Spiritual Explorations June 7-17, 2024
The LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality and the Loyola Institute for Spirituality invite you to explore the witness of the Apostles and the saints on a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi and several other key sites in Italy. Following a long-standing Christian tradition, we look to the saints for both inspiration for living our faith, and also to seek spiritual strength through their intercession. This pilgrimage will bring participants up-close to saints from many different centuries in the life of the Church:
- Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- St. Ambrose (4th century)
- Sts. Francis, Clare and Anthony (13th century)
- St. Ignatius (16th century)
- Pope St. John XXIII (20th century)
- Bl. Carlo Acutis (21st century)
The pilgrimage is ten days and nine nights in Italy and will be conducted bilingually (English/Spanish) as needed. The pilgrimage group will also have the presence of and Jesuit Father Allan Figueroa Deck who will be available for spiritual conversation, brief orientations and inspirational reflections, along with a half-day retreat. Daily Mass will be celebrated by Father Allan except when the group may choose to attend Mass with a local community.
Haga clic aquí para información en español.
| Date | Item |
|---|---|
| December 21, 2023 | Last day for $50 Discount for Early Commitment Deposit |
| January 19, 2024 | Last day for $200 Super-Early Full Payment Discount |
| February 23, 2024 | Last day for $100 Early Full Payment Discount |
| March 6, 2024 | Final Payment Due |
| March 11, 2024 | Pre-departure Class Meeting 1 |
| May 20, 2024 | Pre-departure Class Meeting 2 |
| June 7, 2024 | Departure to Italy |
Registration and General Information
Please read the information published here closely. You can contact the Center with any questions at crs@lmu.edu or by calling (310) 338-2799.
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AN INVITATION
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE SAINTS: SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS
Dear Potential Pilgrim,
Anthropologist Victor Turner wrote extensively on the significant role that pilgrimage plays in the practice of many world religions. The practice of pilgrimage among Catholics today goes back to the very origins of Christianity in the Old Testament. Pilgrimages evoke the nature of the Christian life as a dynamic movement for each person in a purposeful direction and always in communion with others. The faith of Israel, of Christianity and of Islam—the Abrahamic religions—professes belief in a God who created, sustains and ultimately provides an abundance of life and fulfilment for his beloved creatures.
To participate in pilgrimage, then, is to relive and renew the mystery of our baptismal calling to journey joyfully together with Christ at our side and with our brothers and sisters toward the “dwelling place prepared for us” (John 14:1-3). Today the image of the pilgrim under the leadership of Pope Francis bears even more significance considering the prominence given the synodal pathway, a participative way of proceeding for the Church which is often compared to the pilgrim experience.
LMU’s Center for Religion and Spirituality together with the Loyola Institute for Spirituality is offering a sequel for its successful pilgrimages to the Ignatian sites in Spain and to the shrine of the Apostle James in Santiago de Compostela the past two summers. During 2024 from June 7-17 In the Footsteps of the Saints will review the final years in Rome of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s remarkable journey of faith. They correspond to the dramatic events surrounding the founding of the Jesuits. Additionally, we will visit the tombs of Saints Francis and Clare and of the great 21st century young adult Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi as well as the hometown of Pope St. John XXIII near Bergamo and the resting place of the great IV century Bishop St Ambrose in Milan. The spiritual teachings of these great saints will be reviewed in their actual settings, prayed and pondered as we learn about the circumstances and meaning of their lives for us in these times of epochal change.
Please review the information on our exciting 2024 Pilgrimage. Thank you for your attention.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Allan F. Deck, SJ
Pilgrim/Chaplain -
In Italy, LMU and LIS are partnering with Rutas Meigas, a travel provider that specializes in European pilgrimages.
Flights depart Los Angeles International Airport (or your hometown) on Friday, June 7, 2024. Pilgrimage activities within Italy begin at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport the evening of Saturday, June 8, 2024 and conclude at the Milan Linate Airport on the morning of Monday, June 17, 2024.
Overnight accommodations
Dates
Visits and activities
En route
Fri., June 7
Departure from LAX (or your hometown)
Rome
[3 nights]
Sat., June 8
Arrival at Fiumicino Airport and transfer to Rome
Sun. and Mon., June 9 and 10
Rome, including the Angelus with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square and visits to major holy sites
Tues., June 11
Morning: tracing the footsteps of St. Ignatius in Rome
Assisi
[2 nights]
Tues., June 11
Afternoon departure for Assisi
Wed., June 12
Explore the stories of St. Francis, St. Clare and Bl. Carlo Acutis
Thurs., June 13
Depart for Padua to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony
Venice-Mestre
[1 night]
Thurs., June 13
Arrival in Venice
Fri., June 14
Basilica of St. Mark in Venice; depart after lunch for Lakes Region
Lakes Region – Lombardy (near Brescia)
[3 nights]
Fri., June 14
Arrival to Centro Oreb Retreat House
Sat., June 15
Sotto il Monte – birthplace of Pope St. John XXIII and then on to Milan – the Duomo and the tomb of St. Ambrose
Sun., June 16
Half-day retreat, then free afternoon and evening
Mon. June 17
Depart from Milan Linate Airport for LAX (or your hometown)
Inclusions
- Round-trip airfare from Los Angeles
- Lodging in a room with private bathroom
- 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 8 suppers
- Private bus for the tour and services indicated in the program
- Accompanying guide from arrival in Rome to departure from Milan (Pilar Gómez)
- Hotels in Rome (3 nights), Assisi (2 nights) and Venice-Mestre (1 night), each offering supper and breakfast (in the case of Rome, supper will be at a local restaurant)
- Centro Oreb Retreat House (3 nights) in the Lakes Region/Lombardy, offering 3 breakfasts, 2 suppers and 1 lunch
- CityTax
- Local guide for visits to Rome, Assisi, Venice and Milan
- Headphones the entire trip
- Basic tourist insurance, without cancellation expense coverage
- Tips for guides and driver and at all included meals
Tickets included
- Rome: visits to major holy and historical sites, including following in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome
- Assisi: Basilica of Saint Francis
- Padua: Basilica of Saint Anthony
- Venice: Vaporetto (boat) and St. Mark's Basilica
- Milan: Tomb of Saint Ambrose and Duomo of Milan
Exclusions
- Visits and tickets not mentioned
- Meals and beverages, other than specified under inclusions
- Red Cap / Luggage Service
- Laundry and other items of a personal nature
- Donations to churches
- Cost for anything not specifically mentioned under inclusions
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How to Register
Reserve your spot with a $500 Commitment Deposit with the LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality.
