WADOWICE AND KALWARIA - TRACES OF JOHN PAUL II
PROGRAM:
Departure from Krakow and transfer to Wadowice takes about one hour by coach. Arrival in Wadowice – tourists visit the exhibition in the Museum – the House of the Family of Pope John Paul II (the birthplace of the future pope). Tourists visit the parish church, and the Virgin Mary’s Offertory basilica, where Karol Wojtyla was baptized on 20 June 1920. Pilgrims transfer to Kalwaria (a short stop) and visit the historic Bernardine monastery (UNESCO listed) together with its miraculous image of Our Lady of Calvary. Karol Wojtyla with his father made a pilgrimage to this image after the death of his mother, then he often visited the place as a priest, bishop, cardinal and pope. Here he entrusted his pontificate to Mother of God and spoke the words “Totus Tuus” (All yours). In June 1979, the pope bestowed the title of Minor Basilica to the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels on the oldest Calvary in Poland. Pilgrims take a walk on paths and historic baroque chapels of Our Lady and on the Way of the Cross. Pilgrims depart from Kalwaria and return to Krakow by coach – about one hour.
WYCIECZKA – KRAKÓW TRASA JANA PAWŁA II
Spotkanie z przewodnikiem pod Wawelem. Zwiedzanie: Wzgórze Wawelskie, Kuria Biskupia i sławne okno papieskie, w którym Ojciec św. pojawiał się, żeby pożartować i pomodlić się z młodzieżą. Ulica Grodzka. Uniwersytet Jagielloński, na którym Karol Wojtyła studiował w czasie wojny, Rynek Główny, Sukiennice, Bazylika Mariacka, Brama Floriańska, Barbakan, kościół św. Floriana – Karol Wojtyła pracował tu jako wikariusz.
Wersja z objazdem autokarem: dodatkowo Błonia Krakowskie, gdzie Jan Paweł II odprawiał msze św. podczas swoich wizyt papieskich w Ojczyźnie oraz dom przy ul. Tynieckiej 10, gdzie Karol Wojtyła mieszkał z ojcem podczas wojny.
DAY EXCURSION TO CZESTOCHOWA
PROGRAM:
Departure from Krakow. Coach journey to Czestochowa (about 3 hours). Arrival in Czestochowa. JASNA GORA MONASTERY – Holly Mass. Tour of the Sanctuary. Lubomirski Gate; Gate of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Poland; Gate of Our Lady of Sorrows; Rampart Gate; Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa with the Miraculous Icon of the Black Madonna; the Church of the Holy Cross and the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the 7th century chapels of St. Paul the Hermit, the Heart of Jesus, the Saint Relics; then to the Knight Hall; the Rosary Chapel, sacristy, Museum of the 600th Anniversary displaying dresses of the Miraculous Icon, Fr Kordecki’s rosary, votive offerings presented by John Paul II; Arsenal (arms collection), Cenacle, Tower views of the city; Treasury; Fr Kordecki’s statue; John Paul’s II’s Statue; the Way of the Cross along the ramparts; Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration Chapel. Departure from Czestochowa. Coach journey to Krakow (about 3 hours). Arrival in Krakow in the evening.
Plus, we also offer alternative arrangements, including an ALL-NIGHT VIGIL. Drop us an email for more details.
DAY EXCURSION TO ZAKOPANE & LUDZMIERZ
PROGRAM:
Departure form Krakow. Coach journey to Zakopane (about 3 hours). Arrival in Zakopane the winter capital of Poland. ZAKOPANE – visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptowki – votive offering presented by John Paul II for saving his life from an assassination attempt, Stations of the Cross with images of John Paul II (on one station he is depicted as helping Jesus carry the beam of the cross along with Simon of Cyrene; on another he is standing next to Mary on the hill of Golgotha). Option to take a funicular train up Gubalowka Hill and see the panorama of the Tatras – the highest mountains in Poland. Walk along Krupowki Street, the central pedestrian thoroughfare of Zakopane, with dozens of souvenir shops, restaurants, ice-cream places, caf’s and vendors. LUDZMIERZ – visit to the Shrine of Blessed Virgin Mary the Queen of Podhale. Coach journey to Krakow (about 3 hours). Arrival in Krakow in the evening.
