Two Catholic Landmarks - New Orleans, Louisiana

(Photos/www.staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org; CNS photo/Frank J Methe, Clarion Herald))

Destination: Two old churches in New Orleans, both of which received preservation grants from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation after Hurricane Katrina, are worthwhile stops on your next visit to the city.
St. Augustine Church — which was saved from closing in 2006 — received $75,000 for repairs to its parish hall’s sealtab-shingle roof, and the St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center was given $80,000 to restore the 1891 front portico of the church building.
Mass is offered at St. Augustine Church at 10 a.m. Sundays. No Masses are said at the cultural center, a former New Orleans church.
In the photos are the Tomb of the Unknown Slave (top), which is part of the St. Augustine Church grounds. St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center (below).
Why to go: These Catholic landmarks represent two sides of the Church’s history in New Orleans.
St. Augustine Church, in the Treme neighborhood, was dedicated in 1842, as a church of the free black citizens of New Orleans, but welcomed both free and slave worshippers. The church was designed by J. N. B. de Pouilly’s, who also designed New Orleans’s St. Louis Cathedral. The parish is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. The monument features a fallen cross made from a marine chain, each link weighing about 45 pounds. Simple crosses, chains and shackles, along with a memorial plaque, complete the memorial honoring nameless slaves buried on the church grounds and elsewhere throughout the U.S.
St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, the girlhood parish of author Anne Rice, closed in 1979 and slowly deteriorated until a group of New Orleans residents convinced the Archdiocese of New Orleans to lease them the property in 1991. Consecrated in 1858, St. Alphonsus was originally built in 1855 by the Redemptorist Fathers to serve Irish immigrants. It boasts one of the largest collections of frescos crafted by Italian artist Domenico Canova in the world, contains stained-glass windows from Germany installed in 1888, and “from an artistic point of view, the building is priceless,” said Michael M. Davis, a center board member.
Access: There are some low stairs to manuever.
Admission: St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
St. Augustine Church is an active parish, so it might be worth a call to arrange for a tour or to be sure it’s open for a visit.
(Grand) Kid friendly: At both sites, children are welcome to visit.
Info: Address: St. Augustine Church, 1210 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans, LA 70116. Phone: 504/525-5934. Web: www.staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org
Address: St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, 2025 Constance St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Phone: 504/524-8116. Web: www.stalphonsusneworleans.org

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

National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - Chicago, Illinois

(Photos by Karen Calloway/Catholic New World)

Destination: After a decade-long closure, the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini reopened last October. Italian-born Mother Cabrini became a U.S. citizen in 1909. Her canonization was marked by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and thousands of others at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1946.
Mass is offered in the shrine chapel at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Why to go: Mother Cabrini, the universal patron saint of immigrants, worked tirelessly to help settle Italian immigrants to the U.S., and especially to Chicago, in the early part of the 20th century. The shrine includes a museum that tells the story of her life and work, built around the preserved room in which she died. The 1955 chapel also has been preserved and its frescoes, statues, lighting and acoustics enhanced. Four alcoves allow for individual prayer. Outside, there is a new gated garden.
Be sure to download the Shrine Tour Guide from the website before you go. It provides details about the individual elements of the shrine.
In the photo, a visitor to the shrine prays at Mother Cabrini’s preserved bedroom.
Special events: This month, the shrine will host its first movie night. At 7 p.m., Jan. 25, “The Way” will be screened and viewers can take part in a discussion afterward. Reservations are required; for information send email to SFXCabrini@mssh.onmicrosoft.com.
Access: There is limited parking in a garage at 460 W. Deming Place. You’ll need to pull up to a pedestal at the garage entrance and buzz for admission; if spaces are open, you can park there.
Admission: Donations to support the shrine are always appreciated. The museum is closed on Monday, but is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Yes, but because there are many people visiting the shrine to pray, this is a place for the kids to visit quietly.
Info: Address: National Shrine of St. Frances  Xavier Cabrini, 2520 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 Phone: 773/360-5115.  Web: http://cabrinishrinechicago.com

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

Saint Louis Art Museum - St. Louis, Missouri

(Photo provided/ Saint Louis Art Museum)

