Anna Campbell (5a10) has written about her experiences in Poland with Paisley Diocese:

In October, I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to Krakòw in Poland as part of the 1+1>2 project with Paisley Diocese. I went with 32 other young people in the diocese, four parish priests, Sister Freida and Bishop John. We spent 6 days exploring Krakòw in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, visiting the salt mines, Czestochowa and the old Jewish quarters as well as having the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau.
When we arrived we went on a guided tour of Krakòw city centre and it was clear from that moment that religion is very important to the city of Krakòw and that John Paul II was a great inspirational figure to all Polish people. That evening Bishop John said mass at the Devine mercy sanctuary, the resting place of Saint Faustina, where during the homily he spoke about the importance of youth and saying yes to God.
We also went on a trip to Czestochowa, where we had a guided tour and were able to see the Black Madonna and have a mass in the Jasna Gora Monastery where Fr Frank explained to us the importance of the Black Madonna.
On our third day we went to Wadowice, Saint John Paul II’s birthplace, in the morning. We went to his home which has now been converted in to a museum and were taught about the inspirational life he led. After this we went to the Church, next to his home, where we were able to renew our baptismal promises in the same font that John Paul II was christened.
Our visit to Aushwitz and Auschwitz II Birkenau was a truly emotional and unforgettable day. Going to the largest Nazi concentration camp is something that nothing can prepare you for. It is very hard to understand the extent of the holocaust until you witness the victims shoes, hair, suitcases and numerous other belongings along with the photos of the victims on arrival at the camp, many of whom were smiling as they believed they were going to be set free. We were able to go to the starvation cell that Saint Maximilian Kolbe was tortured and died in. He sacrificed his own life to save a Jewish man, which was only one of the many influential things he did throughout the Holocaust. On our arrival at Aushwitz II Birkenau, it was beginning to get dark and the air was cold like a winters night. The camp stretched for what seemed like miles with only the remains of the old train tracks, many chimneys and two of the largest gas chambers and crematoriums. The Nazis burnt down the wooden shacks at the end of the holocaust leaving only chimneys, but there are reconstructed stables fit for horses which are identical to those in which the millions of people were crowded in to to sleep. We went to the end of the railway line where we lit candles and had a short prayer service, silently remembering the millions of holocaust victims. Visiting Aushwitz was a very emotional and harrowing day however it is something that everyone should experience as it is important to remember the tragedies that took place during World War II to ensure nothing like this will ever happen again.
On our fourth day we continued our walking tour of Krakòw in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II, visiting the cathedral where he was the bishop in before he became Pope. We also visited the Jewish quarters and the five synagogues there, only two of which are still active. This is because before the war Krakòw was inhabited by 56,000 Jews and after the Holocaust only 2000 Jews stayed there.
We ended our pilgrimage by visiting the Salt Mines. During Nazi rule, religion was frowned upon and if it was worshiped there was a high probability you would be sent to a death camp. So, the people of Krakòw went into the mines and turned them into a place of worship. Everything is carved out of salt, the ceilings, the walls, the floor, the statues and even the chandeliers. We were fortunate enough to celebrate mass in the salt mines, it was an interesting and different approach to mass which each of us thoroughly enjoyed.
The pilgrimage was a once in a lifetime experience in which my faith was truly deepened. Not only was it the holiest but it was also one of the most fun weeks of my life. I now fully appreciate how amazing it is to be Catholic.