2024 (Sept) - Poland

We were invited to participate in a pilgrimage to Poland with our friends Jeff and Bonnie Maas. The tour was designed around the footsteps of three prominent saints including Pope John Paul II. Our trip was September 23rd through October 1st.

Our tour involved flights from Green Bay, WI to Chicago, then to Frankfurt, Germany, and finally to Warsaw, Poland.

We had a fun surprise at Frankfurt Airport. As we were navigating through border control, we spun around quickly in the busy terminal and unexpectedly bumped into our friends Lori and Jeff Schifflett from our Los Angeles days. It was great to reunite with them!

During our initial days, we traveled into the heart of Warsaw, wandering the Old Town's enchanting cobblestone alleys and its emblematic architecture—a testament to Poland's post-war reconstruction. We visited landmarks such as the bustling Market Square, filled with eateries, cafes, and boutiques; the Barbican, a restored medieval fortification; and the poignant Warsaw Ghetto monument, honoring the 1943 uprising. Our stroll through the verdant Łazienki Park led us to the Chopin Statue, a tribute to the legendary composer Frédéric Chopin. We paused by the Royal Castle, once home to Polish royalty, and later explored the Stanisław Kostka Church, which houses an exhibit on Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, a revered figure in the Catholic Church who was martyred in 1984. Notably, in 1987, Saint John Paul II visited to offer prayers at Fr. Popiełuszko's grave.

We journeyed to Czestochowa with a stopover at Niepokalanow, the Franciscan Monastery established by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Kolbe was apprehended by the Nazis and perished in Auschwitz, where he sacrificed his life for that of another prisoner.

We then continued to Krakow, where we stayed for a few nights at the same hotel. Our journey led us through the mountains to the stunning, albeit small and remote, village of Zakopane. We enjoyed a cable car ride to a nearby mountaintop, which offered beautiful panoramic views close to the border of Slovakia.

Tim was very interested to visit Auschwitz, which we did one Sunday morning. Auschwitz is situated just outside Krakow. It is difficult to put into words the sadness you experience while walking through the grounds of Auschwitz, reflecting on the hundreds of thousands of individuals who perished in this Nazi concentration camp during World War II. We were heartened by the numerous school tours present, ensuring that the world does not overlook the events that took place there!

Describing our journey on the Poland Pilgrimage is a challenging task.  The sacredness of the numerous churches, chapels, and sites associated with the Polish saints that we explored has left us speechless, each location rich in history and a testament to our Catholic beliefs.  We have developed a deep respect for the Polish individuals who have triumphed over adversity to reclaim their liberty.  It is inspiring to witness how integral their faith is to their existence.

We were lucky to have Marta as our guide, who, having grown up under Soviet oppression, shared numerous personal anecdotes in addition to the extensive history of the places we visited on our tour.

Our group of Pilgrims became like family for the week.  We were especially blessed to have Fr. Tim say mass each day and invite each of us pilgrims to participate in the masses, for a deeper experience.  Tim was surprised Fr. Tim blessed him to distribute the blood of Jesus during Holy Communion to our group at our mass in the main chapel under the Black Madonna Icon at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Poland.  (Jasna Gora Monastery). This was quite the profound and memorable spiritual experience for him.  Each of these personalized masses was a gift for us to share with "our family" on the Pilgrimage!

The return trip home started with a departure from Krakow Poland, through Munich Germany to Chicago and finally back home to Green Bay.

Tim & Roxanne