In the Footsteps of Mercy: Poland & Prague
St. John Paul II, St. Faustina, St. Maximilian Kolbe & the Infant Jesus of Prague
12 Days / 10 Nights | Warsaw, Częstochowa, Kraków, Prague & More | Available for Parish and Catholic Groups
A Journey Through Faith, Mercy & Christian Witness
Poland is a land where faith endured some of the darkest chapters of modern European history and gave the universal Church extraordinary witnesses of courage, mercy and hope.
On this pilgrimage, we follow in the footsteps of St. John Paul II, St. Faustina Kowalska and St. Maximilian Kolbe, visiting the places where they were born, prayed, discerned their vocations, carried out their ministries and ultimately left their mark upon the Church.
We will pray before the miraculous Black Madonna of Częstochowa, visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków-Łagiewniki, discover the birthplace of St. John Paul II in Wadowice, and journey to Niepokalanów, the Franciscan community founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe.
Our pilgrimage also confronts one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where we will remember the millions who suffered and died and encounter the extraordinary Christian witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe.
From Poland, our journey continues through Moravia to the beautiful city of Prague, where centuries of Catholic history meet the devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague and the Marian pilgrimage tradition of Svatá Hora.
Faith, history, culture and fellowship come together in a journey through the heart of Central Europe.
Pilgrimage Highlights
- St. Faustina Kowalska — follow her story from the church connected with her arrival in Warsaw to her baptismal parish and finally the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków.
- Divine Mercy Sanctuary — pray before the image of the Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina in Łagiewniki.
- St. John Paul II — visit Wadowice, Kraków and places intimately connected with the life of Karol Wojtyła.
- Jasna Góra & the Black Madonna — pilgrimage to Poland’s great national Marian shrine in Częstochowa.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe — visit Niepokalanów and encounter his extraordinary witness of sacrificial love at Auschwitz.
- Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko — discover the story of the Polish priest and martyr of the communist period.
- Warsaw — experience Poland’s capital and its remarkable history of destruction, resistance and rebirth.
- Kraków — explore one of Europe’s great historic cities and an important center of Polish Catholicism.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau — a profound encounter with the history of the Holocaust and the suffering of millions.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine — descend into one of Europe’s most remarkable historic mines and its extraordinary underground chapels.
- Zakopane & the Tatra Mountains — discover the landscapes and traditions of southern Poland.
- Prague — experience the religious, architectural and cultural treasures of the Czech capital.
- Infant Jesus of Prague — possibility of incorporating prayer and Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious.
- Svatá Hora — pilgrimage to one of the great historic Marian sanctuaries of Bohemia.
- Opportunities for Holy Mass, prayer and spiritual reflection throughout the journey.
A Pilgrimage Designed Around Your Parish
In the Footsteps of Mercy: Poland & Prague can be customized according to the spiritual, cultural and practical needs of each parish, diocese or Catholic organization.
Depending on the interests, available time and budget of the group, possibilities may include daily Mass arrangements, additional St. John Paul II sites, additional Divine Mercy experiences, the birthplace of St. Faustina, Niepokalanów, additional Marian shrines, cultural performances, traditional Polish dinners, additional time in Prague or pilgrimage extensions elsewhere in Central Europe.
The itinerary may also be offered as a Poland-only pilgrimage for groups wishing for a shorter program.
A Land Where Faith Endured
This pilgrimage tells a remarkable story.
At Częstochowa, we encounter a nation gathered for centuries around the image of its Mother.
At Łagiewniki, the simple religious sister who became St. Faustina reminds us of the inexhaustible Mercy of Christ.
In Wadowice and Kraków, we discover the young Karol Wojtyła before the world knew him as Pope St. John Paul II.
At Niepokalanów and Auschwitz, the life and sacrifice of St. Maximilian Kolbe confront us with the radical meaning of Christian love.
And in Prague and Svatá Hora, we discover that this story of faith extends beyond Poland into the ancient Catholic traditions of Bohemia.
The original program describes these lands as places where faith endured war, persecution and darkness, producing extraordinary witnesses of mercy, martyrdom and hope.
