Our pilgrimage day begins with a visit and Mass at the stunning Basilica of St Stephen which holds the mummified hand of St Stephen, the first King of Hungary. Continue on to view the decorative Parliament building, Heroes Square, the 118 foot high Corinthian column dedicated to the Roman Catholic Church, the 13th century Church of St Matthias and the Fisherman’s Bastion. Finish our tour with a panoramic view of the city from Gellert Hill.

Enjoy some free time this afternoon before embarking on an enchanting Dinner Cruise on the River Danube to see the city’s architecture gloriously illuminated.

Budapest overnight (BD)

Departing Budapest this morning, we journey north crossing into the Slovak Republic and then Poland, passing magnificent alpine landscape to the resort village of Zakopane.  On arrival we will celebrate Mass and take time for prayer in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, built in thanksgiving of Pope St John Paul II’s narrow escape from assassination at St Peter’s Square on 13 May, 1981. 

Zakopane overnight (BD) 

Today we embark on a cable car ride into the Tatras Mountains with its many walking trails once frequented by Fr Karol (Pope St John Paul II) and his companions. Also here atop Mt Kasprowy we enter the charming wooden Jaszczorowka Chapel so loved by Pope St John Paul II and where we will celebrate our spectacular Mass.

In the late afternoon we journey north to Krakow.

Krakow overnight (BD)

Today we commence our walking tour at the Wawel Cathedral where in the crypt below Fr Karol was ordained in 1946 and celebrated his first Mass. The Cathedral has been the coronation site of the Polish monarchs and has held numerous pieces of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicist and Modern art. Here you also have the opportunity to pray at the tomb of the patron saint of Poland, St Stanislaus.

Continue on to St Mary’s Church, University and Market Square to experience one of the most beautiful medieval city centres in Europe. Enter St Florian’s Church, where the young Karol developed a flourishing underground youth ministry at great risk.

Our afternoon draws us to the inspired Shrine of Divine Mercy where, between 1931 – 1938 Our Lord appeared to Sr Faustina Kowalska (a Polish Sister of Mercy) entrusting with her the mission of spreading His message of merciful love for humanity. We will celebrate Mass at the shrine and witness the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus before venerating the tomb of St Faustina.

Time permitting, we will visit the nearby ‘Have No Fear’ John Paul II Shrine where we can encounter ‘the person of John Paul II, his thoughts, his spirit and his sanctity’ (Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz).

Travel out then for an enthralling tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines, the oldest operational mines in Europe and dating back to the 13th century.

Krakow overnight (BD)

We travel out of Krakow this morning and journey west to visit the celebrated Marian site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which remains the favourite boyhood shrine of Pope St John Paul II.

Continue to Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (the now canonised Pope St John Paul II) where we enter his family house and even the grounds where he used to play Football! The central point of the town is the market square with its Parish Church, and the famous Baptismal basin where Karol was baptized. Next to the church, we find the saint’s birthplace and the nearby Museum encompassing the former home of the Wojtyla family.

In the afternoon we journey north and enter on a deeply moving encounter of Auschwitz where we mourn the millions of people who were put to death in the biggest concentration camp of Hitler’s Nazism. Pope St John Paul II has termed this place the Golgotha of the modern world. We pray in the martyrdom bunker of St Maximilian Kolbe and view his cell while reflecting upon his selfless courage. After the tour of Auschwitz, we will have Mass in one of the beautiful town Churches.

Return to Krakow in time for dinner. 

Krakow overnight (BD)

We farewell Krakow this morning, journeying north by coach to Czestochowa where the fortress monastery of the Pauline Monks of Jasna Gora (meaning Bright Hill) is located.

En route we visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima in Trzebinia, famous for its miraculous statue of the Mother of God of Fatima brought from Fatima in 1962. In 1967 the figure was moved to a separate chapel. In 1997 it was ceremoniously crowned with the papal crowns and the church officially became a Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Fatima (the first night vigil was held 47 years earlier on 13th May 1950).

Czestochowa is home to the cherished miraculous icon of Our Lady with the Child Jesus, an object of veneration for centuries (also known as the Black Madonna). Attracting more than five million pilgrims every year, Our Lady of Czestochowa is recognized as one of the most visited places of Christian pilgrimage in the world. This afternoon we will celebrate a private Mass before the image here in the ancient chapel. Later we will tour the Basilica, Treasury, Museum and Knights Hall.

Czestochowa overnight (BD)

Depart Czestochowa this morning and journey west through lush green countryside. We make a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Wambierzyce in the foothills of the Table Mountains, where we will celebrate Mass. This is one of the oldest Polish places of Christian pilgrimage featuring a Jerusalem-like setting and home to the miniature miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. The Shrine’s grounds and surrounding hills are dotted with numerous chapels, grottos and stations depicting important events in the life of Jesus and Mary. While here we visit the Szopka with its hundreds of tiny, mechanised figures carved from limewood reliving the Gospel stories.

We reboard our coach and continue west, crossing the border into the Czechia. Finally arrive in the golden city of Prague famous for its Gothic and Baroque architecture and ranked as one of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe.

Prague overnight (BD)

We commence our final day of pilgrimage with a walking tour of Prague. Visit St Vitus Cathedral, the city’s most distinctive landmark which houses the crown jewels and the tomb of ‘Good King’ Wenceslas. Continue to the Hradcany area and the Prague Castle.

We celebrate Mass today at the Church of Our Lady Victorious where we come face to face with the Holy Infant of Prague. This wax figure has an impressive record of miracle cures and is one of the most revered images in the Catholic world.

Cross the historical Charles Bridge built in 1400 and continue to the Old Town area including Wenceslas Square, Celetna Lane, Old Town Square (with its random network of streets dating back to the 13th century), the Town Hall with the astronomical clock and Tyn Cathedral.

We enjoy a special dinner this evening as a fitting final celebration of our pilgrimage together.

Prague overnight (BD)

Our pilgrimage ends after breakfast this morning. (B)