Pilgrimage to Italy

With Fr. Thomas Szydlik

January 13 - 21, 2025
Register

About

Join Fr. Thomas Szydlik and Verso Ministries on a pilgrimage to Italy 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

Open to All

Activity Level

Difficult

Length

9 days, 8 nights

Accommodations

Simple

Cost

As low as

$3,284

Deposit:

$500

What's Included

Professional, licensed tour guide(s)
Catholic Chaplain
Verso Pilgrimage Director (groups of 30+ get dedicated director)
Daily Mass
All tickets for included activities listed on itinerary
Private transportation on motor coach
Simple accommodations
Breakfast daily at hotel, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Audio headsets
Verso pilgrimage booklets & pilgrim kits

Itinerary

January 13
Depart U.S.
  • Depart U.S. and begin your pilgrimage
January 14
Rome (D)
  • Arrive to Rome airport, transfer to hotel
  • Welcome Mass in a local church, followed by dinner
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • Meals Included: Dinner
January 15
Papal Audience, Rome Highlights (B)
  • Papal audience in the morning, city center tour in the afternoon (Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, etc.)
  • Mass in local church
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
January 16
St. Peter’s (B)
  • Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica followed by tour and time for personal devotions
  • Pray at the tomb of St. Peter on the Scavi Tour (pending availability)
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast
January 17
Roman Basilicas (B, L)
  • Mass at Saint Paul Outside the Walls and catacombs in the morning
  • St. John Lateran, Holy Stairs, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and Mary Major in the afternoon
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
January 18
Monte Cassino, San Giovanni Rotondo (B, L)
  • Transfer to San Giovanni Rotondo
  • Stop en route to tour Monte Cassino with Mass
  • Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo
  • Accommodations: Hotel Valle Rossa or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
January 19
San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant' Angelo (B, L)
  • Mass at the Shrine of Saint Padre Pio
  • Visit Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel
  • Overnight San Giovanni Rotondo
  • Accommodations: Hotel Valle Rossa or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
January 20
Manoppello, Lanciano, Rome (B, D)
  • Transfer back to Rome with route stops to Manoppello and Lanciano
  • Mass at either location
  • Farewell Dinner
  • Overnight in Rome
  • Accommodations: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
January 21
Departure (B)
  • Depart Italy
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Register

Led by

Group Leader
Szydlik, Fr. Thomas_Headshot
Fr. Thomas Szydlik
Diocese of Peoria, IL

Fr. Thomas Szydlik is a priest of the diocese of Peoria, Illinois, ordained in 2003.  He is the youngest of 6 children and spent most of his growing up years in New York State.  He has great devotion to the messages of Our Lady of Fatima and to Divine Mercy, and he currently serves parishes in Clinton and Farmer City, Illinois.

Pricing

As low as

$3,284

Package Cost

Optional Add-ons

Group Flight (see below for details)
$799/person
Single room supplement (limited availability)
$621/person
Travel protection
Quote available upon request*

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

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

Rates assume a minimum of 30 full-paying pilgrims.

 

  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not listed on the itinerary
  • Drinks at meals
  • Recommended travel protection
  • Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Group Flight Information

  • Arrival Flight – January 13, 2025
    • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight #612
      • Departing Chicago (ORD) at 4:25 p.m.
      • Arriving Amsterdam (AMS) at 7:10 a.m (next day, January 14)
    • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight #1603
      • Departing Atlanta (ATL) at 9:40 a.m.
      • Arriving Rome (FCO) at 11:55 a.m.
  • Departure Flight – January 21, 2025
    • Air France Flight #1005
      • Departing Rome (FCO) at 6:00 a.m.
      • Arriving Paris (CDG) at 8:16 a.m.
    • Air France Flight #136
      • Departing Paris (CDG) at 1:10 p.m.
      • Arriving Chicago (ORD) at 3:10 p.m.

 

Designated arrival and departures times for those not arriving on group flight

  • Arrival information
    • Arrive by: January 14, 2025
    • Arrival time: Arrive by 12:00 p.m.
    • Arrival airport: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO)
    • Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the hotel in one group
  • Departure information
    • Depart on: January 21, 2025
    • Departure time: Depart at or after 11:00 a.m.
    • Departure airport: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO)
    • Departure transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the hotel at 7:00 a.m.

Want to arrive or depart outside of the designated times?

  • Please note: If you arrive/depart outside of the designated times, you may miss out on some of the planned activities.
  • Need to book a private transfer? Contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396.

 

Want help arranging your flights?

Simple Accommodations

  • Rome: Casa Ravasco or similar
  • San Giovanni Rotondo: Hotel Valle Rossa or similar

 

Need to get around? Private transfers

Arriving early or staying late? Pre-stay and post-stay options

There is no extension being offered for the pilgrimage.

Deposit due upon registration – $500/person

Payment #1 – July 15, 2024 -$500/person

Final balance due 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. Prices are based on the current exchange rate (as of May 2023). Any drastic fluctuations in currency exchange rates could affect the final pilgrimage 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 must be submitted to Verso Ministries in written form and received via email or mail. Any refunds, as applicable, will be processed based on the date stamp of email or mail received. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims and fees will be charged per person per booking.

Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here.

  • Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free Cancellation*
  • 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

*Free cancellation (if deposit is made more than 180 days prior to departure)

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.

Register

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.

Have a Question?

Facebook Instagram Youtube

Destinations

About

Info

Contact

© 2023, all rights reserved. Site designed by Ashley Paul Swanson
×
×

Cart

Holy Land
The Camino
Italy
France
Jubilee
World Youth Day
Resource Library
All Departures
Search

Featured Trip

City-scape often seen during a pilgrimage to Italy.
Rome Pilgrimage with Mike Aquilina

November 2 - 10, 2024

Learn More

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.

Attend our next Webinar!

Sign up to recieve information about upcoming and on-demand webinars.