2025 Jubilee: The Holy Year A Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi

St. Ann's Academy presents…

9 Days ● 11 Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners HIGHLIGHTS… Rome, Basilica of St. John Lateran & the Holy Stairs, St. Mary Major Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, Catacombs, Papal Blessing in Saint Peter’s Square, Assisi & Basilica of Saint Francis, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica & Holy Door, Papal Audience ITINERARY AT A GLANCE Day 1 Days 2 – 8 Overnight Flight St. Martin Rome, Rome On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Day 1: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Overnight Flight
Become “Pilgrims of Hope” during the Holy Year 2025. Join a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, experiencing some of the most fascinating religious sites and relics in the world. Take part in the Jubilee, a tradition with biblical roots and re-established in AD 1300. Renew your Faith and join the multitudes of pilgrims who have been travelling to Rome for centuries for the chance to receive the plenary indulgence.

Day 2: Thursday, August 21, 2025 Rome, Italy - Tour Begins
Your tour opens in Rome, the spiritual centre of the Catholic faith during the Holy Year. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at your hotel, featuring regional delicacies and Italian wine. (D)

Day 3: Friday, August 22, 2025 Rome
This morning, begin your pilgrimage of the Seven Jubilee Churches with a visit to Rome’s cathedral: the Basilica of St. John Lateran – the former residence of the popes. Continue to the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs which tradition believes are the steps that Christ climbed when he appeared before Pontius Pilate. This afternoon, enter the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, where art and spirituality meet. Celebrate Mass before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Or opt to enhance your Roman sojourn with a half-board dinner supplement at your hotel.* (B)

Day 4: Saturday, August 23, 2025 Rome
Today, venture beyond ancient Rome’s city limits, though still within the modern city centre. Visit the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, built over the shrine of Saint Lawrence, one of the earliest martyrs of the Catholic Church. Continue to St. Paul Outside the Walls and pause in reverence at the tomb of the Apostle. This afternoon, celebrate Mass at the church of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls. Then, follow the steps down to the catacombs underneath the basilica, for a touching visit to the tombs of early Christians, martyrs, and saints. (B)

Day 5: Sunday, August 24, 2025 Papal Blessing & Prayer
This morning, celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Afterward, walk on to St. Peter’s Square to await the Papal Blessing.** Every Sunday when in residence, His Holiness pronounces a brief reflection on the Gospel of the day before reciting the Angelus prayer from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. This afternoon, visit the Shrine of our Lady of Divine Love, added to the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome by Saint John Paul II during the Jubilee of AD 2000. (B)

Day 6: Monday, August 25, 2025 Assisi - Rome
Early this morning, travel north to Assisi, where St. Francis spent most of his life. Visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, built on the founding site of the Franciscan Order. Pause at the Chapel of the Porziuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the Saint prayed. After an included lunch, join a local expert on a tour of the 13th-century basilica of St. Francis, where you can see many of St. Francis’ possessions and a series of frescoes. Celebrate Mass in the basilica before returning to Rome in the evening for a late dinner at your hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Vatican City - Rome
This morning explore the Vatican Museums,*** including the Sistine Chapel where the Pope is elected and where Michelangelo’s famous Last Judgment mural is located. End your visit of the Vatican City in St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church. Feel the grace around you as you meander along towering marble columns and stand in awe before La Pietà, Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture. This afternoon, visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, another of the seven pilgrimage churches of the Jubilee and where you celebrate Mass. (B)

Day 8: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Papal Audience
Early this morning attend the weekly Papal audience*** at the Vatican City to receive the blessing given by His Holiness the Pope. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish. You may choose to cross the Holy Door of St. Peter’s to seek jubilar absolution if you have not done so yet. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrating the end of a memorable pilgrimage to Italy. (B, D)

Day 9: Thursday, August 28, 2025 Rome - Tour Ends
Your spiritual journey to Rome and Assisi comes to a close. Return home with renewed faith as a Pilgrim of Hope. (B)

Experience It! The Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica
During the Holy Year 2025, the Holy Door (or ‘Porta Sancta’) at St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as the doors of the three other major papal basilicas in Rome, will be opened. This door is typically only opened for the Jubilee, every 25 years. On the first day of the Holy Year, the Pope will symbolically strike the brick wall covering the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica with a silver hammer, opening it to the pilgrims. In this tradition dating back to the 15th century, the Holy Door symbolizes the redemption of man’s sins and starting anew.

