ICON Ministry Presents: A Journey of Faith, History, and Discovery

ITINERARY

Day 1: Thursday, April 22 – Welcome to Malta

Upon arrival at Malta International Airport, be greeted with a warm welcome from your local Maltese Tour Manager. Known through the centuries as the “Rock of St. Paul,” Malta has long stood as a crossroads of civilizations and an enduring stronghold of Christian devotion. After collecting your luggage, transfer to your hotel. Celebrate Mass with Fr. Rob Galea, entrusting the days ahead to God’s guidance. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner to share in the spirit of the journey to come.

Day 2: Friday, April 23 – The Evangelist in Malta

Trace the footsteps of St. Paul on a day devoted to his dramatic arrival in Malta. Begin at St. Paul’s Bay, the traditional site of his shipwreck as recounted in Acts 27–28, where in 60 AD the Apostle’s unplanned landing forever changed the island’s spiritual destiny. Weather permitting, set sail toward St. Paul’s Island, pausing for a moment of Lectio Divina to reflect on his courage amid adversity. After lunch together, journey to Rabat, once home to thriving early Christian communities, and descend into its ancient catacombs before visiting St. Paul’s Grotto for a moving celebration of the Mass. The afternoon continues in Mdina, the “Silent City,” where prayer and reflection await inside its magnificent cathedral dedicated to St. Paul. Dinner at leisure.

Day 3: Saturday, April 24 – The Knights of St. John

Step into the world of the Knights Hospitaller, who transformed Malta into a Christian stronghold in 1565. Begin at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, home to treasured relics linked to the Apostle, for a celebration of the Mass. From there, experience the Malta Experience audiovisual journey near Fort St. Elmo, tracing the island’s history from prehistoric times through the age of the Knights and the trials of the Second World War, including the remarkable Operation Pedestal convoy that saved Malta from starvation in 1942. After time at leisure for lunch, visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Knights, where Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Beheading of St. John the Baptist awaits. Enjoy free time before a group dinner.

Day 4: Sunday, April 25 – Deepening Christian Roots

Begin the day in prayer at the Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, closely tied to Saint George Preca, Malta’s first canonized saint and a tireless champion of catechesis and faith formation. Continue to historic Vittoriosa, and celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Lawrence. Explore the Three Cities, with free time for lunch along the way. Glide across the Grand Harbour by boat for sweeping views of Malta’s mighty fortifications, including Fort St. Angelo, the Knights’ sixteenth-century headquarters.

Day 5: Monday, April 26 – A Place of Awe and Wonder

Discover the natural beauty and sacred history that define Malta. Begin at Ħaġar Qim, whose 5,000-year-old Neolithic temples rank among the oldest freestanding stone structures on Earth. Continue to the dramatic Dingli Cliffs, for a peaceful moment of morning reflection near the tiny chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. Visit the Rotunda of Mosta, celebrated as one of Europe’s largest unsupported domes and for the astonishing WWII bomb that pierced it during Mass yet never exploded, regarded as divine intervention. Celebrate Mass before lunch nearby. The afternoon visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa, an ancient Marian shrine.

Day 6: Tuesday, April 27 – A Place of Miracles and Healing

Sail by ferry to Gozo, for a day steeped in miracles and devotion. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu, where a nineteenth-century vision and countless healings have drawn the faithful ever since. Walk the Stations of the Cross along the peaceful hillside of Ta’ Għammar before continuing to Victoria, Gozo’s capital, where the Citadel and its stunning Cathedral of the Assumption await. The day closes with a Farewell Dinner, to reflect on the graces and memories shared throughout the pilgrimage.

Day 7: Wednesday, April 28 – Farewell to Malta

After breakfast and check-out, transfer to Malta International Airport for your return flight home, carrying with you the graces and memories of a truly sacred journey.

Itinerary is tentative and subject to change.