Shrines of Poland with Bishop Donald Hying & Cale Clarke
Ten days from Warsaw to Kraków in the footsteps of St. Faustina, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. John Paul II, by way of Czestochowa, Wadowice and Zakopane, with Mass each day. An optional extension continues to Prague.
Your hosts
Bishop Donald Hying
Bishop of Madison
Bishop Donald J. Hying has led the Diocese of Madison since 2019. Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1989, he served as an auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee and then as Bishop of Gary, Indiana.
Cale & Patricia Clarke
Relevant Radio
Cale Clarke hosts The Cale Clarke Show and The Faith Explained on Relevant Radio.
Cale and Patricia Clarke travel with us as hosts for the whole pilgrimage.
“Jesus, I trust in You.”
The words Our Lord asked St. Faustina to place beneath the image of Divine Mercy
In Kraków we pray before that image at Lagiewniki, where St. Faustina spent the last two years of her life, and at her tomb, with Mass at the shrine.
Wawel Hill · Kraków
Poland, April 11 to 20, 2027
Ten days, eight nights in Warsaw, Swinice Warckie, Czestochowa, Zakopane and Kraków, with Niepokalanow, Wadowice, Wieliczka, Auschwitz and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska along the way.
Begins in Warsaw and ends in Kraków
OvernightVisit
Nights: 1 Warsaw, 1 Swinice Warckie, 1 Czestochowa, 1 Zakopane, 4 Kraków.
Departure
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Warsaw, Poland.
Arrival in Warsaw
Upon arrival at the Warsaw International Airport, our local professional tour escort will greet us, followed by a motorcoach transfer to our hotel. We begin our pilgrimage with Mass at St. James Church, where St. Faustina went when she arrived in Warsaw. We return to the hotel for dinner.
Exploring Warsaw & Swinice Warckie
Today we visit all the landmarks of Warsaw, including the Old Town, Market Square, the Barbican, the Warsaw Ghetto monument, Lazienki Park, the Chopin statue, and the magnificently restored Royal Castle. Afterwards, we will visit and celebrate Mass where St. Faustina entered the convent. This afternoon, we visit the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and view the exhibit dedicated to Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, who was killed by the communists in 1984. Later, we travel to Swinice Warckie to see the parish church of St. Casimir, where St. Faustina was baptized. We check into our hotel and enjoy dinner.
Czestochowa & the Black Madonna
Following breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Czestochowa. We make a stop in Niepokalanow to visit the Niepokalanow Sanctuary, the home of St. Maximilian Kolbe. We celebrate Mass at Jasna Góra Monastery, where the portrait of the “Black Madonna” (Our Lady of Czestochowa) is located. The monastery has a pilgrimage tradition that dates back to the 14th century. St. John Paul II was known to make frequent visits to the monastery throughout his life.
Wadowice & Zakopane
We continue on to Zakopane, with a stop along the way in Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (St. John Paul II), to visit the church he attended and was baptized in as a child. This afternoon, we arrive in the resort village of Zakopane, where we will visit the Jaszczurówka Chapel, visited several times by young Karol Wojtyla, as it lies on the walking paths he frequented. We’ll then have some free time to explore the colorful Krupówki Street.
Zakopane & Wieliczka Salt Mines
This morning we enjoy a relaxing cable car ride to the nearby mountaintop, which boasts extraordinary views of the area, followed by a hike down the trail as we remember how Pope John Paul II often walked these same mountains. We stop at the amazing Wieliczka Salt Mines on our way to Kraków. Upon arrival, we participate in Mass at the oldest shrine there, the Skalka, which is dedicated to the bishop and martyr, St. Stanislaus.
Lagiewniki & the John Paul II Centre
This morning, we visit the convent at Lagiewniki, where St. Faustina spent the last two years of her life. There will be time to pray before the miraculous image of the Divine Mercy as well as in the chapel that contains the tomb of St. Faustina. While here at the shrine, our chaplain will celebrate Mass for our group. We then proceed to the John Paul II Centre and visit its “Chapel of the Relics.”
