Testimonies of faith in our times
8 nights
Poland is the country of living religion, crowded churches and the real influence of religion for the social, politic and the national history. Where does this affection to belief come from, even if the belief is often superficial? During our tour we are looking for the answers. We discover the spiritual culture of the nation, which has been settled and created by Christianity. Christianity, seen as the power creating manners, influences the political reality. We find out the Christianity, precised by the Polish Pope - John Paul II in the following words: "Do not be afraid".
We invite for the pilgrimage to Poland, for the meeting with the Polish church in the best known sanctuaries in Europe, and people canonised because of their heroic faith and with the local piety.
Programme:
1st day: Warsaw - Czestochowa
morning: Arrival to Warsaw airport. Transfer by bus to Czestochowa.
afternoon: The living piety - a visit to Paulins' Monastery with the miraculous painting of the Mother of God known as the Black Madonna - the most important pilgrimage place in Poland. Mass in the monastery.
evening: Arrival to Auschwitz. Check-in. Dinner and overnight in Auschwitz
2nd day: Auschwitz
morning: A visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum - the former nazi camp during the Second World War.
afternoon: My God, my God - why have you forsaken me? - retreat in the Dialogue and Prayer Centre
evening: Retreat cont. Night in Auschwitz
3rd day: Auschwitz - Wadowice - Kalwaria
morning: The way of the cross in Auschwitz- Birkenau. Departure to Wadowice.
afternoon: The Holy Father or the Polish Pope? - a stop in the birth town of John Paul II - visiting the family home and the parish church, where the Pope was baptised. Going to the Passion-Marian Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (the architecture, park landscape and pilgrimage complex which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List) visited many times by Karol Wojtyla. Arrival to Cracow.
evening: Leisure time. Night in Cracow.
4th day: Cracow
morning: The strength of the faith - why we can learn Polish history in the churches - visiting the three churches of Cracow which form together symbols of Polish history (St. Mary's Church and the Main Market Square, the Wawel Cathedral and the Royal Castle, the Arc of God Church and the Nowa Huta District - working quarter of Cracow.
afternoon: The world needs mercy - mass in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki in front of the image of the Merciful Jesus
evening: Dinner with klezmer music in a Jewish restaurant in the Kazimierz district. Night in Cracow.
5th day: Cracow - Wieliczka
morning: Going to Wieliczka Salt Mine. In 1978 it was added to UNESCO´s 1st World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage. The historic underground chambers, shafts and caverns, decorated with sculptures and carvings, are connected by 2 kilometres of tunnels. There is the biggest underground chapel in the world, of Blessed Kinga.
afternoon: Time for yourself in Cracow.
evening: Polish folklore dinner.
option: Meeting in a Polish parish church. Discussion about religious life in Poland with a priest and parishioners. Night in Cracow.
6th day: Cracow - Zakopane
morning: Departure to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Riding up a cable car to the top of Mont Kasprowy Wierch. Free time in Zakopane. A visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. Arrival to Chocholow - the lovely old wooden village.
evening: Return to Cracow. Dinner and night.
7th day: Cracow - Warsaw
morning: Departure to Warsaw.
afternoon: Tour of the capital of Poland. Views of the city - visit by coach. The programme includes: the Old Town with the Royal Castle and St. John's Cathedral, the former Ghetto site, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Royal Route, the Lazienki Park and the Palace of Science and Culture.
evening: Leisure time.
option: Meeting with a catholic journalist. Discussion about the form of the Polish Church. Night in Warsaw.
8th day: Warsaw
morning: A visit to St. Stanislaw Kostka Church, where there is the grave of priest Jerzy Popieluszko murdered in the 80s by the communist political police. Discussion subject: Church in communist times.
afternoon: Visit the reconstructed Royal Castle in Warsaw. Leisure time in the Old Town.
Option: Departure to Zelazowa Wola - a charming old Polish manor - the birthplace of the composer and national hero Frederic Chopin. Visit to the museum of Chopin. Going to the Sanctuary of Father Maximilian Kolbe in Niepokalanow. Mass. Return to Warsaw.
evening: Cultural programme. Night in Warsaw.
9th day:
Departure
