Summer Pilgrimage to Czestochowa

July 27, 2025

For our annual summer pilgrimage, we hit the road and traveled to Doylestown, PA! Check out some photos from our day and read more below.

Every summer, we journey to a new shrine to learn about a new saint, and explore all that it has to offer- history, devotions, artwork, and more. This year, we went to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Our featured saint was John Paul II, but we had the opportunity to learn about many other devotions during our time there!

The shrine, dedicated to the Blessed Mother in Her title of Our Lady of Czestochowa, was established in 1955. Since then, it has been a place of pilgrimage for thousands from around the world. The icon that is present throughout the shrine is a recreation of the original that is held in Poland. Over the centuries, many miracles attributed to Our Lady have caused pilgrims throughout Poland and from distant coasts of Europe to visit the Marian Shrine of Jasna Gora. This summer, we added to the many pilgrims who visit the Doylestown Shrine each year!

Our day started off with a Sunday morning Mass in their upper chapel. Next, we met with a shrine volunteer who was kind enough to give us a tour of their massive grounds, which is at the peak of Bucks County, PA. The tour started in the St. John Paul II museum, where JPII’s vestments and othe relics are held. Our tour guide then shared about the shrine’s history, the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Pauline Fathers & Brothers who are present at the shrine. After some time to view the artwork, we were shown the lower chapel, which is the recreation of the shrine in Poland. We viewed hundreds of relics behind the altar on display, then made our way to the upper chapel and St. Anne’s chapel.

After some time to explore and check out the all-important giftshop, we enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria and ice cream on the way home. We can’t wait for next year’s pilgrimage! Where should we go next…?