Home - St. John Paul II Poland Pilgrimage- September 9-18th, 2027

Experience a relaxing walking tour of Warsaw's Old Town including the Barbican, Market Square, St. John's Cathedral and the Royal Castle. We will view the historic Royal Route and Lazienki Park before departing for Niepokalanow where, the City of the Immaculate was founded by St. Maximillian Kolbe. We will celebrate a beautiful Mass here and explore the Sanctuary, learning about St. Maximillian Kolbe's deep consecration to Jesus through Mary. After lunch we will drive to Czestochowa for dinner and an overnight stay in the town. (B,L,D)

Today we visit the heart of Poland, the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in the Jasna Gora Monastery. The miraculous Black Madonna image is said to have been painted by St. Luke on a wooden table built by St. Joseph. We will celebrate Mass here and have time for prayer surrounded by walls filled with the walkers, crutches, and rosaries, of those who's prayers for healing were answered by devotion to Our Lady. Grab fresh local pierogis for lunch before we head down to Krakow to enjoy dinner and a restful night at the hotel. (B,D)

St. Pope John Paul II's beautiful city of Krakow awaits! We start the day following his footsteps from the Wawel Castle, and the Cathedral where he celebrated his first Mass. We will also visit the famous Jagiellonian University he attended before WWII and several other churches in the area, including St. Mary's and St. Stanislaus Kostka. We will celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Francis, and see the apartment he lived in with his father.

In your free time, we encourage you to visit the shops and local restaurants around Rynek Glovney, one of the grandest squares in Europe. You will find a church on nearly every corner in Krakow, it's why it is called "Little Rome". Dinner on your own in Krakow. (B,L)

Visit the birthplace and childhood home of JPII, Wadowice. Experience the peaceful, quaint square home to the breathtaking Basilica of the Presentation, where we will celebrate Mass. We will have the opportunity to see another apartment where he lived with his father, now a museum, and learn all about his life from Wadowice to Krakow to Rome. Trying his favorite dessert, a creamy cake called Kremowka, at a local shop is a must!

On our way home to Krakow, we stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a pilgrimage destination very near and dear to JPII's heart. The sanctuary combines elements of the site of Calvary in the Holy Land with Franciscan spirituality. Afterwards we return to Krakow for dinner at the hotel and some rest. (B,D)

Today we will visit Wieliczka, the oldest and most famous European salt mine, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will celebrate Mass in one of the chapels the miners carved out of salt. When we return to Krakow in the afternoon, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city.

Considering viewing the Jewish quarter, where some of the city's best food and shopping is. Be sure to stop in St. Joseph's church which you might mistake for the Disney castle. Dinner on your own in Krakow. (B,L)

With prayerful hearts we will journey to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. We will see the place where the senseless murder of so many people, including St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, took place. We will visit the Martyrs Museum, a Carmelite Convent established to make reparation for the Holocaust, and a nearby church depicting art of St. Maximillian Kolbe. We will stop for Mass at the Franciscan Monastery. After a long and heavy day, we will celebrate Polish life and culture with a comforting meal at a traditional Polish restaurant. (B,D)

We will explore the Divine Mercy Shrine where St. Faustina Kowalska is buried. In her convent's beautiful chapel is the original Divine Mercy image. We will have an opportunity to meet one of the sisters who will give us a talk on St. Faustina's life. Mass and a holy hour will be at the Shrine. In the afternoon we will visit the other side of the complex to see the John Paul II "Have No Fear" Center, with another historic museum to explore and a Basilica to enjoy.

Enjoy sharing favorite moments of the trip with new lifelong friends at a special farewell dinner at a local Krakow restaurant. (B,D)