Join Fr. John Starczewski for a memorable 3-day Catholic pilgrimage to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., May 28–30, 2027!
Home to more than 80 chapels and oratories honoring the Mother of God and representing peoples from every corner of the globe, the National Shrine reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the United States and the unity and universality of the Catholic Church. Built by generations of faithful American Catholics to honor the patroness of our nation—the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception — the National Shrine is affectionately referred to as America’s Catholic Church. You will have time for private prayer and shopping. This visit will be one you won’t soon forget. We will then continue south to Charlotte making a stop for lunch on your own. Arrival back in Charlotte at the parish late.
Cost: $1699 per person double occupancy
Need a single room? Single supplement is $399
Included in your cost:
Transportation on a coach bus
2 nights Hotel
Breakfast and dinner daily
All tours, entrance fees and tickets listed in the itinerary
Stipends to churches
Tips to local guides and drivers
Mass daily
Not included:
Travel insurance
Lunches
$400 non-refundable deposit is due at time of registration; Balance is due February 15, 2027
Friday, May 28, 2027
We will meet at the parish and board our coach bus as we set off for Philadelphia! We will make a stop along the way for lunch on your own. Upon arrival in Philadelphia we will celebrate a private Mass at the stunning St. Patrick Catholic Church along with a tour of this fascinating parish with an interesting history. From there we will check into our hotel. You will experience a wonderful group welcome dinner tonight. Overnight Philadelphia.
Saturday, May 29
After breakfast at your hotel, we will set off for the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul. This is the largest Catholic Church in Pennsylvania. The basilica hosted historic papal masses led by Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Francis in 2015. We will celebrate a private Mass here and have a tour. The tour will include going downstairs where you will find the glass reliquary containing the remains of Saint John Neumann, the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and the first American male canonized a saint. We will have time for private prayer to venerate this great saint and bring our petitions to him for his intercession. From there we will have lunch on your own. After lunch we will visit Independence Hall where the declaration of independence was signed! We will make a stop at the Liberty Bell for a great photo op before heading to Ronks, PA for a lovely group dinner before we experience a magical theater performance at the famous Sight & Sound Theater. After the show we will return to Philadelphia for dinner and overnight.
Sunday, May 30
After breakfast at your hotel, we will head south to Washington, DC. Upon arrival into this great city we will have a private Mass and a tour of the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The United States has long been considered the great melting pot, where people from many diverse lands have come to dwell. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is proud to reflect this rich heritage of America.
