We begin our morning with breakfast at the hotel, then board the bus and travel to one of the most extraordinary Catholic sites in the United States: St. Anthony Chapel & Shrine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Home to the largest collection of religious relics outside of the Vatican, St. Anthony Chapel offers pilgrims a powerful encounter with the communion of saints. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the chapel, followed by time for personal prayer and reflection, and an opportunity to visit the gift shop and learn more about this sacred space.

After departing Pittsburgh, we journey east toward Maryland, stopping along the way for lunch. In the early afternoon, we arrive at our hotel in Rockville, Maryland, where pilgrims can check in and enjoy a short rest before an exciting evening ahead.

Later in the afternoon, we head into Washington, D.C. for dinner together.

As night falls, we will experience one of the highlights of the pilgrimage: a guided “Monuments by Moonlight” tour of Washington, D.C. Seeing the nation’s memorials illuminated after dark offers a moving reflection on faith, freedom, sacrifice, and the Christian roots woven into our nation’s history.

We begin our morning with breakfast, then board the bus and travel to one of the most inspiring Catholic sites in the United States: the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. As the largest Catholic church in the country, the Basilica offers pilgrims a profound encounter with the beauty and majesty of our faith. We will celebrate private Mass, followed by an overview tour and time for personal prayer and reflection in the chapels highlighted during the tour.

After departing the Basilica, we will enjoy lunch in the Shrine Cafeteria before traveling a short distance to the John Paul II National Shrine. Here, we will have a guided tour, an spend time in prayer.

In the late afternoon, we will travel to Arlington National Cemetery, a place of honor and remembrance, where we will see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Kennedy Eternal Flame, and Arlington House, taking time for prayer and reflection among the nation’s heroes.

We conclude our day with dinner at Guapo’s Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, enjoying fellowship, fun, and a relaxed meal together before returning to the hotel.

We begin our morning with breakfast, then depart for downtown Washington, D.C. Our day opens at Old St. Patrick’s Church, one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the nation and a lasting witness to the endurance of the Catholic faith in America. After time for prayer and a brief introduction to the church’s rich history, we continue on foot to Ford’s Theatre—forever marked as the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. Pilgrims will tour the theatre and museum exhibits that preserve the story of that tragic night and the nation’s response, and we will also hear a presentation by a National Park Service ranger to place these events in their full historical context.

From there, we spend late morning and early afternoon on the National Mall, with time to explore the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Pilgrims will walk through exhibits that tell the story of the American people, including founding-era history, national treasures, presidential history, and cultural milestones that shaped our nation, before enjoying lunch on your own in the museum cafeteria.

In the afternoon, we visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where pilgrims will tour independently through sobering and powerful exhibits that witness to the dignity of the human person, the consequences of hatred, and the importance of remembrance.

As the day turns toward evening, we travel to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle for time of quiet prayer followed by Holy Mass. We conclude the day with dinner before returning to the hotel.

We begin our morning with breakfast at the hotel, then travel to the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Here we will celebrate Holy Mass, pray at her tomb, and take part in a guided tour of the shrine, including the museum and historic homes that tell the story of the first American-born saint and her legacy of faith, education, and service.

From there, we continue on to Gettysburg, where we will enjoy lunch at the Visitor Center before embarking on a guided battlefield bus tour. This powerful experience brings to life the events of the Battle of Gettysburg and invites reflection on the sacrifice, courage, and cost of freedom. Following the tour, pilgrims will have time to visit the museum and Cyclorama, which provide a vivid and immersive understanding of this pivotal moment in American history.

We conclude the day with dinner at Señor Tequilas, before returning to the hotel in Rockville for our final overnight stay in Maryland.

We begin our morning with Holy Mass at St. Mary Rockville, once a stop on the underground railroad, offering our day to the Lord before continuing our pilgrimage west. Following Mass, we travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania, for a fun and memorable visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World, where pilgrims will take part in the interactive Create Your Own Candy Bar experience, enjoy lunch, browse the shops, and ride the train tour of the factory!

In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Canton, Ohio, where we will gather for dinner at Fat Head’s Brewery. After dinner, we check in to our hotel for a well-earned night of rest before our final day of pilgrimage.

We begin our final morning with breakfast and hotel check-out, then board the bus for a short drive to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Canton, Ohio. Upon arrival, pilgrims are welcomed into a sacred atmosphere of silence and prayer as we participate in Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. Following Adoration, we will celebrate Holy Mass.

After this deeply prayerful start to our day, we board the bus and begin our journey home, traveling west toward Illinois.

In the afternoon, we stop at the beloved Das Dutchman Essenhaus for a late lunch/early dinner, enjoying a warm, hearty meal together.

Following our meal, we will continue the final leg of our journey, arriving back at St. Mary’s in Huntley in the early evening. With hearts full and spirits renewed, we return home grateful for the faith, freedom, friendships, and grace experienced.