SHRINES OF POLAND
A 10-DAY PILGRIMAGE WITH FR. NICHOLAS HO
Shrines of Poland
A 10-Day Pilgrimage with Fr. Nicholas Ho
Sept 13,- Sept 22, 2027
Starting at $4,135
Air available from San Francisco (SFO)
TRIP SYNOPSIS
Journey with Fr. Ho through the heart of Catholic Poland, following in the footsteps of St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Faustina, and St. John Paul II. Explore historic Warsaw, pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the famous Black Madonna of Poland, and discover Kraków and Wadowice, the birthplace of St. John Paul II. Visit Auschwitz and reflect on the heroic witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, experience the beauty of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains, and conclude at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Łagiewniki, where St. Faustina lived and received her mission of Divine Mercy. Enjoy touring with a professional Tour Escort, attend daily Mass, make unforgettable memories, and benefit from the safety and ease of group travel!
HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Warsaw: St. Faustina, Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, St. Maximilian Kolbe, historic Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral, Royal Castle, Holy Cross Church
Niepokalanów: St. Maximilian Kolbe, Niepokalanów Monastery and Sanctuary, relics of St. Maximilian
Zduńska Wola: Birthplace of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, baptismal church
Pabianice: St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Matthew’s Church
Częstochowa: Jasna Góra Monastery, Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Black Madonna, Via Dolorosa, St. Maximilian Kolbe
Kraków: Wawel Cathedral, St. John Paul II, St. Mary’s Church, St. Florian’s Church, Kanoniczna Street
Auschwitz & Birkenau: St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyrdom and concentration camp sites
Harmęże: St. Maximilian Kolbe Center, Franciscan Sanctuary
Wadowice: Birthplace and childhood home of St. John Paul II, Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, his baptismal church
Zakopane: St. Maximilian Kolbe, Our Lady of Fatima Sanctuary, Jaszczurówka Chapel, Tatra Mountains
Wieliczka: Historic Salt Mine, Chapel of St. Kinga, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Łagiewniki: Divine Mercy Sanctuary, St. Faustina, relics and tomb of St. Faustina, image of Merciful Jesus
Kraków: Have No Fear Centre, St. John Paul II, relics of the saint
ITINERARY
Day 1: Monday, September 13: USA – Warsaw
Depart today towards Warsaw. During the international flight, dinner and breakfast will be served.
Day 2: Tuesday, September 14: Warsaw arrival
Arrive in Warsaw and meet your English-speaking tour escort before transferring to the hotel. Settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner as you begin your pilgrimage through the heart of Catholic Poland.(WD)
Day 3: Wednesday, September 15: Warsaw Tour – Żytnia – St. Kostka Church - Pawiak Prison Museum
Begin the day with Mass at the Convent of Divine Mercy on Żytnia Street, where St. Faustina entered religious life in 1924. From there, explore the historic center of Warsaw, including the Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral, the Royal Castle, St. Ann’s Church, Holy Cross Church, and Nowy Świat. Continue to St. Kostka Church, where we will learn about the life and martyrdom of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, the Polish priest who was killed in 1984 for his support of the Solidarity movement and his defense of truth and human dignity. From St. Kostka, proceed to Pawiak Prison Museum, where St. Maximilian Kolbe was imprisoned before his transfer to Auschwitz. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Warsaw. (BB, D)
Day 4: Thursday, September 16: Warsaw - Niepokalanów - Zduńska Wola - Łódz
Depart Warsaw after breakfast and travel to Niepokalanów, the “City of the Immaculate,” founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and missionary zeal made him one of the most influential Catholic figures of twentieth-century Poland. Visit the monastery and church where he lived and worked, and pray before his relics, followed by Mass at the sanctuary. Continue to Zduńska Wola, the birthplace of St. Maximilian, where his family home is now a museum. Then visit the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where he was baptized, before continuing to Łódź for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 5: Friday, September 17: Łódz – Pabianice - Czestochowa (Black Madonna) – Kraków
After breakfast in Łódz, travel to Pabianice, where St. Maximilian Kolbe lived with his family. Visit St. Matthew’s Church, where he received his First Communion and experienced the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary offering him two crowns—one white, representing purity and priesthood, and one red, representing martyrdom. He chose both, foreshadowing the twofold vocation that would mark his life. After passing by the apartment where his family lived, continue to Częstochowa, home of the Jasna Góra Monastery and the revered image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the blessed Black Madonna , venerated for centuries by the Polish people and honored as a powerful intercessor, which St. Maximilian’s family frequently visited. Tour the monastery, including the new Via Dolorosa, which features a painting of St. Maximilian as a witness to Christ’s suffering on the Cross. Celebrate Mass at Jasna Góra, subject to confirmation, before continuing to Kraków. Check into the hotel, followed by dinner and overnight in Kraków. (BB, D)
Day 6: Saturday, September 18: Kraków
Today set out for a half-day tour of Kraków, beginning at Wawel Hill and the Cathedral, one of the city’s most important religious and historic sites. Continue through Kanoniczna Street, passing the Archdiocese Museum, where St. John Paul II lived during his years in Kraków, and Collegium Maius, where he studied. Visit St. Mary’s Church, followed by a walk to St. Florian’s Church, where the future pope served as a young vicar. Celebrate Mass at St. Mary’s Church, subject to confirmation, before enjoying a free afternoon to explore Kraków at your leisure. Dinner and overnight in Kraków. (BB, D)
Day 7: Sunday, September 19: Krakow – Auschwitz – Harmęże – Wadowice - Krakow
