The Ringling Museum - Sarasota, Florida

(Photos provided)

Destination: If you are planning vacation to Florida, consider a stop at The Ringling, the State Art Museum of Florida. Its story begins in 1911 when the circus impresario John Ringling and his wife, Mabel, bought 20 acres in Sarasota and poured their love tor the Florida city, for Italy and art, into the property. In addition to the art museum, of course, there is also the Circus Museum on the grounds.
While there are no Masses on The Ringling grounds, there are several parishes to select from in Sarasota. Click on Find a Parish at http://dioceseofvenice.org
Why to go: In the vast collection of The Ringling museum, there is a significant number of religious art. Its website says the museum’s 31 galleries feature “old masters, contemporary art and exhibitions from around the world.”
But art’s not the only reason to visit The Ringling. Ca’ d’Zan, or “House of John,” in the Venetian dialect, is the  Ringling’s 56-room mansion, billed as “a testament to the American Dream of the Roaring Twenties.” There are also the Bayfront Gardens, the Historic Asolo Theater and an education center.
Hours: Most days The Ringling is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m; Thursdays until 8 p.m. Ca’ d’Zan closes at 5 p.m.and the Bayfront Gardens are open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission varies, but includes seniors (65 and older) is $23; children 6-17, $5.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Did we mention the Circus Museum?
Info: Address — The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 Phone — 941/359-5700 Web — www.ringling.org

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

Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla - Warminster, Pennsylvania

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at www.worldmeeting2015.org/. This is one of several shrines in the Philadephia area that we’ll highlight before the meeting.  

(Observer screen shot)

Destination: If you are driving to the World Meeting of Families (or renting a car while there), you may want to plan a side trip to the Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. But the shrine is only open on weekends, so plan accordingly.
Masses at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, where the shrine is located, are 5 p.m. Saturdays; 8, 10 a.m. and noon Sundays; 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Why to go: St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a mother who gave her life that her child might live. She and St. Pope John Paul II have been selected patrons of the meeting. A physician, she well understood the choice she was making. The shrine houses special relics — a pair of gloves that belonged to the saint. They were presented to the shrine by her late husband with one condition. He asked that they be available to people to touch and handle instead of being locked behind glass. His request provides a rare opportunity for those who visit the Shrine of St. Gianna.
Shrine hours: Two sets of hours for veneration of the unsealed relics of St. Gianna are listed on the website. In a pop-up on the home page, they are listed as  the second Saturday of every month, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Shrine hours are 3:30-5 p.m. Saturdays and after Masses until 2 p.m. Sundays. Group arrangements are available by reservation.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are always welcome, but should behave as they would at any parish.
Info: Address — Shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Nativity of Our Lord Church, 625 West Street Road, Warminster, PA 18974 Phone — 215/657-3101 Web — http://saintgianna.org

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

A Virtual Tour of Basilica of St. John Lateran - Rome, Italy

(Observer photo by Sharon Boehlefeld)

(Observer screen shot)

Destination: Wishing you could make a pilgrimage to Rome, but just can’t make it? You can still see one of the most important churches in the history of the faith, the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome if you have a computer and an Internet connection.

Why to go: The Basilica of St. John Lateran was the first Christian cathedral in Rome, ordered by Rome’s first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. It became the pope’s own cathedral and, for the first 1,000 years of Christian history, it was his official residence. Constantine gave the property, which had belonged to the Laterani family (hence, the name St. John Lateran), to Pope Melchiade (311-314). Over the years, it has suffered damage and been restored several times. When the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, France, in the 14th century the residence was in such bad shape, the pope moved to the Vatican, which had been a pilgrimage church until then.
Today, St. John Lateran remains one of the four patriarchal basilicas that make up the “Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome,” as designated by the Vatican. The others are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls and the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The other three churches are two minor basilicas — St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls and Holy Cross of Jerusalem — and a shrine, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love.
In the top photo, a crowd gathers in front of St. John Lateran Cathedral the weekend of the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in April 2014.
The tour begins with an overhead view of the cathedral (bottom photo). The facade in the top photo is the eastern exterior, number 13 in the photo.

How to go: To take the virtual tour of St. John Lateran, go to the website and click on the numbers in the photo. As each “room” opens, slowly move your cursor to the right or left, up or down. Stop any time and the image will focus. Take your time examining the stunning views and listening to the choir singing.

Info: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

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

Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Catholic World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22-27, 2015. Learn more about the meeting at www.worldmeeting2015.org/. This is one of several shrines in the Philadephia area that we’ll highlight before the meeting. 

(Photo http://cathedralphila.org)

(CNS photo/Nancy
Phelan Wiechec)

Destination: On April 8, 1808, Pope Pius VII established Baltimore as the first archdiocese in the United States and created four new dioceses: Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Bardstown, Kentucky. This September, the now-Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be the host of the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis will be there. 
Regular Mass times at the cathedral are Saturday 7:15 a.m., 12:05 p.m. in the chapel and 5:15 p.m. in the basilica; Sunday 8 a.m. English and 12:30 p.m. Spanish, chapel; 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., basilica; Monday-Friday, 7:15 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Mass times may vary if you go during the World Meeting of Families, so check locally.
The photos show the second-story windows and art (left) and the dome (right) of the cathedral.

