St. Benedict Tours Presents: A special, by-invitation-only custom tour of Krakow, Poland. To be placed on a waiting list or for more info Call Toll-Free: 800-625-2565.
12 Day Pilgrimage/Retreat Krakow, Poland
June 14 – 25, 2019
Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR, Spiritual Director
Day 1. Friday, June 14, 2019….Departure From Newark International Airport to Krakow, Poland via Munich, Germany
Dinner and a light breakfast will be served during the flight from Newark to Munich.
Day 2. Saturday, June 15, 2019… Arrival at the Munich International Airport
At Munich International Airport you will be met by Lufthansa Service Guides. They will escort us to the Munich Chapel, located at the Munich Airport Center. At the chapel Fr. Mariusz Koch and Fr. Glenn Sudano will concelebrate Holy Mass for us. After Mass, Lufthansa Service Guides will escort us through security and to our gate for our departure to Krakow, Poland. Arrival at Krakow International Airport
After you obtain your own luggage and pass through customs, you will be greeted by a local English speaking tour guide. We will take a 30 – 45 minute ride to our hotel in center city Krakow via a private, modern, air- conditioned coach. Upon our arrival in Krakow, a hot meal will be waiting for us at our hotel, Radisson Blu. The Radisson Blu is a 5-star hotel, conveniently located within walking distance to the main square, Rynek Glowny, in the heart of old town of Krakow. During our 7 day stay at the Radisson Blu we will enjoy a breakfast buffet in the morning. In the evening, we will enjoy a buffet dinner at the Radisson Blu (except for one dinner at a local restaurant, with folk music).
Day 3. Sunday, June 16, 2019….John Paul II Route Tour/ Wadowice
We will visit the birthplace of John Paul II, Wadowice. Born in 1929, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pontiff lived in Wadowice until 1938. With our English speaking guide, we will have a guided tour of the Wojtyla family home and the John Paul II Museum, where we will see family possessions, as well as personal belongings of Father Karol Wojtyla.
In Wadowice (known for its beautiful architectural buildings), we will have time to explore the historic streets of Wadowice and also have lunch on your own. During the day at Wadowice a private Holy Mass will be celebrated by one of the priests from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
Day 4. Monday, June 17, 2019….Czestochowa/The Black Madonna Tour
Czestochowa is the spiritual capital of Poland. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world come to Czestochowa to pray before our Lady of Czestochowa icon, also known as the Black Madonna of Poland. The tradition is that this original icon was “written” by St. Luke on the table top from the house of the Holy Family. It is believed that St. Joseph, a carpenter, made the table.
The icon was hidden in Jerusalem until it was found by St. Helena in 326 AD. The icon remained in Constantinople for about 500 years; than it was moved to Ukraine. During a Muslin Tatars attack, the Christians decided to move the icon further West. Tradition has it that the horses refused to move when they reached Czestochowa in 1382. It was taken as a sign that the icon should remain there in Czestochowa.
We will have a private guided tour of the Jasna Gora Monastery with an English speaking guide. Fr. Mariusz will celebrate a private Holy Mass at Czestochowa for us. Also, we will have time for private prayers at one of the many chapels at Czestochowa, browse in the religious gift shops and have lunch on your own.
Day 5. Tuesday, June 18, 2019….Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine Tour
Auschwitz, a former concentration camp, is known all over the world as a symbol of the Holocaust. During World War II it was the largest concentration camp of Nazi Germany. About 1.1 million people, mostly Jewish people, but also Poles, Romani and Russians lost their lives at Auschwitz.
After the war, the Polish government decided to restore Auschwitz-Birkenau and turn it into a museum. Today, Auschwitz-Birkenau is part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and more than a million tourists visit Auschwitz each year. Although touring Auschwitz-Birkenau can be traumatic, it is a reminder of the dreadful times of World War II and the Holocaust, and honors the victims of Nazism. St. Maximilian Kolbe, known as prisoner #16670 in the Auschwitz death camp, was arrested in Poland in February, 1941. In May of 1941, St. Maximilian Kolbe was sent to Auschwitz where he eventually gave up his life for another prisoner on August 14,1941, at the young age of 47.
We will have the opportunity to tour Auschwitz-Birkenau with an English speaking guide from the museum. Also, there will be time for lunch on your own. After lunch we will journey to Wieliczka Salt Mine (via private coach). There, an English speaking guide from the Salt Mine will share with us the mine’s history and its secrets. Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest in the world and was established in the 13th century and continued to produce table salt until 2007. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is noted for it’s breathtaking underground chambers carved entirely in salt. The mine also contains entire underground churches, altars, bas-reliefs, and dozens of life-sized or larger statues. At one of the chapels, a CFR priest will celebrate Holy Mass for us.
