God is Full of Life

A Pilgrimage to Italy

November 10 - 19, 2025

About

Join Companions of Christ and Verso Ministries on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi to experience the fullness of life and the beauty of the Catholic Church. Intentionally handcrafted with time for prayer and reflection, this pilgrimage will offer inspiring encounters with sites central to our Catholic faith, incredible walks through history, and a taste of the best that Italian culture has to offer. This pilgrimage is happening during the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Trip Details

Group Type

Hosted by Fr. Max Behna, Fr. Michael Groth, and Fr. James Guarascio

Length

10 days, 9 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$4099

Deposit:

$500

What's Included

Verso Pilgrimage Director (groups of 40+ get dedicated director)
Local, licensed tour guide(s)
Round-trip airfare from Chicago O'Hare (if group flight package selected)
Airport/hotel transfers (if arriving/departing with the group flight)
Transportation on private motorcoach (every day except Days 3 and 5)
Accommodations in double-occupancy rooms, including taxes (single rooms available on a limited basis)
Meals as indicated on itinerary, including wine at dinners
Opportunities for daily Mass
Tickets for included activities
Audio headset for each pilgrim
Verso pilgrimage booklets & pilgrim kits

Itinerary

November 10
Depart U.S.

Depart U.S.

November 11
Arrive in Rome (D)
  • Arrive in at Rome Fiumicino Airport and transfer to hotel
  • Welcome Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which holds a relic of the manger, with an opportunity to walk through the Holy Door
  • Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome
November 12
Papal Audience, City Center (B, L)
  • Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square (pending the Holy Father’s schedule)
  • Lunch in a local restaurant
  • Afternoon walking pilgrimage to explore center city churches and sites, such as the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Chiesa Nuova, San Luigi dei Francesi, Sant’Agostino, the Gesù, Santi Apostoli, and more
  • Mass at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, where the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena is
  • Free evening to explore the city on your own
  • Overnight in Rome
November 13
St. John Laterna, Santa Croce, San Clemente (B, L)
  • Visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme to see and pray with the relics from Christ’s Passion
  • Pray on the Holy Stairs that Christ climbed on his way to his trial, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St. Helena
  • Mass at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and where a relic of the table of the Last Supper is held
  • Group lunch in a local restaurant
  • Tour of the Basilica of San Clemente, run by the Irish Dominicans, including the ancient excavations beneath the modern church
  • Walk towards the Coliseum and Roman Forum for external views of the ancient Roman sites
  • Free evening to explore Rome and dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome
November 14
St. Peter's and Vatican City (B, D)
  • Mass in the Crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a tour of the Basilica (including the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II), time for personal prayer, and an opportunity to walk through the Holy Door
  • Free time for lunch and exploring Vatican City
  • Scavi Tour underneath St. Peter’s Basilica, with the opportunity to pray at the tomb of St. Peter (pending availability)
  • Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome
November 15
Catacombs, St. Paul Outside the Walls (B)
  • Mass at the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, followed by a tour of the catacombs
  • Visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls, with the opportunity to walk through the Holy Door
  • Free evening to explore Rome and enjoy dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome
November 16
Vatican Museums, St. Mary of the Angels (B, D)
  • Morning entrance to the Vatican Museums
  • After lunch on your own, depart by bus for Assisi
  • Visit to St. Mary of the Angels and the Porziuncola, with Mass
  • Check in and dinner at hotel in Assisi
  • Overnight in Assisi
November 17
Assisi (B, L)
  • Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis
  • Guided tour of the Old City of Assisi, including the Basilica of St. Francis and Basilica of St. Clare
  • Group lunch in a local restaurant
  • Free afternoon in Assisi to explore the peaceful medieval town and visit Santa Maria Maggiore and the tomb of Bl. Carlo Acutis, San Damiano Monastery, the Cathedral of San Rufino, Chiesa Nuova, or the fortress of Rocca Maggiore
  • Dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Assisi
November 18
Orvieto, Farewell Dinner (B, D)
  • Depart Assisi for Orvieto, and visit the Church of San Domenico, where St. Thomas Aquinas lived from 1263-1264
  • Celebrate Mass at the Duomo in Orvieto, the majestic Basilica housing the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, which was the inspiration for Thomas Aquinas’s Eucharistic hymns
  • Conclude the pilgrimage with a Farewell Dinner
  • Overnight in Rome near the Airport
November 19
Departure (B)
  • Transfer to the airport and depart Rome on a group flight

Led by

Group LeaderGroup LeaderGroup Leader
Fr. Max Behna
Naperville, Il
Fr. Michael Groth
Joliet, Il

Born and raised in Bourbonnais, Fr. Michael is the only child of Todd and Deb Groth. He attended St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kankakee, where he also attended grade school.  He then attended and graduated from Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in 2011 and continued to Kankakee Community College, where he was pursuing a degree in accounting with hopes of transferring to the University of Illinois. The Lord had other plans. Fr. Michael graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2016 and virtually “graduated” Mundelein Seminary in 2020. Bishop Pates ordained him to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 20, 2020.

