Ken earned his Ph.D. in the Historical and Cultural Studies of Religions at the Graduate Theological Union in 2000. I was pleasantly surprised that they didnt have us at the typical tourist places, Dykman said. Join other pilgrims for food and fellowship. It was a really profound experience to be where Francis was and better see through his eyes., Ellen Graham, a sophomore education major from Burlington, doesnt come from the same kind of faith tradition as Rivera Torres, but she also found walking in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare inspiring. It includes time for reflection, study, conversation, leisure, relaxation and visits to sacred Franciscan locations in Assisi and Rome. Its amazing, said Rivera Torres, a Sun Prairie native who graduated from Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. He found a lot of comfort in nature.. Francis and Clare to nurture an encounter with Jesus Christ through the spirituality of place. We felt the power of the Holy Spirit through the connection made to Francis and Claire by Ken and John and also a connection with and deep appreciation of each other through the daily reflections and activities. Assisi under the Nazis. The pilgrimage is based at the Domus in the immediate vicinity of the imposing Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built . I found it really inspirational. Thursday, June 27, The day is entirely free; lunch and dinner can be on your own, or you can have dinner at the hotel with those who wish. Mark is committed to serving those who are sidelined and at risk. Join us to take an inside-out approach to photo-making, inspired by Franciscan spirituality, that combines contemplative and creative practices. Assisi under the Nazis. The cost per person for this Young Adult Assisi Pilgrimage is $3,500 and $3,700 for double and single occupancy, respectively. A once in a lifetime peace pilgrimage to Spirit filled Assisi with compassionate, vital leaders who have dedicated their whole lives to Peace and Justice , who inspired us, broadened our understanding of nonviolence, changed us and provided one on one help to realize our dreams of promoting nonviolence in our own hometowns. Tara C. Well organized, inspiring and insightful. Dinner and overnight. In the woods outside Cortona is a peaceful Franciscan convent called the Convento delle Celle or Convent of the cells . Buffet Breakfast. You'll have the opportunity to visit the birthplace of St. Francis and see where he began his ministry. Here we celebrate Mass. The Way of St Francis is an important European pilgrimage route but many who walk it aren't religious because it also takes you through the best of Italy! We then continue to Assisi and our hotel. . Overnight. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Assisi, Italy. Let the spirit of our Community support you on your journey. WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHYLed by Paul Kimmerling. Before joining FAN, in 2021, Micheles career focused on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy, including nearly 20 years in the U.S. Department of State as well as heading programs focused on peace, human rights, and democracy in the Middle East at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Two transfers: from Spoleto to Trevi, and Bevagna to Eremo delle Carceri. la Credenzial, the technical guide of the route, with translation into English, hat and brooch with logo. An interspiritual pilgrim, Bishop Br. When St. Francis visited the Vatican back in the 12, The pensione closes at 10 p.m., but many of the veterans dont want to turn in that early, so Fr. After that momentous start to her pilgrimage, she found the rest of her journey inspiring, even lifechanging. He is a member of the Province of St. John the Baptist (Cincinnati, Ohio) of the Order of Friars Minor and citizen of Canada. Food, service and views. Ken lives in Chicago with his spouse Cynthia Okayama Dopke and their daughter. Moving to Long Island, he founded the Franciscan Circle, a progressive, interfaith gathering of clergy and lay people who seek to journey in mind and heart with the witness and wisdom of the Saints of Assisi, Francis and Clare. . Keep in mind, we are limited to 30 participants. PILGRIMAGE TO ASSISI In the Footsteps of Francis & Clare May 2023 Your Invitation IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS & CLARE is an immersion experience in Assisi, Italy a unique opportunity to contemplate your own spiritual path in companionship with beloved Saints Francis and Clare. Wednesdays are completely unscheduled please do as you wish! Overnight. All rising sophomores and juniors at St. Francis College have the opportunity to apply for the Student Franciscan Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome and