Pilgrimage to Poland and Prague with Kim Zember, Jackie Francois Angel, and Fr. Edwin Leonard

Depart on an overnight flight to Krakow. Dinner and breakfast are served on the flight. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy or Business Class upgrades are available upon request.

Upon arrival in Krakow, we are greeted by our English-speaking tour manager and assisted to our motor coach. We drive to the mountain area of Zakopane. Following Mass, we settle into our hotel. Then enjoy a welcome drink before our meeting in the hotel lobby at 6 PM for an introduction to our group leaders and the other pilgrims. Dinner and overnight in Zakopane. (Welcome dinner) *Program on this day may change depending on flight time.

Following breakfast, we make our way to the Sanctuary of the Holy Virgin of Fatima, a chapel constructed in 1999 in gratitude for Pope John Paul II’s survival from an assassination attempt. Here we celebrate Mass. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. We continue our tour with a cable car ride to Gubalowka for a stunning view of the Tatra Mountains. After a rafting experience, we return to Zakopane for a folklore show and dinner accompanied by wine at a local restaurant. Overnight in Zakopane. (B.L. Special dinner)

After breakfast and a leisurely morning, we depart the mountainous area driving to central Poland and the town of Częstochowa. En route, we stop at Tyskie Brewery for a taste of local beer. Częstochowa is a place known to many people worldwide, primarily due to the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the icon of the Black Madonna, which is located in the monastery of the Pauline Fathers at Jasna Góra. We celebrate Mass in this sacred spot. Dinner and overnight in Częstochowa. (B.L.D)

We have a morning at the Shrine of the Black Madonna. Tradition tells us that Saint Luke painted the icon on a tablet manufactured by Saint Joseph for the Holy Family that was taken from Jerusalem to Constantinople and given to Princess Anna, wife of Vladimir of Kyiv. After Prince Ladislaus founded the Jasna Gora Monastery in 1382, he entrusted the care of the Icon to the Hungarian Pauline monks who lived there. The icon is known as the Black Madonna because the faces and hands of the Virgin and Child are dark. The slash marks on Our Lady’s face were likely committed during a robbery and attack on the monastery by iconoclasts. The defense of Jasna Gora in 1655 during the Swedish invasion was a monumental point in Polish history. When King John Casimir made his vows in 1656, he enthroned Our Lady of Jasna Gora as Queen of Poland. She is beloved by the Polish people, and St. John Paul II entrusted his pontificate to Mary as Our Lady of Czestochowa under the motto of Totus Tuus. We attend Mass and have time for personal prayer. Following lunch in a local restaurant, we drive to Krakow for time at leisure and overnight. (B.L.D)

This morning we drive to Wieliczka, Europe’s oldest salt mine, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site. The mines are a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground chambers and decorated chapels carved out of salt, including the famous Chapel of St. Kinga. We celebrate Mass at St. John Paul II Chapel before continuing to Krakow, where there is free time for lunch. After lunch, we proceed to Wawel Hill to see Wawel Royal Castle (exterior view) and visit the Wawel Cathedral, one of the most beautiful Renaissance residences in central Europe. Continue to Krakow’s Old Town to see the main Market Square, St. Mary’s Church, Cloth Hall, and City Hall Tower. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Krakow. (B)

This morning, we visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which was a popular pilgrimage place for Pope St. John Paul II when he was a young man. On the slope of the hill and the valley is an architectural “Way of the Cross” of 40 chapels set on the surrounding hills. We continue to Wadowice, the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, and visit his childhood home, which is now a museum. We visit the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, where he was baptized and where we celebrate Mass. Lunch is at leisure. Return to Krakow for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

This morning, the day starts with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica, also known as the Church of the Dominicans where we celebrate Mass. Next we visit Auschwitz. In this Nazi concentration camp, St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) faced martyrdom and St. Maximilian Kolbe died in the Death Block from starvation after volunteering his life for that of a fellow prisoner. In the afternoon we have time at leisure to explore Krakow, visit some of the many beautiful churches in the city or the excellent 19th century Polish Art Gallery or the PRL Museum of Communism and the Jewish Ghetto. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Krakow. (B)

This morning, we depart for Lagiewniki, the capital of the Divine Mercy, where we see St. Faustina’s convent chapel and her tomb. We enjoy a tour led by one of the sisters. Here, the message of the Divine Mercy originated, which Christ himself wished to pass on to our generation through the mediation of St. Faustina. The Sanctuary houses the grace-working image of the Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina. We visit the newly constructed Shrine of Divinity dedicated by Pope St. John Paul II on his last visit to Poland in 2002. We celebrate Mass at the Shrine. Next, we visit the nearby St. John Paul II Have No Fear Center. We have free time for lunch and shopping before returning to Krakow. Dinner is at a local restaurant tonight. Over-night in Krakow. (B. Special dinner)

We drive this morning toward Prague, departing Poland for the Czech Republic. Enroute we stop in Brno for Mass, lunch, and to stretch our legs. Check into the hotel and enjoy dinner at leisure with an opportunity to explore the vibrant pub and restaurant scene in Prague. (B.L)

Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and often called the Paris of the East, Prague dazzles with its architecture and beautiful neighborhoods. We celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious and see the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Our waking tour includes the Charles Bridge to visit the Old Town, the Market Square, the Astronomical Clock, Wenceslas Square, and the Josefov - the Jewish Quarter. The rest of the afternoon, is at leisure to explore the city on your own and perhaps to visit the Hradcany Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and St. George Basilica. Tonight we enjoy farewell dinner in a local restaurant with music and dancing. Overnight in Prague. (B. Special dinner)

We depart for the USA and arrive stateside in the afternoon.