The Catenians Pilgrimage to Rome 20 th - 26 th March 2015 From St Peter to Pope Francis 57-59 Rochester Place, London, NW1 9JU Tel: 020 7485 3003 Fax: 020 7485 3006 E-mail: info@paxtravel.co.uk www.paxtravel.co.uk
Basilica of st Peter trevi fountain Dear Brothers, I am inviting you to join us on the irst Catenian pilgrimage to Rome since our new Pope took ofice. His words have already made an impact on the Church, the world and the Catenian Association, and our visit to the Eternal City will be an opportunity to strengthen the faith of all participants. We shall have the opportunity for the celebration of Mass together, and for prayer and relection guided by our spiritual director. There will also be time for socialising something the Catenians do well! The compact nature of the city means that distances are small, and there is so much to see from over two thousand years of colourful history. Mass will be celebrated for us in St.Peter s, Santa Maria Maggiore and the Catacombs of St. Calixtus. We will have a private visit to the Vatican Museums, with Evening Prayer in the Sistine Chapel, and join in the weekly general audience with the Pope. Visits outside the city are also included in this seven day pilgrimage. Our experienced guides will ensure that our time is spent fruitfully and, hopefully, at a pace which suits us all. Kathy and I are looking forward to seeing you in Rome! Bob Butler Grand President
castel sant angelo coliseum Day One Friday 20 th March UK - Rome Scheduled lights from several UK airports, and from Dublin and Malta to Rome. Meeting and assistance on arrival. Transfer by coach to our centrally located hotel. Dinner will be in our hotel tonight. Day Two Saturday 21 st March Santa maria maggiore St PaUl & Beda College Our irst visit this morning is to the Basilica of St Mary Major, the largest of the Roman Churches, and the only one in which Mass has been celebrated since it was founded in the 4th Century. Pope Sextus III dedicated the Church to Mary after the council of Ephesus (431). It is one of the patriarchal basilicas to be visited in order to make a proper pilgrimage to Rome. We celebrate the opening Mass of our Catenian Pilgrimage, followed by a guided tour of the Basilica. Afterwards, we visit the nearby Church of Santa Prassede (St Praxedes), an early Christian foundation with some of the inest apse mosaics in Rome. After a break for lunch in the area of Santa Maria Maggiore we drive to the Abbazia delle Tre Fontane (Abbey of Three Fountains) situated on the site of the martyrdom of St Paul. It is now a Cistercian Abbey, set in its own picturesque grounds, which contain three separate Churches, including the Church of St Paul of the Three Fountains, raised over the spot where St Paul was beheaded on the orders of Nero. The legend is that the head of St Paul bounced, striking the Earth in three places, from which three fountains sprang up. The second Church is dedicated to our Lady, Our Lady of the Martyrs, whilst the third Church and the Monastery are dedicated to St Vincent and Anastasius. Our inal visit this afternoon is to the Beda College, an English seminary for late vocations to the priesthood, for Evening Prayer and tea with the staff and students. Return to our hotel. Dinner tonight will be at L Eau Vive restaurant, run by an Order of Missionary nuns, who will serenade us with hymns after dinner. Afterwards on a tour of Rome by night, we walk past the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon to the Piazza Navona (originally a Roman sports stadium), where we will be able to sample one of the
st Paul outside the Walls st Paul famous varieties of Roman ice cream, before returning by coach to our hotel. Day Three Sunday 22 nd March San PietRo in montorio angelus PaPal BleSSing CaPitoline museums After breakfast we drive to the Gianicolo Hill overlooking the Vatican and we visit the Church of San Pietro in Montorio. Mass will be celebrated here for the special intentions of the pilgrimage. The highlight of San Pietro is the Tempietto, designed by the great Baroque artist, Bramante, which marks the place where tradition says that St Peter the Apostle was cruciied. Afterwards we travel to St Peter s Blessed John henry newman Square to hear the Pope lead the prayers of the Angelus and greet the crowds in many languages. Our included meal today will be lunch taken at the Dome restaurant in the Hotel Michelangelo after which we return to the hotel and the rest of the day will be free. For those who have informed us beforehand there will be a visit to the Capitoline Museums, situated on the top of the Campidoglio, for a guided tour. It was started with displays of classical art by Pope Pius V in 1471, and three centuries later, opened to the public by Pope Clement XII. It contains a wealth of Roman art and sculptures and has great views over the Roman Forum. Afterwards, we drive back to the hotel, where dinner will be at choice tonight. Day Four Monday 23 rd March the BaSiliCa of St PeteR VatiCan museums SiStine ChaPel How itting that we should start our day in one of the holiest places for Catholics, the Papal Basilica of St Peter, thought to be built over the burial place of the Saint, our link between Christ and Church. We celebrate Mass in the Basilica (Papal schedules permitting). Afterwards, we will be able to visit the crypt, where several of St Peter s successors are buried. We may wish to walk to one of the nearby restaurants or cafes to have lunch. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure. In
