0607LH6 - Prague and Poland Pilgrimage 10 days from Tampa

Today, we depart from Tampa airport for our connecting flight to Prague. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast while aloft.

This morning, upon arrival in Prague, we are greeted by our Unitours Tour Manager as we board our motor coach to enjoy a delightful orientation tour of the city. Following a break for lunch on our own, the balance of the day is at leisure before our check-in at our hotel. We enjoy our “welcome” dinner. Overnight at our hotel.

Today, we begin our tour of Prague at Castle Hill and visit St. Vitus Cathedral with its tomb of St. Wenceslaus, as well as the head of St. Luke the Apostle. We also visit Wladislav Hall and Golden Lane before stopping to visit the famous Infant Jesus of Prague at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where we celebrate Mass, while there. Following a break for lunch on our own, we enjoy an afternoon tour of Prague with the Old Town with Astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, and the fabled Charles Bridge. We returned to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we depart Prague and journey to nearby Poland. On route we travel to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope St. John Paul II. We passed by the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Benedictine Monastery where the Holy Father often prayed and walked the Stations of the Cross. We stop for lunch on our own while in Wadowice and celebrate Mass in the parish church where the Holy Father was baptized. We then visit the museum in his small family home before continuing to Krakow. We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner and overnight.

Today, we celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Florian, where Pope St. John Paul II served as a curate, and where he lived while serving as the university chaplain. Afterwards, we meet our guide and begin our sightseeing tour. Our first stop is the courtyard of 16th century Royal Castle, and Wawel Cathedral, where generations of Polish Kings are buried. We then take a walking tour of the Old Town, visiting some of the treasures of this wonderful old city. We 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. We conclude our day as we make a brief stop at the Church of Corpus Christi, built to commemorate a Eucharistic miracle in 1345AD. Thieves had stolen a monstrance with a consecrated host from a village church in nearby Wawel. When they discovered the golden monstrance was not actually gold, they tossed it and the hosts in a nearby marsh. That evening area farmers reported a bright light shooting toward the sky from inside the marsh area. When the Bishop of Krakow heard this, he ordered a three day fast and then on the third day, entered the marsh and retrieved the monstrance with the hosts unbroken and still glowing from the previous night! After some free time for lunch on our own, the remainder of our day is leisurely. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, following morning Mass, we depart Krakow and travel to the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp with its somber Martyrdom Museum. Pope St. John Paul II visited the cell of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Auschwitz in June 1979 on his first visit to Poland after being named Pope. We return to Krakow to the “oldtown” section for lunch on our own and the afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at our hotel

Today, we board our motor coach for our ride to Czestochowa, where we make our way to the Pauline Fathers monastery complex of Jasna Gora to visit the famous Marian Shrine, the “Black Madonna”. Jasna Gora consists of a Gothic/Baroque church, a Baroque monastery and fortress. This is where the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa has been preserved. The “Black Madonna” is a painting of Our Lady which tradition tells us was painted by the apostle St. Luke on the top of a wooden table made by Jesus for his mother While here, we tour this shrine and celebrate Mass, enjoying ample time for private devotion, a stop for lunch on our own and to walk around the town. We return to Krakow for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we travel to Wieliczka, famous for its salt mines, which have been in operation for over seven centuries! We visit the upper levels of the mine, and view chapels with altar pieces and statutes all hand carved by devout Polish miners from the same salt. We celebrate Mass while there, if possible. On our return to Krakow, we visit nearby Lagiewniki to visit the newly built Basilica of the Divine Mercy, the home of St. Faustina’s tomb. While there, if Mass has not yet been celebrated, we celebrate Mass and visit the convent and spend some time with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Today, we travel south for our short ride to Zakopane. A wonderful area known for its parks and hiking trails in the Tatra mountains and National park. Our day gives us a chance to relax in God’s natural beauty, which surrounds us. We celebrate Mass at the National Shrine of Fatima in Krzeptowki. Once in Zakopane, we take the funicular to Mount Gubalowka for the best views of this magnificent Natural Wonder. Most of our day is free to do as we wish, with Fr. as our guide. We enjoy lunch on our own before returning to Krakow later in the afternoon. This evening, we celebrate our “farewell” dinner at one of Krakow’s Old Town restaurants, including a Polish folklore show immediately following dinner. Overnight at our hotel

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S., where we arrive later today with memories of a lifetime.