Love & Responsibility
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Register Here:
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Pricing Info:
8-Day Krakow / Zakopane:
Early Sign-Up Pricing:Before 10/31/24
$3,350 pp / Double Occupancy
After 10/31/24
$2,450 pp / LAND ONLY
Double Occupancy
+ $600 Private Room
$3,450 pp / Double Occupancy
$2,550 pp / LAND ONLY
Double Occupancy
+ $600 Private Room+ 3-Day Extension to Czestochowa / Warsaw:
Early Sign-Up Pricing:
Before 10/31/24$3,900 pp / Double Occupancy
$3,000 pp/ LAND ONLY
Double Occupancy
+ $800 Private RoomAfter 10/31/24
$4,000 pp / Double Occupancy
$3,100 pp /LAND ONLY
Double Occupancy
+ $800 Private Room
Deposit:
$500 Non-refundable deposit
due at registration
Final Payment:
Due by Friday, March 22, 2025 -
What's Included:
- Scheduled roundtrip transatlantic flights from Los Angeles. (LAX)
- Services of a professional tour guide/driver
- Daily Mass
- Whisper Headsets for tours
- All breakfasts
- 1 lunch and 1 dinner at Local Restaurant
- Deluxe motor-coach for scheduled transfers and sightseeing
- First-class accommodations at all hotels
- Admission fees for all included sightseeing
- Porterage for one suitcase per person, service charges, government fees
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Not Included:
- Travel Insurance
- Additional Medical Insurance
- Visas
- Meals not listed above
- Dunajec River Rafting Excursion
- Tips for Guides, Driver or Hotel Staff
- Personal Expenses
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Pilgrimage to Poland8 Day
Spiritual Director: Rev. Zachery Swantek,
Chaplain of the Aquinas Institute for Catholic Life at Princeton University
Day 1 - Wednesday, June 25: Transatlantic flight to Krakow, Poland
Day 2 - Thursday, June 26: Krakow
Welcome to Poland! Upon arrival in Krakow, we will be greeted at the airport by our Guide and Driver and will begin our journey. Before arriving at our hotel, we will have a panoramic tour of the city while making our way to Mass. (Location TBD) Overnight at the hotel in Krakow.
Day 3 - Friday, June 27: Krakow, Wadowice, Krakow
After breakfast, we drive to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. The family home of the young Karol Wojtyla is now a museum, displaying many interesting curios from the Pope's life. A visit here provides an entertaining, anecdotal panorama of the humble life of one of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Nearby is the parish church which Wojtyla attended in his youth. Celebrate Mass at Wadowice Basilica where Saint John Paul II was baptized. (subject to confirmation) After lunch on your own, we return to Krakow. This afternoon we have a tour of Krakow - the ancient capital of Poland has been settled since the Stone Age. In 1038, the city became the capital, and Polish monarchs took up their residence in its Wawel Royal Castle, with the Cathedral Church of St. Waclaw and Bishop Stanislaus. We will have the opportunity to walk down Kanonicza Street, passing by some of Krakow's historical buildings. At building 21, we visit the Archdiocesan Museum of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła. We will also view the Church of St. Francis of Assisi - Saint Maximilian Kolbe was a monk here in 1919 and the Bishops Palace, most famous for having been the residence of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla from 1958 to 1978 (exterior view). Next we will see the patio of Collegium Maius where the Pope was a student and visit St Anne Church - one of the leading examples of Polish Baroque, but the church's history dates back to 14th century. Continue to the Old Town historical district with Market Square in the center which is the medieval city established in the 13th century. In the middle of the square is the Cloth Hall. Inside are many shopping stalls, which we will be sure to visit. The Cloth Hall sits in the shadow of the magnificent gothic church of Our Lady Mariacki Church, with the famous wooden altar created by Wit Stwosz. Overnight in Krakow. (B)
Day 4 - Saturday, June 28: St. Kostka Church, Divine Mercy, Wieliczka, Have No Fear Center
After breakfast, visit St Kostka Church, which was a Parish Church for Pope John Paul II , here we will celebrate Mass. (subject to confirmation) On the way to Divine Mercy Sanctuary we will have short stop in Zakrzowek and the place that used to be Solvay Chemical Plant, where Wojtyla had forced labor under Nazi occupation. Next, visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary. See images of the Merciful Jesus, relics of St. Faustina, as well as the Saint's convent chapel and her Tomb. Lunch today is on your own. After lunch, we will visit the Have No Fear Center dedicated to Saint John Paul II and have some time to pray by his relics. Continue to Wieliczka, near Krakow, to visit the oldest salt mine in Europe, in operation since the 13th century. This UNESCO treasure now serves as a museum and contains an impressive display of chambers, galleries, and unique salt works. We will descend 54 floors below the surface to view the labyrinthine mines and the Church of St. Kinga, entirely carved from salt. Overnight in Krakow. (B)
Day 5 - Sunday, June 29: Auschwitz, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Zakopane
