PILGRIM’S GUIDE With Saint John Paul the Great in Poland

Dear friends

We want to share with you the news about an upcoming publication by our Religious Family: a pilgrim’s guide to Poland following the footsteps of John Paul II in his native land.

We began with this project due to the particular relationship that our Religious Family has with St. John Paul II, and aiming at further making known his extraordinary person, following the footprints of the Saint prior His papacy.

Apart from including historic, geographic and cultural information, the guide offers in particular John Paul II’s words and actions related to each of the suggested places of visit. In this way, our guide can be useful not only in order to prepare a pilgrimage, but as an actual source of deeper knowledge of the life and teachings of the Saint, and especially for the pastoral with young people.

The next World Youth Day in Krakow 2016 is indeed a lovely chance to use the guide. Therefore, we are almost finishing its publication, bearing in mind the spiritual aspect that a pilgrimage of this kind should be marked by.

Here you will find a presentation of the guide where it is further explained what inspired us to create the guide and the guide’s uses. The text is available in Spanish, Italian and English and it includes photos in colour, maps, useful information, etc.

We would like to ask you to spread this piece of news as much as you can and to promote its purchase in those places where you perform pastoral activities: dioceses, churches, youth groups, schools.

To make an order or for any questions regarding the guide you can contact us at:

-Sister Maria del Pilar:

cel: +39 327 874 5319 (what’s app)

email: m.pilar@servidoras.org

-Sister Maria de Montserrat:

cel:+39 338 897 8569 (what’s app/viber)

email: sec.generalicia@servidoras.org

Dear Pilgrim,

You are about to start your journey following in the footsteps of Saint John Paul the Great in his homeland, Poland. We hope that these pages will be an instrument to thank the Lord for the gift granted to His Church and the world through the person of this great saint. You will travel to the places related to his life, a life that had the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary as its principal characters. We hope that through contact with the places you will visit, they will become a stimulus so that you also decide to be completely guided in your life for the love of God, to become a saint.

The present guide is born during a pilgrimage in Poland, in 2013, following the footprints of John Paul II, whose life gave us an eloquent testimony of the extraordinary richness with which is imbued his homeland. After visiting this great nation, its vast cultural and spiritual heritage, but chiefly the places related to the great leading figure of the Polish Pope, we though it important to create a guide to benefit others. Due to the trouble that non-Slav speaking pilgrims have to understand Polish, we considered it necessary to provide information in other languages. We worked with dedication to publish  simultaneously the guide in Spanish, Italian, and English.

The main goal of this work, as stated in the Introduction, is “helping pilgrims find in each place the spiritual legacy of Pope John Paul the Great”. A vast number of his quotes, highlighted for easy reading, connect each place with John Paul II and gather his valuable teaching.

Undoubtedly, Saint John Paul II is the more emblematic Polish leading figure of our times. Poland is proud to have given the Church a Saint Pope that was face with harsh historical times for his country. Indeed, this profoundly catholic land particularly suffered persecution, but managed to hold tight to its ideals when faced with ideologies that sought to make Poland give up its most genuine Christian roots, its culture and faith. From his place, Karol Wojtiła knew how to help in the defence of these values. The aim of the guide is making known those places connected to his vast work (as a student and worker) in favour of these principles, but above all his work as a shepherd of the souls, as a priest and afterwards Archbishop of Krakow.

To this end, the guide includes information of the cities in which he lived, studied, worked, taught and practised his fertile priestly and episcopal ministry. It also includes many references to the visits made to his country while being a Pope. This way, the guide provides a description of the main places related to this great national and universal leading figure, John Paul the Great of our times.

In addition, to complete this spiritual journey, in each of the places the most important figures and saints are mentioned, telling a brief story of their lives. There is also information about some of the cities the pilgrims might visit because of the relevance they have for the Polish people and that are also connected to Saint John Paul II. The footnotes provide information that complete the main text, with references sites that can be consulted.

An itinerary of visits is suggested, following a chronology according to John Paul II’s life. Pilgrims can easily use the guide for the itinerary they consider proper. To this end, the most important cities are highlighted in different colours.

In order to show pilgrims their way in the city, a civic reference is included under each of the places suggested. Maps of the places are available, which can come in very handy. Also, some of the cities and monuments described are illustrated with pictures.

Finally, we would like to point out the relevance of the guide in view of the next Krakow 2016 – World Youth Day. We think it will be of great use for those willing to combine the World Youth Day with a pilgrimage, within the framework of Saint John Paul II’s spirit, who loved young people so dearly and from Heaven still intercedes for them.

The content of this pilgrim guide is organized according to the cities in Poland which were most related to the life of John Paul II.

Its main purpose is to help the pilgrim encounter the Spiritual Legacy of this great Pope at each of the places. There are text boxes throughout the entire guide containing quotes to accompany each place with memories that the saint has left us, especially in his works Memory and Identity, Gift and Mystery, and Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way as well as some of his homilies, which contain a heritage of teaching and truth that enlighten future generations.

