A Pilgrimage to Poland, Czeck, & Medjugorje Under The Spiritual Direction Of Fr. Adrian Vazquez

Our spiritual pilgrimage begins as we board our transatlantic flight to Warsaw. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Upon arrival in Krakow, one of Poland’s most beautiful and historic cities, we are warmly welcomed by our local representative and transferred to our hotel. After time to settle in, we begin to experience the spiritual and cultural richness of this remarkable city, which served as the home of Pope John Paul II for many years. This evening, we gather for our welcome dinner, offering an opportunity to meet fellow pilgrims and prepare spiritually for the days ahead as we begin our journey in the footsteps of the saints of Poland.

This morning we depart Krakow and travel to Czestochowa, a city that for more than 600 years has been the spiritual heart of Catholic Poland and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe. Upon arrival, we visit the renowned Jasna Góra Monastery, a sacred site of great religious, historical, and artistic significance. Here we will have the opportunity to participate in the moving unveiling of the miraculous icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, one of the most beloved Marian images in the world. Our guide will lead us through the beautiful Chapel of Our Lady, where the famous icon hangs above a magnificent silver and ebony altar. We will also visit the monastery treasury and celebrate Holy Mass at this sacred shrine. After lunch, we continue to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum for a guided visit of the former concentration camp. This solemn site stands as a powerful memorial to the millions who lost their lives during World War II and invites us to pause in prayer and reflection. Later in the afternoon we return to Krakow, where we enjoy dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, proceed to Wawel Hill and celebrate mass at the Church of St. Stanislaw, Poland's second most important pilgrimage shrine. Visit Krakow's cathedral which serves as the nation's spiritual capital and has witnessed most of the royal coronations and funerals of the last millennium. See the Cathedral's Treasury and continue to Krakow's Old Town to see Kanonicza Street where Pope John Paul II resided while living in Krakow. Visit the courtyard of the Collegium Mauis; see the ancient Market Square and Cloth Hall. This afternoon stops at Lagwieniki to visit St. Faustina Shrine before returning to Krakow.

This morning we drive to Wieliczka to see the oldest salt mine in Europe, a world-class tourist attraction. Itis a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground salt lakes with a rich interior of decorated chapels including the famous Blessed Kings Chapel, plus other galleries and workings made of salt. Wieliczka salt mine is listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Then proceed to Wadowice, birthplace of Karol Wojtla, the late Pope John Paul II. His museum is in his family house. Continue to a place that was a popular pilgrimage place for the Pope when he was a young man: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, where in the 17th century the Palatine of Krakow founded a Franciscan Monastery. The church has very rich Ваroque decorations. On the slope of the hill and in the valley is an architectural 'Way of the Cross' comprising 42 Mannerist and Baroque chapels and some small Calvary churches.

Depart this morning for the Czech capital of Prague. En route stop at Velehrad to visit the Shrine in memory of the two missionaries from Byzantium, "Cyril and Methodius", who brought Christianity to the Czech lands. In 1985 His Holiness Pope John Paul II conferred the "Golden Rose" on Velehrad, a Papal distinction conveyed to only three other venerable places of pilgrimage, Lourdes, Guadalupe and Czestochowa. Continue to the "Golden City" of Prague, one of Europe's most attractive capitals.

Spanning the River VItava, Prague ranks as one of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe. The town is famous for its Gothic and Baroque architecture. Wonder at the graceful enormity of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady of Victory and the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. After mass, cross the historic Charles Bridge, built in 1400, and admire its Baroque statuary. Continue to the Loreto Shrine, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Eastern Europe. Recall the timeless masterpieces of Mozart, Wagner and Berlioz while viewing the city's many theaters and opera houses.

Today, you will depart early in the morning for your flights to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our guide and/or driver who will then take you to a scenic transfer to the serene town of Medjugorje. Upon Arrival, check in to your hotel, where you can unwind and refresh. As evening falls, savor a delicious dinner featuring local cuisine, followed by a restful overnight stay in the peaceful ambiance of Medjugorje, setting the tone for your upcoming adventures.

Welcome to Medjugorje, a place known throughout the world for its simplicity, peace, and powerful spiritual renewal. Upon arrival, our local guide will accompany us as we begin our pilgrimage in this blessed village where millions come seeking prayer, healing, and reconciliation. We begin our day at St. James Church Medjugorje, the spiritual heart of the parish. Pilgrims will participate in Holy Mass (English-speaking, depending on the parish schedule) and receive the special blessing of religious articles after Mass. Following Mass, we will visit the nearby Statue of the Risen Christ, a peaceful place of prayer and reflection where pilgrims often pause for quiet devotion. Afterward, we will climb Apparition Hill, the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to the young visionaries in 1981. As we ascend the rocky path, we will pray together and spend time in personal reflection at the statue of Our Lady. In the afternoon, we will visit the inspiring Cenacolo Community, where members of this faith-based community share powerful testimonies of conversion and new life through prayer, work, and devotion. For those who are able, we will also have the opportunity to climb Mount Krizevac (Cross Mountain), praying the Stations of the Cross along the way and reflecting on the Passion of Christ beneath the large concrete cross erected in 1934. In the evening, we return to St. James Church to join pilgrims from around the world in the evening prayer program, including the Holy Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (depending on the parish schedule). This powerful communal prayer experience is one of the most moving moments of the Medjugorje pilgrimage.

After an early breakfast, we bid farewell to the beautiful coastal city of Split and transfer to Split Airport for our return journey home. We return with hearts full of gratitude and a desire to live our faith more deeply each day.