Depart Kraków in the morning for Auschwitz, the former Nazi concentration camp and site of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe. During the guided visit, see the cell where St. Maximilian voluntarily gave his life in place of another prisoner. Continue through Birkenau, where St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) was also martyred. From Auschwitz, continue to the St. Maximilian Kolbe Center in Harmęże, where an exhibition reflects on the suffering endured in the concentration camps and St. Maximilian’s heroic witness of faith. Celebrate Mass at the Franciscan Sanctuary, subject to confirmation. Continue to Wadowice, the birthplace of St. John Paul II. Visit his childhood home, now a museum, and the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where he was baptized. Dinner and overnight in Kraków. (BB, D)
Day 8: Monday, September 20: Krakow – Zakopane - Krakow
Today make a day trip to Zakopane, where St. Maximilian Kolbe lived and served as chaplain at a local hospital. Celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, built as a votive offering in thanksgiving for Pope John Paul II’s recovery following the 1981 assassination attempt, subject to confirmation. Continue with a visit to Zakopane, including the picturesque Jaszczurówka Chapel and the lively Krupówki Street. Weather permitting, take the funicular to Gubałówka Mountain for views of the Tatra Mountains before returning to Kraków for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 9: Tuesday, September 21: Krakow- Wieliczka - Łagiewniki (Divine Mercy Sanctuary) – Have No Fear - Krakow
After breakfast, travel to Wieliczka to visit its historic salt mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vast underground chambers and chapels carved entirely from salt, including the magnificent Chapel of St. Kinga. Continue to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Łagiewniki, where pilgrims will see the image of Merciful Jesus, the relics and tomb of St. Faustina, and the convent chapel where she lived. Celebrate Mass in one of the chapels, subject to confirmation, before visiting the Have No Fear Centre, dedicated to St. John Paul II, with time for prayer at his relics. Conclude the pilgrimage with a farewell dinner featuring traditional Polish folklore. Dinner and overnight in Kraków. (BB, D)
Day 10: Wednesday, September 22: Krakow departure
Transfer to Kraków International Airport airport after breakfast for you return flight to the USA.
Buffet Breakfast (BB); Dinner (D); Welcome Dinner (WD); Farewell Dinner (FD)
* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.
CHAPLAIN
Fr. Nicholas Ho is originally from Singapore. Employed in 1965 by the Ministry of Education, Father Nicholas Ho began to discern his call to the priesthood. Receiving his father’s approval, Fr. Nicholas began his formation at the minor seminary for three years before another five at the major seminary in Singapore.
He was ordained a priest in 1979 and was posted to the parish of St. Stephen’s and then to St. Peter and Paul. Then, in obedience to the Bishop, he went to Rome to study liturgy from 1983 to 1986. Upon his return, he went on to be the Initiation Year Director and taught liturgy in the seminary for six years. Later, he went on become the parish priest of St. Francis of Assisi from 1992-2002, while still commuting from Boon Lay to Punggol to teach.
A six months sabbatical leave to study at the Franciscan school of liturgy and the Jesuit school of theology in the University of Berkeley planted the seed of a vocation to serve the Church in America. And so, after renovating and expanding the church of St. Francis of Assisi in 2002, Archbishop Nicholas Chia approved Fr. Nicholas’ desire to serve in the Church in America.
Father Ho is currently stationed at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the seat of the Diocese of Sacramento, California. He is also the chaplain of the Sacramento Chinese Catholic Community (SCCC), which is the only group of Chinese Catholics (Roman Rite) in the Diocese. The community members embrace both the Catholic faith and the Chinese traditions.
Father Ho has led several pilgrimages to Europe and the Holy Land.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
Air information will be released in the upcoming months when it becomes available about 300 days before travel.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations for this pilgrimage are in first-class hotels.
Warsaw : Novotel Warszawa Central or similar
Łódz : Holiday Inn Łódz or similar
Krakow : Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Cracow or similiar
Rooms in double occupancy are for two people to share; they have two twin beds or one double bed. Rooms in single occupancy have a single bed and are for one person to occupy; a “single supplement fee” is added for single occupancy rooms.
TRIP PACE
The pace for this pilgrimage is moderate. There is daily walking and standing. Pilgrims must be in active enough condition to walk 3-4 hours and stand for 2-3 hours per day. We strongly recommend preparing oneself by walking before the trip, building up to at least 2-3 miles per day.
Sometimes walking is up or down slopes, and at times sidewalks and terrain will be uneven. Pilgrims must have full mobility and be able to climb several stairs, since many of the visited places have no other access. A certain pace must be kept by all pilgrims in order to cover the scheduled sightseeing.
Also see the “PHYSICAL HEALTH & FITNESS” section in the General Terms & Conditions. (Specific Terms & Conditions for this trip will be listed in the online registration form.)
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Transatlantic flights from San Francisco (SFO).
Accommodations in first-class hotels, with daily buffet breakfast and dinners according to the program
Daily Holy Mass
Private motor-coach services for transfers and sightseeing
Services of a professional English-speaking tour escort during the entire trip
Admission fees for all included sightseeing
Porterage for one suitcase per person at the hotels, where available
Government taxes and fees
What’s not included:
Travel insurance
Gratuities to tour escort, long-distance motor-coach driver, and church alms
Also see the “NOT INCLUDED” section in the General Terms & Conditions.
Pricing Information
Price per person in double occupancy Land-only: $4,135
Price per person in single occupancy Land-only: $5,015
Price per person in double occupancy With-air: $5,250
Price per person in single occupancy With-air: $6,130
Single supplement included in above single occupancy pricing: $880
Registration for air-inclusive package with non-refundable deposit of $300pp is due by: June 15, 2027
Registration for land-only package with non-refundable deposit of $300pp is due by: June 15, 2027
Balance due by: July 15, 2027