Pietà – Vatican Museums – Sistine Chapel.
Day 4 | October 1: Diaconate Ordination at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome for the Pontifical North American College Class of 2026, including Thomas Crowley.
Day 5 | October 2: Deacon Crowley's First Mass – The three major basilicas: Saint Mary Major, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls – The Holy Stairs – Catacombs of Saint Callixtus.
Day 6 | October 3: Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino – San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio.
Day 7 | October 4: Our Lady of Grace Church – Saint Pio Pilgrimage Church – Grotto of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant'Angelo.
Day 8 | October 5: Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano – Manoppello and the Holy Face – Sanctuary of the Holy House in Loreto.
Day 9 | October 6: Assisi – Basilica of Saint Francis – Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint – Basilica of Saint Clare – Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels.
Day 10 | October 7: Siena – Basilica of Saint Francis and the Eucharistic Miracle – Piazza del Campo – Siena Cathedral – Basilica of Saint Dominic – Relics of Saint Catherine.
Day 11 | October 8: Return home.
To register or to find out more, go to: https://www.corlansing.org/events/pilgrimage-to-italy