Shrine of St. Joseph -- St. Louis, Mo.

 Destination: St. Louis is quite a long drive for a weekend trip, but if you set aside a few days this fall or winter to enjoy St. Louis’ indoor attractions, you may want to visit the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Mo.

Mass is offered at 11 a.m. on Sundays. The second Sunday of each month includes a rosary and devotional prayer to St. Padre Pio before Mass. Mass is also held at noon for the first Friday of each month as well as holy days of obligation. Check the website for the most recent COVID-19 regulations.  

Photos: Above -- The exterior of the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Mo. (CNS photo/ Lisa Johnston, St. Louis Review) 
Below -- The Altar of Answered Prayers is inscribed with “Ite ad Joseph,” which means “Go to Joseph.”  (Photo/Mark S. Abeln)

Why to go: The Shrine of St. Joseph was founded in 1843 by the Society of Jesus. It was originally built to serve the neighborhood’s German immigrants. A parish school operated until the 1950s. Upon the school’s closing, the shrine was tended by a group of about 20 parishioners as the surrounding area deteriorated.The shrine was set for demolition in the 1970s but was restored by a lay organization, The Friends of the Shrine of St. Joseph. 

The shrine is full of artwork, including an ambo hand-carved by a Jesuit priest. Its most notable monument is the Altar of Answered Prayers, built and dedicated to St. Joseph after his intercession during a cholera epidemic in 1866. 

The shrine is the site of a Vatican-authenticated miracle in the Midwest. In 1864, German immigrant Ignatius Strecker suffered an injury while working at a local soap factory. Despite close to nine months of every known treatment, he was given two weeks to live. 

Strecker dragged himself to the shrine at the urging of his wife and arrived as a missionary priest was blessing the sick with a relic of Bl. Peter Claver. Strecker was allowed to kiss the relic and made a full recovery within two weeks.  The miracle was authenticated in 1887 and Bl. Peter Claver was canonized in 1888. 

Private and group tours are available for free. Contact 314-231-9407 or book a tour at the shrine’s website. 

Accessibility: The shrine is accessible to those with limited mobility. Street parking is available.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Shrine of St. Joseph, 1220 N 11th St., St. Louis, MO 63106
Phone — 314-231-9407
Website — https://www.shrineofstjoseph.org/

— Megan Peterson compiled this story. More pictures and information can be found at Rome of the West, hosted by Mark S. Abeln.

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Shrine of St. Joseph - Grass Lake, Michigan

(Photo courtesy Shrine of St. Joesph)

Destination: For respite and quiet prayer, the Shrine of St. Joseph is a lovely spot, worth a stop on almost any trip across I-94 in Michigan.
Masses are at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 8:30 a.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go:  The founder of the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Suffering and Dying, St. Louis Guanella, priest (1842–1915), was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 22. The Italian priest built a church — now a minor basilica — dedicated to the St. Joseph in Rome before asking Pope Pius  X if he could establish a group dedicated to praying daily to St. Joseph to intercede for the suffering and dying. The pope, according to the shrine website, not only gave his permission, but also was the first to enroll in what he termed, “this great crusade of prayer.”
The Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying was declared a “Primary Confraternity” by Pope St. Pius X on Feb. 12, 1914.
Blessed John Paul II also appreciated St. Louis Guanella’s efforts, saying in 2004, “In founding the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the dying, St. Louis Guanella has inspired continuous prayers to help all people on the point of crossing the threshold of eternal life.”
St. Louis Guanella also founded the Servants of Charity priests and brothers and Daughters of St. Mary of Providence sisters, who direct the shrine.
Amenities: Small gifts are available at a gift shop.
Access: The grounds
(Grand) Kid friendly: Walking the grounds to see Our Lady’s Grotto and the Calvary at the shrine will give kids a chance to stretch their legs on a car trip. And, if you have time to volunteer, look for Annie. She’ll have something you can do.
Info: Address: Pious Union of St. Joseph, 953 E. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, MI 49240. Phone: 517/522-8017. Web: www.piousunionofstjoseph.org

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