My husband, Doug, and I have participated in multiple pilgrimages to Europe with Father Daniel Dury (aka “Padre”), pastor at Sunbury St. John Neumann Church and previous pastor at Columbus St. Catharine Church. 

Our most recent trip, in early September 2023, was to Italy. This pilgrimage was planned by Father Dury and a private tour operator/manager he had worked with in the past. The dates were provided along with preferred cities to visit, and she took it from there to build an itinerary. 

Once we landed in Rome and retrieved our luggage at the airport, we were met by our tour escort, a delightful, faith-filled Italian-American who was, unfortunately, from “that state up north.”

One of the many benefits of being on a group pilgrimage is the transportation. We rode in an air-conditioned, private motor coach with a professional, skilled driver and didn’t have to worry about traffic or parking. 

Adding to the connection with our Catholic faith, our bus driver had a rosary hanging over his shoulder, holy cards of the Blessed Virgin Mary and multiple Divine Mercy holy cards fastened above and next to his seat. 

We traveled from Rome to Assisi, where we spent three fabulous days and two nights. From there we went to Siena, with a day trip in between to the medieval town of San Gimignano, which boasts the “best gelato in the world,” followed by a wine tasting at a Tuscan family farm. 

We spent a day in the beautiful hill city of Orvieto and then traveled back to Rome where we stayed for five days. It is still incredible to reflect on the memories!

One of the great highlights of this pilgrimage for my husband and myself was receiving the sacrament of reconciliation – in English – at St. Peter’s Basilica, the priest handing us a prayer card containing a relic from Pope St. John Paul II and then going to Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The chapel is an area closed off with a thick velvet curtain that blocks noise from the basilica and allows near silence while adoring Our Lord. 

I noticed how many others in our group of 32 also chose to go to confession and then Adoration.

Another highlight in Rome was the Scavi Tour of the necropolis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. The temperature in Rome that day was in the upper 80s, and the humidity on the tour had most of us sweating profusely. However, seeing the excavation sites and the actual bones of St. Peter was worth it. 

During the pilgrimage, we celebrated Mass every day and in some magnificent places such as at the Tomb of St. Francis of Assisi and in the Chapel of the Corporal in Orvieto (see the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena), St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, to name a few.   

Generally, everyone was required to stay with the group, the size of which varies and does make a difference. (It’s a lot easier to herd 20 or 25 people compared to 40 or 50.) On some days and for some tours, there was a strict schedule or time constraints, so we got only a small taste of some sites. Most days, our itinerary included free time to explore on our own. 

Did we love everything about this pilgrimage? Unfortunately, no. The one common criticism from many in our group was the dinners. Our total trip price included breakfast every day in the hotel where we stayed and most dinners either in a hotel or at an area restaurant. Lunch was always on our own, so we could choose the restaurant and items from the menu.  

Before signing up for a pilgrimage, be honest with yourself about expectations and do some research. Hotels in Europe often have much smaller rooms than those in the United States. Some days we had to wake up early to leave for tours, whether on foot or by bus. And, most days, there was a lot of walking. 

For some, a pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it might not be for everyone. Ciao!