Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe
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Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe
Pilgrimage Overview
Join us on a Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe with Fr. Juan Mendez & Fr. Nathan Libaire!
DAY 1
Depart USA
Our spiritual pilgrimage begins as we board our transatlantic flight to Warsaw, with meals and beverages served aloft.
DAY 2
Arrive Warsaw
After arrival in Warsaw, we are met by our representative and transferred to our hotel. Discover the “new” Warsaw, which has been lovingly restored after the devastation of World War II.
DAY 3
Lyon
This morning we travel to Paray-le-Monial, the place where St. Margaret Mary Alacoque experienced visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus between 1673 and 1675. We visit the Chapel of the Visitation and celebrate Mass. We then continue our tour and visit the room of the relics of St. Margaret Mary, the Diorama of St. Margaret, and the Eucharist Museum. Other highlights include the Basilica of Sacré Coeur and the Chapel of St. Claude in honor of St. Margaret Mary’s Spiritual Director. After free time for lunch we return to Lyon stopping in Ars-sur-Formans, home of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1986. We visit the basilica housing St. John’s incorrupt body and the Chapel of Our Lady of Ars, a favorite devotion of St. John. Mass is celebrated for the priests of our diocese before returning to Lyon for dinner. After, we return to Lyon for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
Warsaw / Krakow
Depart Warsaw and drive to Czestochowa, a city which has been for the last 600 years the principal center of the Catholic religion in Poland and is a shrine for pilgrims. Visit Jasna Gora Monastery with religious, historic, and artistic value, and participate in the unveiling of the Black Madonna. Our guide will show us the Gothic Chapel of Our Lady, in which hangs the famous Black Madonna icon on a magnificent silver and ebony altar. Tour the treasury and celebrate mass at the Shrine. After Lunch proceed to Auschwitz for a guided tour of the infamous death camp where millions were killed during World War II. Continue to Krakow, our home for the next three nights.
DAY 5
Krakow
Today, after breakfast, we visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Salette where we celebrate Mass, afterwards we make our way to Turin for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
Krakow
This morning we drive to Wieliczka to see the oldest salt mine in Europe, a world-class tourist attraction. It is a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground salt lakes with a rich interior of decorated chapels including the famous Blessed Kings Chapel, plus other galleries and workings made of salt. Wieliczka salt mine is listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Then proceed to Wadowice, birthplace of Karol Wojtyla, the late Pope John Paul II. His museum is in his family house. Continue to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a popular pilgrimage place for the Pope when he was a young man, where in the 17th century the Palatine of Krakow founded a Franciscan Monastery. The church has very rich Baroque decorations. On the slope of the hill and in the valley is an architectural ‘Way of the Cross’ comprising 42 Mannerist and Baroque chapels and some small Calvary churches.
DAY 7
Krakow / Prague
Depart this morning for the Czech capital of Prague. En route, stop at Velehrad to visit the Shrine in memory of the two missionaries from Byzantium, “Cyril and Methodius,” who brought Christianity to the Czech lands. In 1985, His Holiness Pope John Paul II conferred the “Golden Rose” on Velehrad, a Papal distinction conveyed to only three other venerable places of pilgrimage: Lourdes, Guadalupe, and Czestochowa. Continue to the “Golden City” of Prague, one of Europe’s most attractive capitals.
DAY 8
Prague
Spanning the River Vltava, Prague ranks as one of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe. The town is famous for its Gothic and Baroque architecture. Marvel at the graceful enormity of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady of Victory, and the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. After mass, cross the historic Charles Bridge, built in 1400, and admire its Baroque statuary. Continue to the Loreto Shrine, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Eastern Europe. Recall the timeless masterpieces of Mozart, Wagner, and Berlioz while viewing the city’s many theaters and opera houses.
DAY 9
Prague / Vienna
Depart Prague this morning and take a scenic ride through the countryside to Cesky Krumlov and enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful Renaissance town. Then continue our drive into Austria until reaching the imperial city of Vienna for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10
Vienna
This morning we celebrate mass at the Basilica of St. Francis. After mass, we enjoy a guided tour of Assisi including St. Francis Basilica, with the tomb of St. Francis, and view the series of frescoes depicting his life. Continue with a visit to the Santuario Della Spogliazione where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb is placed. Carlo is the first millennial to be declared Blessed who loved the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. From there, you will continue on a walking tour through this picturesque town, including the birthplace of St. Francis, and end with a tour of the Church that honors St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clare Sisters. Lunch is self-arranged in Assisi. In the afternoon, we board our touring motor coach and transfer to Rome for check-in at our hotel and dinner.
DAY 11
Melk / Vienna
Early this morning we visit Melk Abbey, one of the most imposing architectural masterpieces north of the Alps and a focal point in the formative years of Austria’s history. 1989 marked the 900th anniversary of the day on which Melk was given over to Benedictine monks. Immediately following our visit to Melk Abbey, we enjoy a cozy passage on board ship in the Wachau region, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list for its exceptional beauty. Among the highlights are the Melk Abbey, the Schönbühel Castle, and the town of Dürnstein with its blue tower. The cozy onboard restaurant serves local specialties, such as apricot dumplings, and excellent wines from the Wachau to round off the trip on the waves of the Danube. We end our cruise in Krems, then return to Vienna for an evening at leisure.
DAY 12
Vienna / Budapest
This morning we depart Vienna and drive to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Here we will visit the picturesque Old Town, Michael’s Gate, Bratislava Castle, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Then continue to lovely Budapest, the capital of Hungary, which straddles the Danube River. The Buda Hills rise on one side of the river, housing the city’s ancient past, and Pest is on the other side, modern and inviting. The two are linked with a series of elegant bridges.
DAY 13
Budapest
This morning we will visit Hero’s Square, one of the largest and most inspiring spaces in Budapest, with its towering stone column and statue of the Archangel Gabriel. Then celebrate Mass in St. Stephen’s Basilica. Next, discover the magic of Fishermen’s Bastion, with seven stone towers overlooking the famous river, and the distinctive Castle District with St. Mathias Church.
DAY 14
Return Home
This morning we board our flights home, carrying with us memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Roundtrip Flights
- Excursions per itinerary
- 4-5 Star Hotels
- 12 Nights Accommodation
- All Meals per Itinerary
- Professional Catholic Tour Guides
- Spiritual Director
- Daily Mass
- Luxury Motorcoach
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Passport and Visas (Refer to the section below for Passports or Visas help)
- Gratuities
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We recommend that all travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect themselves and their trip investment. Travel protection plans can provide coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation/repatriation, trip delay, baggage delay, and more. Please go to the link below to learn more Click here for Travel Insurance Details.
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