other places associated with St. Francis and St. Clare. Since completing his military service, Fr. See of Peter; . Pilgrimage is a practice well-suited to those who find themselves at an inflection point in their lives and who wish to explore wheres life journey may lead them next. Conrad, who wrestles with PTSD himself because of his Iraq War combat experiences in Fallujah as a military chaplain. The retreat highlights their life events, spirituality, and writings, explored through talks, meditations, and practices, including questions for contemplation. The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless awarded Br. The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is a national Roman Catholic organization serving religious institutes of women and men with programs and services for those in the ministry of initial and lifelong formation, and general congregational membership. A non-refundable deposit of $500 will be due within 30 days upon acceptance to the pilgrimage. You will be inspired by the participants and the significant historical site. Lynn S. The Assisi Pilgrimage has inspired me to continue Francis and Clares journey of nonviolence and peace in my journey of working for peace and justice in our chaotic world. Ellie V. Friar Michael Lasky is a Franciscan Friar Conventual currently living in Rome, Italy. Joining the team on the pilgrimage will also be Franciscan Action Network (FAN) Executive Director, Michele Dunne, a professed Secular Franciscan. Afterwards we will visit the Cathedral of San Rufino and Santa Maria Maggiore. He is the patron saint of Italy, animals, ecology and merchants, and lead a fascinating life. Franciscan Pilgrimage Program was asked to create an alternative pilgrimage due to the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every morning, Friar Michael will celebrate a daily Mass and reflect on the Gospel call to justice, peace and nonviolence. As we walk through the beautiful Italian landscape, we will also explore the inner terrain of our hearts and souls with the help of daily readings, questions, spiritual practices, and group reflection every evening before dinner. In doing so, you can call forth what is deepest within you and begin to express that outwardly, within and around the medieval city of Assisi. He is also the director of the Conventual Franciscan website: FranciscanVoice.org. Each pilgrimage week starts with dinner and orientation on Sunday evening with departure on the following Saturday. We walk throughthe narrowalleysand the steep slopes of the historical centre to fully enjoy the medieval atmosphere, visit the monumental Church of St. Francis and learn about the legend of St. Francis and Brother Wolf. This May, after a record number of applicants stepped forward, six Viterbo employees will make the journey to Assisi. My faith was really reignited. All Masses are subject to final church schedules. Paige will lead the pilgrimage alongside her colleague the Rev. Your email address will not be published. For most of its history, FSPA members dominated faculty and staff positions, and until the 1940s all the students were FSPA members, too. 15. Since 2003, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries has taken select leaders and associates on pilgrimages to Assisi and Rome. We walk where saints once tread. We then transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 4: ASSISI: CARCERI HERMITAGE & BASILICA OF ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS. It now produces 30,000lbs of organic food a year for the poor in Baltimore. to the town down below. Photography, Explore Other BlogsExplore Other Blogs Select Category Arrival Day Austria Blogs Austria FAQ Before Leaving Cohagan Fiascone For the Parents. Rome & Assisi Pilgrimage. Buffet Breakfast. Animated by Gods vivifying presence, the RFC will stand at the forefront of discerning the formative horizon of the emergent in religious life. Box 321490 Franklin, WI 53132-6231 Tel: 414.427.0570 Fax: 414.427.0590 www.franciscanpilgrimages.com infofpp@thefranciscans.net RD 11/27/2019 NOTES Franciscan Pilgrim ProgramsGeneral InformationPage 1 Outside of our scheduled activities you are responsible for your own transportation. