Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 12

Poland 9: Final Blessings, Dinner and Farewells

Everyone had a great time on this trip and many of them were first-timers who now say they’re going to go with us again in the future. Almost half the people on the bus were talking about going on our Lourdes and Fatima trip in September 2026 along with Fr. Alfonso Aguilar again.

Enjoy our final Video of laughter and fun together at the end of the trip.

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Poland 8: Kolbe’s Niepokolanow, Warsaw Tour

Poland 8: St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Niepokolanow – the Immaculata city was our first stop. After the Kolbe Museum we celebrated Mass in his wooden chapel. Prayers, singing, and talks on the bus there and back.

Warsaw city tour of the most important sites of the capital city of Poland: St. John’s Cathy, Royal Castle Square, Jewish Quarter and Heroes Memorial, Łazienki Park and Palace and the Chopin Monument.

We also honored the martyr and Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko at his church.

Last dinner together at the Stary Dom Restaurant. To bed for early departure home tomorrow.

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Poland 7: Czestochowa, Black Madonna, Warsaw

Visiting the lovely Czestochowa, the center of Poland’s religious life and home of the famous icon of the Black Madonna. Enjoyed a guided tour and Mass at Jasna Gora Monastery.

We had an we had a good time on the bus praying the rosary, having our own “Catholic Answers Live Q&A“, and time for a nap Arrived in Warsaw for dinner and checked in at the Radisson Collection Hotel.

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Poland 6: Auschwitz, Kalwaria, JP II Center

Somber tour of Auschwitz, the largest World War II concentration camp in Europe. Last week was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Visited “death cell” of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the only Calvary on the UNESCO list where the slope of the hill an architectural “Way of the Cross” is constructed out of 40 chapels. Group lunch in Wadowice and Pope JP II’s favorite cream cake

Mass at the the new JP II Center in the presence of the Pope’s relics.

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My Notes on the “Divine Mercy in the Bible” used on three radio shows morning

We are in Poland and just celebrated the Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday at the Divine Mercy Chapel with the Sisters in Krakow. Wow!

On this great feast day of the Divine Mercy, I did three radio shows: “Live From Poland”, 1) “Sacred Sites” on Guadalupe Radio, 2) Ave Maria in the Afternoon, and 3) Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart and EWTN. You can find these three shows in their archives.

Here are my 3 pages of  Notes used for the radio shows. I hope you find them helpful.

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Poland 5: Krakow Walking Tour; Mass at Wawel Cathedral; Wieliczka Salt Mine

Walked to Mass at Wawel Cathedral and walking tour of Krakow; Visited Wawel Hill and Market Square, the biggest in Europe.

Visited St. Mary’s Church, famous for its Wit Stwosz’s wooden altar and witnessed the famous St. Mary’s Bugle Call ever hour on the hour for 600 years!

Guided tour of the World Famous Wieliczka Salt Mines to see the statue of St. John Paul II, which is carved in salt and the forty underground chapels.

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Poland 5: Wadowice , Hometown of JP II

Always a highlight of a Catholic pilgrimage to Poland, Wadowice the birthplace of St. John Paul II and his childhood home, which is now a museum with more pictures and memorabilia than anywhere else in the world.

We celebrated Mass at his boyhood parish, the Basilica of the Virgin Mary. Lunch on our own in the lovely village. Back to Kraków for free time before traditional duck dinner at Wierzynek Restaurant.

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Poland 4: Divine Mercy Day

Leave Zakopane for Kraków. Visit the “Have No Fear Center” dedicated to Saint John Paul II and have time to pray by his relics

Visit Divine Mercy Sanctuary, see images of the Merciful Jesus, relics of St. Faustina and the Saint’s convent chapel and her tomb. Enjoy a talk given by one of the nuns.

Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Hungarian Chapel). Check into hotel in Kraków and dinner.

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Poland 3: Zakopane all day

Poland 3 Zakopane 1st full day, Mass at Fatima Church, up the mountain, Highlander’s lunch.

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Poland 1 & 2: Arrival to Mountains of Zakopane

We gathered our group together at the John Paul II Airport in Kraków Poland. Land only and group air folks met up, and we boarded the bus and headed south up into the mountains of Zakapone.

This is where John Paul II vacationed throughout his life where he loved to ski. We had Mass at the beautiful retreat center in the mountains and then to our hotel for “meet, greet and eat” before going to bed.

On the first day of all of our pilgrimages, we have our welcome dinner at the hotel so people can go straight to bed since they’re all tired.

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