GREAT SAINTS PILGRIMAGE
POLAND
Including Warsaw, Divine Mercy Shrine, Czestochowa, Krakow, and more
11 DAYS SEPT. 12–22, 2026
Jon Leonetti
Host
Bishop William Joensen
Host/Chaplain
September 12, SATURDAY, DAY 1: DEPART FROM USA
Depart on an overnight flight to Warsaw. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Premium economy and business class rates are available upon request.
September 13, SUNDAY, DAY 2: WARSAW
Upon landing in Warsaw, our pilgrimage officially begins as we are warmly welcomed by Jon, Bishop Joensen, and our expert tour manager, who will be with us every step of the journey, assisting with luggage and guiding us seamlessly onto our motorcoach. Our first pilgrimage stop brings us to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, a place deeply marked by courage and faith. Here we encounter the powerful story of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko, where he served faithfully and where he is now laid to rest. We will learn about his heroic witness, visit the small on site museum, and pray at his tomb. We then celebrate Sunday Mass together, grounding our pilgrimage in the Eucharist, before gathering for a joyful welcome dinner. Overnight in Warsaw, as our journey through Poland begins in earnest.
September 14, MONDAY, DAY 3: WARSAW – SHRINE
Following breakfast at the hotel, which is included each morning, we set out on a guided walking tour of Old Town in Warsaw, taking in the historic Barbican, Market Square, St. John’s Archcathedral, Royal Castle Square, and the exterior of the Royal Castle. As we walk these beautifully restored streets, we reflect on Warsaw’s remarkable story of destruction and rebirth, shaped by deep faith and perseverance. After free time for lunch, we visit the powerful Warsaw Rising Museum, where we encounter the courage, suffering, and sacrifice of the Polish people during World War II. We then celebrate Mass, grounding the day in prayer, before gathering for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay in Warsaw.
September 15, TUESDAY, DAY 4: OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA
After breakfast, we travel along the scenic Royal Route through the elegant Nowy Świat shopping streets, beautifully rebuilt after World War II, before arriving at Łazienki Park with its peaceful gardens, palaces, and the beloved Chopin Monument. We then depart for Niepokalanów, the City of the Immaculate founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Here we explore the sanctuary and learn about his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and his heroic witness of faith. After the included lunch and Mass, we continue on to Częstochowa for dinner and an overnight stay.
September 16, WEDNESDAY, DAY 5: OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW
This morning we arrive in Częstochowa, home to Our Lady of Częstochowa, one of the most revered and beloved pilgrimage sites in all of Poland. We explore the great Jasna Góra Monastery and stand before the miraculous image of the Black Madonna, a powerful symbol of faith, endurance, and hope for the Polish people. We celebrate Mass within the shrine, uniting our intentions with generations of pilgrims who have come here before us, followed by time for quiet, personal prayer and devotion before Our Lady. In the afternoon, we depart for Kraków, reflecting on the graces of the day as we journey onward. Upon arrival, we gather for dinner and an overnight stay in Kraków.
September 17, THURSDAY, DAY 6: AUSCHWITZ – KRAKOW
Our day is marked by both sorrow and hope as we journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a place that bears witness to unimaginable suffering and profound courage. Here we visit the cell where St. Maximilian Kolbe was imprisoned before offering his life for another, along with the barracks and grounds where so many innocent lives were lost. At the Martyrs Museum, we pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, holding their memory in silence and prayer. We then visit the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer, with the hope of meeting Carmelite Sister Maximiliana (TBC), whose presence continues the mission of prayer, healing, and reconciliation. Mass will be celebrated, offering a moment to place sorrow, grief, and hope before God. Our final visit is to a Franciscan Monastery, where we reflect on faith lived heroically in the face of darkness. The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure, with an overnight stay in Kraków.
