Shrine of Our Lady of Charity - Miami, Florida

(CNS file photo/Archdiocese of Miami)

Destination: In 1961, not long after Cuban refugees began fleeing Fidel Castro’s new regime, one of their first acts of gratitude after reaching U.S. shores was to thank Our Lady of Charity the patroness of their homeland. An image of Our Lady of Charity (right) arrived from Cuba on the day 30,000 refugees gathered to celebrate her feast day at the old Miami Stadium. In 1967, construction started on a Miami shrine to house the statue.
Masses are at noon Monday through Saturday and at 3 and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Why to go: The shrine, funded largely by Cuban refuges, still serves the faithful in Spanish. The website, in fact, is labeled in Spanish — Ermita de la Caridad — Santuario Nacional. In addition to celebrating the Cuban devotion to Our Lady of Charity, one of the key elements of the shrine is a large mural behind the altar that illustrates the history of Cuba — from the voyages of Christopher Columbus (left, bottom corner), who sailed under the flag of Spain — to the 20th century. It also features a central image of Our Lady and the child Jesus.
In the photo, the late Bishop Agustin A. Roman of Miami stands outside the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami.
Amenities: A gift shop at the shrine is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Access: Be prepared for the stairs into the shrine.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Outdoor sites are always fun for kids, but there will be some pilgrims in prayer.
Info: Address: Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, 3609 South Miami Ave.,  Miami, FL 33133. Phone: 305/854- 2404, 305/854-2405. Web: http://www.ermitadelacaridad.org (Choose English or Spanish on the home page, but keep in mind that many pages appear only in Spanish.)

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
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