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Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Prague and Poland with Rev. Madarang
(November 6 – 16, 2023)

Trip Length

11 Days

Current Weather

Trip Type

1-800-CATHOLIC

Trip Overview & Highlight

Join Rev. Edgar Madarang on this 11 day Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Prague and Poland. Visit Medjugorji, a peaceful village nestled between mountains and the Adriatic Sea in Bosnia Herzegovina; where June 25, 1981 Our Lady appeared to six children and identified herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. Her mission, as explained to the visionaries, is to promote peace between God and mankind through Jesus, his son. Reval in the enchanting city of Prague, with
its 1,100 year old skyline, domed rooftops,soaring steeples, and spires. Continue on to Poland and learn of Pope St. John Paul II life in Poland, visiting Krakow, Warsaw, Auschwitz and so much more.

Highlights

  • Relaxing and meditative 3 night stay in Medjugorje.
  • Pray in St. James Church with pilgrims from around the world.
  • Climb Apparition Hill, the place of Our Lady’s first apparitions.
  • Panoramic tour of Prague with its 1100 uyear old skyline, domed rooftops and soaring steeples.
  • View the renowned statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, a high point for pilgrimages.
  • Marvel at the medieval Charles bridge, with its many baroque statues of saints and providing spectacular views of the River Itava and the superb Gothic Gates.
  • View St. Nicholas Church, the Astronomic Clock, and the Prague Castle district, where we’ll tour St.Vitus Cathedral, St. George Basilica, Loreto Church, Strahov Monastery, and Wenceslas Square.
  • In Krakow visit St.Mary’s Church, listen to the silvertrumpet of the bugler and see its extraordinary Wit Stwosz Altar.
  • Krakow tour includes historic Town Hall Tower, the Cloth Hall, the Burgher’s Houses, tour the Cathedral, Coronation Chapel and the Royal Chambers. Then visit St. Florian’s Church, where St. John Paul II served after his ordination.
  • Visit St. Florian’s Church, where St. John Paul II served after his ordination.
  • Stop in Swinice Warckie, to visit the parish church St Casmir, where St. Faustina was baptized. On to Czestochowa, the site of Poland’s greatest pilgrimage shrine, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
  • Visit Jasna Gora Monastery, one of the most important places of religious worship in the Christian world, known as the Shrine of the Black Madonna.
  • Visit Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp.
  • A full day of touring Warsaw, including The Old Town, Market Square, St. John’s Arch Cathedral, The Barbican, Holy Cross Church, Lazienki Park and the magnificently restored Royal Castle.

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What’s Included

  • International airfare from New York gateway
  • 9 nights hotel accommodations
  • Daily breakfast and dinners
  • Ground & Air Transportation
  • Sightseeing & Entrance fees
  • Professional English Speaking Tour Director throughout
  • Private motorcoach & driver
  • Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person

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Prices & Dates

 

Nov 06, 2023
Reserve Online

Air & Land

From $3,698

Land Only

Not Applicable

Prices are based on double occupancy: all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will accommodate triples/quads whenever possible. Please call for further details.

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Itinerary

DAY 1: New York, NY

-Today we depart Newark airport on our transatlantic flight for Croatia. Dinner and breakfast served on board.

Day 2: Split / Medjugorje

Arrival in Split,meet and greet our ReginaTours representative as we board our motor coach for 2 hour drive to Medjugorje. Our Tour Escort will accompany us throughout our stay in Medjugorje. Check-in to our hotel and take part in the evening Rosary in St. James Church (if available) Dinner and overnight (B,D)

DAY 3: Medjugorje

– Today will allow us the opportunity to pray, meditate, attend Mass followed by free time to climb the path up Apparitions hill where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady.Visit and pray at the Blue Cross, a place of healing and Graces, at the base ofApparition Hill.In the evening, join villagers and pilgrims to pray the Rosary and Blessing of the Sick.The rest of the day is at leisure for personal devotion. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.(B,D)

DAY 4: Medjugorje

Today is free day for personal devotion.Visit and pray at the Blue Cross, at the base of Apparition Hill. Join pilgrims for Rosary and Blessing of the Sick (B, D)