EXTEND YOUR VACATION WITH
Optional 3 Days 2-Night Venice & St. Anthony of Padua Post Tour Extension
Per Person Rates: $1,300.00 CAD double, $1,690.00 CAD single, land only
For more information on extensions and options for this tour visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1263498

Extend your holiday with Optional 3 Days 2-Night Venice & St. Anthony of Padua Post Tour Extension
Per Person Rates: $1,300.00 CAD double, $1,690.00 CAD single, land only
3 Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 1 Dinner

Day 9: Rome - Padua - Mestre
Start your morning with a transfer to Padua and spend time in the Basilica of Saint Anthony. A sprawling church of iconic domes, this Franciscan sanctuary is visited by millions of pilgrims each year. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here. End your day in the city of Mestre, nestled along the coast of mainland Venice. Settle in for a 2-night stay, your gateway to the Venetian lagoon. This evening, experience the flavours of the region with a relaxing dinner at your hotel. Today dinner will be included.

Day 10: Murano Island - Venice - Mestre
Enjoy a full day tour of Venice. Start your day with a boat trip* to Murano Island for a glass-blowing demonstration. After getting a glimpse into the local culture, make your way to St. Mark’s Square and join a local expert for a walking tour. You’ll explore this famous square and the St. Mark’s Basilica, which enshrines the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist under the high altar. Although Saint Mark was originally buried in Egypt, legend claims that two Venetian merchants stole the saint’s body from Alexandria and relocated him to Venice in the early 1800s. You will have the option of celebrating Mass here. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the canals on your own before returning to your hotel on the mainland. Today breakfast will be included.

Day 11: Mestre - Tour Ends
Say goodbye to Italy as your tour comes to a close today. Today breakfast will be included.

Please Note:
The overall activity level of this extension is a level 3. This means walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) isn’t a big deal for you. You can navigate hills and uneven ground, climb into various modes of transportation (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.), and could possibly anticipate changes in elevation. Walking four miles over the course of a day is very doable as is climbing 3 flights of stairs. You can handle altitudes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. You can expect some longer days balanced with free time. This level is not a fit for travellers that require mobility assistance devices.

Fully-guided extensions are perfect for travellers who want the complete experience of a new destination and local experiences. Travellers will have a dedicated guide throughout this entire extension.

We reserve the right to cancel this extension if a minimum of 6 passengers is not met to operate.

If you require any special assistance while on tour, please make us aware at time of reservation so the necessary request form can be sent to your attention.

Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Single rate subject to change based on availability.

Air inclusive rate is valid for guests who have purchased our air package for the full tour, depending on the air schedule selected. Rate may vary for those who have purchased their own air.

For air-inclusive reservations, the name provided at time of booking must match your government-issued ID that will be used during travel. Name changes are subject to penalties.

If you are travelling in a group without a priest, we cannot guarantee daily Mass. However, you'll be able to attend Mass on most days, but the Masses will be in public churches and presented in Italian.

The space on this extension is limited. Applicable charges may apply at time of request. Extension space may be increased to accommodate large groups, but it is not guaranteed.

When travelling in a group of less than 16 people, Wi-Fi may not be available on the motorway transfers.

*Your visit to Murano Island may be substituted with a visit to a local glass factory in Venice in the event of inclement weather.

