Arrival
Arrival in Warsaw meeting with the guide and transfer to a centrally located hotel. Time to unpack and unwind. Meeting at the hotel lobby and departure for welcome dinner. The first evening gives a possibility to visit the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which Sister Faustyna entered in 1925.
Warsaw
A thorough half-day city tour: Old Town, carefully rebuilt after WW II, with the colorful Old Market Square, remnants of the defense walls, St. John’s Cathedral and Royal Castle. Then we’ll continue to the beautiful Łazienki Park laid out by Poland’s last monarch. After lunch a visit to St. James’ church, where young Faustina made her first stop and confession upon arrival in Warsaw. Then, we recommend either a visit to the Warsaw Uprising Museum or St. Stanislaus Church where the Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko, Solidarity leader and martyr, used to preach.
FAUSTINA’S ORIGINS & VISION
On our way to Częstochowa, we’ll make a short stop in Płock. This is the convent where Saint Sister Faustina had on February 22, 1931 her first vision of Jesus as the King of Divine Mercy. Płock was was the royal seat for two Polish kings, so we’ll not miss the castle hill with a beautiful Art Nouveau cathedral and an imposing view of the Vistula river.
Then, we’ll continue to Głogowiec village where St. Faustina was born as the third of ten children and named Helena in 1905. The humble house still stands and features a small museum. In Świnice Warckie, 2 km away, we’ll also enter the parish church where she was baptized. We’ll continue to Częstochowa for overnight.
THE SPIRITUAL CENTRE OF POLAND
In the morning a tour of the Jasna Gora (Bright Hill) Monastery and Poland’s most important Marian shrine with the miraculous icon of the Black Madonna. Time for Holy Mass.
In the afternoon, a stop in Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II. We will visit the parish church with his baptismal font and his historic house museum. Free evening and overnight in Kraków.
ROYAL KRAKÓW
After breakfast, a half-day city tour of Kraków, including a visit to the Royal Wawel Castle, the enormous yet lovely Market Square and St. Mary’s Basilica, which boasts one of Europe’s largest medieval altars, carved by Veit Stoss.
In the afternoon a complimentary tour to the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mines. Come to admire the fascinating underground world full of huge carved chambers, sculptures, and chapels hewn in salt rocks during 800 years of continuous mining.
THE SANCTUARY OF THE DIVINE MERCY
This morning we’ll visit Krakow’s Lagiewniki district with the spectacular Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. It is very modern, built only after St Faustina’s beatification, but connected to the convent where Sister Faustina spent the last years of her life and died on October 5th 1938. The main church is the resting place of St Faustina’s relics and houses also the most famous Image of of the Divine Mercy painted by Adolf Hyła. There will be a possibility to attend Holy Mass.
Just within walking distance away is the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II including a vial of his blood. Free afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Kraków.
RETURN TO WARSAW
After breakfast departure to Warsaw or a possibility to extend your stay.