Prices and Links. LMU and the Loyola Institute are offering a full package, covering round-trip airfare from Los Angeles and all pilgrimage activities in Italy (see the Itinerary + Inclusions tab above):
- Per person in a shared room - $5,595
- Per person in a private room - $6,275
Scroll down for prices without airfare ('Land Only').
Please note. The links above will take you to the LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality's online catalog where you can register and make a payment of at least $500 (your minimum deposit that reserves your spot on this pilgrimage).
If you have any trouble navigating the registration process, please call the LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality at (310) 338-2799. In particular, the reset password function on the LMU registration page may not work.
Commitment Deposit Required. A $500 non-refundable commitment deposit is required to reserve your spot in the pilgrimage. The Commitment Deposit counts toward the total price of the pilgrimage, and is only refundable should LMU decide not to run the pilgrimage.
Discounts
$50 Discount for Early Commitment Deposit. Register for the pilgrimage and pay your Commitment Deposit by December 21, 2023, and receive a $50 discount. Please note: discount is applied to the total bill after the Commitment Deposit is paid (it is NOT a discount on the Commitment Deposit itself).
$200 Super-Early Full Payment Discount. Pay in full by January 22, 2024 and receive a $200 discount. Please note: this discount can be combined with the Early Commitment Deposit discount only (it cannot be combined with any other discount).
$100 Early Full Payment Discount. Pay in full between January 23 and February 23, 2024 and receive a $100 discount. Please note: this discount can be combined with the Early Commitment Deposit discount only (it cannot be combined with any other discount).
Final payment due March 6, 2024.
Land Only Pricing and Registration
LMU and the Loyola Institute also offer a limited number of 'land only' packages covering all pilgrimage activities in Italy (see the Itinerary + Inclusions tab above) EXCEPT round-trip airfare:
- Per person in a shared room - $3,915
- Per person in a private room - $4,595
Participants purchasing a land only package must arrive to the pilgrimage meeting point in Rome when pilgrimage activities begin on the evening of Saturday, June 8, 2024. All matters pertaining to commitment deposits, payment deadlines, and discounts listed above also apply to those selecting the land only package.
Cancellations and Refunds
$500 Commitment Deposit is nonrefundable. Beginning March 6, 2024, all payments for the remaining cost of this pilgrimage are nonrefundable.
Please consider purchasing trip insurance to protect the investment you make in this pilgrimage.
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Your airfare is included (unless you opt for 'land only'); additionally, all land transportation within Italy is included.
Corniche Travel has partnered with LMU and LIS to offer round-trip travel from Los Angeles to Italy on Aer Lingus (all times reflect local time):
- EI68 - Departs Los Angeles (LAX) FRI June 7, 2024 at 8:15 PM; arrives in Dublin (DUB) SAT June 8, 2024 at 2:30 PM
- EI406 - Departs DUB SAT June 8, 2024 at 3:40 PM; arrives in Rome (FCO) SAT June 8, 2024 at 7:45 PM
- EI433 - Departs Milan (LIN) MON June 17, 2024 at 11:20 AM; arrives at DUB MON June 17, 2024 at 12:50 PM
- EI69 - Departs DUB MON June 17, 2024 at 3:25 PM; arrives at LAX MON June 17, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Keep in mind. Group flights are only for the Aer Lingus flights listed above; no changes/deviations are allowed.
If you prefer, you can opt for 'land only' and book your own international trip. As the program will begin in Rome and end in Milan, participants will need to book their travel to and from Italy taking into account these dates and times:
- Arrival in Rome must be before 7:45 PM on Saturday, June 8, 2024
- The return flight from Milan can depart no earlier than the morning of Monday, June 17, 2024
Important travel requirements. All participants must have a valid passport (expiration date of at least 6 months from the scheduled date of return to the United States). Participants are responsible for being familiar with US and Italian travel requirements. No refunds will be made if a participant does not obtain proper travel documentation.
You can find information about travel from the US to Italy on the US Department of State website.
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In preparation for this pilgrimage, two online pre-departure class meetings have been scheduled.
- Monday, March 11, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00 PM Pacific time
- Monday, May 20, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00 PM Pacific time
Pilgrims are required to attend these class meetings, which will be conducted via live video-conferencing (Zoom).