It is this deeper story that gives the pilgrimage its meaning.
We are not simply traveling from shrine to shrine.
We are walking through a part of Europe where men and women were repeatedly asked what their faith meant when believing became difficult — and where saints answered that question with their lives.
Important Information and Terms and Conditions
The published program is a general description and may be adjusted due to availability, operational requirements, local conditions, or the group’s needs. By registering, each traveler confirms that they have reviewed and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
Confirmed trip details, payment information, official meetings and presentations, updates, and final travel documentation will be provided through the official WeTravel page, the final itinerary, and other communications from Pilgrim Groups Travel. Travelers are responsible for reviewing all documents, insurance provisions, entry requirements, and travel instructions provided.
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Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 — USA – Warsaw
Our Pilgrimage Begins
At the appropriate time, we meet at our designated U.S. departure airport for our overnight flight to Warsaw, Poland.
Meals and refreshments will be served according to the airline’s schedule.
Overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2 — Arrival in Warsaw
Welcome to Poland
Upon arrival in Warsaw, we will be welcomed by our local team and transferred to our hotel.
Depending on our arrival schedule, we will begin our pilgrimage with the celebration of Holy Mass, followed by time for an introduction to Warsaw.
Poland’s capital has experienced war, occupation and almost unimaginable destruction, yet repeatedly rebuilt itself. Its story provides an important introduction to a country in which Catholic faith became deeply intertwined with national identity and resistance during some of Europe’s most difficult periods.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Warsaw
Day 3 — Warsaw
St. Faustina, St. John Paul II & the Church Under Communism
After breakfast, we begin at the Church of St. James, deeply connected with St. Faustina Kowalska. It was here, after arriving in Warsaw, that the young Helena Kowalska prayed while discerning the religious vocation that would transform her life.
Subject to arrangements, we may celebrate Holy Mass here.
We then explore Warsaw with our local guide, discovering landmarks such as Royal Łazienki Park, the Chopin Monument and the historic center.
Our journey also takes us through places associated with the former Warsaw Ghetto, including memorials that recall the immense suffering of Warsaw’s Jewish population during the Holocaust.
In the Old Town, we discover the Royal Castle, Cathedral, Market Square and Barbican before continuing toward Piłsudski Square, associated with St. John Paul II’s historic 1979 pilgrimage to his homeland.
Later, we visit the Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka, where we encounter the story of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, the Polish priest murdered in 1984 for his courageous opposition to communist oppression.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Warsaw
Day 4 — Warsaw – Niepokalanów – Świnice Warckie – Częstochowa
St. Maximilian Kolbe & St. Faustina
After breakfast, we depart Warsaw for Niepokalanów, the Franciscan community founded by St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe.
Here we discover the extraordinary life and missionary vision of the Franciscan priest who would ultimately give his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz.
We then continue toward Świnice Warckie and the Church of St. Casimir, where Helena Kowalska — the future St. Faustina — was baptized, made her first confession and received her First Holy Communion.
Our journey continues to Częstochowa, Poland’s spiritual capital.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Częstochowa
Day 5 — Częstochowa – Wadowice – Kraków
The Black Madonna & St. John Paul II
We begin at Jasna Góra, Poland’s great national Marian sanctuary.
Here we will pray before the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa — the Black Madonna, an image that has accompanied generations of Polish Catholics through war, occupation, persecution and renewal.
Our visit includes the monastery, basilica and Chapel of Our Lady, with time for prayer and the possibility of celebrating Holy Mass.
We then travel to Wadowice, birthplace of Karol Wojtyła — Pope St. John Paul II.
We will visit the parish church where he was baptized and prayed as a child, together with the John Paul II Family Home Museum, subject to opening schedules and availability.
Continuation to Kraków.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kraków
Day 6 — Zakopane & the Tatra Mountains
Faith, Nature & the Poland of Karol Wojtyła
Today we leave the city behind for the spectacular landscapes of southern Poland.
Our excursion takes us toward Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains, a region deeply connected with Polish culture and also beloved by Karol Wojtyła.
