University of Portland Italy – May 2026

Pilgrimage to Italy

Trip Date:
May 18, 2026
- May 26, 2026
Group Type
Private
Activity Level
Moderate
Price
From $2,790
Deposit $500
Hosted by
University of Portland
or call us at (574) 383-9396

Trip Overview

Join the University of Portland and Verso Ministries on a pilgrimage to Italy and be transformed by the beauty and universality of the Catholic Church. From Rome, where the ancient streets overflow with history, to the peaceful countryside village of Assisi, and a special visit to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, walk in the footsteps of fantastic saints and encounter firsthand the ever-unfolding story of the Church. Through immersion in all the sights 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.

What’s Included?

  • Accommodations in double, triple, and quad-occupancy rooms for students and double-occupancy for chaperones (single rooms available on a limited basis)
  • Airport/hotel transfers (if arriving/departing with the group flight)
  • Local, licensed tour guide(s)
  • Transportation on private motorcoach (pending hotel location, coach will be included some days, but other days pilgrims will walk to nearby sites)
  • 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

May 18, 2026
  • Depart U.S. on your overnight flight to Rome
May 19, 2026
  • Arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport
  • Transfer to St Paul Outside the Walls, where St Paul is buried, and celebrate an Opening Mass
  • Tour the Catacombs of St Sebastian, ending in the Basilica of St Sebastian Outside the Walls where the Saint is buried
  • Transfer to the hotel and check-in
  • Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome

Meals included: Dinner

May 20, 2026
  • Papal Audience (pending the Holy Father’s schedule)
  • Free time for lunch on your own
  • After lunch, enjoy a guided walking tour of the churches and piazzas of central Rome
    • 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)
  • Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St Mary Major, home of a relic of the Bethlehem manger and the tomb of Pope Francis
  • Free evening and dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

May 21, 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 Holy Cross and venerate the relics from Christ’s Passion
  • Time for lunch on your own
  • In the afternoon, entrance to the Colosseum and Roman Forum for an immersion into the history of ancient Rome
  • Overnight in Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

May 22, 2026
  • 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
    Scavi Tour (pending availability)
  • Late afternoon entrance to the Vatican Museums, home of the Sistine Chapel
  • Overnight in Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

May 23, 2026
  • Depart for Assisi, stopping en route at the CSC Generalate on the Via Framura (group to arrange – potentially celebrate Mass)
  • Continue on to Assisi
  • Guided tour of the Old City of Assisi, including the Basilica of St. Francis and Basilica of St. Clare, where the San Damiano Crucifix is held along with the tomb of St Clare
  • Dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Assisi

Meals included: Breakfast

May 24, 2026
  • Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis, where St Francis is buried and decorated with murals by Giotto
  • Free day 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

Meals included: Breakfast

May 25, 2026
  • Celebrate a Closing Mass at the Basilica of St Clare
  • Return to Rome, stopping en route at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence
  • Walk its grounds and gardens
  • Conclude the pilgrimage with a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Rome near the airport

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

May 26, 2026
  • Transfer to the airport and depart Rome on your return journey home

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodations

Simple Accommodations

Pricing

Package Cost
$2,790

Optional Add-ons

Group Flight from PDX
TBA
Single room supplement (limited availability)
$690/person
Prepaid gratuities
$140/person
Travel Protection
Quote provided after registration

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

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

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

Led by

Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C.
Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C. serves as Director of Campus Ministry at University of Portland and pastoral resident in Lund Family Hall. He came to UP in 2017 and has served in Campus Ministry that entire time. Aside from his Campus Ministry duties, Fr. Tim also serves as chaplain to the PACE Masters program and the women’s basketball team.
Kayla Garcher
Kayla Garchar is a UP alum from 2019 and returned to the Bluff in 2023 to work in Campus Ministry as the Campus Minister for Faith Formation. She is also the pastoral resident in Mehling Hall. Kayla’s work involves supporting retreats, the Campus Spirituality Team, and the Fish Christian Fellowship group.
Fr. John Donato, C.S.C.
Fr. John Donato, C.S.C. has been at UP for 27 years and currently serves as Special Assistant to the President for Mission. He has served in a variety of capacities at UP, from Campus Ministry, to Associate Vice President for Student Development, and, before his current role, as Vice President for Student Affairs. Fr. John is the pastoral resident in Schoenfeldt Hall and an avid supporter of UP students in the fine arts, athletics, and many other programs around campus.

Flights

A group flight from Portland (PDX) will soon be available for this pilgrimage.

Pricing and itinerary details will be available soon.

More Details

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

Payment Schedule

  • Deposit due upon registration – ?/person
  • January 18, 2026 – ? 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 November 2025. 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.

  • After deposit and 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

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

 

Want to arrive or depart outside of the designated times?

  • Please note: If you arrive/depart outside of the designated times, private transfers (fee applies) can be arranged on your behalf. Airport transfers outside of the designated arrival/departure times are not included in the package pricing.
  • Need to book a private transfer? Contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at (574) 383-9396.

 

Want help arranging your flights?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the latest I can register?

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!
Read More

Should I purchase travel protection?

We recommend that all pilgrims consider purchasing travel protection. We partner with Travel Insured International (TII) to offer travel protection.  According to TII, travel protection 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 from TII. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call TII. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.
Read More

What is my Pilgrim Portal?

Your Pilgrim Portal is how you will securely share the information we need for your trip. We collect all this information through your “tasks” in your Pilgrim Portal. After booking, you will receive access to your portal and can log in at the link at the top of this page.
Read More

How does Verso Ministries prepare me for my journey?

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. From pre-departure spiritual formation emails and webinars hosted by the Verso trip leader, to providing you with a pilgrim kit to bring with you on your journey, we accompany you through the entire process – before, during, and after the pilgrimage – to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email to answer and assist with any questions you might have.
Read More

Resources

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

A metaphor of one of the benefits of going on a pilgrimage, a highway comes into sharp focus through a camera lens.

5 Benefits of Going on a Pilgrimage

How to Overcome a Fear of Travel

A couple walking down a street in Rome.

How to Prepare for Your Trip to Rome

What Our Pilgrims Have to Say

Father Kuhn

Jocelyn

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