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. On this pilgrimage, you are invited to nurture body, mind, and spirit by living into the wise ways of Francis and Clare. Daily reflection questions, readings, and practices to spiritually focus each day of our pilgrimage. The JPIC Office endeavors to look at the most significant social and environmental justice issues of our time and discerns how we can best respond. This fee covers the hotel stay for seven nights at Hotel Giotto in Assisi along with breakfast and dinner each night at the hotel and local ground transportation to and from the various sites that day. Its hard to even describe the feeling of being there, she said. These help encourage the kind of listening that prompts deeper understanding of your personal story and the ways in which it is woven into the universal story; the ways in which your being touches and impacts all other being and matter; and the ways in which all things are in relationship with each other. Just in the month of July (2007), the councillors of Santiago and Assisi decided to twin these two towns for the common cultural and spiritual affinities, re-proposing the pilgrimage as a real source of a "new" evangelisation. During a typical year of operations, FPP produces 35-50 pilgrimages, hosting . In the event that the pilgrimage gets cancelled all payments made toward the pilgrimage will be refunded in full. Schmittgen: Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. The pilgrims included Sisters, Covenant Companions, Our Lady of the Angels staff, and their spouses. The Veterans Wellness Pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, is a 9-day Franciscan pilgrimage where student veterans are given time for reflection, conversation, and leisure and while visiting sacred Franciscan places in Assisi and Rome. You can learn about Francis and Clare from reading, but a pilgrimage gives you such a deep sense of who they were.. Early afternoon we enjoy a guided visit of the Basilica of St. Peter which marks his burial site. It was here that St. Francis also wore the tunic for the first time. The relics of Saint Francis are still to be found in this beautiful basilica, formerly known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. DAY 2: ARRIVE ROME / ASSISI We arrive in Rome and are met by our experienced tour manager who will accompany us throughout our journey. Group reflection, dinner and social beginning at 5:30pm, Tuesday, June 25, Presentation at the hotel with Ken Butigan on San Damiano. Drawing inspiration from Francis life and ministry, as well as from the Umbrian countryside that he considered sacred, we will reflect on our connection to the Earth, to one another and to our own souls. With Franciscan friars and expert guides, you will have the opportunity to learn more about our Catholic heritage and its roots. Please remember that going on any international journey has risks, including getting COVID and our team will help in any way we can to support and comfort anyone in this situation, though legally Pace e Bene and the Franciscan Action Network will not be held responsible for any participant who may get sick. St. Francis had received permission from Pope Honorious III to hold Midnight Mass in a cave nearthe village, so he led shepherds to the top of a nearby hill where they gathered together in a stable sheltering an ox and a donkey. Visit important Catholic sites like the Holy Stairs, the minor Basilicas, ancient Catacombs and more, as well as some secular . Afterwards, we continue our journey through the 13th century basilica and the basilicas of St. Clare and St. Mary of the Angels. Discover Assisi like Francis and Clare did - on foot. Ps: as an alternative it is possible to organize a farewell dinner with or without music in a local restaurant. All around St. Peter Square are people struggling with destitution and homelessness. Technical guide of the pilgrimage In concert with members and collaborative partners, the Conference will lead in the areas of initial and ongoing formation and the professional preparation of formators. Construction on the large church started in 1228 when Saint Francis was canonized. Day 6: Walking out of Assisi, we enjoy a ring walk taking us to Santa Maria degli Angeli, where the Franciscan movement was born. Assisi Pilgrimages Help Keep Viterbo's Franciscan Connection Strong Thursday, February 23, 2023 The Dancing Francis statue on Viterbo's Assisi Courtyard is one of the visible signs of the university's Franciscan heritage. Or, if you want something more active, you can explore the hidden corners of Assisi, go for a hike in the beautiful countryside, or visit a neighboring city like Spello or Perugia. Please Note: In the event that COVID or any other pandemic makes traveling to Italy inadvisable in 2024, any payments made toward the pilgrimage will be refunded in full. Paige and Rob) who will accompany our group every step of the journey, guiding our spiritual reflections and coordinating logistics. Assisi Pilgrimage Online : A Virtual Journey of Peace and Nonviolence In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare A Six-Week Online Series Sponsored by Pace e Bene Thursdays, 4-6pm Pacific / 5-7pm Mountain / 6-8pm Central / 7-9pm Eastern If you are on another time zone, find your start . For over 50 years Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, Inc. (FPP) has created cross-cultural journeys in the spirit of SS. : 04207971005 - Cap. To see samples of his work, you can follow him onInstagramorFacebook. Valfabbrica - Assisi Km 16 . Once you have been selected to attend the Assisi Peace and Justice Pilgrimage we will ask you to prepare for the trip by taking extra time to read, pray and journal in the months ahead. We are a welcoming community collaborating with others to be a blessing in the world. April 18-28, 2023. On November 7th, 8th, and 11th, 2020, they will present a Virtual Pilgrimage to Assisi, at NO COST! Francis certainly seemed to be the leader and the one who was propelling things, but he had a group of people around him who supported him.. We visit the Stigmata Chapel as well as Sasso Spicco, the great overhanging rock under which Francis delighted to pray, and the beautiful Chapel of the Birds. Walking through the same streets, seeing the same views, breathing the air in the same spaces as St. Francis helps to bring alive his transformed life that transformed the world. Listen to their stories. Assisi Pilgrimage Online : A Virtual Journey of Peace and Nonviolence In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare A Six-Week Online Series Sponsored by Pace e Bene Tuesdays, 4-6pm Pacific / 5-7pm Mountain / 6-8pm Central / 7-9pm Eastern If you are on another time zone, find your start t . Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abb9a4417eb5e82f0307c5c4940358eb" );document.getElementById("b7fc57970f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Over the course of their friendship, they have designed, delivered, and mentored a variety of retreats and educational programs for Franciscan communities, 12-step communities and the Education for Ministry (EFM) program of the Episcopal Church. Father Conrad has been accompanied on the pilgrimages by co-leader Bill Reese, a Vietnam veteran who was a Viterbo religious studies professor from 1995 to 2018, and a psychologist. Afternoons will be free for lunch, rest, getting to know other participants, and further sight-seeing. We will also offer a choice of two contemplative activities please consider joining us! Monday, June 24, We will spend the morning at the Basilica and grave of St. Francis, and have reflections in the upper church with Ken and Friar Michael on the life of St. Francis. We then depart Assisi for Rome, stopping first at the medieval town of Greccio, set on a beautiful mountaintop. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word celebrate Mass from the Our Lady of Angels Chapel in Irondale, AL. Why make a Pilgrimage in the third Millennium ? Your cost of travel (including airfare and transfers) to the beginning of the pilgrimage and back from the end of it. We welcome you and pledge ourselves to. Conrad talks about how Franciss first followers were combat veterans, and in Assisi the veterans build their own sense of brotherhood, of community, by all staying together in a pensione (boarding house). Come, join Delores Montpetit and her husband Ken . HeadStartat Long Reach Village Center Fund, Values Mission Ends Shepherding Committee, A five-day, six-night walking pilgrimage to Assisi, Sept 25 Oct 1, 2022, Double occupancy accommodations for six nights with en-suite facilities. A 1995 graduate of Viterbos nursing school, Hedrick-Erickson left for Italy with her second grandchilds birth imminent. Paul enjoyed a long career in talent development, most recently as an independent consultant who designed and conducted workshops and coaching programs for executives, managers and individual contributors in small-mid-size technology companies in the NY Metro area. In 1999 and 2003 Friar Michael ministered in Assisi, Italy at the Basilica of St. Francis as a pilgrim guide. Francis and the Foolishness of God or Dr. Butigans book, Franciscan Nonviolence as well as at least one biography of St. Francis such as, Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life by Adrian House. Viterbo, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, has always been a Franciscan institution. At the airport in Rome, the USA-based group met Sr. Magdalena Schmitz and Sr. Emma Sitorus from the General Council of our international congregation and the pilgrimage leaders. Buffet breakfast. Viterbo students going on Assisi pilgrimages enroll in a semester-long class in which they delve into the history of St. Francis and Clare, both of whom gave up lives of privilege to live simply and serve those on the margins, including the lepers cast out of Assisis city walls. Exploring Francis transformation with a group of people committed to peace and nonviolence make todays efforts to wake up the world more alive.. The group spent 7-days in and around Assisi, visiting the