Destination: To see an exhibit of religious art by Federico Barocci (ca. 1533–1612), you might want to take a short trip on “Route 66” to see the St. Louis Art Museum. Barocci was a devout Catholic from Urbino in northeastern Italy, also the birthplace of the painter Raphael.
Mass options are many in the area. Check www.masstimes.org to find a church near your motel or hotel.
Why to go: “Our exhibition has the largest collection of Barocci drawings and paintings ever brought together in the Western Hemisphere,” says Matthew Hathaway of the museum staff. “Virtually the entire exhibition is religious art, with much of it coming from the Vatican and from churches in and around Barocci’s home town of Urbino.
“The artist is regarded as revolutionary in his treatment of many standard, religious scenes. And art historians — including our European art curator, Barocci expert Dr. Judith Mann — consider him to be the archetypical counter-reformation artist,” Hathaway adds.
Access: Handicapped-accessible parking is available in the public lots near the main entrance to the museum.
Admission: The museum is free. The museum will be closed on Christmas, but open New Year’s Day.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Absolutely; the museum hosts family tours every Sunday.
Info: Address: Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: 314/655-5493.  Web: www.slam.org

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

Editor's note: This exhibit closed in 2013. Check the museum website to see if other religious exhibits are planned.We have removed ticket prices and information about the exhibit.

Museum of Biblical Art - New York, New York

(Photo provided)

Destination: If you plan a trip to New York, add the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBiA) to your list of stops. Its collection of Bibles, on loan from the American Bible Society, includes some of the earliest printed Bibles in existence, as well as Bibles in many languages.
Mass options are many. The museum is on Broadway, just over a mile from St. Patrick’s Cathedral (www.saintpatrickscathedral.org), but it’s even closer (a few blocks) from St. Paul the Apostle Church (www.stpaultheapostle.org) near Fordham University.
Why to go:  Open until Jan. 20, 2013, is “Louis C. Tiffany and the Art of Devotion.” Tiffany and his artists designed wall decorations, mosaic floors — even vestments — for Catholic and Protestant churches and Jewish synagogues for nearly half a century. Leaded-glass windows of the type most often associated with Tiffany, as well as archival photographs and work in other media will be displayed.
Another exhibit open until Jan. 20 will feature Bibles of the “Gilded Age.”
Access: The MOBiA website gives you lots of options, including nearby parking. MOBiA can handle wheelchairs and umbrella-type, fold-up strollers.
Admission: Free. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, except Thursday when closing is  at 8 p.m.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  In a word, yes. The museum  is called “visitor friendly” by the Guides Association of New York City, and regularly hosts school and community events.
Info: Address: Museum of Biblical Art, 1865 Broadway at 61st St., New York, NY 10023-7505  Phone: 212/408-1500. Web: http://mobia.org

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

Editor's note: The museum asked us to remove illustrations of the art that was part of the Tiffany exhibition, but we left the descriptions. We encourage you to check the museum website for special exhibits when you plan your trip.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum - Peoria, Illinois

(CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World)

Destination: As his sainthood cause advances, now may be the ideal time for a trip to Peoria to see the new Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum in the new Spalding Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Peoria.
Mass, about a block away in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception where Archbishop Sheen was ordained a priest, is offered Saturday  at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in English and 12:15 p.m. in Spanish. While you’re there, don’t miss a visit to the St. Thomas More Chapel to see it’s amazing collection of saint’s relics. Tuesday through Friday,  8 a.m. Masses are at St. Peter’s Parish, 2719 NE Madison Ave.

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

In the photo (above), a man takes a snapshot of Byzantine-rite vestments and other items belonging to the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen on display in the museum (right). The Spalding Pastoral Center houses both the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum and the Peoria Diocesan Museum.
Why to go:  Born in El Paso — you’ll take a right there on I-39 to get to Peoria — and ordained for the Diocese of Peoria, Fulton John Sheen may well become an Illinois-native saint.
For older Catholics, familiar with Archbishop Sheen’s TV show, “Life is Worth Living,” the museum will be a reminder of an “entertainment” staple of the 1950s. And it offers a great opportunity to pass on the legacy of one of Catholicism’s most famous American spokesmen before he becomes a saint. (Talk to anyone there; they’re almost ready to guarantee it will be soon. Look for the story of his first alleged miracle in next week’s Observer.) Relax in a corner to watch a movie about his life, and don’t forget to ask about the Sheen Trail.
Access: Parking is about a half-block away, but the museum is on the first floor.
Ammenities: There are gift items for sale in the museum and the center will make special arrangements for groups.
Admission: Free, but donations are welcome, both to support the musuem and the Sheen Foundation to further the sainthood cause. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  The museum welcomes children, but keep in mind it’s a small space inside an office building.
Info: Address:  Spalding Pastoral Center, 419 NE Madison Ave., Peoria, IL 61603. Phone: 309/671-1550. Web: www.cdopmuseums.org

