Faith Journeys

This pilgrimage offers a profound Catholic journey through Poland and the Czech Republic. Highlights include visits to Kraków's spiritual landmarks, such as Wawel Cathedral and the International Shrine of Spirituality. Day trips to Częstochowa honor the Black Madonna and Auschwitz pay homage to St. Maximilian Kolbe. In Kraków, the Divine Mercy Shrine and Wieliczka Salt Mines deepen our faith.

Crossing into the Czech Republic, stops in Wadowice and Velehrad, birthplace of Pope John Paul II and shrine of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, enrich the experience. In Prague, the Shrine of Loreto, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Svatá Hora offer moments of reflection before departure.

Embarking on a pilgrimage through the ancient lands of Turkey and Greece is not merely a travel itinerary; it is a transformative spiritual journey that resonates deeply with Christians. These regions, steeped in biblical history, offer a unique opportunity to trace the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and explore the seven churches of Revelation. We finish with 4-days in Rome, the majestic seat of the Catholic Church.

A transformative pilgrimage visiting Vatican City's spiritual treasures. Attend a papal audience! Discover Rome's sacred landmarks like St. Mary Major Basilica and catacombs before journeying south to Monte Cassino and San Giovanni Rotondo, the birthplace of St. Padre Pio.

Experience profound moments at Padre Pio's tomb and the Grotto of Michael the Archangel. Then, venture to Lanciano and Loreto, witnessing Eucharistic miracles and the Holy House of Nazareth. Conclude in Međjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, embracing spiritual growth and Our Lady's presence atop Apparition Hill.

A shrine to the Virgin Mary, or Marian shrine, is where an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred. There are Marian shrines all around the world, but especially important sites are in France and Spain.

In France, sites like Lisieux, the home of St. Therese, and Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, evoke deep reverence and healing. These places symbolize faith, humility, and the power of divine intervention. In Spain, cities like Burgos and Santiago de Compostela boast majestic cathedrals and basilicas, serving as focal points for devotion to Mary.

The Passion of Christ is a sacred play performed by the villagers of Sordevolo, Italy, every five years since 1816. The play is an open-air theater that puts on a dramatic presentation of Christ's suffering, death, and trial. The play features actors, extras, musicians, and stage operators, and takes place from June to September, with 400 people participating three nights a week.

Passion plays originated in Europe during the Middle Ages as a way to teach people about Christianity. For many who watch them, they are opportunities for meditation and religious devotion, and can be powerful symbols of the core of Christian spiritual life.

Note: After the pandemic delays, the next performances will be in Summer 2027

THE SHRINES WE’LL BE VISITING:

Rome: St. Peter's Basilica: The epicenter of the Catholic Church, housing the tomb of St. Peter.

Basilica of St. John Lateran: The oldest of the four major basilicas in Rome, known as the cathedral of the Pope.

Assisi: Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi: A UNESCO World Heritage site, it houses the tomb of St. Francis and features beautiful frescoes.

Loreto: Basilica della Santa Casa: Enshrines the Holy House believed to be the house of the Virgin Mary, miraculously transported from Nazareth.

Lanciano: Church of St. Longinus: Known for the Eucharistic Miracle, where bread and wine transformed into flesh and blood during Mass.

San Giovanni Rotondo: Sanctuary of Padre Pio: Includes the Old Church with the tomb of St. Padre Pio and the newer Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.

Monte Cassino: Abbey of Monte Cassino: A historic Benedictine monastery founded by St. Benedict, a significant center of Catholic monasticism.

How did Italy become the home of the Catholic Church? If Christianity was to grow, it had to first conquer the world’s most dominant city – Rome! The deaths of Peter and Paul in Rome reinforced its significance. Peter is considered the first Pope. The Bishop of Rome, later known as the Pope, gradually asserted pre-eminence over other bishops, symbolizing Rome’s centralized authority.

The Catholic Church Jubilee, occurring every 25 years, is a significant event in the Church's tradition. Pilgrims undertake journeys to designated holy sites, often in Rome, seeking grace and spiritual growth.

The concept traces its roots to the Biblical tradition of the Jubilee Year in Leviticus (Chapter 25). Through rituals, prayer, and charitable acts, the Catholic Church uses the Jubilee to foster spiritual and communal unity, reflecting its commitment to faith, mercy, and renewal.

Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, led an extraordinary life marked by mystical experiences and deep devotion to God.

Ordained as a Capuchin friar in 1910, he gained widespread recognition for bearing the stigmata— wounds resembling those of Christ. Despite controversy and scrutiny from church authorities, he was canonized a saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. His legacy endures through the global popularity of the Padre Pio devotion and the healing miracles attributed to him.

St. John Paul II, original name Karol Józef Wojtyła (canonized April 27, 2014), was the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.

Maria Faustyna Kowalska, also known as Saint Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, was a Polish Roman Catholic nun and mystic. Her visions of Jesus Christ inspired the Roman Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and earned her the title of "Secretary of Divine Mercy.