Jocson Central Europe Pilgrimage 11 days

Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroer
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldavia
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

Created: 27.06.2016

Monday, May 22 - Day 1 - DEPART US - Today, we depart Newark or JFK airport to connect with our overnight flight bound for Vilnius.  Tuesday, May 23 - In April 1935, for three days leading to the first Sunday after Easter, the Divine Mercy image was venerated for the first time in public at the Gate of Dawn sanctuary, the shrine of Holy Mother of Mercy, one of the most important religious sites in Lithuania.   St. Faustina participated and Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko, her confessor and spiritual director, presented a homily about the Divine Mercy.  Here are the excerpts, from St. Faustina???s diary on this first Feast of Mercy: "When the image was displayed, I saw a live movement of the hand of Jesus, as He made a large sign of the cross" (Diary, 416). "When he began to speak (Fr. Sopocko) about the great mercy of Our Lord, the image came alive and the rays pierced the hearts of the people gathered there??? " (Diary, 417)."Toward the end of the service, when the priest took the Blessed Sacrament to bless the people, I saw Our Lord Jesus as He is represented in the image. Our Lord gave His blessing, and the rays extended over the whole world" (Diary, 420).  Day 2 - VILNIUS - ???CITY OF DIVINE MERCY??? - We arrive in Vilnius airport where we are met by our Tour Manager.  We proceed to the Gate of Dawn sanctuary, a major pilgrimage site in Lithuania, the shrine of Mary, Mother of Mercy, for our Welcome Mass.  Pope St. John Paul II visited the Gate of Dawn and prayed before the miraculous icon when he visited Vilnius in 1993. After a brief panoramic tour of the city, we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Wednesday, May 24 - Following St. Faustina's death, and at the outbreak of World War II, Fr. Sopocko gave a copy of the Divine Mercy image hanging in St. Michael???s Church and Divine Mercy documents to Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, MIC, a member of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, who was in Vilnius, escaping the Nazis. Fr. Joseph, after a perilous journey, eventually reached the U.S., where later, the Marians established the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts from which they have spread the message of Divine Mercy around the world Day 3 ??? VILNIUS -  DIVINE MERCY SITES - Today, we trace the origin of Divine Mercy devotion as well as the colorful story of the first and original painting of the Merciful Jesus, known as the Divine Mercy image.  St. Faustina lived in Vilnius from 1933-1936.  It was here that she met Fr. Sopocko, who asked her to write a diary and helped her carry out her mission to spread the message of God's infinite Mercy.   Our first stop is the cell where St. Faustina received many revelations from Jesus, including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  We proceed to the house, now a convent, where the original image of the Merciful Jesus was painted by Eugeniusz Kazimierowski in 1934, as St. Faustina saw Him in her visions.   Then to St. Michael???s Church, now a museum, where the painting was hung for public veneration in 1937 by its rector, Fr. Sopocko. We also visit the Dominican Holy Spirt Church where the image was moved in 1951, before it was transferred to a church in Belarus where it remained till 1986.  The image was spirited back to Vilnius, and in 2005, after restoration, the original Image of the Merciful Jesus eventually found a permanent home at the Holy Trinity Church, now the Divine Mercy Shrine. We celebrate Mass here.  Time permitting, we visit other churches in the Old Town area, since Vilnius is also known as the City of 40 Churches.  Tonight, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.  Overnight at our hotel. Thursday, May 25 ??? Ascension - Day 4 ??? VILNIUS/BIALYSTOK, CITY OF MERCY -  Today, we depart Vilnius and cross the border into Poland.  We continue to Bialystok, where Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko continued to proclaim the truth of God???s mercy for 30 years, until his death in 1975, on the feast day of St. Faustina.  Jesus??? revelation about Fr. Sopocko was written in St. Faustina???s diary, ???He is a priest after My Own Heart; his efforts are pleasing to Me (...) Through him it pleases Me to proclaim the worship of My Mercy??? (Diary, 1256).  We visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy where we celebrate Mass and visit the tomb of this humble priest. We also visit some of the sites associated with Fr. Sopocko to gain more understanding of the remarkable contributions of Fr Sopocko in the spread of Divine Mercy devotion.  Then transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  Friday, May 26 -  Day 5 ??? BIALYSTOK/ CZESTOCHOWA -  We depart early this morning and journey to Czestochowa.  