Day 1 New York, NY
We depart on our international flight
to Munich. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2 Munich
/Regensburg
We arrive in Munich where we will be met by our German
guide. Retracing the footsteps of Pope Benedict, we arrive in Munich, the
capital of Bavaria. It is in Munich that Pope Benedict XVI studied at the
Catholic University, was consecrated a Bishop, then nominated a Cardinal in the
Church of Our Lady. Continue to Regensburg where we will enjoy a tour of
this beautiful city with buildings dating to Roman and Medieval times.
Regensburg is situated beautifully on the banks of the Danube River and only 90
minutes from Munich. Our first stop is the famous gothic-style Cathedral where
George Ratzinger, the Pope's brother George was the conductor for 30 years for
the world-famous Regensburg Cathedral Boy's Choir. We visit the University
of Regensburg, where the Pope taught as a professor and was vice president.
Drive to Munich for dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 3
Regensburg/Altotting
After breakfast, drive to Marktl, a small town
nestled sleepily along the river. Marktl is the birthplace of Pope
Benedict XVI and building in which he was born dates back to 1748. Stop at the
museum and church of St. Oswald, housing his baptismal font. Drive to
Traunstein, known as the “father town” of the Pope and the commercial and
administrative center of the Chiemgau region. It is here that Pope entered the
archiepiscopal study at St. Michael's School and celebrated his first Mass.
Drive to Altoetting, which has been a spiritual center of Bavaria and the most
significant place of pilgrimage in Germany since 1330. Here we visit the Shrine
of Our Lady, the Chapel of Mercy, St. Konrad Church, and the Basilica of St.
Anna. Dinner and overnight in Altötting. (B, D)
Day 4 Altotting
/Munich
This morning we will have time to revisit the Shrines and
attend Mass. Continue to Aschau am Inn, the Pope's home from 1932 - 1937
and where the Pope attended primary school and received his First Holy
Communion. After lunch, continue to Munich and visit the Church of St. Martin;
Neukirchen beim hl. Blut, where as a young priest, his ministry began. Drive to
Marienplatz, with the Old and New Town Hall, and the gothic Frauenkirche (Church
of Our Lady). Dinner and overnight in Munich. (B, D)
Day
5 Munich/Krakow
Today we transfer to the airport for our
flight to Krakow where we are met by our JAN-POL representative - transfer to
the hotel for check-in and lunch . Afternoon visit of Krakow Old Town to
see the Bishop's Palace in which the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II resided on
each of his pilgrimages here. Visit St. Mary's Church where John Paul II
gave sermons and heard confession and continue with a visit to Wawel
Cathedral where Bishop Karol Wojtyla went at Christmas to sing carols.
Visit the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, one of Krakow's most notable sites which is
recognizable throughout the world and whose beginnings go back to the 13th
Century. Dinner in one of Krakow's fine restaurants followed by overnight
at your hotel. (B,D)
Day 6 Krakow/Auschwitz / Wadowice /
Klawaria Zebrzydowska
We will start our journey with a visit to
Auschwitz where you will see the remains of a former Nazi death camp - a moving
testimony to the many lives lost as a result of the atrocities across occupied
Europe. After lunch at Oswiecim (Polish name for the town where Auschwitz
camp was located) your visit continues to Wadowice. This is the birth
place of Karol Wojtyla and his family home. You will see the Basilica of
the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the market square where he was
baptized. You will visit the Pope's Family Home, now a museum, which documents
his life and work as a priest in Poland up till the time when he was elected
Bishop of Rome and left the country permanently. On the way to Krakow we will
make a short stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a sanctuary which young Karol
Wojtyla visited very often Dinner and overnight in Krakow (B,D)
Day 7 Krakow/ Czestochowa / Lagiewniki
We depart
today for Czestochowa where you will visit Jasna Gora “Bright Mount” monastery ,
which is the most important Marian shrine in Poland and a destination for
hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. Its focal point is the Chapel of
the Blessed Virgin featuring the icon of the Black Madonna, which has been
credited with many miracles. The Museum, Treasury and Arsenal are also worth
visiting. After lunch in Czestochowa we will come back to Krakow , to see
Lagiewniki. Here, in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy,
Sister Faustina worked and lived for many years. She also died in the
congregation house and was buried in a small cemetery next to it. In 2002, the
new Basilica and Pilgrimage Center were consecrated during the Pope's visit to
Kraków. Dinner in one of Krakow's local restaurants. Overnight
in Krakow (B,.D)
Day 8 Krakow/New York
Today we bid farewell to our friends from Bavaria and Poland and
transfer to the airport for our flight home. Arrive USA the same day.