DAY 5: – Medjugorje / Split / Prague

Early morning check-out and transfer to Split airport for your flight to Prague.Arrival in the enchanting city of Prague, with its 1,100 year old skyline, domed rooftops,soaring steeples, and countless spires, we are greeted by our tour escort and start on a panoramic tour of the city before transferring to the hotel for dinner and overnight.(B, D)

DAY 6: Prague

After breakfast, we begin our tour of beautiful Prague by celebrating Mass at the Church of Our LadyVictorious. Here, we will see the renowned statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, a high point for pilgrimages, where many miracles have been recorded.We visit OldTown by way of Golden Lane, then on to LesserTown to see the medieval Charles bridge, adorned with many baroque statues of saints and providing spectacular views of the River Itava and the superb Gothic Gates.We will also see St. Nicholas Church, the Astronomic Clock, and the Prague Castle district, where we’ll tour St.Vitus Cathedral, St. George Basilica, Loreto Church, Strahov Monastery, and Wenceslas Square. Dinner and overnight.(B,D)

DAY 7: Krakow

After breakfast, we’ll transfer and drive to Krakow.Arrival in Krakow,we will have a city tour focusing on the life of St. John Paul II, who spent many yearsin Krakow. Visit St.Mary’s Church at the main square and listen to the silvertrumpet of the bugler from its tower.Inside the Cathedral we will have a chance to pray before the extraordinaryWit Stwosz Altar.Then tour the surrounding square, which has remained mostly unchanged for almost 700 years, with its historic Town Hall Tower, the Cloth Hall and the Burgher’s Houses.Then to Wawel Hill to tour the Cathedral, Coronation Chapel and the Royal Chambers,where a superb collection ofArras tapestries is on view. Then visit St. Florian’s Church, where St. John Paul II served after his ordination.We will celebrate Mass here. Our next stop is the Franciscan Church which has a pew dedicated to St. John Paul II. He prayed every day at this pew while he was studying to be a priest. Afternoon is at leisure to explore Market Square on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.(B,D)

DAY 8: Warsaw / Czestochowa / Auschwitz / Krakow

After breakfast, we will travel to Czestochowa, with a stop in SwiniceWarckie,to visit the parish church St Casmir, where St. Faustina was baptized Helen Kowalska and received her First Holy Communion. Continue on to Czestochowa, the site of Poland’s greatest pilgrimage shrine,Our Lady of Czestochowa.Visit Jasna Gora Monastery,one of the most important places of religious worship in the Christian world, with a tradition of pilgrimages that date back to the 14th century. St. John Paul II frequently visited Jasna Gora, known as the Shrine of the Black Madonna, in honor of the beloved Icon.We will celebrate Mass at the Pauline Monastery and view the priceless treasures contained within, including the Miraculous Icon.Then travel to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp. We will see the cell that imprisoned St Maximillian Kolbe and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.(B,D)

DAY 9: Warsaw

-After breakfast, we will have a full day of touring to visit all the landmarks ofWarsaw:The Old Town, which was totally rebuilt after the destruction of W.W.II; Market Square, with its exciting shops, cafes, and restaurants; St. John’s Arch cathedral, built in the 14th century where we will celebrate Mass; The Barbican; the Warsaw Ghetto monument, commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. Other sites include Holy Cross Church, severely damaged in a German strike in 1944 and where Chopin’s heart is entombed, beautiful Lazienki Park with its Chopin statue, and the magnificently restored Royal Castle.(B,D)

DAY 10: Warsaw

Upon arrival, visit St. James Church and celebrate Mass. It is at this church Helena Kowalska, known as St. Faustina, attended Mass and prayed for guidance and advice on entering the convent.We transfer to our hotel and the balance of the day is at leisure to explore this lovely city on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.(D)

DAY 11: New York, NY

– After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our departure flight, arriving the same day.We take with us memories and blessings to last us a lifetime.(B)

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Essential Information & Weather

 

Weather

First thing to note is that Bosnia has two very distinct climates: In the north you will find a semi-continental climate whereas the south has a more Mediterranean climate. This difference is more felt in the winter, where it may get harsher in the North, while remaining more mild in the South. Summertime differences in summer temperatures between the north and south are not very noticeable.

In the Spring, as the county begins heating up by March, days can reach highs in the 70s Fahrenheit, and the melting snows lead to flowing rivers and lush greenery.