Auschwitz & Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Following breakfast, we depart for a visit to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp where unspeakable atrocities once occurred. We will see the cell that imprisoned St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust. On our return trip to Kraków, we will visit Calvary Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska to view the miraculous painting of Our Lady of Kalwaria.
Touring Kraków
Today we tour Kraków, a medieval treasure house full of architectural and artistic heritage. We’ll visit the imposing Wawel Castle, former seat of Polish regal authority, and see the Coronation Cathedral with its tombs of Polish monarchs. We’ll also have free time to explore Kraków’s Market Square and hear the silver trumpet of the bugler from St. Mary’s Tower. We participate in Holy Mass at St. Mary’s.
Return home
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage, an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, and many new friends, we board the plane for the return flight home from Kraków.
Optional Prague extension, April 20 to 22, 2027
Tuesday, April 20: Journey to Prague. After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for our scenic journey to Prague, the enchanting “City of a Hundred Spires.” We’ll enjoy lunch on our own en route before checking into our Prague hotel. In the evening, we’ll gather for dinner at the hotel and rest after the day’s travel. Overnight in Prague.
Wednesday, April 21: Prague. After breakfast, we visit Prague Castle, including St. Vitus Cathedral with its royal tombs, crown jewels, and Renaissance masterpieces, along with All Saints Church, St. George’s Basilica, and the convent. Descending into the city, we celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious and venerate the Infant Jesus of Prague. We then explore Old Town Square, featuring the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Hall, Church of St. Nicholas, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, which houses Tycho Brahe’s tomb. Lunch is on our own, with a free afternoon for exploration or shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Prague.
Thursday, April 22: Return home. With a renewed sense of pilgrimage, an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, and many new friends, we board the plane for the return flight home from Prague.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Poland
Four-star hotels throughout: one night each in Warsaw, Swinice Warckie, Czestochowa and Zakopane and four in Kraków, plus two in Prague on the optional extension. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
“If you want a pilgrimage that’s seamless, historical and actually fun, book these guys.”
“It was so nice not to have to worry about any details, they took care of everything!”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach, not a walking one. Expect about 2 to 3 miles of walking on a typical day. Days usually start around 7am, with departure by 9am, and end back at the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. In Zakopane we ride the cable car up and hike down a mountain trail, the Wieliczka Salt Mines involve many stairs underground, and Auschwitz is a long visit on foot.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $850, or share a room with two beds with another pilgrim. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by January 11, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own. On the optional Prague extension the single room supplement is $195.
Lunches, donations at Masses, souvenirs, laundry and the cost of your passport. A typical lunch costs about $15 to $20. Tips for restaurant and hotel staff are included. Tips for your tour manager, local guides and driver: the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (zloty in Poland, and korunas in the Czech Republic on the Prague extension), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to January 11, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Bishop Donald Hying, Bishop of Madison, and Cale and Patricia Clarke of Relevant Radio lead the group.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare from Chicago (ORD). Flying from another city? We can arrange air from your airport; call or email us for a quote. Prices for the optional Prague extension are added to the pilgrimage price.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 2 to 3 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and some slopes. In Zakopane we ride the cable car up and hike down a mountain trail, and the Wieliczka Salt Mines involve many stairs underground.
April in Poland is cool and changeable, with chilly mornings and evenings and rain on some days. It is colder in the mountains at Zakopane, where snow is possible. Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket and sturdy walking shoes.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure. Entry rules for Europe can change, so we will let you know before departure if anything new applies to your trip.
Yes. The price includes group airfare; if you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000. Send us your flight details once booked, so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Warsaw on April 12 and its departure from Kraków on April 20. Group air from other airports can be arranged; call or email us for a quote.
The extension is optional and is added to the pilgrimage price. On April 20, while the main group flies home from Kraków, extension pilgrims travel to Prague for two nights, with Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious before the Infant Jesus of Prague, and fly home from Prague on April 22.
Final payment is due on January 11, 2027, 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
Warsaw, Czestochowa and Kraków
April 11 to 20, 2027, with Bishop Donald Hying and Cale & Patricia Clarke. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.