Friday, April 22, 2016

Join Me For Pilgrimage To Italy and Mother Teresa’s Canonization

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK

Join our small group of pilgrims on a journey to Italy from September 1 through 9, 2016. Our adventure will of course be a spiritual one, but also cultural as we make stops to explore some of the major historic and beautiful cities of Italy as well as Rome for Mother Teresa’s canonization at St. Peter’s Square on September 4th.

I lived in Italy for two years immersed in this richest culture of Europe and perhaps the world. You will have an opportunity for Italian lessons. I will share insights about the people and culture to enrich your experience. Traditional Latin Mass daily or in Italian will be offered, depending upon the desires of our group.

Rome, Assisi, Florence, and Venice are among the most beautiful of the many cultural, spiritual, and architectural gems of Catholic Italy. If you call, give the dates for “Italy Regular,” September 1-9, and my name to ensure you are registering for our group.


Trip Itinerary


Day 1: Departure from USA.

Day 2: Arrival. Depending upon your arrival time, we may visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the body of St. Paul is buried. It is the second largest basilica in Rome. Check in the hotel and rest for a few hours if time permits. In the afternoon, we will be visiting St. Mary Major, the main basilica dedicated to Mary in Rome. We will see the remains of Jesus’ manger, the tomb of Bernini, the remains of St. Matthew the Evangelist, the tomb of St. Jerome, and the oldest icon in the world of the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke: the famous Salus Populi Romani. We may attend an Italian Mass at St. Mary Major as well. Casual dress. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 3: Start around 9:00 a.m. Visit the Colosseum, the symbol of the city of Rome; a great building that has been standing since AD 80. Then visit St. John Lateran, the first basilica ever to be built in the Roman Empire. In the afternoon, go to the Catacombs where 500,000 people were buried. After the Catacombs our private bus will take us to enjoy a wine tasting and free time in Santa Maria in Trastevere, the most famous quarter of Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4: Start the day around 9:30 a.m., by visiting St. Peter’s in the Vatican, the largest basilica in the world. There will be time for private devotions and shopping before lunch. In the afternoon we will see the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. There is a dress code: long pants, capris, or skirts below the knee, shoulders covered. Time to rest before dinner in the area of the hotel. Red and white wine included. Overnight in Rome.

Day 5: We will have an early start as our private bus leaves around 7:00 am for the Vatican to attend the 10:00 a.m. audience with the Pope. There will be time for lunch in the area of the Vatican, before we visit the Spanish Steps. From there we will walk to Trevi Fountain, and have time for shopping. This will be followed by a walk to the Pantheon, the oldest functional building in the world, and then to the Piazza Navona around 4:30 p.m. Dinner at Piazza Navona. Red and white wine included. Casual dress throughout the day. Overnight in Rome.

Day 6: En route to Florence, stop in Assisi. See the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare; enjoy a peaceful walk on the streets of Assisi. Dinner in Tuscany. Overnight in Florence.

Day 7: Tour of Florence in the region of Tuscany. Tour of the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s
David, Flea Market, Duomo (Cathedral), and the Baptistery. Tour guide will show to those interested the location of the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapel (where the Medici family is buried), and Basilica della Santa Croce (where Michelangelo is buried). Dinner in Florence. Red and white wine included. Casual dress throughout the day. Overnight in Florence.

Day 8: Tour of Venice: an amazing city built on water. Leave for Venice in the morning on our private bus. Estimated time of arrival is noon. Visit St. Mark’s plaza. Optional: Gondola ride and shopping. Long pants if you intend to go inside St. Mark’s. Casual dress if you intend to go on a Gondola ride or spend time shopping and visiting the beautiful streets and bridges of Venice. Dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 9: Our private bus brings us to the airport in Venice to fly back to USA.

The pilgrimage includes: Flights from anywhere in the United States and flights between countries as per your itinerary (all necessary flights on your trip are included).

Daily Mass is available.

Airport Taxes, Security Fees & Fuel Surcharges — Saving you an average of $400-$600!

Transfers as per itinerary. Four or five star hotels in downtown areas. Transportation with luxury bus.

All breakfasts; all dinners at upscale restaurants not at hotel. Wine included with all dinners.

All tips to driver, hotel, and tour guide. Guided tours and tour fees.

Luggage handling (1 suitcase and 1 carry-on per person).

Single Supplement (as long as the passenger is willing to room with someone and allows us to provide them with a roommate. If the passenger wants a guaranteed room of their own, then they pay the $900 single supplement).

Remember: Passengers will never be expected to pay extra for anything while on the trip — we always wait for passengers and never leave anyone behind.

(Trip Does Not Include Lunch or Trip Insurance. Work directly with Travel Guard to protect your investment and insure your money. There are different packages to choose from depending on what your travel needs are.)


Steps for Registration: Easy online: To register online go to “https://www.proximotravel.com/” “Home” page, type “Father Kevin Cusick” or “Maryland” in the box labeled “Search for a priest” and then click on my name, “Father Kevin Cusick” to begin registering for the pilgrimage.

Or by phone: Call us 855-842-8001 or register online with a credit card and pay your $500 deposit per person to save your spot. The $500 deposit is part of the total price of the trip A $1,000 Airfare Deposit (AD) per person is due one month from the registration. The AD is paid ONLY in the form of check (personal, money order, or bank check).

The balance is due four months before the trip departure date. The balance is paid ONLY in the form of Check (personal, money order, or bank check).

Mail all checks and correspondence to: Proximo Travel • P.O. Box 3479 • Worcester, MA 01613 NOTE: If you sign up for a trip within 4 months of the departure date, you pay the deposit of $500 with a credit card and the balance is required to be overnighted in the form of a personal check, money order, or bank check.

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