Join St. Anthony of Padua Parish on a bus trip to Lancaster, PA December 16-17, 2023.

The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County are America's oldest Amish settlement, where tens of thousands still live a centuries-old "Plain" lifestyle. Arriving in Amish Country allows you to step back in time to enjoy a slower, more peaceful pace – one where the horse & buggy remains a primary form of transportation, and where windmills dot the landscape, providing power harnessed from nature. Always a vital part of Lancaster County culture, the PA Amish are involved in agriculture as well as an array of businesses and cottage industries.

5:30 a.m. Meeting in church parking lot

6:00 a.m. Depart from St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Chicopee, MA

1:15 p.m. Lunch: Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant

3:00 p.m. The Amish Village Tours (2 hours)

7:00 p.m. Sight and Sound “Miracle of Christmas”

Hotel: Bird-in-Hand Family Inn

7:00 a.m. Breakfast in hotel

9:00 a.m. Hotel: Holy Mass

10:00 a.m. Hotel: Check out

11:00 a.m. The Amish Village Tours (2 hours)

01:30 p.m. Lunch:

3:00 p.m. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery Tours (1 hour)

4:30 p.m. Depart to St. Anthony of Padua Parish

10:00 p.m. Arrival to St. Anthony of Padua Parish

Welcome to Pilgrimages with Fr. Jacek!

My name is Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, OFMConv., a Conventual Franciscan priest, ordained in Krakow, Poland, in 1998.

Throughout my priestly ministry in Poland, Peru, and the United States, I have experienced the beauty of faith, prayer, and Christian community.

For me, a pilgrimage is much more than traveling to beautiful places. It is a spiritual journey, an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ, deepen our faith, grow closer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and experience the joy of walking together as one family of God.

Our pilgrimages take us to sacred destinations, Marian shrines, Eucharistic miracle sites, and places connected with the lives of the saints.

Each pilgrimage includes opportunities for Holy Mass, prayer, spiritual reflection, fellowship, and discovering the rich traditions of our Catholic faith.

We warmly welcome pilgrims from different countries and cultures. Our pilgrimages bring together English-, Spanish-, and Polish-speaking participants.