Mount St. Sepulchre - Washington, D.C.

(CNS photos/Paul Haring)

Destination: Mount St. Sepulchre is a Franciscan monastery in Washington, D.C. The church and monastery were designated a National Historic Site in 1991. The church was dedicated in 1899. The site is also Commissariat of the Holy Land in America, which means the friars are responsible for collecting alms to help maintain sites in the Holy Land. (See page 1 of the March 27 Observer for more information.)
Daily Mass times vary. Sunday Masses are held  in English at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and noon, and in Spanish at 4 p.m.
Why to go: The grounds of the monastery feature dozens of replicas of significant Christian sites from Europe and the Holy Land, including many surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church is the dominant structure on the grounds. It is not a replica of any one structure found in the Holy Land, but was designed with a number of architectural influences found in buildings there. Within, beneath and around the church are full-size reproductions of actual Holy Land sites, including churches, memorials, shrines, tombs and historical monuments.
Special events: A workshop about saving heirloom vegetable seeds is scheduled March 21. Cost is $20 per person or $35 per family. Info: Candace Hack at 812/535-2935 or chack@spsmw.org.
Ammenities: Tours of the Monastery and shrines are given daily on the hours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Sundays, tours are given at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The grounds of the Monastery are open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no tour is required. The Catacombs can be visited only when on a tour.
A gift shop is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., except Monday.
Access: Walkways are generous, but the site is on a hillside.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome for tours and walks around the grounds.
Info: Address: Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, 1400 Quincy St., N.E., Washington, DC, 20017. Phone: 202/526-6800. Web: www.myfranciscan.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org.