holy places connected to the lives of St. Francis and Saint Clare, growing deeper each day in love with Franciscan spirituality, and creating a bond with one another. In 2019, Paul led Through Beginners Eyes, a photography retreat to foster new ways of seeing the world and encourage greater creativity in photo making. Something to consider: We recommend arriving early to Assisi. We will also apply a portion of the funds towards a carbon offset program to alleviate the carbon emissions from flights and other transportation that are required for this pilgrimage. Friday, June 28, we will visit Santa Maria degli Angeli, where St. Francis died, and have reflections from Friar Michael and Ken. 12 Days: St. Paul in Rome, Greece, & Turkey Explore St. Paul in each of these three venues, plus see the classic sites in each locale. A tourist wont pay any attention to them. As part, he looks to both Gods evolutionary science and spiritual heroes (such as Thch Nhat Hanh and Francis and Clare of Assisi) as sources of inspiration and hope. We then have free time for lunch in the Vatican area. We are a welcoming community of faith striving to be a blessing in the heart of the world. We visit her burial site located in the 13th-century Churchs crypt as well as the Crucifix of San Damiano.This afternoon is at leisure to reflect on how the lives of these two saints impact us today. Day 1 - Departure. Catholic Pilgrimages in the Franciscan Tradition . The chapel's origin is a thing of legend. Check out this ultimate list of the sacred places in Italy that will help you plan your trip. Our Pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our flights to Rome. Your email address will not be published. Lunch and afternoon free. He is delighted to collaborate again with PaulKimmerling, for all of the reasons that Paul mentions below! Brynne Turner October 22, 2018 Comment. Pray in each place. According to legend, it was here that St. Francis first heard the voice of God telling him to rebuild his church. He also wrote his famous Canticle of the Creatures in this place. Rather, he was drawn to live simply and serve God by caring for people on the margins, explained Viterbo chaplain Father Conrad Targonski, a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), which was founded by St. Francis in 1209. The trip really motivated me to look again at how I am living out my values in terms of public activism. Depending on arrival flight time, we stop at the foot of the hill of Assisi and visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, containing the Porziuncola, a tiny stone structure considered the home of St. Francis and his followers and the house where St. Francis founded the Franciscan order and died in or near, on October 3, 1226. The Pilgrimage will begin on June 23 with a welcome, introductions and a Catholic Mass, then a social and dinner. Lunch and afternoon free. A pilgrimage is about entering into the experience and the depth of the experience.. Participation in pilgrimages to Assisi, Italy, bring a less visible connection to the university's Franciscan roots to campus. The pilgrimages are inspired in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, who had great love for God, the world's beauty, and the companionship of others. - C.C.I.A.A. Like the student trip, last years employee pilgrimage started at the Vatican, where pilgrims had some inspiring experiences, including a rare chapel service in St. Peters crypt and an audience with Pope Francis on St. Peter Square. Theres just this energy. In Assisi, the "Assisi" scroll is removed at the end of the pilgrimage. The Wheaton Franciscans are the St. Clare Regional Community of an international congregation, the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (FCJM). Subasio. di Roma 743352 - Trib. See where he heard his call to poverty, where he spoke to the Pope, where he received his vision and look at a letter written in his own hand. The pilgrimage to Assisi will give you plenty of quiet time to reflect on St Francis's life and the lessons that we can all learn from him whilst . Matt Russick, TOR on a pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome. Assisi, located in the Umbria region of Italy, is the site of many a pilgrimage and a rare and special spot on earth linked in legend with its native son, St. Francis, a gentle saint who founded the Franciscan order and is remembered as a great lover of nature (his sermon to an audience of birds is one of the best-loved sermons of his life). We will also admire the Michelangelos Pieta, the Berninis baldachin located over the high altar of the Basilica, the Altar of the Chair and the tomb of Pope John Paul II. A Few Openings Remain for Pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy (Sept 25 Oct 1, 2022), As