If you go to Krakow, there are two basilicas(St. Mary’s Basilica and Wawel Cathedral). One in the castle. And one in the middle of town. Between them there is about a mile walk. And on each block there are at least two churches. These churches are overwhelmingly Catholic. And they represent virtually every century from 1000 to 2000. But the most important aspect of this group of churches. Is that they are used. Poland has church going Catholics. The internals of the churches are not grey stones with pews that support only tourists. These churches are painted and ornate with daily masses and real parishioners. Thank god for Poland. A faithful country, not a museum.
How do Poles in such a church-rich environment decide which parish to belong to?
Even in the countryside their Churches are things to behold.
We stopped in a small village, called Orawka, near the border of Slovakia and went inside the wooden John the Baptist Church, it was absolutely beautiful, there are many such old wooden churches scattered around the country.
My wife and I were there as chaperones this last July for World Youth Day. Krakow and Poland were amazing hosts. Our teens and young adults loved it and seeing about one million young people joining in Mass right outside the city is was a sight I wish all Freepers could have seen. Note: There wer 180 countries represented and the only reason the police were needed was for crowd control. What you believe in your life does makes a difference, but we all knew that.