Proposed Pilgrimage Itinerary *



Day 1 - April 23, 2025: Depart Shannon, Arrive in Krakow
Depart from Shannon Airport for your flight to Krakow. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Krakow, where you will check in for a 4-night stay. Begin with a walking tour of Krakow's historic Old Town, visiting the Church of St. Florian, where Blessed John Paul II began his ministry. See the Barbican and the Basilica of St. Mary, where you'll witness the traditional bugle call. Continue to Market Square to explore the Cloth Hall, Town Hall Tower, Jagellonian University, Bishop's Palace, and Kanonicza Street. Celebrate Mass in a selected local church. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight in Krakow.

Day 2 - April 24, 2025: Krakow Highlights
Start the day with a visit to the Bernardine Church near Wawel Hill. Atop Wawel Hill, explore the Royal Castle and Royal Cathedral, the coronation site of Polish kings, with its Royal Tombs, Sigismundus Bell, and crypt where Polish heroes are buried. Blessed John Paul II celebrated his first Holy Mass here at the Altar of St. Leonard. Afterward, return via Skalka Sanctuary, where St. Stanislaus was martyred. In the afternoon, visit Krakow's Kazimierz quarter, with its historic synagogues, New Square, Schindler's List filming sites, and the birthplace of Helena Rubinstein. Dinner and overnight in Krakow.

Day 3 - April 25, 2025: Divine Mercy Chaplet & Wieliczka Salt Mines
Travel to Lagiewniki in the morning to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine and Basilica, consecrated by Pope John Paul II. Pray before the original Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina. Celebrate Mass here and recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet. In the afternoon, visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines, where you'll explore the salt chambers, statues, underground lakes, and the world's largest church built of salt. Return to Krakow for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 - April 26, 2025: Wadowice and Auschwitz (Optional)
Depart in the morning for Wadowice, the birthplace of St. John Paul II. Tour his family home, now a museum, and celebrate Mass in the nearby church where he worshiped as a young man. In the afternoon, choose either free time in Krakow or an optional tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (€30-40 per person, based on a group of 20). This solemn visit includes guided tours through Auschwitz I and Auschwitz IIBirkenau, where you'll gain insight into the site's powerful history. Return to Krakow for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - April 27, 2025: Transfer to Czestochowa
Morning in Krakow for personal time. Afternoon drive to Czestochowa. Czestochowa is a city in the south of Poland, specifically the Slask region (Silesia), with a religious and important history. The city is known for its famous St Paul's Monastery of Jasna G�ra, which houses the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Every year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world come to Czestochowa to pay homage to the shrine and enjoy the peace that this holy city provides. It isn't just Catholic history here though, this city also was home to the Frankism Jewish movement during the late eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries - after some brief sightseeing we check in to hotel for 2 nights dinner bed and breakfast.

Day 6 - April 28, 2025: Monastery of Jasna Gora
Morning visit the Monastery of Jasna Gora - the most important Marian Shrine in Poland. One of the most historic complexes in Poland, and a famous venue to mark the end of a Catholic pilgrimage, is the stunning Jasna G�ra Monastery. This huge monastery is a famous Polish shrine to the Virgin Mary and, as mentioned, also houses the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. This place also contains the Nobel Peace Prize medal received by Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and the organiser of the Solidarnosc movement. The church itself holds normal masses and has a memorable and well decorated interior. Pope John Paul II visited over five times, and more recently Pope Benedict also visited Jasna G�ra. We will Celebrate Mass, and see the Icon of the Black Madonna, and visit the Monastery Museum.

Day 7 - April 28, 2025: Return to Krakow and Evening Flight Home
This morning we will celebrate the closing Mass of our pilgrimage and after some time at leisure, drive the to Krakow airport.