0904LH4 - Catholic Poland Pilgrimage 10 days from Denver

Today, we depart our home city to connect with our overnight flight to Warsaw. We will be served dinner and breakfast aloft.

We arrive at Okecie International Airport, Warsaw. After clearing arrival formalities, we board our motor coach and make our way to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free time to explore on your own or just rest before gathering for dinner at our hotel and overnight.

Following breakfast we begin our morning sightseeing tour of Warsaw. We will visit Old Town, where each historic building has been painstaking and lovingly reconstructed after the destruction during WW II, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Memorial of the Warsaw Uprising, the Memorial of the Ghetto Heroes, Lazienki Park to view Chopin’s Monument, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, and the Royal Castle. In the afternoon, we attend Mass at St. Jacob’s Church. This is where Jesus said to Blessed Sister Faustina: “It’s here I called you, and not elsewhere.” Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning we will celebrate Mass at St. John’s Cathedral, Warsaw’s oldest architectural monument dating back to 1338 and rebuilt from the ruins of WW II. Following Mass, we will depart to Niapokalanow, home of the monastery built by St. Maximilian Kolbe. We will then travel to Glogowiec, the birthplace of Blessed Sister Faustina where Jesus appeared to her in l931 and requested she paint the picture of His Divine Mercy. From here we journey to Swinice Warckie to visit the church of St. Casimir. This historically rich parish is the baptism site for St. Faustina. At this parish, she received her first confession, and First Holy Communion. Our day ends in Uniejów where we stop for overnight.

After breakfast we drive for Lichen Stary and the Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen; one of the tallest and largest churches in the world. We continue for Kalisz, home of St. Joseph Shrine, one of the world’s oldest shrine dedicated to Jesus’ earthly father, that is also closely associated with a miracle that occurred in the concentration camp of Dachau. From here we visit Ostrow Wielkopolski, the hometown of Fr. Witold. Moving on to Czestochowa where we check in at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will visit the monastery complex of Jasna Gora to visit the Marian Shrine. Jasna Gora consists of a Gothic/Baroque church, a Baroque monastery and fortress. This is where the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa (Black Madonna) has been preserved. There will be time for private devotion and walk around the town. We continue for the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp with its Martyrdom Museum. St. John Paul II visited the cell of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Auschwitz in June 1979 on his first visit to Poland after becoming Pope. At the end of the day, we arrive at our hotel in Krakow for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Florian, where John Paul II served as a curate, and where he lived while university chaplain. Afterwards, we meet our guide and begin our sightseeing tour. We will visit Wawel Hill, which is the old seat of Polish kings also dating back to medieval times. It is topped with a Gothic and Renaissance castle with a courtyard. We will pass the monument commemorating the Polish and American hero, Kosiuszko. We then take a walking tour of Old Town, visiting some of the treasures of this wonderful old city. We will view the Town Hall Tower and the Cloth Hall, located on the same site since the 14th century, the 15th century Collegium Maius in the oldest university area and St. Mary's Church. Here we enjoy the ancient tradition of the "Hejnal" or bugle call from the Tower, which warned residents of the coming of an enemy. Our visit also includes Kazimierz, an old Jewish city with medieval roots which has preserved the original town plan. This afternoon, we visit Wieliczka, famous for its salt mine, which has been in operation for over 700 years. We will visit the upper levels of the mine, where will view chapels with altar pieces and statutes all hand carved by devout Polish miners. Return to Krakow for dinner and overnight.

Today we travel to the remote resort town of Zakopane. We will travel to the nearby mountaintop by cable car. We visit Our Lady of Fatima Sanctuary at Krzeptowki and Jaszczorowka Chapel, an architecturally distinct chapel that was visited many times by a youthful Karol Wojtyla, St. John Paul II. From here we continue our tour to the colorful, Krupowki Street, where you will have time to stroll, relax and shop. Today we will celebrate lunch at one of Zakopane typical old wooden hut style restaurants before returning to Krakow for overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast we depart Krakow and travel to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. En route we pass by the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Benedictine Monastery where St. John Paul II often prayed and walked the Stations of the Cross. In Wadowice, we celebrate Mass in the parish church where St. John Paul II was baptized and afterwards, we visit the museum in his small family home. Finally, on return, we visit the newly built Basilica of the Divine Mercy, the home of St. Sister Faustina. We will see the convent and visit the Sisters there. We will also see the JP2 Centre. Farewell dinner at one of Krakow Old Town restaurants. Overnight

Today we make our way home with memories for a lifetime.