We check out of our hotel after breakfast and depart for Zakopane. En route, we will be stopping in Auschwitz to visit the Nazi concentration Camp of Auschwitz where St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) faced martyrdom and St. Maximilian Kolbe died in the Death Block after volunteering his life for that of a fellow prisoner in 1941. Later this afternoon, we will have a stop for lunch before a visit to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the only Calvary on the UNESCO list where on the slope of the hill an architectural ‘Way of the Cross’ is constructed out of 40 chapels. Mass at the Sanctuary. (subject to confirmation) After Mass, we continue our drive to Zakopane. Tonight, we will have a traditional mountaineer dinner at a local restaurant with folk music. Overnight in Zakopane. (B, D)
Day 6 - Monday, June 30: Morskie Oko Lake, Zakopane
Pope John Paul II loved the outdoors. As a young priest, he would often take groups of young Catholics on hiking excursions. After breakfast, we will have a full day hiking trip to Morskie Oko Lake, which is the biggest and also considered by many, the most beautiful lake in the Tatra mountains (one of the Holy Father's most favorite mountain ranges). The lake is surrounded by an impressive chain of peaks that are over two thousand meters, and near-by is Czarny Staw Lake, as well as the tallest peak in the Tatry Mountains, Rysy. On June 5th 1997, Pope John Paul II was driven to the lake where he met with local mountaineers, the people who work there and of course to enjoy the beautiful views. The Mass location for this day is TBD. Lunch will be included today. Overnight in Zakopane. (B, L)
Day 7 - Tuesday, July 1: Zakopane, Dunajec Rafting, Krakow
Taking his community of young people to spend time on the water and to experience nature is another hobby of the Holy Father. After breakfast today, we will depart towards Sromowce Nizne to have a rafting trip down the Dunajec River (Sromowce Nizne to Szczawnica) through the Pieniny Gorge and along the Polish-Slovak border, which is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Poland (weather permitting). The towering cliffs and the limestone rock formations of the gorge, plus the picturesque mountain scenery, the surrounding national forest, and the colorful river guides make for a wonderful day in a pristine and wild environment. Lunch on your own. Afterwards, we return to Krakow, where we will celebrate Mass, locations TBD and have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at our hotel in Krakow. (B)
For those who signed up for the 8-Day Tour:
Day 8 - Wednesday, July 2: Krakow Departure / Continue to Czestochowa and Warsaw
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Board the coach and transfer to the Krakow Balice Airport for our departure flight back home. (B)
For those continuing on the 3-Day optional extension to Warsaw:Day 8 - Wednesday, July 2: Continue to Czestochowa and Warsaw
After departing the hotel, we will visit Nowa Huta - town planned under Communism that John Paul II fought to have a Church. Drive to Rakowicki Cemetery where we visit the tomb of Jan Tyranowski, who was a central figure in the spiritual formation of Karol Józef Wojtyła. Depart for Czestochowa. Lunch on your own en route. Celebrate Mass at Jasna Gora Monastery at one of the chapels. (subject to confirmation) Have a guided tour of Jasna Gora Monastery where we will see the Treasury, the Knight′s Hall, the Refectory, the Basilica of the Holy Cross and the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The highlight of our visit will be a viewing of the famous icon of the Black Madonna to which miraculous powers are attributed. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Dinner and overnight in Czestochowa (B)
Day 9 - Thursday, July 3: Czestochowa, Niepokalanow, Warsaw
After checking out and breakfast, we depart to Niepokalanow to visit the Franciscan Monastery with Museum in the community of Teresin which was founded by martyr, St. Maximilian Kolbe. This remarkable saint was arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz, giving his life for the life of another prisoner. Mass Celebration in the Sanctuary. After Mass, we continue to Warsaw. Lunch on your own en route. Once we reach Warsaw, the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Warsaw. (B)
Day 10 - Friday, July 4: Warsaw
Today we have a full day in Warsaw. After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our tour of Warsaw including places connected with the visits of Pope JP II during his pilgrimages to his homeland: Old Town with Barbican, Market Square, St. John’s Cathedral, Royal Castle Square, Royal Castle, St. Ann’s Church, Nunciature nearby Lazienki Park, Pilsudski Square (all exterior views). Lunch on your own. We will then visit the church of St. Stanislaw Kostka where Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko, leader in solidarity worked and is buried. He was martyred in October 1984 in retaliation for his stance against oppression. We will gain some context here for the life and times of Karol Wojtyla who was to become His Holiness John Paul II. Mass at St. Kostka Church. (subject to confirmation) The last night in Warsaw is at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in Warsaw. (B)
Day 11 - Saturday, July 5: Warsaw Departure
We will check out and head to Warsaw Okecie Airport for our transfer back to the USA. (B)
Breakfast (B); Lunch (L); Dinner (D)**In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.