PILGRIMAGE TO GERMANY - POLAND - CZECH REPUBLIC AND AUSTRIA

FEATURING THE PASSION PLAY 2010 – OBERAMMERGAU

Under spiritual leadership of Father Jan Kolodynski

Pastor St Jerome’s Church – Brampton

Tour coordinator Audrey Large - tel. 905-453-7305

May 26 – June 07, 2010 - 13 days

Cost: $3,595 CAD

May 26

Depart Toronto for Munich Germany.

May 27

Morning arrival in Munich. Transfer to our hotel. In the afternoon visit Neuschwanstein to see “Mad King Ludwig’s” fairytale castle. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

May 28

After breakfast departure to the beautiful scenic village of Oberammergau where we devote our afternoon and evening attending the famous Passion Play. In 1634 the Black Death decimated Europe’s population. Oberammergau remained untouched until a homesick villager returned one night, unknowingly bringing with him the dreaded plague. Almost 100 villagers died as a result. Frighten survivors vowed that if God saved them from the plague, once every 10 years they would re-enact the agony and crucifixion of Christ. From then on there were no further deaths from the plague. The villagers have fulfilled their pledge ever since. The play portrays the Passion of Christ – from the entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. Lunch and dinner are served today.

May 29

Today we depart for Vienna – the capital of Austria. En route visit Salzburg the city of Mozart where our sightseeing tour takes us to Domplatz the baroque square dominated by its cathedral . We also visit Mozart’s house and the Cathedral of Salzburg. Then continue to Vienna for our dinner and overnight.

May 30

Morning sightseeing tour of Vienna takes us to St Stephen’s Cathedral an imposing structure dating to the 13^th century. We see the Opera House home to the Vienna Boy’s Choir and the Schonbrunn Palace. This sprawling royal summer house has 1441 rooms including a Hall of Mirrors. It is here that young Mozart performed at the age of six in front of young Marie Antoinette. Some free time in the afternoon for rest or shopping. In the evening a typical Viennese dinner with music.

May 31

From Vienna we travel to Prague – the capital of Czech Republic . En route visit the beautiful monastery of Melk. Dinner and overnight in Prague.

June 01

Full day in beautiful Prague. We celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victory and see the renowned statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. We visit the Old Town by way of Golden Lane and then go to the Lesser Town to see the medieval Charles Bridge. We also see St Nicolas Church the Astronomic Clock, and the Prague Castle district where we tour St Vitus Cathedral, St George Basilica and Wenceslas Square. Some free time in the afternoon for shopping, dinner and overnight.

June 02

From Prague we travel to Krakow – Poland. En route visit the small town of Wadowice – the birth place of Pope John Paul II. Late afternoon arrival in Krakow for dinner and overnight.

June 03

This morning we visit Lagiewniki – world known as “Divine Mercy Shrine” It is here that the message of the Divine Mercy originated, which Christ himself wished to pass to our generation, through the intersetion of Sister Faustina. Here we celebrate Mass and visit the convent of St Faustyna, her tomb and relics. In the afternoon we travel to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp. We will see the cell in which St Maximilian Kolbe died and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust. Return to Krakow for dinner and overnight.

June 04

Today we explore Krakow. This was the ancient capital of Poland. We visit the Market Square where we hear the silver trumpet of the bugler from St Mary’s Church. Within the cathedral you may pray before the extraordinary Wit Stwosz altar. The surroundings of the square remained unchanged for almost 700 years and contain buildings of historic value such as the Town Hall Tower, the Cloth hall and the Wawel Castle. In the afternoon excursion to the famous salt mines of Wieliczka.

June 05

This morning we travel to Warsaw – the capital of Poland. En route visit Czestochowa – the site of Poland’s greatest pilgrimage shrine – “ Our Lady of Czestochowa” also known as the “Black Madonna” , one of the most important places of religious worship in the Catholic world, with tradition of pilgrimages that goes back to the 14th century. We celebrate Mass and venerate the priceless and Miraculous Icon. Continue to Warsaw for dinner and overnight.

June 06

Morning sightseeing tour of Warsaw includes the Royal Palace the Old Town, the Barbican. We will celebrate Mass in one of the many churches of Warsaw. In the afternoon there is some free time for last minute shopping. Dinner and overnight.

June 07

This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight back to Toronto.