Mission Trip
To Cuba

Anyone age 18-80 can participate. Young people below the age of 18 are welcome with one of both of their parents.

Payment Schedule:

Payment 1: $500.00 non-refundable down payment.

Payment 2: $1500.00

Payment 3: $1500/$1700

The cost of the Pilgrimage is $3,500 double occupancy, $3700 single occupancy.  Emergency cancellations will be handled on a case-by-case basis but will only be considered if the participant has experienced a severe issue such as a health problem that prevents them from participating on the trip or death of a close relative. No refunds for participants who change their minds or decide not to participate on the trip for any other reason. All payments are to be made by check or by credit card. Checks should be made out to FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY UNION and mailed in care of Br. Paul O’Keeffe at his address provided at the last page of this document. Participants may also pay by credit card by accessing the FMU website here. 

Travel insurance is not part of the fee charged for this trip. In the event that a participant experiences a health emergency or some other emergency that prevents them from attending the trip Br. Paul O’Keeffe must receive notification as soon as possible. Franciscan Missionary Union is unable to provide full refunds due to contractual agreements, however we will help participants recover any and all recoverable expenses.
In the event that a Travel Warning is issued by the US State Department regarding travel to Italy, we will do our best to either change our itinerary in Italy to avoid the conflict areas or cancel the trip if necessary. Participants will be refunded any recoverable expenses

All participants are encouraged to purchase trip cancellation, interruption, or health insurance in the event of a personal or family illness or other unforeseen events. This insurance be purchased from any travel agent online, or from the travel agent that Franciscan Missionary Union will use to book your plane ticket. See Br. Paul for details on where to purchase travel insurance from Tomflies Travel Agency. Some companies may offer “Cancel for Any Reason” clauses at an additional cost that will allow you to cancel for any reason. When purchasing these products, we recommend you call the company to discuss any exclusions.

You are free to use any insurance company. Make sure the company you work with offers
cancellation and trip interruption coverage as a part of the package. Check with your college or university to see if they have coverage for participant travel or speak with Br. Paul about purchasing insurance through Tomflies Travel agency.

From Italy’s official government tourism board: Italy has no medical program covering U.S. and Canada citizens. Therefore, U.S. and Canadian tourists are advised to take out an insurance policy before traveling. Most travel insurance policies include some kind of medical coverage.

The information below addresses passport requirements for U.S. and Canadian citizens.
Citizens of other countries living in the U.S. should contact Br. Paul O’Keeffe for further information. You will need a passport with at least six (6) months validity after your date of arrival in Italy.

When you apply and receive your new or renewed passport, sign it on the designated page opposite your picture to validate it. Please send us a photocopy of this page after signing. Make sure you also have a photocopy of your passport for yourself to keep with you during the trip but separate from your passport. It is also a good idea to leave a photocopy with a family member or friend at home.

Please provide one electronic copy of your passport to Bro. Paul immediately after signing up for the trip.

U.S. citizens may enter Italy for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a Visa. This information addresses entry requirements for U.S. citizens residing in the United States. U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. should contact Br. Paul O’Keeffe for further information. If you are a citizen of a country other than the U.S., check with your country’s consulate for visa and entry requirements. Br. Paul O’Keeffe will assist you in reviewing information, but the responsibility for obtaining and paying for proper documentation is yours.

Your air travel is included in the cost of the price and will be arranged for out of the largest metropolitan area closest to your home/school. We will use the most convenient connections, efficient routing, and lowest fares possible. Some cities have limited service that may result in multiple connections or long layovers. If you have special travel needs or would like a flight upgrade or to arrange to collect points please contact Br. Paul O’Keeffe.

It is essential that the name on your travel documents be identical to your name as it appears on your passport. If there is a discrepancy, you could be delayed or required to purchase another ticket on your own. Please check your ticket as soon as you receive it and contact Br. Paul directly if there is any discrepancy. In the event that changes need to be made to the itinerary due to illness, strikes, terrorism, weather, or other causes, these changes will be made to ensure the wellbeing of all participants. Additional expenses, if any, will be the responsibility of the participant, although Br. Paul will make every effort to minimize such expenses.

Packing Tips: Pack comfortable, modest clothing. Cotton slacks, neat blue jeans, t-shirts without logos and button-down shirts are appropriate – sweat suits, athletic gear, and tank tops or any other revealing clothing are not encouraged for this trip.

All women going on the trip should be aware that bare shoulders, conspicuous cleavage or skirts above the knee cannot be worn in churches in Italy and prevent you from entering them. Bring a light sweater, lighter jacket or a fleece jacket as the temperature can be cooler at night.

Wear comfortable walking shoes or sneakers for walking. No high heels or dress shoes as most road surfaces are paved with in cobble stones making walking difficult to navigate in such footwear. Rome’s weather in October is generally mild with temperatures ranging from 75° – 55°.

