The August walking pilgrimages to Czestochowa are an old Polish tradition. Every year, thousands of Polish Catholics, walking from all corners of Poland, converge to gather at Jasna Gora (Bright Hill), Czestochowa. This tradition has been alive for several hundreds of years. Even the Communists were not able to destroy this deeply rooted tradition.
The purpose of these pilgrimages is to gather and pray at Mary's feet.
On Monday, August 20th, a pilgrimage just departed from the city of Lodz. The, "from Ocean to Ocean" peregrinating, copy of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa visited the first night stop of the pilgrims from Lodz. The Icon, placed in the Sacred Heart Church in Dlutow, accompanied the pilgrims during their signing of the Jasna Gora Appeal, as well as their evening Confession. There were long lines to the confessionals.
Early morning, on August 22nd, on the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after two Masses for the next pilgrim groups, Our Lady began to travel together with the pilgrims on foot to Czestochowa. During this route, the Icon was being carried by several groups, who would alternate carrying "Her" on the way to the parish in Wadlew.