The Footsteps of St. John Paul II & Oberammergau Passion Play
OBER2020EYour trip includes
- Round-trip airfare from your desired Airport
- *
- All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
- Hotel accommodations (or similar) in double occupancy
- ~ 2 nights: Hotel Marriott, Vienna
- ~ 1 nights: NH Hotel, Salzburg
- ~ 2 nights: Oberammergau area
- ~ 1 nights: Munich area
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Wine with dinners
- Lunch (on the day of Passion Play)
- Whisper Headsets
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Assistance of local guide throughout
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
- Tickets to the Passion Play (Category 1 Ticket)
- Official Passion Play Program in English
- Mass daily & Spiritual activities
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Not included
- Beverages, Meals not mentioned, Tips to your guide & driver, Items of a personal nature.
Itinerary
Day 1, USA - Warsaw
Depart USA for your overnight flight(s) to Warsaw. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2, Warsaw
Upon arrival in Warsaw you will find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you will be greeted by your tour escort and/or driver. After a warm welcome to Poland, you will be escorted to the vehicle which will take you to explore all the landmarks of Warsaw: Old Town, Market Square, the Barbican, the Warsaw Ghetto monument, Lazienki Park, the Chopin statue, and the magnificently restored Royal Castle. In the afternoon we visit to St. Stanislaw Kostka Church to see a special exhibition dedicated to Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a great personality of Catholic Church murdered by security officers in 1984. In June 1987 John Paul II visited St. Stanislaw Kostka Church and prayed in front of the tomb of Father Jerzy. We will then celebrate Mass at the Holy Spirit Church that was completely destroyed during World War II, that was later rebuilt and visited by Saint John Paul II. Continue on to our hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.
Day 3, Warsaw - Niepokalanow - Czestochowa
After breakfast, we will take a short tour of Warsaw, including visits to: Old Town Barbican, Fortifications, Market Square, St. John's Cathedral, the Cathedral Bell, the Palace Square, Sigmund Column, and walk along the palace and the marvelous St. Anne's Church. We then board the bus for our trip to Czestochowa, the home of the greatest pilgrimage Shrine in Poland Our Lady of Czestochowa. Mass at Jasna Gora Monastery where the Holy icon of the Black Madonna is located. We will have time to explore the most important places of religious worship. The monastery has a pilgrimage tradition that goes back to the 14th century. Saint John Paul II was known to make frequent visits to the monastery throughout his life. We will have time to venerate the priceless treasures contained within, including the Miraculous Icon.We enjoy dinner at our hotel before retiring for the evening.
Day 4, Czestochowa - Auschwitz - Wadowice - Weliczka - Krakow
Today we begin our day with a visit Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp where unspeakable atrocities occurred. We will see the cell that imprisoned St. Maximillian Kolbe and the Martyrdom Museum recalling the horrors of the Holocaust. We continue on to Wadowice, with a stop along the way in Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (Saint John Paul II) and see the church he attended and was baptized as a child. This afternoon, we will stop at the amazing Wieliczka Salt Mines on our way to Krakow. We arrive in Krakow in time for dinner, after which you may enjoy a short stroll in the old city before retiring to the hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.
Day 5, Krakow - Lagiewniki (Divine Mercy) - Krakow
After breakfast, we depart for our day's excursion to Lagiewniki, the capital of the Divine Mercy. It was here that the message of the Divine Mercy originated, which Christ Himself wished to pass on to our generation through the mediation of St. Faustina. The Sanctuary houses grace working images of the Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina. As we view the Shrine of Divine Mercy we will see St. Faustina's convent Chapel and her Tomb. We will visit the newly constructed Shrine of Divinity dedicated by Saint John Paul II on his last visit to Poland in 2002. We celebrate Mass at the Shrine before we visit the new centre "Have no Fear" where we pray by the relic of Saint John Paul II. We will have time to pray and reflect before returning to Krakow for farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight.
Day 6, Krakow - Kalwaria - Olomouce - Vienna
This morning we will celebrate Mass at the Shrine in Kalwaria, also known as the "Polish Jerusalem". Will continue on our way to Vienna, with a stop for lunch (on your own) in Olomouce. You will have the opportunity to see the Old Town, and the Trinity Column. A UNESCO site, the memorial column was erected in the early 18th century, and famous for the Baroque style from the area, and decorated with many fine religious sculptures. Continue to Vienna, Asutria's capital, for dinner and overnight.