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sweater, or a light jacket
• Rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella
• Conservative outfit for church visit
• Toiletries – items such as tampons, mouthwash, and disposable razors are relatively easy to obtain in Italy.  However, you may find it more convenient to bring your own.
• A refillable water bottle.
• Power bars or other high protein snacks, especially for vegetarians.
• Small backpack for items you will need for everyday use.
• Reading material
• Medications – most common over-the-counter medications such as Dramamine, Monistat, and Pepto-Bismol are available in Italy.
• Sun protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
• Euros, dollars, credit cards and/or debit card (travelers checks are no longer accepted in Italy)
• Travel clock, watch, or another timepiece.
• Ear plugs (if you are a light sleeper)
• Photography supplies – camera, extra batteries, and electricity converters to charge batteries, smart phones etc.
• Small flashlight & extra batteries (for dark streets, rural areas).
• Money belt or neck pouch to hold valuables.
• Moist towelettes and/or hand sanitizer.
• European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets/points. (See Electrical Current under 7.)
• Passport and photocopy of the photo page (packed separately).
• All the cloths you need (there will be no places to do laundry and our accommodations do not have laundry service.)

We will be using various airlines to get the best value for travel arrangements to Italy. We urge you to follow the standard luggage requirements of the airline with which we will be traveling. Carry-on and other guidelines can be found on the website of your air carrier. The total weight of checked luggage should be no more than 50 pounds for and 12 pounds for your carryon. Any weight overage will be paid for by the participant and not by the Franciscan Missionary Union. We will be traveling by airconditioned minivans in Assisi and Rome and will be walking while in the city of Assisi and part of Rome. You are allowed to pack only one large, soft-covered bag and one small carry-on, plus a purse, camera case or backpack. Pack as lightly as you can. In general, if you cannot comfortably walk five city blocks with all of your gear, you have packed too much. You may want to pack a small tote bag or collapsible suitcase in your luggage for souvenirs you will acquire during your trip.

The Italian climate is similar to weather on the west coast of the United States. It is generally warm and sunny with cooler nights. Please consult weather apps and online weather sources for the current weather in Italy for the dates when we will be traveling.

Of course, how much you bring will depend on your personal spending habits. Remember that all meals and program expenses are included in the cost of your trip.  Most participants find that $300 to $500 is sufficient spending money for a ten-day pilgrimage. Credit cards are accepted all over Italy. If you wish to bring Euros you might consider purchasing them from your bank at home or withdrawing them from an ATM.  You can also purchase Euros at the airport however the exchange rate is often very low, and the fee can be rather high. The official currency in Italy is the EURO.

As of December 2018, 1 Euro is about $1.16. NOTE: Rates of exchange fluctuate constantly so check the rate before changing your money.

ATM’s are available in many parts of Rome with several in Assisi (known as Bancomats) – ensure you inform your bank before traveling and be aware you may be charged for cash withdrawals. It is advisable to exchange some cash before arriving in Rome.

Credit and Debit Cards: Most establishments accept credit cards. Italy only accepts credit or debit cards with chip technology. 5

Important: Check with your credit card company to see if they charge you an international transaction fee. Visa and Master Card charge a processing fee on international transactions and most card-issuing banks add their own fee on top of that.

Participants and leaders will stay at the local monasteries and hotels located within a 10-minute walk from the town center. Meals will be taken at the Convent guest houses and at local restaurants. In Rome participants and leaders will be staying at the Domus Helena near St. John Lateran and the Colosseum. Meals will be taken at the Convent guest houses and at local restaurants.

Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts.

If you want to use American electrical devices in Italy, you’ll need a plug adapter and a power converter. Plug adapters are the interfaces between the American flat-pronged plug and Italy’s two (or three) round-prong socket. These allow you to plug your electrical device into the Italian wall socket, but they do not convert the electricity to the American 110 volts. If your appliance is designed to run only on 110-120 volts, you are likely to see smoke if not fire if you do not use a power converter. You will need a step-down power converter or transformer to safely step the voltage down from 220 to 110.

You can get along with just a plug converter for many of today’s small electrical devices designed to run on dual voltages. Devices like this include most laptops and phones, most recently produced battery chargers, and many small, electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel. You can check the back of the device or the "power brick" for the electrical input specifications.

Review your vaccinations: Check with your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding recommended vaccinations for travel to Italy. Make sure you are up to date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. You may call the CDC at 404/332-4559 or visit their Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/

Bring enough medical/health supplies. If you take a prescription or medication, make sure you bring enough to last your entire trip, including a possible day or two of delay. Be prepared, and bring medical and health supplies for potential problems. Wash hands: Wash your hands with soap whenever possible or use hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.

Food and water standards are similar to those in the United States. Most travelers do not need to take special food or water precautions beyond what they normally do at home. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. 6 Be prepared for a lot of walking. If a health condition makes strenuous walking a concern, please communicate your limitations with your group leader and the chaperones.

Sickness: If you get sick while traveling, please let Br. Paul know right away. This will help to identify problems with food and water, and help to get better or help arrange a visit to a medical clinic if necessary.

Hepatitis A: According to the CDC, travelers to Italy can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Italy. Talk to your doctor to see if the hepatitis A vaccine is right for you.