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

The J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center - Los Angeles, California

(Photo provided/Getty Center)

Destination: If you’re about “to motor west,” consider a stop to see the J. Paul Getty Museum Getty Center.
If you’d like to go to Mass before your visit, about a mile away is St. Martin of Tours Church (11967 Sunset Blvd.), where Masses are 7 and 8:15 a.m. weekdays; 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30, 9, and 10:30 a.m., 12 noon and   5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Why to go:  Drawn primarily from the Getty permanent collection, the exhibit includes Medieval Bibles, missals, choir books, breviaries and psalters (Psalm books), many illuminated with vivid pigments and gold. According to a press release, the exhibit explores three aspects of religious life: both public and private devotion, and devotional literature.
Access: Strollers and wheelchairs are available at the center; baby backpacks aren’t allowed. And keep in mind, there are two Getty facilities and this exhibit is at the Getty Center in LA. Both are near the San Diego Freeway (I-405), so check for roadwork detours before you go. Public transportation is also available.
Admission: Free, but parking is $15. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday (through Sept. 21) and Saturday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Prepare for your visit by checking the website’s tips for families before you go.
Info: Address: The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049.  Phone: 310/440-7300. Web: www.getty.edu

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

Editor's note: The exhibit of religious art that inspired this Destination, “The Art of Devotion in the Middle Ages,” has long since closed. The museum required that we remove the art illustrations two years after we were given permission to publish them, but we've left their descriptions in the article. We also have removed exhibit-related special events.

Catholic Churches - London, England

(CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

Destination: The peal of church bells across London for three minutes beginning at 8:12 a.m., July 27, signaled the beginning of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games had begun in England’s capital. If you’ve been planning a vacation abroad  to coincide with Olympic events, you may want to visit one of several Catholic Churches that will host hospitality centers, at least, until Aug. 12.
Masses will vary at each church, so check as you go.
In the photo, young people surround Pope Benedict XVI outside Westminster Cathedral in central London during his September 2010 visit to the city. When you visit, you may also want to see the Anglican Westminster Abbey, but for Mass, you’ll want the cathedral.
Where to go: St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Grove Crescent Road, Stratford E15 1NS, stands just a quarter-mile east of the Olympic Park. It is run by the Franciscan Friars Minor. Two large marquees fitted with big screen televisions stand in the church parking lot to broadcast all events live. Free refreshments were to be offered 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Mass will be celebrated daily at 12:15 p.m., and from 9 a.m. til 6 p.m., daily, there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
St. Catherine of Siena Church, 177 Bow Road, E3 2SG,  also will be open for adoration 6 p.m.-midnight and St. Anthony’s Church at Forest Gate, E7 9QB, from midnight-9 a.m. St. Catherine of Siena parishioners will also be handing out free bottles of water and votive candles to passersby.
The Marist-run parish, Notre Dame de France Parish, 5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX, in the heart of London’s West End entertainment, shopping and dining district, is planning a “Praise Marathon” from 3 p.m., Aug. 4 through Aug. 5. This church offers Mass in English and French.
Access: Your biggest problem may be traffic.
(Grand) Kid friendly: It’s the Olympics, after all.
Info: Web: Diocese of Westminster — www.rcdow.org.uk; Diocese of Brentwood — http://dioceseofbrentwood.net; www.catholic2012.com; www.morethangold.org.uk;  @catholic2012.

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld; CNS contributed to this story
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Editor's note: Many of the sites that were available during the Olympics may be out of service, but you can always check the Diocese of Westminster site at http://rcdow.org.uk/ for more information.