Our pilgrimage begins as we depart on our overnight flight to Krakow. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft.

Upon arrival in Krakow we will be met by our pilgrimage manager, who will remain with us for the duration of our time in Poland. Krakow was thankfully largely untouched by World War II and is an important focal point of Polish Catholicism. Pending arrival time, we will have some free time to explore the Old Town on our own. Transfer to our hotel for check-in and dinner. (D) Overnight Krakow

Following breakfast, we will travel to Auschwitz to pay respects at the remains of this Nazi concentration camp where over a million people were killed during World War II. Both St. Edith Stein and St. Maximilian Kolbe were sent here, along with millions of other innocent Jews, Christians, and Poles. Afterwards, proceed to Wawel Hill and the Cathedral of St. Stanislaw, Poland’s second most important pilgrimage shrine. Continue to Krakow’s Old Town to see the main Market Square, the Church of St. Mary, City Hall Tower, Kanonicza Street where Pope John Paul II resided while living in Krakow and the courtyard of the Collegium Maius where he was a student. We then return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Overnight Krakow

We begin today with a drive to Wieliczka to visit one of the oldest salt mines in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground caverns including a rich interior of decorated chapels, some dating to the 17thcentury. This afternoon we will experience a highlight of our pilgrimage when we travel to Lagiewniki, where Saint Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, lived and died. Enjoy a guided tour of the shrine and venerate the image of Divine Mercy and St. Faustina’s tomb. We will have some time for personal prayer and exploring the grounds. Afterwards, pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy together by a relic of St. John Paul II in the new center “Have No Fear”, reflecting on the Divine Mercy our Lord offers each one of us. Return to our hotel in Krakow for dinner. (B, D) Overnight Krakow

Today we walk in St. John Paul II’s footsteps as we retrace much of his early life, beginning with Wadowice where we visit the Gothic Basilica of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, where he received baptism, first communion, and confirmation. See the Baroque nave and the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Perpetual help, in front of which the future saint prayed daily. Get to know the former Karol Wojtyla in a new way as we explore his hometown and the museum located in his family home, containing relics of his youth and personal belongings from when he was a local priest. Our next stop is a place that was one of John Paul’s favorite pilgrimage sites from his youth and young adult years – Kalawaria Zebrzydowska. This unique location began in the 17th century, when the Palatine of Krakow founded a Bernardine Monastery and built a replica of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The complex grew over the years to encompass replicas of the Tomb of Christ, The Mount of Olives, the Home of Caiaphas, and other sites in the Holy Land, to provide a place of more local pilgrimage for those who could not journey to Jerusalem. Now, on the slopes of the hills and in the valley are 43 chapels and shrines scattered on only 4km distance honoring the Way of the Cross, the Mysteries of the Rosary, and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. (B, D) Overnight Krakow

After breakfast we will make our way to the airport and depart Krakow. Upon arrival in Split, we will be met by our pilgrimage manager, Ann Vucic, who will guide us during our time in Croatia and Bosnia/Herzegovina. We will make our way to Medjugorje and upon arrival we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Medjugorje

• On our first full day in Medjugorje, your guide will provide you with a comprehensive orientation about Medjugorje and the apparitions, and you will be a given a brief tour of the area, so that you are familiar with everything.
• Many of the activities will be subject to availability and weather. You will always have the option of participating in group activities or spending time by yourself. These activities include:
  • Attending the Holy Mass in English every day at St. James church (usually at 10:00 am), with English speaking pilgrims from throughout the world.
  • Participating in the international program of prayer each evening, which includes the Rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation, international Mass for all pilgrims, prayers for healing, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
  • Climbing Apparition Hill, the site where Our Lady first appeared to the visionaries.
  • Climbing Cross Mountain; praying the Stations of the Cross as we ascend to the summit.
  • Visiting the Franciscan Martyrs at Siroki Brijeg, and the Convent of the School Sisters in Miletina.
  • Hearing talks by priests, visionaries, and other locals, when possible.
  • Free time for shopping, so that you can bring back a piece of Medjugorje to your loved ones at home, and private reflection.

See Day 7

See Day 7

See Day 7

See Day 7

Depart Medjugorje early in the morning after a wonderful pilgrimage with Our Lady! Transfer to the airport in Split for our return flight home.