Gift of Graces from Poland and Prague with Fr. Steve Pawelk

Depart on an overnight flight to Vilnius. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the plane. The departure airport, either Knoxville or Atlanta, will be determined in November. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class seats are available upon request and will be provided starting 120 days before departure. Group air restrictions (for ten passengers traveling together) do not permit specific seating requests on flights. We recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and land-only packages with us if seat confirmation is an important part of your trip. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your trip Account Manager, who will be happy to assist you.

We arrive in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where we are greeted by our English-speaking Tour Manager and escorted to our hotel. En route, we enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Mass is celebrated at a nearby church. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Vilnius.

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we enjoy a 90-minute guided walking tour of Vilnius’ Old Town, renowned as the largest Baroque Old Town in Eastern and Central Europe. Visit the Cathedral Square, the Bell Tower, the University, and the Glass Quarter. Pass through the Gates of Dawn to get a glimpse of, and pray to, the miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy. See the many Baroque churches, including St. Kazimierz’s Church and the 17th-century St. Peter and Paul’s Apostles Church. In the afternoon, we celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, which houses the original painting created from Sr. Faustina’s visions in 1934. If his schedule permits, we will have a special visit at the Pilgrimage Center with the American-born Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas*. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B.D) *This meeting is subject to confirmation according to the Archbishop’s agenda

This morning, we visit the Monastery of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus where we celebrate Mass. Continue with a visit to the House of St. Faustina. Later on, depart for the nearby small town of Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with its beautiful lakeside setting and red-brick castle on Galve Lake. We visit the Castle and its museum where we learn about Lithuania and its prehistoric history. Today, we enjoy a special included lunch in a traditional Karaim restaurant. Return to Vilnius for the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

We check out of our hotel and depart Lithuania for Poland, where we visit Sokolka, the site of the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred on October 12, 2008, two weeks after the beatification of Blessed Michael Sopocko. Here we celebrate Mass. Following free time for lunch, we continue to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, where the rest of the group will join us. Check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight (dinner and overnight are already included in the main trip cost).

Depart Knoxville on an overnight flight to Warsaw. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Enjoy your flight as you look forward to your incredible pilgrimage journey. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request and will be provided starting 120 days before departure. Group air restrictions (for ten passengers traveling together) do not permit specific seating requests on flights. We recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and land-only packages with us if seat confirmation is an important part of your trip. Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your trip Account Manager, who will be happy to assist you.

Upon arrival in Warsaw, we are greeted by our Select International Tour Manager, who will accompany us throughout the trip and assist with luggage and boarding the motorcoach. We begin by visiting St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, where Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko served and where he is buried. Here, we learn about his life and explore the small museum. We celebrate Mass before gathering for the welcome dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Warsaw. (Dinner with wine) *The program can change based on flight arrival time

Following breakfast at the hotel, which is included each morning, we enjoy a walking tour of Old Town featuring the Barbican, Market Square, St. John’s Cathedral, Royal Castle Square, and the Royal Castle (exterior view). We drive along the scenic Royal Route through the glamorous Nowy Świat shopping streets, mostly rebuilt after WWII, and end at Lazienki Park, with its gardens, palaces, and the Chopin Monument. Mass will be celebrated in Warsaw’s St. John’s Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Warsaw.

We depart for Niepokalanów, the City of the Immaculate, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. We explore the Sanctuary of Niepokalanów and learn about St. Kolbe’s devotion to the Virgin Mary. After lunch and Mass, we drive to Częstochowa for dinner and an overnight stay.

This morning, we visit Częstochowa, home to Our Lady of Częstochowa, one of Poland’s most revered pilgrimage sites. Explore Jasna Góra Monastery and see the miraculous Black Madonna image. We have time for private prayer and devotion following Mass. In the afternoon, we drive to Kraków for dinner and an overnight.

This morning, we visit the Have No Fear Center, also known as the John Paul II Sanctuary and Center. The visit offers us insights into his life and mission. Nearby, we visit the Divine Mercy Shrine, a place of deep spiritual significance associated with St. Faustina Kowalska. One of the sisters will welcome us and give us a talk about St. Faustina’s life and work at the Shrine. Following our private Mass, we visit the area where Saint Faustina lived and worked. We have time for private and devotion. Dinner and overnight in Kraków.

Today, we explore the beautiful city of Kraków, following in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II. We visit Wawel Castle, the Cathedral, and other places frequented by St. John Paul II during his early years. Our visit includes St. Peter and Paul’s Church and St. Florian’s Church. After lunch, we visit the Franciscan Church, where John Paul II often prayed. Mass will be celebrated. In the afternoon, we become familiar with the Jewish Ghetto. Tonight, dinner is at leisure, with the opportunity to explore the food scene in one of the cafes along the main square of Kraków.

Today, we visit the former concentration camp of Auschwitz and see the cell where St. Maximilian Kolbe was held, along with many other prisoners. Edith Stein was martyred here on August 9th, 1942. At the Martyrs Museum, we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Next door, we visit the Carmelite Convent, established to make reparation for the sins of the Holocaust, as well as the nearby church with striking paintings depicting St. Maximilian Kolbe’s sacrifice. Before returning to Kraków, we visit the Franciscan Monastery, which features a labyrinth. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Kraków.

This morning, we drive to Wadowice, the birthplace of Saint John Paul II. We celebrate Mass at his childhood parish, where he was baptized. We then tour his house, now a museum, and have the opportunity to try his favorite cake during our lunch at leisure. Later in the afternoon, we drive to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, one of Saint John Paul II’s favorite pilgrimage sites, located on the way back to Kraków. It was here that the Saint came with his father after his mother’s passing, instructing him: “This is your mother now.” This Franciscan sanctuary, modeled on Calvary, offers a profound spiritual experience and is also linked to St. Maximilian Kolbe, himself a Franciscan. Return to Kraków for dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Kraków.

We drive this morning toward Prague, departing Poland for the Czech Republic. En route, we stop in Brno for Mass, lunch, and to stretch our legs. Check into the hotel and enjoy dinner at leisure, where we can explore Prague’s vibrant pub and restaurant scene.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and often called the Paris of the East, Prague dazzles with its architecture and beautiful neighborhoods. We celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious and see the Infant Jesus of Prague statue. Our walking tour includes the Charles Bridge to visit the Old Town, the Market Square, the Astronomical Clock, Wenceslas Square, and the Josefov – the Jewish Quarter. The rest of the afternoon is spent at leisure exploring the city on our own. We suggest visiting Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and St. George’s Basilica. Tonight, we enjoy an evening river cruise, watching illuminated Prague from the water and savoring a delicious dinner with wine. Overnight in Prague. (B.Special dinner)

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say farewell to a country and a trip that will last in our memory forever. We are transferred to the airport for our return flight home.