The guide also contains biographical information about numerous Polish saints. Many of these saints played an important role in the life and formation of Saint John Paul II. Some of them were beatified or canonized by the Polish Pope.

In addition, historical and artistic information is provided regarding the places to visit, which are closely linked to the profound faith of the great Polish people.

 

TIMELINE OF THE LIFE OF SAINT JOHN PAUL II		11
I – WADOWICE		14
	Historical Context of Wadowice	15
	1 – Municipal Museum – Historic Dairy Farm	16
	2 – Family Home of John Paul II	16
	3 – Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary	17
	4 – Town Hall and Boys School	20
	5 – Historic Bakery of Karol Hugenhuber	20
	6 – Market Square – John Paul II Plaza	21
	7 – Sanctuary of Saint Joseph – Monastery of the Carmelite Fathers	21
	8 – Church of Saint Peter the Apostle	26
	9 – Headquarters of the Infanty Regiment	27
	10 – Cultural House	27
II – KRAKÓW		29
	1 – Debniki Neighborhood – House of John Paul II in Kraków	30
	2 – Salesian Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka	31
	3 – House of Jan Tyranowski	33
	4 – House on Szwedzka Street	35
	5 – House on Komorowskiego Street	35
	6 – The Rhapsodic Theater	36
	7 – Pod Lipkami House	37
	8 – Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr	37
	9 – Cathedral Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Wenceslaus	39
	10 – Seminary in Kraków	54
	11 – Dean’s House and Museum	55
	12 – Pontifical University of John Paul II	56
	13 – Church of Saints Peter and Paul	57
	14 – Church of Saint Joseph and Monastery of the Bernadine Nuns	57
	15 – Basilica of the Holy Trinity of the Dominican Fathers	58
	16 – Basilica of Saint Francis and Monastery of the Conventual Franciscans	60
	17 – Archbishop’s Palace of Kraków	62
	18 – Kraków Philharmonic Hall – Catholic House	71
	19 – Błonia and Jordan Parks	71
	20 – Jagiellonian University – Collegium Novum	72
	21 – Saint Anne’s Collegiate Church – Remains of Saint John Cantius	74
	22 – Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary	75
	23 – Market Plaza – Rynek Głowny	76
	24 – Church of Saint Adalbert	77
	25 – Saint Mary’s Basilica – Kosciól Mariacki	77
	26 – Basilica of Saint Florian	80
	27 – Monastery of the Carmelite Fathers	84
	28 – Rakowicki Cemetery	87
	29 – Sanctuary of Saint Brother Albert – Ecce Homo Church	88
	30 – Church of Saint Joseph in Podgórze	91
	31 – Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków – Łagiewniki	92
	32 – John Paul II Church and the “Do not be afraid” Center	95
	33 – Old Bicarbonate Factory “Sołvay”	101
	34 – Zakrzówek	102
	35 – Nowa Huta	104
	36 – Cistercian Abbey of Mogila	107
	37 – Salt Mines of Wieliczka	107
	38 – Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec	108
	39 – John Paul II International Airport	110
III – NIEGOWIĆ		112
	1 – Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	112
IV – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA		114
V – AUSCHWITZ		118
VI – CZĘSTOCHOWA		124
	1 – Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Jasna Góra	124
	2 – Stations of the Cross at Jasna Góra of Jerzy Duda Gracz	134
VII-VIII-IX – BIESZCZADY NATIONAL PARK, TATRA MOUNTAINS AND MANSURIAN LAKES		137
	1 – His Ministry with the Youth and Formation of the Laity	138
	2 – Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Zakopane	141
X – LUBLIN		143
	1 – The Cathedral of Lublin	144
	2 – Trinity Tower	146
	3 – Market Square	147
	4 – The Dominican Monastery	147
	5 – The Royal Castle and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity	148
	6 – Kraków Gate	149
	7 – Catholic University of Lublin (KUL)	149
	8 – Majdanek Extermination Camp	153
XI – CITY OF THE IMMACULATE – SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE		157
XII – WARSAW		163
	1 – Saint Stanisław Kostka Church – Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko	163
	2 – Cathedral of Warsaw	171
	3 – Royal Castle	178
	4 – Archbishop’s Palace of Warsaw – Borch Palace	178
	5 – Church of Saint Anne	179
	6 – Convent of the Uruline Sisters	181
	7 – Library of the University of Warsaw	181
	8 – Presidential Palace	182
	9 – Piłsudskiego Square or Square of Victory	182
	10 – Museum –Collection of John Paul II	186
	11 – Convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy	186
	12 –Pawiak Prison Museum	187
	13 – All Saints’ Church	188
	14 – National Temple of Divine Providence	189
XIII – LICHEŃ STARY		191
	Shrine of Our Lady of Licheń	191
XIV – GIETRZWAŁD		198
	Shrine of Our Lady of Warmia	198
ANNEXES TO THE GUIDE		202
Stations of the Cross of Cardenal Wojtyła		203
Useful Sites for Preparing the Pilgrimage		212
APPENDIX		215
	Apostolic Journey to Poland, Tuesday, June 15, 1999	215