 

HIs first two years of priesthood, he was assigned as a parochial vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul in Naperville and chaplain at Benet Academy in Lisle. In 2022, he was assigned full-time as the parochial vicar of St. Joseph in Downers Grove. He is also the  founding member of the Companions of Christ, a priestly association in the Diocese of Joliet. Established in 2020 Companions of Christ is based on the model that exists in two other dioceses, with the central hallmark being priestly support and fraternity.

Fr. James Guarascio
Plainfield, Il

Pricing

As low as

$4099

Package Cost (without savings)

$4299

Trip Savings

Early bird (available for a limited time!)
Save $200/person

Optional Add-ons

Single room supplement (limited availability)
$973/person
Group flight package
$872/person
Travel protection
Quote available upon request*

*Pricing listed per person in double-occupancy rooms. Quoted rates may fluctuate based on accommodation selection and availability. Rates also assume a minimum of 30 full-paying pilgrims. Final pricing may adjust based on any significant changes in currency exchange rates and final accommodation selections.

  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals (optional add on)
  • Roundtrip airfare (if group flight package is not selected)
  • 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

Group Flight Information

  • Arrival Flight – November 10-11, 2025
    • United Flight #970
      • Departing Chicago (ORD) at 3:50 p.m.
      • Arriving Rome (FCO) at 7:45 a.m.
  • Departure Flight – November 19, 2025
    • United Flight #910
      • Departing Rome (FCO) at 9:45 a.m.
      • Arriving Chicago (ORD) at 1:05 p.m.

Standard Accommodations

  • Rome: Hotel Orazio Palace or similar
  • Assisi: BV Grand Hotel Assisi or similar
  • Rome (Fiumicino): Hotel Isola Sacra or similar

Need to get around? Private transfers

  • Need to book? Contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396.

There is no extension being offered for the pilgrimage.

Payment Schedule

Verso Ministries will administer registration and payment collection from individual pilgrims. Registration can be done directly on the Verso Ministries website whereby pilgrims can make their initial $500 deposit using a debit/credit card. All following payments would be accepted via check, money order, or debit/credit card. Customizable payment plans can be discussed depending on the needs of your group. Suggested payment plan:

To secure your space, Verso requires a group deposit, payable by the group leader/organization. This deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation by the entire group. This deposit is refundable back to the group leader/organization if the pilgrimage runs with the required number of full-paying pilgrims.

Payment                                         Date                                            Amount
Group Deposit                              Upon signed agreement          Variable (based on hotel/dates choice)

#1 – Individual Deposit               Upon registration                     $500 per person

#2 – Individual Final Balance    120 days prior to departure    Final balance

 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation fees apply to organizing groups if the original number of pilgrims is reduced below the contracted amount at the rate of the group deposit multiplied by the number of pilgrims reduced. Verso will assess this fee at the 120 day payment deadline. If the group chooses to cancel its pilgrimage in its entirety, Verso Ministries retains the group deposit and will refund individuals amounts paid, depending on when cancellation by the group occurs. If an individual pilgrim chooses to cancel from the pilgrimage, the refund amount will depend on when the pilgrim cancels and is subject to the cancellation schedule below.

All cancellations of individual pilgrims must be made in writing (email or letter) to Verso Ministries. 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.

Date                                                                                                  Amount
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.

*Final package pricing may adjust based on confirmed accommodations and/or any significant changes in currency exchange rates.

**Group Deposit guarantees a minimum number of full-paying pilgrims and secures all Verso services. Any cancellation charges incurred from other supplies or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, etc.) will come in addition to the administrative fees listed within this contract. Cancellation fees will be charged per person, per booking. Cancellation fees apply to individual pilgrims who cancel their booking or organizing groups if the original number of pilgrims is reduced and the group size is altered.