N.B. Alternative arrangements may be offered on request, such as extending sightseeing time in Zakopane (ski-jumps, museums, Tatra valleys); or we can arrange a supper with a traditional local band playing and dancing.
TOUR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST FAUSTINA AND BL. FR. MICHAŁ SOPOĆKO (6 days)
Głogowiec – Świnice Warckie – Płock – Białystok – Vilnius
PROGRAM:
Day 1: Holy Mass in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in KRAKÓW-ŁAGIEWNIKI. Arrival in ŚWINICE WARCKIE and GŁOGOWIEC – visit to the small house where Helena Kowalska was born and the Baptismal Shrine of St Faustina in Świnice Warckie (the place where Sr Faustina was baptised. Arrival in PŁOCK. Visit to the Chapel of Divine Mercy (the Holy Year Church) Holy Mass. Visit to the place of revelations with sister-guide, statue of Merciful Jesus (it is here that Faustina was instructed to have the picture painted and Jesus said he wanted the feast of Divine Mercy to be established).
Day 2: Holy Mass, transit to BIAŁYSTOK and tour of sites associated with Bl. Michał Sopoćko – the confessor of St Sr Faustina, including the home of the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus, the room in which Fr. Sopoćko died on 15 February 1975, the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy (the priest’s grave) and any other important sites associated with the priest.
Day 3: Holy Mass, departure for Vilnius in Lithuania. TRAKAI (Troki) – the former capital of Lithuania); tour of the castle of Vytautas the Great. VILNIUS.
Day 4: VILNIUS (Wilno – part of Poland in Sr. Faustina’s days). Holy Mass in the chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. Tour of the Ss Peter and Paul’s Church in the Antakalnis area; the Holy Ghost Church (location of the first painting of Merciful Jesus), Saint Casimir’s Church, St Michael’s Church, the Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus, the historic old town of Vilnius, the University (formerly the Stephen Báthory University).
Day 5: VILNIUS. Holy Mass in the Church of Holy Ghost, we meet our city guide and go on tour to see: Three Crosses Hill, former home of the Sisters at 25 Senatorska St. (at present in Grybo St.), Rasos Cemetery.
Day 6: return to KRAKÓW.
TOUR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST FAUSTINA (2 days)
PROGRAM:
Day 1: KRAKOW – Holy Mass in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki and departure from Krakow. GLOGOWIEC – visit to St Faustina’s family home, SWINICE WARCKIE – Baptismal Shrine of St Faustina. PLOCK – visit to the Chapel of Divine Mercy (the Holy Year Church), Holy Mass. Visit to the place of revelations with sister-guide, statue of Merciful Jesus (it is here that Faustina was instructed to have the picture painted and Jesus said he wanted the feast of Divine Mercy to be established). Sister Faustina worked at the bakery; there is the stove, the kneading trough and the table dating back to Faustina’s days.
Day 2: WARSAW – Chapel in the Mother House of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where Sister Faustina joined the order (in Zytnia St.). Visit to St. John’s Archcathedral – the tomb of Stefan Wyszynski, the Primate of the Millennium. Visit to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church – the tomb of blessed Jerzy Popieluszko (time permitting, visit to the Shrine of Andrew Bobola). Return to Krakow in the evening.
TOUR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST FAUSTINA (11 days)
PROGRAM:
Day 1: Arrival in KRAKOW. Transfer to the hotel. Take a rest at the hotel.
