National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Emmitsburg, Maryland

(CNS file photo by Nancy Wiechec)

Destination: The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is located in Emmitsburg, Md., a small town in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountain, part of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain.
Mass is offered Wednesday through Friday at 1:30 p.m.;  Saturday, 9 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Why to go: Emmitsburg was the home of Mother Seton from 1809 until her death in 1821.
In the northern bay of the basilica, beneath the altar, are her relics, enclosed in marble in a small copper casket. A white marble statue shows her in the habit that she and her Sisters of Charity wore in 1809.
In addition to the basilica, the site includes the Stone House (circa 1750), which was the first permanent home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the site at which she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s on July 31, 1809. In 1979, the house was moved from its original site to its present location.
The White House, built during the winter of 1809-1810 when Mother Seton needed an expanded home, is also at the site. She called it St. Joseph’s House.
Special events: On Oct. 4, the Annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services will be held at the shrine. A 3 p.m. Mass in the Basilica will honor those who serve in the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine. The Naval Academy Catholic Midshipmen Choir from Annapolis will sing for the Mass.
Amenities: There is a gift shop that is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There is also a snack room and an outdoor picnic area.
Access: The shrine sites are open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. On Mondays, only the basilica is open. Check the Web site for holiday hours.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome at the shrine, but check the Visitor Information Guidelines on the Web site for dos and don’ts.
Info: Address: The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 333 South Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727-9297. Phone: 301/447-6606. Web: www.setonshrine.org

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

National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church - Laurie, Missouri

(Photo provided)

Destination: The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church is midway between I-70 (at Boonville) and I-44 (at Lebanon) on Missouri Rte. 5 near Laurie, Mo. It is in the heart of the Lake of the Ozarks vacation area.
Daily Mass is at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; Saturday Masses are at 5 p.m. (inside) and 8 p.m. (outside); Sunday, at 8 a.m. (outside) and 10 a.m. (inside). Fall and winter Masses are at 5 p.m Saturday.
Why to go: Commonly known as the Mother’s Shrine, it features a 14-foot, stainless-steel sculpture, standing in a natural amphitheater and overlooking a waterfall that flows into a reflecting pool with fountains. It is surrounded by the shrine’s Mothers’ Wall.
Father Fred J. Barnett began construction on the shrine in the mid-1980s to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and to handle the overflow summer crowds at Masses. It was dedicated in 1988 as Mary, Mother of the Church.
The sculpture of Mary, set in 1992, was created by Don Weigand, Chesterfield, Mo., and commissioned by John Fabick and the Fabick Charitable Trust.
The Mothers’ Wall holds names engraved in polished black granite. Among the names already listed on the wall are the mothers of Pope John Paul II and the late Jane Wyman. The first name was engraved on the Mothers’ Wall on April 1, 1999, and more are being added.
Amenities: There is a gift shop that offers memorabilia from the shrine and the nearby St. Patrick churches (there are three in the vicinity.)
Access: The rolling landscape features plenty of paved walkways, but they are dotted with frequent steps. Most are two or three steps high.
(Grand) Kid friendly: It’s an outdoor shrine that can provide kids with plenty of stretching space.
Info: Address: National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, P.O. Box 1250, Laurie, Mo. 65038. Phone: 573/374-6279. Web: www.mothersshrine.com

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

Basilica of St. Francis Xavier - Dyersville, Iowa

(Photo: www.shrineofstbernadette.com)

Destination: The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is in downtown Dyersville, Iowa. If you plan to chase grounders at the “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, make sure to drive downtown to see the church under the spires. Dyersville is about 26 miles west of Dubuque on U.S. Route 20.
Masses at the parish are 4 p.m., Saturday; 7, 8:30, 10:30 a.m. in English and noon in Latin on Sunday; 6:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, and 8:30 a.m., Friday.
There are weddings at 1:30 p.m. every Saturday in July, so you might plan your visit around them.
Why to go: Built in 1888, the basilica is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, which was repainted and refreshed in 2000-2001. New 24 carat gold and silver leaf was applied, giving the church its like-new gleam and shine.
In the back are two confessionals, carved of butternut wood. They were built by the Dubuque Altar Company and installed in 1897.
At the sides of the main altar are two of the basilica’s 64 stained glass windows. They depict the adoration of the magi and the resurrection.
In the cross at the end of the restored center aisle are five marble pieces — symbols of the five wounds of Christ — and made from marble that was on the floor of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  Under the center piece is also a chip from the Grotto at Lourdes, France.
Before you go, check out the basilica Web site for an electronic brochure to guide you on your self-tour.
Access: The front steps could be a bit of an obstacle for some, but once inside the church has a wide center aisle to allow fairly easy movement for anyone.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As with any parish, children are welcome.
Info: Address: Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, 104 Third St. SW, Dyersville, IA 52040. Phone: (rectory office) 563/875-7325. Web: www.xavierbasilica.com