adults who believe strongly that so-called childrens stories arent just for children, Rev. Assisi and Rome April 18-27, 2023 With Fr. John's next Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, . I came back with this lightheartedness and joy, walking with a lighter step. Overnight. St. Francis Pilgrimages is owned and operated by Bret and Katia Thoman. The pilgrimage to Assisi is dedicated to St Francis, with a visit to the Basilica and celebration of Holy Mass. Our Ministries; . Details of the trip include: A five-day, six-night walking pilgrimage to Assisi, Sept 25 . Over the years, he has worked for Franciscans International at the United Nations as director of the New York office and Americas program, and for the Franciscan Action Network as a board member. Overnight. My jaw just dropped. Upon arrival we stop at the Basilica of St. John Lateran for a visit. Franciscan Farewell On Sunday, October 30, 2022, the community blessed and sent forth 18 pilgrims on a 10-day pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, Italy. Franciscans are really concerned with those who are on the margins. Conrad said. Sede legale: 58, Via Cavour - 00184 - Roma - Italia - Tel. Pilgrimage to Santiago and Assisi wined. He developed and for several years directed Pace e Benes From Violence To Wholeness program, and was actively involved in creating Pace e Benes Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living program. The pilgrims included Sisters, Covenant Companions, Read More Franciscan Pilgrimage to Assisi Numerous depictions of them adorn campus hallways and offices, along with representations of the San Damiano cross, before which St. Francis was praying when he heard the voice of God command him to rebuild my church.. the beautiful medieval town of Assisi. Led by Pace e Benes Dr. Ken Butigan and Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. Though completed centuries ago, the frescoes are still vibrant. Day 5 - Florence. Id heard from so many peers what an incredible experience it was, and it really is. Lunch is at our leisure with the optional possibility of arranging it in the refectory of the Pilgrim of the Sanctuary. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS & CLARE is an immersion experience in Assisi, Italy a unique opportunity to contemplate your own spiritual path in companionship with beloved Saints Francis and Clare. It will also cover fees associated with certain reservations needed for group access at sights in Assisi. Married since 2002, and professed Secular Franciscans (Third Order Franciscans) since 2006, they currently live in Loreto, Italy with their three children. When St. Francis visited the Vatican back in the 12th century, he attended to the needs of those people, Sr. Laura said, and participants on a Franciscan pilgrimage should be as interested in those people on the margins as they are in seeing the treasures the Vatican holds. Pilgrimage; Giving; Donate; Give Monthly; Search; Contact. Our Assisi pilgrimage begins with Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis and contemplative time at the tomb of St. Francis. As a demonstration of the solidarity recommended in that document, six Franciscan women and four . We enjoy full day excursion to La Verna, the place where nature and spirituality come together in perfect balance. Mark is also a faculty member at All Faiths Seminary International for the training of interfaith ministers. A Viterbo alumni and friends trip to Italycalled "The Valleys of St. Francis: Discovering Our Viterbo Heritageis planned for Oct. 23Nov. di Roma 743352 - Trib. Soak up the sun in the piazza with a cappuccino or gelato. After breakfast we transfer to the Rome airport for our return flight home. All around St. Peter Square are people struggling with destitution and homelessness. Group reflection, dinner and social beginning at 5:30pm. Naomi Stennes-Spidahl, who came to Viterbo in 1998 as an adjunct English instructor and now is director of assessment and institutional research, said shes always had an affinity for Franciscan values and appreciated how her 2022 pilgrimage experience included people of all faiths and no faiths., The pilgrimage experience exceeded my expectations, and I had pretty high expectations from talking to others, she said. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and has travelled the world full time since 2011. 10 Days: A Franciscan Pilgrimage to Italy- Assisi, Rivo Torto, Greccio, Montecasale & more | Catholic Pilgrimage DAY 1: DEPART We depart for Rome. Join Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service and the Franciscan Action Network on a powerful pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy in the summer of 2024 led by Franciscan Friar Michael Lasky and Dr. Ken Butigan.