Day 2: KRAKOW. Wawel – Holy Mass – circumstances permitting, in St. Leonard’s Crypt, where young John Paul II, who was then a newly ordained priest, celebrated his first Mass or, if impossible, in one of Krakow’s churches. Sightseeing tour of the Royal City (Krakow ites of interest): Royal Route – barbican, the mediaeval city walls, St. Florian’s Gate, Main Market Square, St. Mary’s Basilica, Cloth Hall, Town Hall, Papal Window in Franciszkanska St., Jagiellonian University, Kanonicza St (the oldest street in Krakow), Grodzka St.(Ss. Peter and Paul Church and Romanesque St. Andrew’s Church, Blonia Park.
Day 3: KRAKOW. Holy Mass in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. Tour of places associated with St Faustina: Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki where Sr Faustina did her novitiate, Jesus dictated the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to her, Sr. Faustina took her her vows to be followed by perpetual profession 5 years later – the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. In Krakow she worked in the kitchen, as a gardener and the gate-keeper. She died here, too. Things to see: the Basilica, observation tower, chapels, the chapel of the painting of Merciful Jesus, the „Have No Fear!” John Paul II Centre.
Day 4: Transit to WARSAW, the capital of Poland. Tour of sites associated with St Faustina: the Mother House of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Young Helena Kowalska was admitted to the Order (at 9 Zytnia St.) and given the name of Sister Maria Faustina.
Day 5: WARSAW. Things to see: Palace of Culture and Science (views oot over the city), Old Town, Castle Square, Sigismund’s Column, Royal Castle; Presidential Palace in Krakowskie Przedmiescie, St. John’s Archcathedral, University of Warsaw, Grand Theatre, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Pilsudski Square where John Paul II uttered his „Have no fear!” to 300 000 people.
Day 6: Transit to PLOCK – Sanctuary of Divine Mercy where Sr Faustina had a vision of Merciful Jesus, who asked her to have the picture painted and wished the feast of Divine Mercy to be established on the first Sunday after Easter.
Day 7: Transit to GLOGOWIEC – the birth place of Helena Kowalska and to SWINICE WARCKIE – the Baptismal Shrine of St Faustina. ALEKSANDROW LODZKI
and LODZ – Slowacki Park (formerly Venice Park) – it is here that little Helena was playing and saw the Sorrowful Jesus stripped of his garments and covered in wounds who said to her: „How long shall I put up with you and how long will you keep putting Me off?” The Cathedral and St Stanislaus Kostka Church – she received her calling to religious life from Jesus there. Return to KRAKOW.
Day 8: Transit to WADOWICE – Family House Museum of John Paul II (the first place of the future pope). Parish church where Karol Wojtyla was baptised on 20 June 1920. Transit to KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – sites to see: historic monastery of Friars Minor (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Calvary. Karol Wojtyla went on pilgrimages there with his father after the death of his mother and later visited the place often as a priest, bishop, cardinal and pope. He commended his pontificate to Mary Mother of God there and uttered the words „Totus Tuus” (Totally Yours). The Way of the Cross and Marian Paths with their historic chapels. Return to KRAKOW.
Day 9: All-day excursion to the mountains of ZAKOPANE – the winter capital of Poland. Holy Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptowki (designed as a votive offering to commemorate the saving of John Paul II’s life from an assassination attempt on 13/05/1981). We take a funicular train up the Gubalowka Hill and see the panorama of the Tatras. Walk along Krupowki Street, the central pedestrian thoroughfare of Zakopane, with dozens of souvenir shops, restaurants, ice-cream places, caf’s and vendors. Return to KRAKOW. Supper and overnight stay.
Day 10: All-day trip to CZESTOCHOWA. JASNA GORA. Apart from Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France, Jasna Gora is one of the most important and active pilgrimage venues in the entire Christian world. Sightseeing tour of the Sanctuary. Holy Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa with the Miraculous Icon of Black Madonna. Arrival in Krakow in the evening.
Day 11: Departure from Krakow.