trevi fountain PoPe francis arch of constantine the early evening, we depart from the hotel by coach for a private visit to the Vatican Museums, where we will be guided around the sumptuous rooms in calm and quiet and reach the renowned Sistine Chapel, where we will fully appreciate the chance to see this without the bustle and noise of the crowds. We will say Evening Prayer in the historic surroundings of the Chapel, where Conclaves are held to elect the Popes. Dinner this evening will be taken in a typical local Roman restaurant. Day Five Tuesday 24 th March CataComBS of St CalixtUS alban hills CaStel gandolfo This morning we drive along the ancient Roman thoroughfare, the Appian Way to reach the Catacombs of St Calixtus, the most extensive in Rome, where the earliest Christians were buried in great number including several Popes and Saints such as the martyr, St Cecilia. A guide will escort us through the labyrinth of tunnels, and Mass will be celebrated here. We continue heading out of Rome to the pretty area of the Alban Hills which features two lakes due to ancient volcanic activity. Lunch (including wine) today will be taken at the Villa Del Cardinale, a bella Italia experience combining the Lake vistas with prestige service at one of the top restaurants in the Alban Hills. After lunch, we will make a short stop in Castel Gandolfo, a small town where the Pope has his summer residence. We can enjoy the picturesque views of Lake Albano below. We drive back to Rome in the late afternoon. This evening will be at leisure, with dinner at choice. Day Six Wednesday 25 th March PaPal audience english College gala dinner This morning we drive to St Peter s for the weekly general audience with the Holy Father (providing that he is resident in Rome at the time). During the audience the Pope will greet the crowd in several languages and preach a topical homily. The presence in Rome of the Catenian pilgrimage will be announced and we hope that the Grand President and his wife
st Peters Basilica from the tiber st Peter will be introduced to the Pope. We will then have time near to the Vatican to ind lunch before we drive to the English College, in the Via Monserrato, where Newman called on Dr Wiseman, the Rector, twice during his irst visit. We hope to meet priests and students from various dioceses in England and Wales, and to celebrate the Final Mass of the Pilgrimage. Afterwards we return to the hotel in good time to get ready for our Gala dinner, taking place in the hotel, which will bring our weeklong pilgrimage to a memorable and itting conclusion. We will gather irst for a reception before enjoying a gourmet dinner (wine included) in the presence of honoured guests, past guests have included: HM Ambassador to the Holy See, Cardinals and other dignitaries. Day seven Thursday 26 th March Rome - UK After breakfast and Morning Prayer (light time permitting), we transfer to Rome Airports for our return lights to the UK and Ireland. You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church
NH GiustiNiaNo Hotel Dedicated to Giustiniano, the Roman Emperor known as the Great, this brand new hotel is located in Prati, one of the most exclusive areas of Rome. The location in the Via Virgilio is well-known as a prestigious shopping district and for proximity to some of the most beautiful places in the Eternal City. NH Giustiniano has a strategic position just a few steps from the Piazza San Pietro and Castel Sant Angelo and a few minutes from Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona. The hotel has 161 modern, elegant and very large rooms (including 10 suites), some of which enjoy a wonderful view of San Pietro and Castel Sant Angelo. All the rooms are equipped with wi-i internet connection, mini-bar, air conditioning and LCD TV with satellite. There are also rooms adapted for the disabled. The restaurant offers an exciting blend of international and Italian cuisine, where traditional dishes are served with a modern style. The restaurant stands out for its careful service and for the quality and freshness of the used ingredients. The wine list has a large selection of Italian and international wines. A substantial buffet breakfast is served. There is a well-stocked bar and a large separate lounge area where guests may relax.
PRiCe = 1069 without flights includes: 6-nights accommodation in shared twin or double-bedded rooms with en suite facilities at The NH Giustiniano Hotel. Rome Hotel Tax. Meal plan: 6 American buffet breakfasts; 2 lunches: 1 at Villa Cardinale (during the day excursion to the Alban Hills); 1 Sunday lunch at Hotel Michelangelo, 4 dinners: 1 dinner at L Eau Vive; 2 dinners at a restaurant in Rome or in the hotel; 1 gala dinner in the hotel preceded by a reception. All coach transfers and touring in Rome as per the itinerary, by air-conditioned coach. Italian-speaking tour managers. Local English-speaking guides when appropriate to the itinerary. Headsets included with guided walking tours. A tour of the Vatican Museums to include a visit to the Sistine Chapel, after normal opening hours. All entrance fees as per the itinerary. Tickets for the Papal General Audience on Wednesday 25th March, to include a Papal blessing for the Catenian pilgrimage group. Visit to the English College and Beda College. Daily Masses booked as per the itinerary. ATOL or ABTA inancial protection. extras: Return lights from Malta, the U.K. and Eire to Rome (prices as per below). Supplement for single room for 6 nights at 324 per person. Travel insurance (we offer Travel & General Insurance cover, currently at 31.00 per person). Drinks with meals (except at Villa Cardinale on 24th March and at the Gala dinner on 25th March). Concert in Rome, details and cost to be advised during the pilgrimage. flights: Costs per person are as follows: Birmingham 248 / Dublin 228 / Gatwick 298 / Manchester 220* / Malta 165 / Heathrow 248 / Glasgow 268 / Stansted 168, other departure airports available on request. Full payment for the lights must be submitted with the initial deposit. These prices are guaranteed until 10th July 2014. Any bookings received after this date may be subject to a light surcharge (*Not direct, via Paris, Brussels or Munich. Direct lights at higher price). train: Travel from your local train station to Rome via Paris and Turin from 329 return. Details on application (stopovers possible and not included in the above cost). To reserve your place please send us a completed booking form along with a deposit of 250 per person, plus cost of lights and insurance, if these are required. All the lights in this brochure are inancially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certiicate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (lights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about inancial protection and the ATOL Certiicate go to: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertiicate. This itinerary is a guide and subject to change. Copyright 2014 Pax Travel Ltd