Ascend Italy Pilgrimage – June 2026

Pilgrimage to Italy

Trip Date:

Jun 23, 2026

- Jul 1, 2026

Group Type

Open

Activity Level

Difficult

Price

From $2,995

Deposit $$500

Hosted by

Ascend High School Program

or call us at (574) 383-9396

Trip Overview

Ascend High School Pilgrimage Program

Offering high school students and their teachers the opportunity to enrich their faith, grow in community, and expand their horizons through a transformative Catholic pilgrimage, regardless of the size of your group.

Discover the heart of the universal Church on this handcrafted pilgrimage to Italy. Encounter God’s majesty in the beautiful Roman basilicas, pray at the tombs of monumental saints, and walk through the ruins of Ancient Rome and the peaceful Italian countryside. Through prayer in the world’s most iconic churches, and immersion into all the beauty and culture Italy has to offer, this pilgrimage will inspire you to marvel at the work God has done through the church and draw you into deeper relationship with Christ.

Big or small, your group belongs on this journey. Our Ascend high school pilgrimage program lets you join with other schools—no need to recruit a full group.

What’s Included?

Local, licensed tour guide(s)
Transportation on private motorcoach between cities (pending hotel location, coach will be included some days, but other days pilgrims will walk or metro to nearby sites)
Accommodations in double, triple, and quad-occupancy rooms (single rooms available on a limited basis)
Meals as indicated on itinerary
Opportunity for daily Mass
Tickets for included activities
Audio headset for each pilgrim
Verso pilgrimage booklets and pilgrim kits
Preparation and follow-up materials

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Rome

June 23, 2026

Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight to Rome

Day 2: Welcome to Rome, St. Mary Major

June 24, 2026

Arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport and transfer to the hotel
Gather as a group at 4pm and make your way to St Mary Major
Welcome Mass at the Basilica of St Mary Major, with a relic of the Bethlehem manger and the tomb of Pope Francis
Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant
After dinner, enjoy a self-guided gelato-tour of some of Rome’s best gelateria
Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel San Pietro or similar

Meals included: Dinner

Day 3: The Vatican

June 25, 2026

Morning Mass in the Crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a tour of the Basilica, including time to pray at the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II and to see Michelangelo’s Pieta
Free afternoon and evening at the Vatican
Consider climbing the Cupola of St Peter’s for views of the city of Rome, or visit the Vatican Museums, home of the Sistine Chapel
Pizza-making dinner experience
Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel San Pietro or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Ancient Rome

June 26, 2026

Mass at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where a relic of the table of the Last Supper is held
Prayerfully climb the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St. Helena
Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and venerate the relics from Christ’s Passion
After lunch visit San Clemente with entrance to the excavations beneath the Basilica
Free evening to explore ancient Rome
- Consider visiting the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel San Pietro or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5: Outside the Walls

June 27, 2026

Transfer outside the walls of Rome and cycle along the ancient Appian Way, stopping to explore the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or San Callisto
Mass in the Catacombs (pending availability)
Lunch at a local restaurant
Gladiator School group experience
Visit St Paul Outside the Walls with time to pray at the tomb of St Paul
Overnight in Rome

Accommodations: Hotel San Pietro or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Free Day, Transfer to Assisi

June 28, 2026

Morning Mass at a local church
Pray the Angelus with the Pope in St Peter’s Square (pending the Holy Father’s schedule)
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the churches and piazzas of central Rome using Verso’s Rome resources
Stops can include Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Santa Maria sopra Minerva (with the tomb of St Catherine of Siena), Sant’Agostino (with the tomb of St Monica), and the Gesu (with the tomb of St Ignatius of Loyola)
Or enjoy a free day in Rome
Consider going to the Borghese Estate and visit the Borghese Gallery, with masterpieces by Bernini, or go paddle-boating in the lake on the grounds
Transfer to Assisi
Dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight in Assisi

Accommodations: Monastero Santa Colette or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Gubbio

June 29, 2026

Prepare your trekking kit for a day out in the Umbrian countryside
Transfer from Assisi to Gubbio
Hike from Gubbio’s historic city center along an ancient mule track up the mountains to reach the Abbey of San’Ubaldo and the fortress of Mount Ignino. Follow the medieval aqueduct over the Bottaccione gorge to return to city center
- Distance: 20km
Mass at the Church of St Francis in Gubbio
Return for a free evening in Assisi
Overnight in Assisi

Accommodations: Monastero Santa Colette or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Asissi, Return to Rome

June 30, 2026

Enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town of Assisi, beginning at the Basilica of St Clare, where she is buried and with the San Damiano crucifix, and ending at the Basilica of St Francis, where he is buried and with murals by Giotto
Celebrate a Closing Mass at the Basilica of St Francis
Free time to explore Assisi – pray at the tomb of St Carlo Acutis in Santa Maria Maggiore or walk down to the Monastery of San Damiano
Transfer back to Rome and check-in to a hotel by the airport
Farewell Dinner at the hotel
Overnight in Rome near the airport

Accommodations: Hotel Isola Sacra or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Fly home

July 1, 2026

Transfer to Rome airport and depart on your journey home

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodations

Hotel San Pietro

Rome

Monastero Santa Colette

Rome

Hotel Isola Sacra

Fiumicino

Pricing

Package Cost

$2,995

Optional Add-ons

Travel Protection

Quote provided after registration*

Single Room Supplement

$690/person

Pricing listed per person in double, triple, or quad-occupancy rooms and does not include airfare.
The number of available single-occupancy rooms is limited.