We celebrate Mass at the Jasna Góra Shrine, the home of the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Cz??stochowa, which according to tradition was painted by St. Luke on a tabletop built by Jesus. It was discovered by St. Helena during her search of the true cross in Jerusalem and was enshrined in Constantinople. It remained in a royal palace in Ruthenia for 600 years, then finally transferred to Jasna Gora and entrusted to Pauline monks in the 14th century.  We tour the shrine, then transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight at our hotel.  Saturday, May 27 - Day 6 - CZESTOCHOWA /KRAKOW/ LAGIEWNIKI - After an early breakfast, we travel to Krakow, to the Church of St. Florian where Pope St. John Paul II served as a curate, and where he lived while a university chaplain.  We visit the courtyard of 16th century Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral, where generations of Polish Kings are buried. We then take a walking tour of Old Town, visiting some of the treasures of this wonderful old city.  We will view the Town Hall Tower and the Cloth Hall, located on the same site since the 14th century, the 15th century Collegium Maius in the oldest university area and St. Mary's Church.  Here we enjoy the ancient tradition of the "Hejnal" or bugle call from the Tower, which warned residents of the coming of an enemy.  We continue to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki where at 3PM we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  We celebrate Mass at the chapel where the miraculous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina can be found.  Afterwards, we visit the Basilica, see the convent and meet with the Sisters there. Before returning to Krakow, we stop at the nearby Shrine of Saint John Paul II.   We visit the lower church and see the Holy Father???s relics. Tonight, dinner is at a restaurant in Krakow.  Overnight at our hotel in Krakow. Sunday, May 28 - Day 7 ??? KRAKOW/BUDAPEST - Early this morning we depart Krakow and travel to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. En route we pass by the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Benedictine Monastery where the Holy Father often prayed and walked the Stations of the Cross.  In Wadowice, we celebrate Mass in the parish church where the Holy Father was baptized and afterwards we visit the museum in his small family home.   We continue to Budapest by way of Slovakia, crossing the Lower Tatra Mountains. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  Monday, May 29 ??? Memorial Day USA - Day 8 - BUDAPEST - After breakfast, we drive to the Royal Castle in Buda, where we visit Fishermen???s Bastion and the beautiful Gothic St. Matthias Church. Afterwards, we continue to the Citadel, where we enjoy the best view over the Danube and the lower city of Pest. Later, we cross the Elizabeth Bridge to St. Elizabeth Church where we celebrate Mass.  We proceed to the Market Hall and the pedestrian center, where we have free time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon, drive through the City Park to Hero???s Square, then past the Opera and Parliament.  We visit Stephen???s Basilica, then enjoy a boat ride on the Danube; commentary will include the history of the city???s most important buildings situated along the river. Our dinner this evening is at the Gypsy Tavern with folkloric entertainment. Overnight at our hotel.  Tuesday, May 30 - Day 9 - BUDAPEST/GYOR/ PRAGUE - Today, we leave the Hungarian plains and travel to Prague.  We drive to the famous Danube Bend for brief shopping and exploration of the village of Szentendre along the Danube Valley, well known for its artists and artisans.  Afterwards, we travel to the city of Gyor, situated halfway between Budapest & Vienna.   Gyor is famous for its Baroque architecture and sacred monuments which symbolize 1,000 years of Hungarian Christianity. We visit and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Gyor, where the Irish Madonna, known as Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, attracts many pilgrims. We continue to Prague for dinner and overnight. Wednesday, May 31 ??? Visitation - Day 10 - PRAGUE - After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady Victorious.  We view the famous statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, originally from Spain and donated to the Carmelites in 1628. We visit the museum to see part of the Infant Jesus??? wardrobe, most of which are gifts of gratitude. The vestments of the Infant Jesus are traditionally changed about ten times a year according to the liturgical season. We proceed to St. Nicholas Church (Mala Strana), one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Prague, where Mozart???s spectacular masterpiece, Mass in C, was first performed. Afterwards, we tour Castle Hill and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, Vladislav Hall and Golden Lane.   Our afternoon tour of Prague will include the Old Town with Astronomical clock, Our Lady before Tyn Church, Jewish Quarter and Charles Bridge.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Thursday, June 1 - Day 11 - RETURN TO US - This morning we transfer to the airport in Prague to board our flight to the USA arriving later today with memories of a lifetime.