National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 (Photos/ www.czestochowa.us)

Destination:  If you plan a visit in the northeast anytime, plan a stop at this shrine in Doylestown, Pa. An exhibit about Our Lady of Czestochowa (“The Black Madona”) recently came to Holy Family Parish in Rockford, generating interest. Among the shrine’s thousands of visitors was St. John Paul II, who visited twice before he was elected pope.
Masses are Saturday 5 p.m. (English); Sunday, 8, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Polish), and 9, 11 a.m., 2:30, 5 p.m. (English); weekdays, 7:30, 8, 11:30 a.m. (English). Check the website for holy day and holiday schedules.
Why to go:  The story of this American shrine began, according to its website, “in 1951 when Father Michael M. Zembrzuski, a priest in the Pauline Order from Poland, arrived on American soil.” Father Zembrzuski worked as a missionary during his first three years here, traveling to Polish parishes in the U.S. and Canada. His journeys made clear a need among “Polonia” to foster pride in their Polish heritage and culture. After gaining permission in late 1953 to establish a monastery in Doylestown, he also sought to develop a shrine. He had it weeks later.
On June 26, 1955, Father Stanley Nowak blessed and dedicated a small barn chapel to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The first recorded pilgrimage to the new shrine was from St. Laurentius Parish in Philadelphia for the dedication.
Activities: The shrine will host the 49th Polish-American Family Festival and Country Fair this year Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2014 (Labor Day Weekend), and Sept. 6-7, 2014.
Amenities: A cafeteria is open only on Sundays, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There is also a gift shop on the grounds, open 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. daily.
(Grand) Kid friendly: This is an ideal stop during a car drive. The aerial view of the grounds shows plenty of room for walks (or quiet runs) with the kids. And don’t forget the festival.
Info: Address: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
P.O. Box 2049, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901.Phone: 215/345-0600 Web: www.czestochowa.us

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