*Travel protection premium is calculated based on a variety of factors and optional plans are provided by Travel Insured International

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

Flights

Pilgrims are responsible for booking their own flights to/from the pilgrimage using the information below regarding airports and designated arrival/departure times.

Traveling with a group of 10 or more? Group flights are an optional add-on available to groups with at least ten travelers. Contact hello@versoministries.com for information on how to set this up.

Arrive by: June 24, 2026
Arrival time: By 1:00 P.M.
Arrival airport: Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO)
Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will transfer on their own to the hotel via taxi or public transportation.
- Note: If your group arranges a group flight with Verso Ministries, we will include a transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Depart on: July 1, 2026
Departure time: Any time on July 1
Departure airport: Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO)
Departure transfer: Pilgrims will transfer on their own to the airport via taxi or public transportation.
- Note: If your group arranges a group flight with Verso Ministries, we will include a transfer from the hotel to the airport.

More Details

What's Not Included

Roundtrip group flight (optional add on if group is 10+ pilgrims)
Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals (optional add on)
Verso Pilgrimage Director (included if group is 30+ pilgrims)
Passport, visa, or luggage fees
Any personal purchases
Any meals not indicated on itinerary
Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy

Payment Schedule

Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
120 days prior to departure – Final balance

Please note: Payment plans can be arranged if needed. Please contact us if you would like to pay in several installments. Final package price is estimated. Pricing is based on currency exchange rates as of October 2024. Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates may impact final pricing. If you have any questions about pricing and when final pricing decisions will be communicated, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.”

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations of individual pilgrims must be made in writing (email or letter) to Verso Ministries. Individual pilgrims should cancel with their group leaders, who are then responsible for notifying Verso Ministries in writing (email or letter). Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims. Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 100 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted. We highly recommend the purchase of individual travel insurance.

Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free cancellation*
14 days after deposit & 91 days or more from departure: Deposit is retained
90-61 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost is non-refundable
60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost is non-refundable
30 days or less prior to departure: 100% of trip cost is non-refundable

*To qualify for free cancellation within 2 weeks of deposit, deposit must be made 180 days or more prior to departure.

Jump To

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I register now?

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Pilgrimages can fill up quickly, especially if pilgrims decide to bulk register as a group, so registering as soon as you think you will be able to travel with us guarantees you a spot on open pilgrimages. If you register and find out you can no longer attend, as long as you registered more than 180 days prior to the departure and cancel within 14-days of registering, we will fully refund your deposit. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest.

Who can I contact for more information?

Our team is eager to help and is available 9am-5pm EST by phone at 574-383-9396 or by email at hello@versoministries.com.

Who would I be traveling with on pilgrimage?

If a pilgrimage is open to all, registration is open to any pilgrim wishing to participate. As such, our groups welcome a diverse range of pilgrims, from families and married couples to single travellers and retired adults, giving you the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Why should I travel with Verso Ministries?

At Verso, we believe in crafting pilgrimages that offer you a view of God’s world and his work in it that you can’t get anywhere else. We believe that everything – from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims – shape the ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, but it’s how you prepare – from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. We shepherd you through the entire process so you can achieve the most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts; we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

Resources

Discover helpful guides and tips to prepare for your pilgrimage and enrich your journey with Verso Ministries.

Finding the Saints in Rome

The Jubilee Year 2025

In Via: Journey Through Rome’s Station Churches

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

“Verso provided a safe, quality travel experience, but even more important – a transformative pilgrimage. You are making a solid choice when traveling with Verso and will not regret the decision.”

Rev. Jonathan Meyer

Pastor, All Saints Parish

“It was the experience of a lifetime. This pilgrimage gave us a true glimpse of what it would be like to walk with Jesus in the Holy Land. Celebrating Mass, traveling with superb guides, and reflecting on Biblical passages enriched our love of the Holy Land and deepened our faith.”

Deacon John & Ada H.

Pilgrims, Holy Land

“Who doesn’t love a trip that’s already perfectly planned for you? You don’t have to do much except come and experience the trip. I’m really grateful for Verso because they know what they’re doing.”

McKenzy S.

Pilgrim, World Youth Day

Pilgrimage to Italy

Trip Overview

What’s Included?

Itinerary

Accommodations

Pricing

Optional Add-ons

Flights

More Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I register now?

Who can I contact for more information?

Who would I be traveling with on pilgrimage?

Why should I travel with Verso Ministries?

Resources

Finding the Saints in Rome

The Jubilee Year 2025

In Via: Journey Through Rome’s Station Churches

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

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