This holy pilgrimage begins at St. Paul with the 6:30 AM Mass, during which a special pilgrim’s blessing will be given to our group. Following Mass, we board our deluxe motorcoach and depart on the scenic drive to our nation’s capital with a stop for lunch en route. Our first pilgrimage site will be a visit to Emmitsburg, Maryland. Upon arrival, we will visit the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, built in honor of the first U.S.-born saint. We will tour the grounds of the shrine and pray in front of the tomb of Mother Seton. Our visit will also include the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the oldest replica in the United States of the original grotto in Lourdes, France, where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. The shrine was built 13 years after the apparition. We continue our journey to our hotel with time to check in and freshen up, followed by a festive group welcome dinner. Overnight in Washington, D.C. (D)

Following breakfast, we will make our way to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in North America. While here, we will celebrate Mass and participate in a guided tour. Our tour will include visits to chapels on the crypt level and the great upper church and provides information about the history of the Shrine, the architecture, and the sacred artwork. We will view the magnificent mosaics ornamenting the chapels and the domes in the great upper church, as well as several majestic sculptures depicting Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and many saints. Next, we will board our bus and visit the nearby St. John Paul II National Shrine. While here, we will visit the fascinating museum of Pope Saint John Paul II, housing countless relics of one of the greatest heroes of the twentieth century. Next we will visit the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America where we will visit its famous memorial church and gardens. Inside the church are a series of chapels modeled after Christian shrines in the Holy Land, including a replica of the most sacred shrine in Christendom, the aedicule or Holy Sepulchre of Christ in Jerusalem. After a spiritually powerful day, we transfer back to our hotel to rest, later joining together for our festive group dinner. Overnight in Washington, D.C. (B, D)

After breakfast, we will board our bus for Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, D.C. Just blocks from the White House, this was the famous location of the funeral of President John Kennedy, the nation’s first Catholic president. After Mass, we will visit Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery and the largest cemetery in the United States. Here many national heroes are entombed. We will walk to see the tomb of the unknown soldier. After lunch, we will have a free afternoon on the National Mall, being let off near the Jefferson Memorial. We will take a casual walk that will lead us to the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the National World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument. There will then be free time to visit the National Gallery of Art, with its collection of Renaissance and Christian art (free entrance admission). In the evening, we will board our bus for our transfer back to our hotel. We conclude the evening with a festive group dinner. Overnight in Washington, D.C. (B, D)

Following breakfast, we will board our bus and journey to the city center for Mass at a local church followed by a guided tour at the Museum of the Bible. Here, we will find immersive exhibits, ancient scrolls, and rare Bibles, including an exhibit with rare items from the Vatican Archives and Museums. Our guided tour will take us to a re-created village of Nazareth, the hometown of our Lord, as it was during the first century AD. We will meet villagers, learn about their economy, culture, daily life, and religious practices. Afterwards, we will enjoy a dedicated free afternoon where we can explore the nearby area. We encourage pilgrims to visit the Smithsonian National Museums, found only 5-minutes away on foot. Visit the inspiring Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum or the informative Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History or the relaxing and beautiful United States Botanic Gardens, all offering free admission. We conclude our afternoon by boarding our bus, transferring back to our hotel, and enjoying a fantastic group dinner. Overnight in Washington, D.C. (B, D)

After breakfast and hotel check out, we will board our bus and make our way into the city where we will participate in the 9 AM Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Following Mass, we will board our bus and depart on our journey home, stopping en route for lunch. Our pilgrimage concludes with our return to St. Paul in Westerville in the evening. (B)