We will not hesitate to cancel or end a trip should something occur that would make it appear to be unsafe to travel to a specific part of Italy.

If all participants follow these guidelines, it means less inconvenience for each individual and the entire group and less work for our staff. Please read these guidelines carefully and be familiar with them before your departure.

Crime levels are generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime (particularly bag snatching and pickpocketing) in the big city centers, such as Rome. Be aware that thieves can use a variety of methods to distract you. Be particularly vigilant in crowds and never leave your valuables unattended.

By law you must be able to show some form of identification at all times. In most cases a photocopy of the data page of your passport should suffice, but you may be asked to accompany the police to collect the original document, or to produce it within 12 hours.

You should be aware that in some Italian towns and cities you may be fined for dropping litter and in some towns or cities it is an offense to sit on monument steps or to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of main churches and public buildings.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or for other callers, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Website https://it.usembassy.gov/visas/

Bring a small lock for your bag. You should also bring a money belt that can be hidden under
your clothes in which to keep your money and important documents.
Please do not bring flashy jewelry. Any expensive jewelry or watches, or any that looks
expensive, should be left at home.

Dos:

• Listen carefully to all safety information during your in-country orientation.
• Keep a copy of your passport with you at all times, inside your clothing if possible; you
  may leave your passport at our accommodations while out on tour.
• Stay close together as a group when you are out in public and always travel in groups of
  two or more.
• Be careful about what you say in public, as many people will understand English.
• Speak at a moderate volume; North Americans tend to speak in louder voices so be
  mindful of this fact.
• Be respectful of others—especially those you disagree with; don’t be afraid to ask
  difficult questions, but do it in a non-confrontational manner.

Don’t:

• Leave suitcases, bags, or purses unattended—even for a minute!
• Handle large amounts of money in public. Know how much you have and where it is.
• Wear anything expensive looking- watches, jewelry, sunglasses etc. Crime levels are
  generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime (particularly bag snatching and
  pickpocketing) in the big city centers, such as Rome.
• Disclose the tentative schedule or names of resource persons and groups of which you
  may be aware. This information should not be given either to friendly strangers to
  other resource persons on the program, or to anyone outside of your group. If you want
  to ask someone about information provided by another resource person/organization,
  find a way to do this without mentioning the other person/organization (e.g. I read
  before I came that…)

Your group will have an orientation session upon arrival in Italy. You will receive additional
information and have the opportunity to ask questions at that time. In the meantime, if you
have any questions about the information above, call Br. Paul.

The use, possession, transport, or purchase of “controlled substances” (i.e., illegal drugs) by a trip participant carries significant risks and penalties for the participant, the entire group, and the reputation of your school and your trip leaders and chaperones.

A participant who uses illegal drugs while on this trip will be sent home at his or her own expense. If the participant is detained or arrested, legal officials in the site of the arrest (U.S. or foreign country) likely will not permit travel leaders or chaperones to contact or assist the detained person in any way. Your school and Br. Paul’s responsibility for the participant ends at the time of detention or arrest for drug violations.

United States law prohibits the transport of illegal drugs across its borders. Also, U.S. law does not protect U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, or others traveling abroad who violate foreign drug laws. The laws that prevail are those of the country in which the law was broken.

Please reference the U.S. State Department’s Travel Warning on Drugs Abroad for more information https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/drugs.html The police and customs officials have the right to search your luggage for drugs. In many countries local laws make no distinction between hard and soft drugs. United States laws DO NOT apply to Americans abroad who violate foreign laws.

Once you are overseas, you are subject to the same penalties for drug violations as the nationals of the country you are visiting.

As participants on this pilgrimage we are committed to building long-lasting relationships with the communities in our host countries. As part of that commitment we have a policy of not giving gifts or money, no matter how small or inexpensive, to people on the streets. In Italy the majority of people living on the street are gypsies from Eastern Europe. In Italy they are known as “Romma”, not to be confused with “Romani” which is the word in Italian for the citizens of Rome. The Roma population can be very aggressive in their begging and in their efforts to relieve you of your valuable items or money. Please do not interact with these people as unfortunately they do not have your best interest at heart.

Regardless of the intentions, the practice of gift giving can lead to ill feelings among both givers and receivers. It also reinforces the stereotype of North Americans as patronizing, wealthy foreigners. If you wish to share something with the people you meet, we suggest you bring postcards, photos or mementoes from your home community and family and that you have enough to give to everyone in a group you may encounter.

Due to the relatively short duration of your pilgrimage, friends and family should not expect to have regular contact with you either through post, email, but they may be able to make phone calls if your cell phone has service. If you’ need to make calls back to the United State you will need to use your cell phone, or try an online calling service from a computer or a phone with an international calling plan. For more information, see website: http://www.wikihow.com/Call- the-United-States-From-Italy

For more information please contact:

Br. Paul O’Keeffe, OFM
St. Anthony Shrine
100 Arch Street Boston, MA 02110

pokeeffe@thefranciscans.org
Cell: 240-393-0532