FAQ

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! Not only does registering early guarantee you a spot on the pilgrimage before the departure fills up, but you don’t want to miss out on available discounts, including the early bird savings (see “Trip Savings” in the Pricing section above more details). Also, there is no risk for 14-days after you register should you then have to cancel (must register 180 days or more prior to departure). So let’s say you register for a pilgrimage, but then realize you can no longer attend, as long as you cancel your pilgrimage within 14-days of registering and registered more than 180s days prior to the departure, then we will fully refund your deposit no questions asked. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest. Plus, the sooner you register the sooner your journey begins. Register today!

There is no risk! Your deposit will be fully refunded as long as you cancel within 14-days of registering and you have registered more than 180 days or more prior to departure. With no risk, why wait? Get registered today!

Registration closes when the pilgrimage reaches the maximum number of pilgrims. If the pilgrimage is filled when you register, you will be added to our waiting list, and contacted in the event that space on the pilgrimage becomes available. Don’t miss your chance, register now and begin your journey.

We highly recommend that all pilgrims buy travel protection. Travel protection is not only for peace of mind, but helps protect you and those you are traveling with from unforeseen emergencies, which always seem to happen at the worst possible time. In the event of emergencies, both before and during your travels, as well other circumstances, like travel delay, lost baggage, missed connection(s), and much more, travel protection can help. Upon registration you will receive a travel protection quotation. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call the issuing company. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396. We are happy to help!

Including optional add-ons with your pilgrimage can really add to your experience whether it is one of the optional extension or arranging an extra night stay beforehand so you are rested when the pilgrimage begins. If you would to add on any optional arrangements, as listed above, please email us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.

A pilgrimage, at its simplest, is a trip of faith. Which means a pilgrimage can be anything from a walk around your city to an encounter of Jesus in the Holy Land. For Catholics, it’s a trip of faith that people have been taking for hundreds or even thousands of years, many times in the same exact places you can visit today. It’s an opportunity to experience the spots God has made his presence known most in time and space, whether that’s where Jesus walked, where Mary appeared, or where the saints have lived and worked.

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 everything from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims are ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We also believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, it’s how you prepare from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. Which means it’s our intention to shepherd you through the entire process — before, during, and after — so you can have the best, most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts, we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. Our goal is to make sure you’re physically, logistically, and spiritually ready for your pilgrimage. You’ll receive essential emails that will walk you through the process and give you ways to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. A pre-trip webinar will make sure you are in touch with the Verso leader of the trip, can get trip-specific info, and can ask questions. We’ll send you a pilgrim kit that contains a comprehensive booklet for your trip along with some Verso swag (such as a bag, pen, and sticker) that you can bring along with you on your pilgrimage. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email if you have any questions or special needs.

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Activity Level

Easy
This trip’s activity level is easy. It’s recommended that travelers be in good health to enjoy this itinerary and be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include half or full-day itineraries with 1-3 hours of leisurely walking per day on smooth or slightly inclined terrain. The pace is more relaxed, with opportunities to rest throughout the day.

Moderate
This trip’s activity level is moderate. Travelers must be in good health and be in good physical condition to enjoy this itinerary. Travelers must be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries of 3-5 hours of walking at a normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and hills. The pace is faster and more demanding, with some breaks throughout the day.

Difficult
This trip’s activity level is difficult. Travelers must be in good health and physically fit to enjoy this itinerary. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries with up to 5-7 hours of walking at normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and steep hills. The pace is vigorous and demanding, with little down time each day.

Accommodation Level

Simple
For the duration of your trip, enjoy a range of lodging accommodations — from quaint guesthouses to simple-styled hotels. Discover a newfound appreciation for each of these locations which often have a unique character of their own. With your private bathroom and sleeping quarters, these locations will provide you with a clean, comfortable, and cozy place to settle into during your journey.

Standard
Venues at this level will provide you with the best accommodations at a reasonable cost. Not only will you have access to modern amenities and services, but special care is taken to ensure hotels are located in close proximity to the area’s local attractions. Expect your stay at this level to provide you with an added feeling of comfortability and convenience as you experience your pilgrimage.

Premium
Your stay at the premium level will ensure that your travel involves the opportunity to experience some of the most unique and luxurious stays that a destination has to offer. You’ll find that traveling at this level will afford you the opportunity to optimize your experience at each spot. From fine dining to scenic views, anticipate that your pilgrimage will provide you with breathtaking experiences no other location could provide.

How will I know what my stay will be like?
Each of our pilgrimage locations come with their own unique accommodations. From simple to luxurious, you can know that the care and satisfaction of each pilgrim is our greatest priority. While specific amenities will vary, we are sure that each of these handpicked locations will leave you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for each day.

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