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DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20260927T080000
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SUMMARY:Pilgrimage to Lithuania & Poland - Sept. 27-Oct. 8\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:A Personal Invitation From Father Roger\nDay 1: Sep 27 – Depart Canada \nDay 2: September 28th 2026 (Monday): Vilnius Arrival (D)\n· Arrive to Vilnius International Airport and meet your tour assistant\n· Claim your luggage\, board the coach and transfer to the hotel\n· Check in at the hotel\n· Celebrate Welcome Mass at local church (subject to confirmation\, time permitting)\n· Welcome dinner at the hotel\, Overnight at the hotel in Vilnius\nAttention: Schedule on this day is subject to change depending on flight details. \nDay 3: September 29th\, 2026 (Tuesday): Vilnius – Trakai – Vilnius (B\,-\,D)\nToday we visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Vilnius\, where we will see the original image of the Merciful Jesus\, painted under the guidance of St. Faustina and now venerated by pilgrims from around the world. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy (subject to confirmation). \nWe will then meet our local guide for a tour of Vilnius Old Town\, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich Christian history and beautiful architecture. Highlights include the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus\, the historic Gediminas Tower (exterior view)\, and the stunning Gothic Church of St. Anne.\nWe will also visit the Gate of Dawn\, home to the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary\, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Lithuania. \nOur tour continues with the famous Baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul\, known for its remarkable interior decorations\, as well as the Bernardine Monastery and the House of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy\, where St. Faustina once lived in this wooden house during her time in Vilnius.\nLunch will be on your own. \nIn the afternoon we drive to Trakai\, a picturesque lakeside town\, to visit the impressive Trakai Castle\, a 14th-century Gothic fortress built on an island in Lake Galvė and once an important residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (entrance included). We return to Vilnius for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay. \nDay 4: September 30th\, 2026 (Wednesday): Vilnius (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel\, we travel to Šiluva\, one of Lithuania’s most important Marian pilgrimage sites. Here we will visit the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary\, where in 1993 St. John Paul II prayed during his historic visit to Lithuania. The chapel housing the revered image of Our Lady of Šiluva is beautifully decorated with frescoes and paintings\, and the miraculous image is traditionally concealed behind a painting depicting the apparition of the Blessed Mother. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica (subject to confirmation). \nWe then continue by motorcoach toward the city of Šiauliai\, with lunch on your own en route. Near Šiauliai we will visit the famous Hill of Crosses\, a powerful symbol of faith and resistance. Covered with thousands of crosses of all sizes and styles\, this sacred site has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Even after being destroyed several times during the Soviet era\, the crosses were repeatedly rebuilt by the faithful\, making it a remarkable testimony of devotion and perseverance. \nAfter our visit\, we return to Vilnius for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay. \nDay 5: October 1st\, 2026 (Thursday): Vilnius – Bialystok – Warsaw (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel and check-out\, we depart for Warsaw\, the capital of Poland. \nAlong the way we stop in Białystok\, often called the City of Divine Mercy\, as it was here that Blessed Fr. Michał Sopoćko\, the spiritual director and confessor of St. Faustina\, lived and helped spread the message of Divine Mercy. We will visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy and celebrate Holy Mass (subject to confirmation). \nLunch will be on your own before we continue our journey to Warsaw. Upon arrival\, we check into our hotel\, followed by dinner and an overnight stay. \nDay 6: October 2nd\, 2026 (Friday): Warsaw (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel\, we travel to St. James Church\, where we will celebrate Holy Mass (subject to confirmation). This church is closely associated with the life of St. Faustina\, who attended Mass here during her time in Warsaw. \nWe will then enjoy a guided tour of Warsaw’s Old Town\, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colorful buildings\, cobblestone streets\, and remarkable reconstruction following the devastation of World War II. \nHighlights include the lively Market Square\, the historic Barbican fortifications\, and the Warsaw Ghetto Monument\, which commemorates the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 (exterior views). \nLunch will be on your own. \nIn the afternoon\, we visit St. Stanisław Kostka Church\, where we will see a special exhibit dedicated to Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko\, a courageous priest who became a symbol of faith and resistance during the communist era and was tragically murdered in 1984 (entrance included). \nThe balance of the day will be at leisure before returning to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. \nDay 7: October 3rd\, 2026 (Saturday): Warsaw – Lichen Stary – Warsaw (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel\, we travel to Licheń Stary\, one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Poland. Upon arrival\, we will celebrate Holy Mass at the Shrine (subject to confirmation) and visit the impressive Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń\, one of the largest churches in Poland. Here we will see the Miraculous Painting of Our Lady of Licheń\, a