Day 6. Wednesday, June 19, 2018….Walking Tour Krakow & Kazimierz District via
Electric Cars
Krakow is Poland’s best-known and most-visited city and many consider Krakow the country’s culture capital. One of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere is to take a stroll along its cobbled streets. During our walking tour, our English speaking guide will provide us with valuable insights into the city’s history and culture as well as major places of interest. The tour will include entry tickets to Wawel State Rooms, Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church and to Schindler’s Factory.
After the walking tour will have lunch at a Polish Restaurant on the main market square, Rynek Glowny. Following lunch, our tour will continue to the Kazimierz district via electric cars. During the communist era, Kazimierz became one of Krakow’s dodgiest districts while gradually falling into disrepair. Rediscovered in the 1990s, thanks to the fall of the regime and worldwide exposure through the lens of Steven Spielberg, Kazimierz has rebounded. Today, Kazimierz is a bustling, bohemian neighborhood packed with historical sites, atmospheric cafes and art galleries.
Day 7. Thursday, June 20, 2019….Celebration of Corpus Christi Day
A free day to participate in the local celebration of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is a Roman Catholic holy day that has been observed since the 13th Century A.D. to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. In Catholic Poland, Corpus Christi is a national holiday. Special Masses are offered in honor of the Eucharist. Immediately after Mass, devotees dressed in traditional Polish garb, varying region by region, process through the streets.
Day 8. Friday, June 21, 2019….Divine Mercy Sanctuary & John Paul II Museum
We will visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary where St. Faustina Kowalski lived and received the Message of Divine Mercy. At the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, we will have a private lecture at the sanctuary, visit the tomb of St. Faustina and tour the John Paul II museum. You will have time to spend in private prayer, explore the Sanctuary or have lunch on your own. Our tour guide will be available to assist you. Also, at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a private Mass will be celebrated by one of the priests from the Franciscan Friars Of The Renewal.
Day 9. Saturday, June 22, 2019….Zakopane, Tatry Mountains & Ksiezowka
Zakopane is a resort town in southern Poland, at the base of Tatry Mountains. In the wintertime, Zakopane is a popular destination for winter sports; summertime, mountain climbing and hiking. With the assistance of our English speaking tour guide, we will explore the charming village of Zakopane, known for it’s chalets made of natural wood without nails or screw.
We will visit a beautiful old church, built in 1851; it includes wooden sculptures and the Stations of the Cross painted on glass. We will also tour the Peksowy Brzyzek National Cemetery; ride the Funicular up and down Gubalowka Hill & Jumping Hill; browse Krupowki Street and have time for lunch on you own. We will also tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptowki. The Sanctuary was created in gratitude to Our Lady for saving Pope John Paul II’s life in the unsuccessful assassination attempt on May 13, 1981.
Retreat House of Conference of the Bishops of Poland “Ksiezowka”
We will experience 2 nights stay at Ksiezowka, the Retreat House of the Bishops. At Ksiezowka, we will participate in Holy Mass celebrated by one of the priests on the pilgrimage. After Mass, dinner will be served.
Day 10. Sunday, June 23, 2019… Ksiezowka
Ksiezowka was built in 1854 on the outskirts of Zakopane as a forestry building. After World War II the house became the property of the Conference of the Bishops of Poland. Now a retreat house, bishops and priests come from all of Poland to spend quite time in the serenity of the Tatra Mountains. Ksiezowka is an exceptional place of prayer; a place sanctified by many hours of prayer and countless Masses celebrated in the three chapels: Wooden Papal Chapel, Chapel of Saint Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski, and in the chapel in the Papal Apartment.
We will be able to visit the Papal Apartment where Karol Wojtyla stayed as a bishop and once after he became Pope. Mass will be celebrated in the morning. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at Ksiezowka retreat house.
Free time during the day to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Ksiezowka Retreat House, private prayer, or spending some time in village of Zakopane. Zakopane is known for it’s local crafts, street musicians, horse-drawn carriages and local Polish cheese and foods.
Day 11. Monday, June 24, 2019….Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec
After Mass and breakfast, we will depart Ksiezowka for our overnight stay at the historic Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec, founded in 1044. Lunch will be served at the Abbey, followed by a tour of the Abbey. An active Benedictine Community, we will be able to hear the monks pray the Divine Office, in Polish, in this most beautiful and peaceful monastic setting. A farewell dinner will be served in the Paulus Room, Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec.
Day 12. Tuesday, June 25, 2019….Departure to Newark International Airport via Munich, Germany
After Holy Mass and breakfast we will depart for the Krakow International Airport for our return flight to Newark International Airport via a private, air-conditioned coach.