A Pilgrimage to Poland, Czeck, & Medjugorje Under The Spiritual Direction Of Fr. Tito Cartagenas

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

After arrival in Warsaw, we are met by our representative and transferred to our hotel. Delighting the “new” Warsaw, which has been lovingly restored after the devastation of World War II.

We begin with morning mass at St. Stanislaw Kostka Church, where martyred Solidarity priest Father Popieluszko worked and is buried. Visit the bustling Old Town Square, where horse-drawn carriages carry visitors past beautifully rebuilt Baroque house and Renaissance-style storefronts. Traditional Polish cafes and shops surround the square, which has been restored to its 13th-century charm. Stroll the streets of this historic area, which is mostly closed to traffic, and explore its beautiful churches and castle. See the birthplace of Madame Curie, Chopin’s monument and the Royal Castle (exterior view) which was the residence of Polish Kings.

Depart Warsaw and drive to Czestochowa, a city which has been for the last 600 years the principal center of the Catholic religion in Poland and is a shrine for pilgrims. Visit Jasna Gora Monastery with religious, historic and artistic value, and participate in the unveiling of the Black Madonna. Our guide will show us the Gothic Chapel of Our Lady in which hangs the famous Black Madonna icon on a magnificent silver and ebony altar. Tour the treasury and celebrate mass at the Shrine. After Lunch proceed to Auschwitz for a guided tour of the infamous death camp where millions were killed during World War II. Continue to Krakow, our home for the next three nights.

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 for its simplicity, peace, and powerful spiritual renewal. During your stay, a local guide will accompany the group as we enter into prayer and the sacramental life of this holy village. This morning, we will attend Holy Mass at St. James Church (English-speaking at 10:00 AM), with the special blessing of religious articles after Mass. Later, pilgrims will have the opportunity to climb Apparition Hill, where Our Lady first appeared to the visionaries, and spend time in quiet prayer and reflection. In the evening, we will gather with pilgrims from around the world for the apparition prayer time, including the Rosary and the evening prayer program at St. James Church.

Today we continue our pilgrimage with deeper moments of conversion and healing. We will have the opportunity to climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain) and pray the Stations of the Cross, honoring Christ’s Passion at the summit cross. We will also visit the inspiring Community of Cenacolo, where pilgrims hear powerful testimonies of young people whose lives were transformed through faith and prayer. Throughout the day there will be time for Confession and personal prayer at St. James Church, and we will also visit the Statue of the Risen Christ, a peaceful place of prayer and grace. If available, we will participate in Eucharistic Adoration (depending on the day’s schedule), as Our Lady continually invites us to stay close to her Son.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we transfer to Split airport for our return flight to the USA.