Our Lady Of Czestochowa Shrine – Bus Ofc

We went there last Sunday to see the parade and procession of Polish Mountaineers (Gorale) from Poland (my wife’s relatives are Polish and it supposed to be a nice event for St Ann Holiday). The procession supposed to start at 3:30 pm so we got there before that… we got there at 3pm.
We were so disappointed when we found out the procession was over long time ago (at 1;30pm). According to their website the procession of Polish Mountaineers should start at 3:30pm. No one bothered to change the time of the event on their website or the shrine’s paper bulletin. We went there all the way (almost 3 hours drive) for nothing (a minivan of 7 people altogether).
So I’m asking what is wrong with them (Paulins and the site administrators) ?
So they get one star for the organization. Another (2^nd) star is only for the shrine itself… that it looked so nice. The trip was such a waste of time and gas money… :(
Never again we will go there!

I’ve been in the area by this place a million times but never had the time nor the reason to stop for a visit. Enter a few weeks ago when we were too busy/​forgot to get our holy on Sunday morning and not wanting to go to hell any faster than I’m already going, found out that Our Lady has a mass Sunday Evening at 5pm.
The Sunday night service is downstairs in the chapel so I never got see any of the other features like the cafeteria or the main church since everything else by this point is closed.
The chapel itself is a very interesting design with multiple pillars blocking your view of the altar unless you sit in the center section and everything is still set up and done pre-​Vatican II (Latin Rite) with the priest having his back to the congregation during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Everything was beautifully done although accent-​wise I’m not sure I understood the majority of what Father was saying as his English is a bit tough to figure out.
Hopefully we’ll make it back sooner to see the main church and to visit their Fall Festival next year.
Normal Sunday Masses are at:
8:00am, 10:00am, 12:30pm (Polish)
9:00am, 11:00am, 2:30pm, 5:00pm (English)

As a Polish-​American Catholic, this place was a must visit for me.
The Shrine sits atop a high hill and offers spectacular views in every direction. The grounds are beautifully kept and offer a lot of places for visitors to roam. There is a Rosary Garden that offers opportunity for prayer and mediation.
The Visitor’s Center houses a museum with a variety of pictures and artifacts. When we were there, it was «staffed» with a priest who was able to answer questions and provide additional information. The gift shop is top notch offering a large selection of religious items, items from Poland and a large selection of books in both English and Polish. Upstairs in the visitor’s center is a Polish deli and cafeteria. The cafeteria has a variety of Polish options (pierogi, stuffed cabbage, sausage, polish stew) and prices are very affordable at $ 6 for a half meal (what was still plenty of food) or $ 12 for a full meal. The deli has meat an d other Polish treats available.
The church has two levels. The bottom level is a beautiful chapel that honors Our Lady of Czestochowa. On the walls of the inner portion near the alter are various rosaries and other items left by thankful pilgrims to the Shrine. The main upstairs church is stunning. Each side of the church features a massive stained glass window. One with details of the history of America and one with details of the history of Poland. You could spend a great deal of time just taking in all of the beauty of those scenes. The vestibule of the church has several statues and carvings including a memorial to Holocaust victims and a JPII bust.
One thing that you can’t miss when you visit the Shrine, literally, is a 25 foot statue of Pope John Paul II. It faces the parking lot and warmly greets visitors. It is a great statue that shows the joy our late pontiff had.
I loved my visit to the Shrine. It made me think of my grandparents and miss the ones who have passed away. I look forward to a return visit.

I used to come here with my parents when I was little, and it is the final resting place for my mother so I come here alone several times a year. The shrine sits atop a hill and the views are beautiful and peaceful. Masses are given in Polish and English, alternating. There is a candle chapel, a small Polish goods store selling kielbasi, babka, jams, and other Polish foods next to the cafeteria which serves lunches after mass on Sundays, a small museum and a large gift shop downstairs. The grounds and statues are beautiful for walking and contemplation. The cemetery is well maintained, and the old wooden chapel on the cemetery grounds feels like it was brought over from an old village in Poland. To me it’s a throw back in time.
The first two weekends in September are the Polish festival with rides for children, lots of food and entertainment and some vendors selling Polish and other types of goods. All Soul’s Day is another day where many people participate in a procession through the cemetery.
This is a ride for me, but when I get here I feel very at peace, and I’ll keep coming as long as I am able.