Saint Joseph's University

President Cheryl A. McConnell invites you to join trustees and university leaders on a pilgrimage to northeast Spain.  Saint Joseph’s draws on a rich legacy of Jesuit education and mission rooted in the visionary life and work of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  We will travel to places that are evocative of pivotal moments in St. Ignatius’ journey and vocation.  We begin in Loyola – at the castle where he was born and raised and where he convalesced after being wounded in battle, reading stories about the lives of the saints.  We will visit Pamplona where he was wounded and go to another nearby castle – in Xavier – where St. Francis Xavier grew up.  A moving moment will be our time in Montserrat where St. Ignatius laid down his sword and chose a life of pilgrim rather than soldier.  Nearby, at Manresa, we will visit the place where St. Ignatius began to sketch out the ideas that would form the Spiritual Exercises.  Our pilgrimage ends in Barcelona at Santa Maria del Mar (the people’s basilica where St. Ignatius begged) and at the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s iconic basilica).  Throughout, we will celebrate liturgy at historic venues. We will enjoy first class accommodations and wonderful food; but more importantly, share in opportunities to reflect on our mission and enjoy companionship with one another. 

Program Itinerary:

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Participants will make their own flight arrangements in order to arrive in Bilbao today.  Most will need to depart the USA on Monday, March 24.  There are good connections to Bilbao from major European hubs.  Participants will make their way to the city center and the designated hotel. The tour manager will be in the hotel lobby in the afternoon and facilitate check in.  At 5 PM, walk to nearby Deusto University for a welcome liturgy followed by dinner at a local restaurant.  Overnight Bilbao.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Breakfast at leisure at the hotel.  About 9 AM – we will travel to Loyola (Azpeitia) – 1 hour from Bilbao.  This is the birthplace of St. Ignatius and opens a window into the live and times of this visionary man.  We will visit Loyola Castle and celebrate Mass in the Conversion Chapel.  There will be some free time to enjoy the Shrine. There will be a light lunch at a local restaurant.  Depending on interest, we will eithervisit St. Sebastian Church (where St. Ignatius was baptized) and the hospital where he ministered, and Our Lady of Olatz or we will go to the shrine of Aranzazu (in the nearby mountains) to visit a shrine whereSt. Ignatius prayed enroute to Barcelona.  We then continue to Pamplona for dinner/overnight.

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Breakfast at hotel.  In Pamplona, we will have an opportunity to visit the place where St. Ignatius was wounded.  We continue then to Xavier to visit the Castle where St. Francis Xavier was from.  It is a nice place/setting and evokes the times of the 1500s.  We will celebrate liturgy in Xavier.  We continue to Sos del Rey Catolico - a nice restored historic complex that is a parador.  We will have some opportunity to gather before dinner for reflection.  Overnight Zaragoza.

Friday, March 28, 2025
Breakfast at hotel.  Today, we travel to Montserrat.  On arrival – check into hotel.  Depending on timing, people can attend the sung mid-day prayer by a Boys Choir in the abbey church. Montserrat is set in a unique mountain area with a complex of hiking trails and small hermitages.  Late in the afternoon/early evening, we will celebrate liturgy in the Cambril Chapel, right behind the famous statue of the Black Madonna.  This was the place where St. Ignatius had a profound transformation of his life and laid down his sword.  We will gather for some reflection and discussion before dinner at the hotel.  Overnight Montserrat.

Saturday, March 29, 2025
Breakfast at hotel.  Depending on time/interest, provide more free time in Montserrat this morning.  We then travel to Manresa in the early afternoon to visit the Cave of St. Ignatius (where his prayer and reflection laid the foundations for the Spiritual Exercises).  We will celebrate liturgy here and then continue to Barcelona.  Later in the day, travel to Manresa to visit the Cave of St. Ignatius (where he began formulating ideas for the Spiritual Exercises).  Have Mass there.  We will then travel to Barcelona. This evening, we will have an evening at leisure for people to explore on their own.  Overnight Barcelona.

Sunday, March 30, 2025
Breakfast at hotel.  This morning, we will visit Santa Maria Del Mar (a place St. Ignatius begged). The church was always considered a church of the people - set near the port. We will celebrate liturgy here.  Depending on interest, visit the Jesuit Sacred Heart Church (with St. Ignatius’ sword).  We will have a guided visit Sagrada Familia – the iconic Guadi basilica.  There can be some free time to enjoy Barcelona at leisure.   We will gather at a coastal restaurant that specializes in paella to celebrate our pilgrimage.  Overnight Barcelona.

Monday, March 31, 2025
Breakfast.  Our program concludes.  

 

Inclusive Features:

6-nights accommodations in a centrally located hotels, breakfast daily, one lunch with limited beverages at a local restaurant in Azpeitia, five dinners with limited beverages at the hotels/local restaurants throughout the program, local transportation via deluxe motorcoach, a full-time local tour manager and guide, and entrances and guided visits per the itinerary

Land Only Program Prices:

Excludes airfare and airport transfers

$3675 per person based on double occupancy
$750 supplement for single occupancy

Please note: If you have selected double occupancy but no roommate is available due to uneven numbers or if your roommate should cancel you will be in a single room and responsible for the single room supplement.

All prices listed are discounted for payment by check. All program prices are based on availability of services at the time registration material is received; currency exchange rates in effect April 19, 2024 —and on 2024 land tariffs—and are subject to change. All services are provided subject to Illume’s Conditions and Clauses.

The program prices will be reviewed before the invoices for the final payment are mailed, and will reflect the current prices.

Program Registration:

With questions about the program, please contact:

Sarah Quinn
squinn@sju.edu 
610-660-1230

With questions about the registration form or deposit payments, please contact:

illume
info@travelillume.com
617-367-6757 x128

Step 1: Complete the online Event Registration Form by July 12, 2024:

EVENT REGISTRATION FORM

Step 2: Submit your $1000 deposit to illume by July 12, 2024.

Checks should be made payable to illume.

Please include the program number 25.10664 on the memo line. 

You will receive a Welcome E-mail from illume after July 12, 2024. You will also receive a link to add optional Travel Insurance/Protection to your program at that time.

Second nonrefundable deposit of $1500 per person due not later than September 15, 2024

Balance of payment due not later than: December 5, 2024

Note: Any changes to the program will be outlined in the final documents which you will receive 3 weeks prior to departure.

Program No. 25.10664