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

St. Bernadette Shrine - Albuquerque, New Mexico

(Photo: www.shrineofstbernadette.com)

Destination: The St. Bernadette Shrine in Albuquerque, N.M., is an ideal place to stop for a few minutes of relaxation and prayer for anyone on a road trip through the southwest. Housed at St. Bernadette Parish, it was elevated to a diocesan shrine by Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 7, 2003.
Masses at the parish are 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. (bilingual), 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., First Friday.
Why to go: The replica of St. Bernadette is a visible sign of the special relationship this New Mexico parish has developed with the Marian shrine at Lourdes, France. It was there that Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous, then a 14-year-old girl, in 1858.
There are several relics of the saint at the shrine, including locks of her hair and an article of clothing.
It is one of only three churches in the United States officially allowed to dispense water from Lourdes.
Pilgrims visiting the shrine may be granted a plenary indulgence for the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins.
Outdoor Stations of the Cross at the church are also unique. Originally commissioned for St. Matthias Church in Chicago, according to the shrine’s Web site, “they had been stored in a basement and forgotten. Dan Paulos, the shrine’s director, was doing research for a book about the late American artist Virginia Broderick, when he learned of the stations. They were painted on aluminum as one, 36-foot piece in 1973. The pastor in Chicago offered to sell the art to the Albuquerque parish.”
Access: The one-story church is easily accessible.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As with any parish, children are welcome. The outdoor Stations provide a great opportunity to stroll and pray if you “motor west.”
Info: Address: St. Bernadette Shrine, 1800 Martha St., NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87112.  Phone: 505/298-7557. Web: www.shrineofstbernadette.com

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

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe - LaCrosse, Wisconsin

(Photo provided)

Destination: The Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe is in LaCrosse, Wis.
Sunday Masses are held in Latin at 9:30 a.m. and in English at 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mass is at 11 a.m. The shrine is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Why to go: This nearby shrine is among the newest in the United States. It was dedicated July 31, 2008. Archbishop Raymond J. Burke, its founder, was the main celebrant at the dedication Mass. It is also home of the Memorial to the Unborn, which was dedicated Dec. 12, 2008, on the feast day of the shrine’s patron saint. It is not a parish, but a pilgrimage destination.
Among completed projects at the shrine are the Pilgrim Center, Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel, Meditation Trail and devotional areas, outdoor Stations of the Cross and Rosary Walk.
Special events: Two Marian conferences are scheduled soon at the shrine.
May 31, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: “Am I Not Your Mother?” Cost, including lunch, $30. Info: at shrine Web site.
July 31-Aug. 1: 3rd annual Queen of the Americas Guild Marian conference. Cost: $60. Info: www.queenoftheamericasguild.org.
Ammenities: Flores Mariae Gift Shop is open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Culina Mariana Restaurant is open for full meals, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and for beverages and snacks, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. With reservations (608/788-8400), it can accommodate group events. Both are in the Pilgrim Center.
Access: The shrine is intended to be as accessible as possible while retaining the character of a pilgrimage. Visitors with special needs may call ahead for information about the terrain.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome, but adults who bring them are encouraged to keep them on the path, because poison ivy is among the shrine’s native plants.
Info: Address: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5250 Justin Road, La Crosse, WI 54601.  Phone: 608/782-5440. Web: www.guadalupeshrine.org

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

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.

Saint Mary- of-the-Woods, Indiana

(Photos: Sisters of Providence of
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods)

Destination: The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., were founded in 1840 by St. Mother Theodore Guerin. Their home today is the site of a college, and several shrines, including one for their founder. It is five miles northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind., off Indiana Rt. 150.
Masses are held at 11 a.m. on Sunday and at 11:30 a.m., Monday-Saturday at Church of the Immaculate Conception, where the shrine of St. Mother Theodore Guerin is housed (above). Call ahead for holiday Mass times.
Why to go: St. Mother Guerin and five other Sisters of Providence came to the United States from France to be educators, so it’s no surprise that there is a college, a high school and a pre-school where they began their work. But at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, you’ll also find an outdoor Way of the Cross, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence (right), Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the 125-year-old St. Anne Shell Chapel, and a labyrinth for quiet contemplation. Whatever your reason for visiting, start at the Providence Center, where information is available and tours begin.
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: O’Shaughnessy Dining Room serves Sunday brunch 10:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Cost: $12.50 for adults; $11.50 for seniors age 55 and older; $6.75 for children 6-11; free for children younger than 6. There are also lunch and dinner buffets on other days of the week.
Access: While there is plenty of room to walk, most sites on the grounds are also accessible to the handicapped.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods welcomes visitors of all ages. 
Info: Address: 1 Sisters of Providence Road; Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876. Phone: 812/535-3131. Web: www.spsmw.org

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