Depending on the final program, our day may include the traditional village of Chochołów, a walk along lively Krupówki Street, and a funicular ascent to Mount Gubałówka for panoramic views across the Tatras.
We may also visit the beautiful wooden Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Jaszczurówka, an outstanding example of the distinctive architectural tradition of the Polish highlands.
Return to Kraków.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kraków
Day 7 — Kraków & Auschwitz-Birkenau
Christian Heritage, Memory & Martyrdom
We begin with a guided exploration of Kraków, one of the great cultural and spiritual centers of Poland.
Our walking tour may include St. Florian’s Gate, the Main Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica and Jagiellonian University, where Karol Wojtyła studied before becoming Pope.
We continue toward Wawel Hill, visiting the Cathedral and praying at the tomb of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland.
Later, we travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
This visit is intentionally different from the other experiences of our pilgrimage. Auschwitz is a place of remembrance of the victims of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust and one of the most important historical sites of the 20th century.
Within this terrible history, we also encounter the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who voluntarily offered his life in place of another prisoner.
Our visit may include the area associated with his imprisonment while allowing appropriate time for silence, remembrance and prayer.
Return to Kraków.
Overnight: Kraków
Day 8 — Divine Mercy & Wieliczka
Jesus, I Trust in You
Today brings us to one of the spiritual centers of our pilgrimage: the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy at Kraków-Łagiewniki.
Here St. Faustina Kowalska lived part of her religious life, and her remains are venerated today.
We will visit the convent and sanctuary, pray before the famous image of Jesus the Merciful, and, subject to arrangements, celebrate Holy Mass.
The sanctuary is also intimately connected with St. John Paul II, who promoted the message of Divine Mercy throughout the universal Church.
Afterward, we continue to the extraordinary Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Descending beneath the earth, we encounter chambers, sculptures, underground lakes and remarkable chapels carved into salt, bearing witness to the faith of generations of miners.
Return to Kraków.
Overnight: Kraków
Day 9 — Kraków – Brno – Prague
From Poland to Ancient Bohemia
After breakfast, we leave Poland and travel toward the Czech Republic, making a stop in Brno, historic capital of Moravia.
Depending on timing, we will enjoy an introduction to the city and its historic center before continuing toward Prague.
Arrival, dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Prague
Day 10 — Prague & the Infant Jesus
Catholic Prague
Today we discover one of Europe’s most beautiful historic capitals.
Our guided visit will introduce us to Prague Castle, the monumental cathedral complex and the historic streets and squares of the Czech capital.
A special focus of our pilgrimage may be the Church of Our Lady Victorious, home to the beloved Infant Jesus of Prague, whose devotion spread from Bohemia throughout the Catholic world.
Subject to schedules and arrangements, time may be provided for Holy Mass and personal prayer before the Infant Jesus.
The remainder of our visit introduces us to Prague’s extraordinary mixture of medieval, Gothic and Baroque heritage.
Dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Prague
Day 11 — Prague – Svatá Hora – Prague
Our Lady of Svatá Hora
After breakfast, we travel to Svatá Hora, the celebrated Marian sanctuary overlooking the town of Příbram.
For more than three centuries, this beautiful pilgrimage complex has welcomed pilgrims from throughout Central Europe.
Its towers, cloisters and chapels create one of the most remarkable Catholic pilgrimage sites in Bohemia, and its church received the title of Minor Basilica.
We will have time to discover the sanctuary, pray together and, where arrangements permit, celebrate the Eucharist.
Return to Prague.
Depending on the final program, time may be available to enjoy the historic center before our farewell dinner.
Overnight: Prague
Day 12 — Prague – USA
Return Home
After breakfast or according to our flight schedule, transfer to Prague Airport for our return journey to the United States.
We return home having encountered the extraordinary witness of St. Faustina, St. John Paul II, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, prayed before Our Lady of Częstochowa and the Infant Jesus of Prague, and walked through places where faith endured some of the most difficult chapters of modern European history.
Arrival in the United States and end of our pilgrimage services.
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