Polish people gather to participate in liturgies, various events, prayer vigils, meditations and conferences dedicated to the teachings of St. John Paul II. A week beforehand, a pastoral letter from the Polish Bishops' Conference is read out in all parishes in preparation for the event. Each year Pope John Paul II Day has its own motto, which indicates an important area of the Pope's teaching. This motto forms the backbone of all prayer, liturgical and artistic events. The celebration of this Day is accompanied by competitions, exhibitions, theatre performances, poetry evenings, sporting, cultural and artistic events, concerts etc., The charitable aspect of the Day consists of a public and parish collection of resources for a scholarship fund for gifted young people from needy families, currently including some young Ukrainians. The beneficiaries of the Foundation are described as a 'living monument' to St John Paul II, and the support extended to them is an expression of the Poles' gratitude to their Great Compatriot. This year's 23rd Papal Day was celebrated in Poland and Polish communities around the world on 15 October, with the motto: "St John Paul II - Civilization of Life'. The event was organized by the Foundation "Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia" (The Mission of the New Millennium) and was inspired by the words of the Gospel of St. John: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, the President of the Board of the Foundation "Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia", recalled that the celebration of the Pope's Day has two objectives: the first is to support talented and destitute young people from smaller towns and villages, which is done every year by collecting funds for scholarships from the Foundation "Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia", and the second is to promote the teaching of Pope John Paul II.
For many years, the Salesians and the faithful of the parish of St Stanislaus Kostka and the Salesian Seminary in Krakow have been taking part in the annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St John Paul II in Krakow-Łagiewniki. In fact, on 14 October, the 19th Pilgrimage in the footsteps of Karol Wojtyła the worker took place this year. All the pilgrims were able to pray together, passing through the places where St John Paul II passed his youthful days. The Salesian students of theology and of philosophy, accompanied by their formators participated in the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage started at the Salesian Church of St Stanislaus Kostka, in the Dębniki district, at 9:30 a.m.. Then, the pilgrimage route passed in front of the house of the Servant of God Jan Tyranowski, Karol Wojtyła's mentor, on Różana Street. The pilgrims then moved on to the house with the number 10 on Tyniecka Street, where Karol Wojtyła lived since 1938 and passed on to Szwedzka Street followed by the Twardowskiego Street, where there is a small old chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Afterwards, the pilgrims stopped at a quarry in Zakrzówek, where Karol Wojtyła worked, in order to participate in the Stations of the Cross and have a short rest. The pilgrimage, continuing via Wyłom, Norymberska, Zbrojarzy, finally ended at the Shrine of St John Paul II, where a solemn Eucharist was presided over by Fr Andrzej Gołębiowski, SDB, along with the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