September 18, FRIDAY, DAY 7: DIVINE MERCY SHRINE – ST. JOHN PAUL II CENTER
This morning we visit the Divine Mercy Shrine, a place of profound spiritual significance intimately connected to St. Faustina Kowalska and the message of Divine Mercy that has spread throughout the world. Upon arrival, one of the sisters welcomes us and shares a talk on St. Faustina’s life, her hidden faithfulness, and the mission entrusted to her within these very walls. We celebrate Mass and spend time in a Holy Hour, allowing the message of mercy, trust, and surrender to sink deeply into our hearts. We then visit the site where Saint Faustina lived and worked, with time set aside for quiet, personal prayer and devotion. In the afternoon, we continue to the John Paul II Sanctuary, also known as the Have No Fear Center. Here we gain deeper insight into the life, teaching, and global mission of Saint John Paul II, whose call to trust Christ still echoes across the world. The day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay in Kraków.
September 19, SATURDAY, DAY 8: KRAKOW
Today we explore the beauty and soul of Kraków by walking in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II and visiting the places that shaped his early faith and vocation. We begin with visits to St. Peter and Paul Church and St. Florian’s Church, familiar places of prayer during his youth. At the Franciscan Church, where he often prayed before the image of the Holy Spirit, we celebrate Mass and enter into the same quiet devotion that sustained him for years. After lunch, we visit Jagiellonian University and its museum, where Karol Wojtyła studied and deepened his love for truth, beauty, and the human person. We then visit the modest apartment where he moved with his father in 1938, preserved as it was when they shared this simple home during those formative years. We continue with visits to the churches of St. Stanislaus Church and St. Mary’s Basilica, before enjoying an evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own, with time to explore the cafes and vibrant food scene surrounding Kraków’s main square.
September 20, SUNDAY, DAY 9: BIRTHPLACE OF ST. JOHN PAUL II & KALWARIA
This morning we journey to Wadowice, the hometown of Saint John Paul II, where his life and vocation first took root. We celebrate Mass at his childhood parish, the very church where he was baptized, before visiting his family home, now a museum that offers a moving glimpse into his early years. During a leisurely lunch, there is time to enjoy his favorite local cake, a simple and personal connection to the saint. In the afternoon, we continue to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, one of Saint John Paul II’s most beloved pilgrimage sites, located along our return route to Kraków. It was here that he came with his father after his mother’s death and was entrusted to Our Lady with the words, “This is your mother now.” Modeled on Calvary and served by the Franciscans, this sanctuary offers a deeply powerful spiritual experience and shares a spiritual kinship with saints such as St. Maximilian Kolbe. We return to Kraków for dinner and an overnight stay.
September 21, MONDAY, DAY 10: KRAKOW
After breakfast, we visit the magnificent Wawel Cathedral and the state rooms of Wawel Castle, standing at the very crossroads of Poland’s spiritual and royal history. We then continue to St. Anna’s Church, located within the UNESCO protected historic center of the city, where we celebrate Mass in a setting rich with faith and tradition. In the afternoon, we explore the historic Jewish Ghetto, reflecting on the lives, suffering, and resilience of its people, before visiting Corpus Christi Church. The evening is at leisure, allowing time to enjoy the city one last time, before we gather for a special farewell dinner with beverages included. Overnight in Kraków.
September 22, TUESDAY, DAY 11: RETURN TO U.S.A.
With hearts full of gratitude for the graces received, the places visited, and the prayers offered along the way, we gather one last time after breakfast and depart for Kraków Airport for our return flight home, carrying with us the memories, friendships, and spiritual fruits of this pilgrimage.
YOUR POLAND PILGRIMAGE INCLUDES
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Round-trip airfare from DSM and JFK to Warsaw, returning from Krakow to DSM and JFK
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4 & 5 star hotel accommodations throughout
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Daily breakfast buffet
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2 restaurant lunches
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6 Hotel dinners with wine
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Private A/C motor coach
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Professional English-speaking Christian guides
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Whisper headsets for official sites
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Daily private Mass
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Celebration of Life dinner with music and wine
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Travel Portfolio
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Service charges and hotel tax
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And more!