Why to go: The historic church, open since 1864, features a carved walnut organ screen casing in the choir loft. The website says, “The richly ornamental screen is the design of Otto Eggers, who also designed the Jefferson Monument, the Mellon Art Gallery, and the National Gallery of Art, all in Washington, D.C.”
Anti-Catholic sentiment was high in Philadelphia when construction began on the cathedral, so it was designed without windows at street level to discourage vandals. The design is based on the Lombard Church of St. Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome, and is an example of Roman-Corinthian architecture. Cast bronze doors leading to the narthex and bronze handrails were added in a 1950s renovation.
There’s an audio tour of the cathedral basilica for MP3 players. It’s about 20 minutes long and you can download it free from the Visitor Information page (under About on the home page).

Special events: The cathedral basilica is celebrating its 150th year and three more choral concerts are scheduled in May. Details are at http://cathedralphilaconcerts.org/events/

(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are always welcome.

Info: Address: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215/561-1313 Web: http://cathedralphila.org/

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

Serra Missions - California

(CNS photo/Bob Mullen)

Destination:  Pope Francis has announced that Blessed Junipero Serra will be canonized this year. If you plan a trip to California in the future, now would be a good time to plan stops at the nine missions in Southern California founded by the Spanish missionary. In all, the Franciscans founded 21 missions in California.
Father Serra founded seven:

• San Diego de Alcalá, July 16, 1769
• San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, June 3, 1770
• San Antonio de Padua, July 14, 1771
• San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Sept. 1, 1772
• San Juan Capistrano, Nov. 1, 1776
• Santa Clara de Asís, Jan. 12, 1777
• San Buenaventura, March 31, 1782

(It would also be a good time to learn more about the Serrans, an organization of about 20,000 members throughout the world who are dedicated to fostering and promoting vocations to the Catholic priesthood and religious life through activities and prayer. For information in the Rockford Diocese, call Mike McKee at 630/896-6834 or email him at MMckee5@aol.com.)
Mass times vary at the missions, most of which remain active parishes.
The map (left) shows all of the Franciscan missions in California. The statue of Blessed Junipero Serra (right) stands outside Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Why to go:  Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala was founded July 16, 1769, and was the first to be established by Father Serra in what is now the state of California. The current church was built in 1931 and is north of San Diego’s downtown area. Blessed Serra, who will be canonized later this year by Pope Francis, founded the first of California’s 21 missions.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Grandchildren will love the chance to see where real Church history was made in some of the earliest missions in the New World.
Info: Because there are so many missions, we’re referring you to a California historical site. You can also search online for individual parishes. Web: www.mtycounty.com/pgs-missions/the21missions.html

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

Basilica and National Shrine of The Little Flower - Royal Oak, Michigan

 (CNS photo/courtesy National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish)

Destination: The National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak has been raised to national prominence again, being designated by the Vatican as the second minor basilica in Michigan and the 82nd in the United States.
Masses are 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturdays; 7:30, 9, 10:45 a.m., 12:30, 4 (Spanish) and 6 p.m. Sundays; and 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. weekdays.
Why to go: In 1998, the U.S. bishops designated it as a national shrine to St. Therese of Lisieux, known as the “Little Flower.”
The basilica honor was conferred by the pope through the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments after a years-long application process.
The Chapel of the Little Flower, which connects the tower and church at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Mich., features dozens of first-class relics of saints and visitors find it provides a peaceful place for prayer.
With its Art Deco-style architecture, it features an octagonal-shaped church with the altar in the center of the congregation. The placement of the altar dates to the early 1930s, making the shrine’s church one of the first in the Detroit Archdiocese to adopt such an orientation.
Extras: A gift shop is staffed by volunteers, but you can look at items online through the website. Tours are also available; get the details on the website.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are always welcome.
Info: Address: The National Shrine of the Little Flower, 2100 W. 12 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073-3910. Phone: 248/541-4122. Web: www.shrinechurch.com

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

Grotto of the Redemption Shrine - West Bend, Iowa

(CNS photo/courtesy Catholic Globe)

Destination: If this looks familiar, don’t be surprised. We’ve sent you to West Bend, Iowa, before. (See August 2008 in our archives.) What’s new is Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, has signed a decree making the Grotto of the Redemption a diocesan shrine. It is only the second shrine in Iowa and is the largest grotto in the world. Father Thomas Hart, who is rector of the grotto, is starting paper work to ask the USCCB to make it a national shrine.
Masses are offered at 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, around which the grotto was built.
Why to go:  The grotto, on the National Register of Historic Places since 2001, is a composite of nine separate Grottos, each portraying a scene in the life of Christ, the story of the fall of woman and man, our divine redemption through Christ, and Mary’s presence in the redemptive process. Its builder, Father Matthias Dobberstien commented, “If your messages are carved in stone they are well nigh imperishable. The imperishableness is the outstanding feature of the Grotto.”
As a young seminarian, Father Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for him for the grace of health. He promised to build a shrine in her honor if he lived. The illness passed, the student completed his studies and after his ordination he came to West Bend as pastor in 1898. For over a decade, he  stockpiled rocks and precious stones until the actual work of his promise began to take shape in 1912.
Among specimens at the grotto are agate, amethyst, azurite and malachite, barite and barite rose, drusy quartz, calcite, fluorite (found primarily in Southern Illinois), geode (Iowa’s state rock), jasperm petrified wood and quartz.
Extras: The gift shop is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Hours are seasonal, so check the website before going.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Yes, with plenty of room for exploring, as long as they remember this is a shrine. Climbing the stairs is OK; shouting is not. Taking pictures for school projects is definitely OK.
Info: Address: 300 N. Broadway Ave., West Bend, Iowa 50597  Phone: 515/887-2371  Web site: www.westbendgrotto.com

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