Day 7, Vienna
After breakfast we will enjoy a sightseeing of Vienna, home of Strauss and Mozart and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We see the spectacular St. Stephen's Cathedral, where we celebrate Mass. At St. Stephen's, we'll see the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapocs, tour the Cathedral and its catacombs, and those strong and brave may climb the 343 steps to the top of the Cathedral spire. Visit of the Schonbrunn Royal palace and summer house with 1,441 rooms including a Hall of Mirrors where Mozart performed at the age of six before a young Marie Antoinette. View of the Belvedere palace well known by its beautiful gardens. Back in the city center, we go to Karlsplatz with its Church of St. Charles Borromeo and Otto Wagner's Stadtbahn pavilions. Somewhere along the way we will have a little coffee break to enjoy the famous Vienna pastries such as Sacher cake. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.
Day 8, Vienna - Mariazell - Salzburg
Following breakfast, we will depart for Mariazell, a favorite Viennese resort, and the pilgrimage center in Austria that is dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine, before having time to get lunch (on your own), before we continue on our ride to Salzburg. As we make our way through the scenic Austria, we will stop at Hallstadt, a tiny town largely untouched by the modern world. It is noted for its relics of the pre-Christian Celtic period, and its exquisite woodcarvings. Continue on until we arrive in Salzburg, a jewel set on the banks of the Salzach River, and the birthplace of Mozart. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9, Salzburg - Altotting - Oberammergau
After breakfast, our full day tour begins with Mass at St. Peter's Churchyard. Salzburg is compact and best explored on foot. Narrow, winding lanes and secluded passageways are evidence of its medieval roots. The heritage of the Catholic Church is evident in the Archbishop's Residence and the decoration of the State Rooms, available for viewing. Visit the mighty Romanesque Cathedral, the Nonnberg Convent of Benedictine nuns, and the Fortress Hohensalzburg. We stop at Hellbrunn Palace to enjoy its gardens and hidden trick fountains before we make our way to Altotting, one of Germany's most celebrated Shrines and a city whose purpose is pilgrimage. Upon arrival we'll celebrate Mass at the center of the pilgrimage complex, the Chapel of Mercy. The Chapel houses a 13th century statue of the Blessed Virgin to which numerous miraculous cures are credited. While there, we have the opportunity to visit the Basilica, the Panorama of the Crucifixion and St. Konrad's Monastery. Continue to Oberammergau, You will arrive in time to check in to your Hotel, with time to relax or explore at your own leisure. You will gather with your group for a welcome dinner, and then return to your room for a restful nights sleep.
Day 10, Oberammergau - Passion Play: Performance Day
Celebrate Mass at local church. Enjoy some time to explore Oberammergau’s colorful frescos known as "Luftlmalereien" on house facades and to visit wood carving shops with amazing array of nativity scenesand religious figures. Following lunch, we will make our way to the world famous theatre to attend the performance of a lifetime, the 42nd Oberammergau Passion Play. The sleepy village springs to life every ten years to put on a play that draws the world upon it! We, too, will become part of mission of the Passion of Christ, the greatest story ever told. We all share His message of faith and love! The Oberammergau Passion Play tells the story of the Passion of Christ, beginning with His entry into Jerusalem, followed by His trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. The play is held in a beautiful open air theatre that is praised for its superb acoustics. There are 2,000 actors (and live animals), they include local wood carvers, hotel owners, students, teachers, children, all of them interrupt their schedules to become actors, singers, orchestra members and stagehands. Requirements are strict: all actors must be born in Oberammergau, or have lived there 20 years, or be married to a villager and a resident for 10 years. All natural makeup, such as men let their hair and beards grow a year before the play. Female roles are limited to single women under age 35.
The Play is approximately five and a half hours long and is performed in two acts.
Act I : 2:30 pm - 5:00pm
Intermission: 5:30pm - 7:30pm; enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Act II: 8:00 pm - 10:30pm
Day 11, Oberammergau - Munich
Following breakfast, you will board the bus that will bring you back to Munich. On the way, we will stop in Wieskirche, Church in the Meadow, which is also known as the "Church of the Scourged Redeemer". It is considered to be the most beautiful rococo Church in Europe. On the way, you will also see the Neuschwanstein, one of the castles built by King Ludwig II. Upon arrival in Munich, we will view Nymphenburg Palace from the outside, and see the historic glockenspiel on the Marienplatz. Arrive at the Hotel in time for dinner and overnight.
Day 12, Return Home
Following breakfast, you will board the bus that will bring the group to Munich Airport for the return flights home. You will bid farewell toy our new friends by fondly saying, Guten Tag Germany, and to a Pilgrimage which will be in your memories and hearts for a long time to come.