The Best Of Pilgrimages To Poland

DAY 1
WARSAW, Dinner

Group’s arrival in Warsaw. Orientation walk along the Old Town with visit to Basilica of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Warsaw’s oldest church, site of the celebrations in the year of 1791 when Poland’s Constitution of May 3, the first constitution in Europe and only the second in the world was proclaimed. Walk along the Market Square and New Town.

DAY 2
WARSAW, Breakfast & Dinner

A morning visit to St. Stanislaw Kostka Church and lecture „The Catholic church in Poland under communism and in the transition to democracy”. Also visit the special exhibition devoted to Father Jerzy Popieluszko, one of the greatest church personalities in Poland murdered by the communists. Drive through the Royal Route with many historical monuments, aristocratic residences and churches, including a stop by the Holy Cross Church where Frederic Chopin’s heart is placed. Stop at the Pilsudski Square where you can see a specially designed cross that stands in the place where Pope John Paul II celebrated Holy Mass in 1979, during his first pilgrimage to Poland as a Pope. Afternoon drive to the Convent of Divine Mercy at Zytnia Street, which Faustina joined in 1924. Afterwards, drive to Walendow and Derdy to visit the Convent of Sisters of Divine Mercy where Faustina stayed in 1936.

DAY 3
WARSAW-PLOCK-GLOGOWIEC-CZESTOCHOWA, Breakfast & Lunch

Morning drive to Płock to visit the convent that Faustina joined in 1930. It is here where on February 22nd, 1931 Jesus appeared to her bringing the wonderful message of Mercy for all of the mankind. Asked to do so by the Lord, Faustina painted the picture of His Divine Mercy with the inscription „Jesus, I trust in You”. Afterwards, drive to Glogowiec where she was born and to church of Swinice Warckie, where she was baptized. Continue to Czestochowa to visit Jasna Gora Monastery. See the Black Madonna Shrine and the Treasury Room where you will see an impressive collection of many precious gifts received by the monastery throughout the ages. Walk along the fortification walls of the Pauline Monastery and the Way of the Cross.

DAY 4
CZESTOCHOWA-OSWIECIM-KRAKOW, Breakfast & Dinner

Morning departure for Krakow. En route stop in Oswiecim to see the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the biggest factory of death in the history of humanity and the silent witness of human tragedy. After arrival in Krakow tour of the city including the Old Town area with beautiful Market Square and the St. Mary’s Church famous for its wooden, glorious altar by Wit Stwosz. Visit also the Franciscan Church to see the most interesting Art-Nouveau stained-glass windows in the chancel and above the organ loft, the latter being regarded among the greatest in Poland. Stop at the St. Catherine’s Church for an organ concert.

DAY 5
KRAKOW-KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA-WADOWICE-KRAKOW, Breakfast & Lunch

Drive to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska that is lying among the colorful hills of the Wadowice Upland. From far away you may see the monastery complex of the Bernardine Father with the early baroque church of the Angelic Mother of God. South of the monastery there is famous imitation of Calvary path with chapels and shrines that all resemble the topography of Jerusalem. It covers the area of 300 hectares and attracts 1 million pilgrims annually. Afterwards, drive to Wadowice. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the house, now a museum, where Pope John Paul II was born in 1920. See the Wadowice Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, where he was baptized.

DAY 6
KRAKOW-LAGIEWNIKI, Breakfast & Dinner

Morning drive to Lagiewniki to visit the Blessed Sister Faustina Convent. Sister Faustina was the person whom Jesus appeared in 1931 bringing the wonderful message of Mercy for all of mankind. Asked to do so by the Lord, Sister Faustina painted the picture of His Divine Mercy with the inscription „Jesus I Trust in You”. Attend the Holy Mass at Sister Faustina Convent in Krakow. Drive back to Cracow to visit the Archdiocesan Museum that presents collections of sacred art borrowed from the treasuries of various churches in Krakow and the region. But the most interesting are the exhibitions in the rooms where Karol Wojtyla lived in 1951-1958, complete with furniture, private belongings and precious gifts received by John Paul II. Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 7 , KRAKOW, Breakfast

Departure.