Day 2 • Krakow
Day 4 • Krakow
Day 7 • Warsaw
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
We begin our journey as we board our plane for our overnight flight to Krakow. Breakfast and dinner are served on board.
Day 2 • Krakow
Upon arrival, we are met by Signature Tours International representatives and they take us to our hotel to freshen up. We have an introduction to Pope John Paul II's life in Poland to get us familiar for the many sites we will visit. We then celebrate Mass at the Franciscan Church, where Karol Wojtyla had "his own" bench and came to pray as a student. We stay overnight in Krakow.
Day 3 • Krakow
Day 3 • Krakow
We visit the famed salt mines of Wieliczka exploring the subterranean world of labyrinth passages, giant caverns, underground lakes and chapels with sculptures in the crystalline salt. We pay tribute to Pope John Paul’s early life with stops at his home, schools, and the church where he was baptized in the town of Wadowice, his birthplace. Time permitting, upon returning to Krakow, we see his University, Tyniecka Street home and the family tomb at Rakowiecki. We have dinner and stay another night in Krakow.
Day 4 • Krakow
Today, we celebrate Mass in the chapel at St. Faustina's Shrine of Divine Mercy. Then our Krakow tour begins. We visit the Barbican - a medieval fortress, Market Square - Europe's largest medieval square, Cloth Hall, the twin towers of Gothic St. Mary's Basilica, and the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill. This afternoon we tour St. Florians, where the Pope was assistant pastor and served as students' chaplain. Then we go to the Cathedral of Wawel, the site of his ordination as Bishop on September 28, 1958. Dinner and overnight are in Krakow.
Day 5 • Auschwitz
Day 5 • Krakow/Zakopane
We leave Krakow and travel to Zakopane. On our way, we visit the Peace and Dialogue Center in Auschwitz, where we explore the Pope's experiences during WWII, his ecumenism toward the Jewish people, his strong stand on social justice, and his determination to canonize Edith Stein, a convert from Judaism who died in Auschwitz. Our daily mass follows at the International Dialogue Center. This evening we enjoy a local folklore show and dinner in Zakopane. We stay the night here.
Day 6 • Zakopane
Today, we climb aboard cable cars to the nearby mountain of Gubalowka for a stunning panoramic view of Zakopane. We have an overview of the Pope’s interests and how he loved the outdoors, had excellent athletic ability, and had a great love of theater and poetry. Then we have Mass at the Antalowka Church. We have dinner and stay the night again in Zakopane.
Day 7 • Zakopane/Warsaw
On out way to Warsaw, we stop first in Czestochowa, located at the foot of the Jasna Gora Monastery, which is the spiritual capital of Poland. Since 1382, Pilgrims have come to Jasna Gora Monastery to find consolation and express their gratitude to God. The Monastery holds the fascinating picture of Our Lady, crowned with papal diadems in 1717. In the 20th century it was called the "Black Madonna" due to its discoloration from candles lit in supplication. The monastery has the second most pilgrim visitors, with more than five million each year (only Fatima hosts more). One of the Pauline monks leads us as we explore the treasures of Jasna Gora. We celebrate Mass in the Monastery and then have dinner and stay the night in Warsaw.
Day 8 • Warsaw
Day 8 • Warsaw
Today we celebrate Mass at the Church of Holy Cross, where the heart of Frederic Chopin is buried. Our Warsaw tour includes Old Town, Market Square, the massive Ghetto monument, the Chopin statue, and the Royal Castle. We visit the tomb of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, whose murder during the reign of Communism could not defeat the faith of the Polish people. He was later beatified by the Pope for his service to the church. We enjoy our final dinner together and stay overnight in Warsaw.
Day 9 • Warsaw/Hometown, U.S.A.
We leave Poland as we board our flight home, bringing with us many wonderful memories to share with friends and family back home.