Autumn, which arrives by late September, is when the two regions begin to diverge. The South maintains temperatures in the 60s and even some days at 70s Fahrenheit, the North dips to the mid-forties.
Find up-to-date weather forecasts for Israel here: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/bosnia-herzegovina

Packing List

The following suggested packing list is for a general week to ten days’ trip in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Please consider the season of travel and type of trip to adjust, given the significant difference between warm summers and fiercely cold winters.

• 7-9 x pairs of underwear, socks
• 2-3 x loose, lightweight trousers or skirts– one full length and one cropped pair would be ideal
• 1-2 x shorts (if in warmer season)
• 2-3 x long, loose shirts
• 4-5 x t-shirts or tops (think layers in wintertime)
• 2-3 evening tops
• 1-2 pairs of comfortable walking/running shoes
• 1 x pair of more formal shoes
• 1 rain/wind-proof jacket
• 2-3 sweaters or other colder-weather gear
Scarf – Men and women wear scarfs throughout the year, especially in fall and winter.
• sunglasses
• sun hat
• toiletries
• 1 x day bag
• 1 x evening bag
• European adapter
• Phone, camera and any other electronics needed
• passport and travel docs
• insurance

Specific packing notes for visiting religious sites:
• Cover shoulders: avoid strapless tops, spaghetti straps tops and vests (both men and women)
• Avoid above the knee skirts and shorts (men and women)
• Avoid exposing excessive cleavage, a waist/belly or back
• Do not wear slogans or prints that may be perceived as offensive

Passports

Six months remaining validity strongly recommended; at least three months remaining validity beyond planned departure from South Africa is require

Visa

Israel

Tourist Visas are Not required for stays of 90 days or less. Please see below for detailed information about entry, exit and visa requirements

Jordan

Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months following your return from the destination. Additionally, you’ll need an empty page for the entry stamp.

Currency & Exchange

The currency of Bosnia-Herzegovina is the convertible mark, which It is divided into 100 pfenigs or fenings. Coins come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 fenings/pfenigs.[1] Coins of 1, 2 and 5 marks were introduced later. Notes are available in denominations of 50 fenings/pfenigs, as well as: 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 marks.

Money exchange services are available at the airport, in many hotels, and in exchange houses. Banks are generally open daily on weekdays from until 6 or 7 PM. ATMs accepting Visa and MasterCard are ubiquitous in cities. Credit and debit cards may be accepted outside Sarajevo, but you should make sure you have enough cash with you when traveling outside major cities.

Rounding up the bill to leave a tip is customary at cafes, bars and with taxis. Tips of 10% are appreciated when dining at finer restaurants.

Phone & Internet Connectivity

You’ll find some free pubic wifi hotspots in some of the major touristic centers, and certainly at different cafes, restaurants and hotels offer wifi as well. Internet connectivity on your mobile device is available throughout most of the country, but unless you have unlimited roaming, your bill may leave you a nasty surprise. If your mobile phone allows for it, and you are in need of constant connectivity, you can always purchase a local SIM card and a prepaid plan. This provides you with local phone number and internet access, allowing for your mobile phone to double as a modem through the mobile hotspot function.

Electricity and Adapters

In Bosnia and Herzegovina the power plugs and sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Dress & Modesty Norms

The Bosnian dress is stylish, yet conservative and often more formal; dress as you would in the rest of Europe. Women usually wear dresses, and men’s clothing is based primarily around a jacket and tie. Business etiquette dictates suits and ties or sports jackets and ties for men. Women wear dresses, skirts, and jackets or trouser suits. Overall, people are fashion conscious and believe that clothes indicate social standing and success. Naturally, tourists are not expected to dress this way, but arching your wardrobe closer to more fashion-forward and formal will help you blend in if that is a goal of yours.

Food & Water

The US Center for Disease Control’s travel advisory recommends avoiding tap water and drinking bottled or disinfected water in Bosnia and Herzegovina, though most locals do drink tap water. Food safety precautions should be no more stringent than most destinations in Europe. For extra security avoid street-vendors and raw meat, and stick to established dining institutions and cooked or packaged food.

Timezone

Bosnia-Herzegovina is +1 hours UTC (Central European time zone). You can find up-to-date time information here: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/bosnia-herzegovina

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From The Pilgrimage

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