revered Marian image associated with numerous reports of grace and devotion among pilgrims. \nLunch will be on your own. \nIn the afternoon\, we will explore the older part of the Sanctuary with a local guide and visit Grąbliński Forest (entrance included\, approximately 2-hour tour)\, the site connected to reported Marian apparitions in 1850. \nDuring our visit we will also see St. Dorothy Church\, the tomb of Tomasz Kłossowski\, Mikołaj Sikatka\, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross\, all important elements of the history and devotion associated with the shrine. \nAfter our visit\, we return to Warsaw for a late dinner at the hotel and overnight stay. \nDay 8: October 4 \, 2026 (Sunday): Warsaw – Swinice Warckie – Głogowiec –Czestochowa (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast\, we depart for the village of Świnice Warckie\, where we visit the Church of St. Casimir\, the site where St. Faustina Kowalska was baptized. Here we will celebrate Holy Mass (subject to confirmation). \nWe then continue to the nearby village of Głogowiec\, where we will see the family home of St. Faustina\, offering insight into the humble beginnings of the saint who would later bring the message of Divine Mercy to the world. \nLunch will be on your own en route as we continue our journey to Częstochowa. \nUpon arrival\, we visit the renowned Jasna Góra Monastery (entrance included)\, home to the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa\, often called the Black Madonna\, one of the most important Marian shrines in Poland and a major center of pilgrimage. \nAfter checking into our hotel and enjoying dinner\, pilgrims will have the opportunity to participate in the Night Vigil at Jasna Góra\, a beautiful prayer tradition held at the shrine. Overnight in Częstochowa. \nDay 9: October 5th\, 2026 (Monday): Czestochowa – Auschwitz – Krakow (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel and check-out\, we celebrate Holy Mass at Jasna Góra Monastery in one of the chapels (subject to confirmation)\, giving pilgrims another opportunity to pray at this revered Marian shrine. \nWe then depart for Kraków\, stopping en route in Oświęcim to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau\, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp established during World War II. During our guided tour (approximately 3.5 hours)\, we will learn about the tragic history of this site\, which stands today as a solemn memorial to the millions of victims who suffered and died during the Holocaust. The visit offers a powerful moment of reflection on human dignity\, faith\, and the importance of remembering history. \nLunch on your own. \nContinue to Krakow for dinner and overnight. \nDay 10: October 6 \, 2026 (Tuesday): Krakow HD – Łagiewniki (Divine Mercy) –Have no Fear – Krakow (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel\, we make our way to Wawel Hill\, the historic heart of Kraków\, where we visit the magnificent Wawel Cathedral and the Coronation Chapel (entrance included). This cathedral has served as the coronation site of Polish kings for centuries and is one of the most important religious landmarks in Poland. \nWe then continue to Kraków’s Market Square\, one of the largest and most beautiful medieval squares in Europe. Here we visit St. Mary’s Church (entrance included) and admire historic landmarks including the Town Hall Tower\, the Cloth Hall\, and the elegant burgher houses that have stood here for nearly 700 years. We also visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. \nLunch will be on your own. \nIn the afternoon we travel to Łagiewniki\, known as the capital of the Divine Mercy devotion. It was here that St. Faustina received the message of Divine Mercy from Christ\, which later spread throughout the world. At the Divine Mercy Shrine\, we will see the image of the Merciful Jesus\, the relics of St. Faustina\, her convent chapel\, and her tomb. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Divine Mercy Shrine (subject to confirmation). \nWe then visit the nearby “Have No Fear” Center dedicated to St. John Paul II\, where we will have the opportunity to pray before the relic of the beloved Polish pope. \nDinner and overnight at the hotel in Kraków. \nDay 11: October 7 \, 2026 (Wednesday): Krakow – Wadowice – Wieliczka –Krakow (B\,-\,D)\nAfter breakfast at the hotel\, we travel to the small town of Wadowice\, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła\, later known as St. Pope John Paul II. Here we visit the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary\, where the future pope was baptized\, received his First Communion\, and regularly attended Mass as a child. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica (subject to confirmation). \nWe will also visit the family home of St. John Paul II (entrance included)\, now a museum displaying personal items and memorabilia from the Wojtyła family. \nLunch will be on your own before returning to Kraków\, where you will have some free time for refreshments. \nWe then travel to Wieliczka to enjoy a guided tour of the world-famous Wieliczka Salt Mine (entrance included)\, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its remarkable underground chambers\, chapels carved entirely from salt\, biblical sculptures\, and even a statue of St. John Paul II created by generations of Polish miners. \nIn the evening\, we enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant with a traditional folklore show\, celebrating Polish culture and music. \nOvernight at the hotel in Kraków. \nDay 12: October 8th 2026 (Thursday): Krakow – departure to Canada (B)\n·Breakfast at the hotel and check-out \nTransfer to Krakow International Airport for your return flights
URL:https://caedm.ca/event/pilgrimage-to-lithuania-poland-sept-27-oct-8-2026/
CATEGORIES:Pilgrimages and Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://caedm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Fr-Roger-banner-Poland-and-Lithuania-Sep-2026.jpg
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