PLEASE NOTE:
Book Now rates valid until Feb 22, 2025, valid on air inclusive packages only. The overall activity level of this tour is a level 3. This means you’re an on-the-go traveller. You don’t want to miss a thing, so walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) isn’t a big deal. A moderately paced two-and-a-half-hour walking tour, covering several miles, hills, and uneven surfaces, is no problem for you. Walking four miles over the course of a day is very doable, as is climbing into and out of various modes of transportation (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.). You can climb three flights of stairs easily and handle altitudes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. Expect some longer days with early mornings or late nights balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure. Some of the most unique sightseeing require accessing locations that restrict motor coach access, especially in historic areas such as Assisi, Rome, and the Vatican City. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes. In particular, the visits to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica require climbing 2-3 flights of tall stairs and walking over cobblestoned streets for a distance of a minimum 4 miles. Large crowds are expected at all churches and religious sites during the Holy Year. The crowds may induce the city government of Rome to introduce additional limits to motor coach circulation determining the need to use public transportation. In addition, long lines are expected for the crossing of all Holy Doors. The program allows time for the crossing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica but you must be prepared to stand in line for 2 to 4 hours. This level is not a fit for travellers who require mobility assistance devices.

Travel with a group size of an average of 37 travellers, up to a maximum of 44 travellers.

If you require any special assistance while on tour, please make us aware at time of reservation so the necessary request form can be sent to your attention.

Most shops and businesses in Italy are closed on Sundays and on national/religious holidays.

If you are travelling in a group without a priest, we cannot guarantee daily Mass. However, you'll be able to attend Mass on most days, but the Masses will be in public churches and with rare exceptions, will be presented in Italian. Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Single rate subject to change based on availability.

*For a carefree stay in Rome, you can opt to add 4 dinners to your trip, enhancing your stay at the hotel to a half-board arrangement. The additional dinners will be 3 course meals including water and a choice of wine or beer. This optional supplement can be booked up to 30 days prior to your trip.

To complete your tour, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing our airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.

For air-inclusive reservations, the name provided at time of booking must match your government-issued ID that will be used during travel. Name changes are subject to penalties.

Please be advised many airlines do not provide advance seat assignments until check-in at the airport. Advance seating will be subject to the airline's terms and conditions.

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: PASSPORTS AND VISAS
Documentation is required by foreign governments for all trips outside Canada. You should visit Global Affairs Canada at https://travel.gc.ca/ for general information about passports and visa requirements. Some countries require a visa in addition to a valid passport for entry, so it is important that you check with the appropriate foreign consulate or embassy for specific entry requirements and details you need to know regarding how and when to obtain the visa. Please remember the possession of valid passports and necessary visas are the responsibility of each client/passenger. If you would like assistance in ensuring you have the proper visa(s) for your trip outside of Canada, we would be happy to refer you to a company that can assist you. We strongly recommend that you have a valid passport (with seven-month validity) for all travel outside Canada.

Please be advised transit visas may be required if connecting through a country on route to your final destination.

INSURANCE
When travelling outside Canada, health insurance is required. Contact your booking agent for more details.
TRAVEL CONDITIONS
There may be different living standards and practices and different standards and conditions with respect to the provision of services and accommodations outside of Canada.
Effective for travel in May 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa to enter Europe will be expected to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver, for a fee, when visiting a Schengen Area Country. To identify Schengen Area Countries and to complete the ETIAS application, please visit https://www.etiasvisa.com/

**The Papal Blessing and Papal Audience are, at times, unavailable due to the Pope's travel schedule. Both the Blessing and Audience take place in Italian, at times with brief salutations in English and other languages.
***Vatican Museums are not available on most Sundays and Catholic holidays. Dates and times are all subject to change based on availability of reservations.

Modest dress (covering your knees and shoulders for women and long trousers for men) is required when visiting religious sites, sanctuaries, basilicas, etc.

Economy air rate and schedule are applicable for groups of 10 or more travelling on the same flights and dates. A deposit of $698 per person is due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. Reservations made after the deposit due date of February 15, 2025 are based upon availability. Final payment due by May 23, 2025. Deposits are refundable up until February 22, 2025.
BC Reg. #23337; Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg. # 3206405

For important reservation information visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1263498.