Jesuit friends and partners are invited to join a 10-day tour and pilgrimage of Ignatian sites in Spain and Italy this summer coordinated by Fr. David Shields, SJ of Casa Romero in Milwaukee and Fr. Karl Voelker, SJ of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Mankato, Minnesota.

The travel dates are July 29 – Aug. 9. The trip includes travel via regularly scheduled flights from Chicago to Bilbao, Spain, Barcelona to Rome, and a return flight from Rome to Chicago. Accommodations include three-star hotels and/or religious guest houses for three nights in Loyola, Spain, single-night stays in Jaca, Montserrat, and Barcelona, and the final three nights in Rome.

Meals include a continental breakfast daily, a welcome dinner in Loyla, en route lunches on Aug. 3 and Aug. 6, and a farewell dinner in Rome. Other trip features include airport transfers in Spain and Rome and private, guided sightseeing excursions with local guides, both via deluxe motor coach. Prices per person based on double occupancy with luggage, porterage, road, and local taxes are $3,549 based on 15 paying passengers, $3,249 based on 20 paying passengers, and a $400 single room supplement.

The planned itinerary:

• July 29: Depart Chicago.
• July 30: Arrive in Bilbao where a tour manager will meet the group and visit the Guggenheim museum en route to a hotel or guest house, followed by the welcome dinner.
• July 31: Visit to Loyola Castle, birthplace of Ignatius of Loyola. Tour the diorama and Room of Conversion. A half day of reflection and Mass in the Room of Conversion at the Jesuit retreat center, with overnight in Loyola.
• Aug. 1: Morning visit to the Basilica and grounds of Loyola Castle followed by an afternoon trip through Basque country. Stops include the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu which Ignatius visited after his conversion, Mass there, and an overnight in Loyola.
• Aug. 2: Depart to Jaca with a guided visit of Pamplona and the Xavier Castle en route, with an overnight in Jaca.
• Aug. 3: Depart to Monsterrat with a guided sightseeing in Manresa en route, and a guided visit in Montserrat with Mass.
• Aug. 4: Depart to Barcelona with a guided sightseeing of Barcelona including Sagrada Familia.
• Aug. 5: Depart Barcelona for Rome with a guided sightseeing tour en route to accommodations.
• Aug. 6: A full day of guided sightseeing in Rome including Ignatian apartments, Church of the Gesu, Collegio Romano, Gregorian University, the Germanicum, and Church of St. Ignatius. Lunch in a restaurant included.
• Aug. 7: Free day and farewell dinner.
• Aug. 8: Return flight to Chicago.

For more information or a reservation, call: (414) 224-7564

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