The Church in Poland exhibits tremendous resilience. During the Nazi occupation, leadership was scattered and religious activities severly restricted. But the Church rose to the occasion and became the social justice and activism mechanism that would ultimately survive the Nazis and communism.
Suffering from the harshness of World War I, Faustina's family struggled to survive. In 1925, Faustina entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. In 1931, she beheld a vision of Jesus in which he appeared with two rays coming from his heart--a ray of red and a ray of white. Our Lord told Faustina to paint of a picture of this, telling her that the red stands for His Blood and the white for water, both of which were shed by him "from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross.... Fortunate the one who will dwell in their shelter...." Jesus asked Faustina to seek a feast to be celeberate the Divine Mercy. Faustina remained adamant that this is what Our Lord asked. The message spread throughout Poland but was questioed by the Church. On Divine Mercy sunady, 2000, John Paul II canonized Faustina. He then made a pilgrimage to her tom where he declared, "The message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me..., in a sense it forms the image of my Pontificate."
After Faustina's death in 1938, war again appeared. During the Nazi occupation religious zeal and heroic martydom was revealed in the person of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Maximilian was born in 1894 and was ordained in 1918. In 1927, he with other Franciscans consecrated the monastery in Teresin as 'Niepokalanow', meaning 'The City of the Immaculate'. Maximilian expressed, this "'is a place chosen by Mary Immaculate and is exclusively dedicated to spreading her cult."
*Land only, double occupancy. Air can be inlcuded with additional cities for departure. Price does not include Travel Insurance that is highly recommended.
Airfare is for departure from New York. Alternate departure cities available. See drop down menu for examples.
In the late 20th century, Poland once again made landmark moves toward freedom. Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope, assuming the name John Paul II. Communism lost its stronghold and democracy prevailed. Following the footsteps of Faustina and Maximilian, John Paul was an advocate for the poor, a crusader against injustice and a man of supreme integrity. Upon his death, the cry of santo subito (Saint immediately!) resounded through St. Peter's Square, a testimony to the holy character of the pontiff. John Paul was beatified on May 1, 2001, Divine Mercy Sunday, the same day on which he himself had elevated St. Faustina to sainthood.
Itinerary Highlights (click to open)
Day 1 - USA - Warsaw
Make your way to your hometown airport where you will board your over-night flight(s) to Warsaw. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2 - Warsaw
Upon arrival in Warsaw Airport you will find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you will be greeted by your tour escort and/or driver. After a warm welcome to Poland, you will be escorted to your transportation. We begin our pilgrimage with Mass at St. James Church, where St. Faustina went when she arrived in Warsaw. This evening enjoy welcome dinner and a show at a local restaurant.
Day 3 - Warsaw
After breakfast, we visit all the landmarks of Warsaw: Old Town, Market Square, the Barbican, the Warsaw Ghetto monument, Lazienki Park, the Chopin statue, and the magnificently restored Royal Castle. We will visit and celebrate Mass at 39 Zytnia Street where Faustina entered the convent before returning to our hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.
Day 4 - Warsaw - Świnice Warckie - Niepokalanów - Częstochowa
After breakfast, we travel to Świnice Warckie to visit the parish church St. Casimir where St. Faustina was baptized Helen Kowalska. We continue to Niepokalanow where we will see a Franciscan Monastery founded by St. Maximillian Kolbe. We arrive in Częstochowa, the home of the greatest pilgrimage shrine in Poland - Our Lady of Częstochowa. We enjoy dinner at our hotel before retiring for the evening.
Day 5 - Częstochowa - Wadowice - Zakopane
We begin our day with Mass at Jasna Gora Monastery where the picture of the Black Madonna is located. We will have time to explore this most important places of religious worship. The tradition of pilgrimage to the monestary that goes back to the 14th-century and Pope John Paul II frequently visited throughout his life. We will have time to venerate the priceless treasures contained within, including the Miraculous Icon. We continue on to Zakopane, with a stop along the way in Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) and see the church he attended and was baptized as a child. We arrive in the resort village of Zakopane, this afternoon where we will take a cable car ride to the nearby mountaintop for extraordinary views. We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner.
Day 6 - Zakopane - Krakow
This morning you will have an opportunity to enjoy a short walk on one of John Paul II's favorite walking trails in Zakopane. We visit the Hermitage of Brother Albert, founder of the Albertine Order, before walking to the colorful Krupowki Street for some last minute shopping in the local bazaar. We will stop at the amazing Tieliczka Salt Mines on our way to Krakow. We arrive in Krakow in time for dinner, after which you may enjoy a short stroll in the old city before retiring for the evening.
Day 7 - Krakow - Auschwitz - Krakow
After breakfast, we explore Krakow's Market Square and hear the silver trumpet of the bugler from St. Mary's Tower. The surroundings of the square have remained unchanged for almost 700 years and contain buildings of historic value such as the Town Hall Tower, the Cloth Hall and the burgher's houses. Tour the Cathedral, Coronation Chapel and the Royal Chambers where a superb collection of Arras tapestries are on view. We visit the Cathedral where you can pray before the extraordinary Wit Stwosz altar. In the afternoon we visit to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp, where unspeakable atrocities occurred. We will see the cell that imprisoned St. Maximillian Kolbe and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust. We return to our hotel for dinner.
Day 8 - Krakow – Divine Mercy - Lagiewniki
After breakfast, we depart for our day's excursion to Lagiewniki, the capital of the Divine Mercy. It was here that 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 graceworking image of the Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina. As we visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy we will see St. Faustina's convent chapel and her Tomb. We visit the newly constructed Shrine of Divinity dedicated by Pope John Paul II on his last visit to Poland in 2002. We celebrate Mass at the Shrine before we visit the new center "Have no Fear" where we pray by the relic of Blessed Pope John Paul II. We have time to pray and reflect before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Day 9 - Krakow - USA
We leave Krakow for the return flights home to USA. Bid your new friends farewell as you reminisce about everything you have experienced during your trip!
Includes:
Round-trip air from New York to Poland (special Add-on Airfares from all US gateways)
Airline FUEL SURCHARGES INCLUDED (up to $420)
7 nights at centrally located first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
2 nights: Radisson SAS, Warsaw
1 night: Mercure Patria, Częstochowa
1 night: Kasprowy, Zakopane
3 nights: Radisson SAS, Krakow
Transfers as per itinerary
Breakfast and Dinner daily
Wine with dinners
Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s)
Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
Mass daily & Spiritual activities
Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
*Itinerary subject to change.
Book securely online (click to open)
Land only*
Price per individual. Contact us for groups.
To purchase travel insurance, you will go to the Travel Insurance purchase page after you add your pilgrimage. For additional departure cities, indicate at checkout. You will be billed separately for the additional city and for the additional travel insurance (if you purchased travel insurance originally). Special payment, refund and cancellation rules apply. Please read them.
*Base price does not includes travel insurance. We highly recommend travel insurance.
** Includes airfare from New York. Other departure cities available see below for samples.
