Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Hanover, Pennsylvania

(CNS photo/Chris Heisey and Emily
Albert, The Catholic Witness)

Destination: Before the United States was born, Catholics were worshiping in the Conewago area of Pennsylvania. Father James Pellentz — who would be Vicar General to Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, when the diocese was founded in 1790 — oversaw the construction of a stone church that was the first in the Americas to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Just more than 10 miles from Gettysburg, any history vacation to Pennsylvania should include a stop at the basilica.
Masses are 7 a.m. Monday-Friday; 6:30 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go: There is considerable evidence that English Jesuits established a mission post in Hanover along the Conewago Creek in 1637.
In 1741, a log chapel was built and by 1784 the parish was serving more than a thousand faithful, making it the largest Catholic congregation in the country.
In 1787, the same year the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the larger church was completed, and it remains the oldest church in the nation built entirely of stone.
Pope John XXIII raised the church to the rank of minor basilica July 11, 1962.
Time-lapse photography captures stars circling over the basilica.
Access: The basilica and its parking area are accessible to the handicapped.
(Grand) Kid friendly: This is both a Catholic and an American history site, great for those “what I did on my summer vacation” questions when school starts.
Info: Address — Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 30 Basilica Dr., Hanover, PA 17331-8924. Phone —717/637-2721. Web — www.hbgdiocese.org; click on Parishes & Missions and on About the Diocese, Growth of Catholicism Geographically, and Conewago Area.

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

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis - New Orleans, Louisiana

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Destination: Formally known as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis King of France, this New Orleans, La., church is the oldest, continuously-operating cathedral in the United States. It has been a parish since 1720.
Masses are 7:30  a.m. Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go: In the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, the spires of the church rise over Jackson Square and can be seen from the opposite side of the Mississippi River. A small wooden church, built in 1718, was the first on the site. The Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 destroyed the second church, a brick and timber building finished in 1727. Construction of the third church on the site took place between 1789 and 1794. It was expanded and remodeled in 1850. Both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral.
On one side of the cathedral is the Old Ursuline Convent. Built in 1752, it is the only building from the French colonial period still standing in the United States. On the other side of the church, across Pirates Alley, is the Cabildo, site of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase, and a state museum. Both the convent and the Cabildo are open for tours.
When you’ve toured to your heart’s content, cross Jackson Square for a beignet at Cafe du Monde.
Ammenities: There are gift shops in the cathedral and the convent.
Access: Walking to the cathedral is easy from anywhere in the French Quarter. Be careful, there are some loose cobblestones in the walkways and a few steps to climb.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All of these sites are kid-friendly.
Info: Address — Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France,  615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116-3291. Phone — 504/525-9585. Web — www.stlouiscathedral.org

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

Mother Cabrini Shrine - Colorado Golden, Colorado

(CNS photo)

Destination: Mother Cabrini Shrine Colorado is located at the site where, shortly after the turn of the 20th century, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini established an orphanage.
Masses are 7:30  a.m. Monday-Saturday and 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go: In the Rockford Diocese, most people probably associate Mother Cabrini with her work in Chicago. But in 1902, she traveled to Colorado to help a burgeoning community of Italian immigrants. She was, herself, an Italian immigrant.
While in Colorado, she found the property in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies that is now the shrine. It wasn’t until 1909-1910, though, that she was able to buy the land to use as a summer camp for the children housed at her Queen of Heaven Orphanage.
When she first found the property, she was apparently told there was no reliable source of water on the land.  For years, water was trucked to the camp. But in 1912, the sisters complained of the lack of fresh water. After hearing this, Mother Cabrini said, “Lift that rock over there and start to dig. You will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash,” according to the shrine’s Web site.
The spring they found still flows today and some people believe the water has healing qualities, but a shrine spokesperson notes, “It’s the people who have proclaimed it healing and miraculous, not the church.”
Newer features of the shrine are the Grotto Chapel and a 22-foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, carved by an Italian artist, mounted atop an 11-foot base. There are 373 steps leading to the statue.
Ammenities: A gift shop is open daily, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Shrine gates are open 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Access: This is a shrine on hilly ground and may be difficult for some visitors to maneuver.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are certainly welcome at the site which was, after all, a children’s summer camp.
Info: Address — Mother Cabrini Shrine Colorado, 20189 Cabrini Blvd., Golden, CO 80401. Phone — 303/526-0758. Web — www.mothercabrinishrine.org

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

Vatican Splendors - St. Louis, Missouri

Photos © Cittá del Vaticano

Destination: Vatican Splendors: A Journey through Art and Faith, will be exhibited May 15-Sept. 12 at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis, Mo. It is one of only three U.S. stops on its 2010 tour.
Why to go: Nearly 200 works of art and other significant objects, many of which have never before left the Vatican, are part of the exhibit.
Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, in a letter to area bishops, noted, “The opportunity to spread the good news of our faith through the educational content of this exhibition is unprecedented. The art objects are presented in recreated environments chronicling our Church’s history from St. Peter the fisherman to Pope Benedict XVI, with special displays celebrating the life and works of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II.”
Photo shows detail of “The Holy Family with Two Angels,” Bologna, Italy, 16th century oil on canvas from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican City State.
Hours: Vatican Splendors will be open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and on Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Special events: A variety of activities are already planned during the exhibit’s stay in St. Louis. For example, on Saturdays and Sundays in May and June, there are string and choral concerts. Most start at 11 a.m. Check the Web site for more activities.
Access: The museum is accessible to the handicapped. With advance arrangements, it also provides sign language interpreters and makes other special arrangments. Call 314/361-9017 for details.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome at the museum. If you want to make a visit more educational, download either of the teacher’s guides on the Web site. There is one geared for religious educators and another, with equally interesting information, for public school educators.
Tickets: Prices vary, so check the Web site. Buying timed tickets in advance is a good idea for a show like this. Check for group rates, too.
Info: Address — Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112-0040. Phone — 877/2VATICAN (282-8122). Web — www.vaticansplendors.com or mohistory.org

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

National Shrine of The Divine Mercy - Stockbridge, Massachusetts

(Photos courtesy http://thedivinemercy.org)

Destination: The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The shrine is operated by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Masses at the shrine are at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday; 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and holy days; 2 p.m., and seasonally at 7:30 a.m., weekdays. The Divine Mercy chaplet, followed by Benediction, is offered at 3 p.m. daily.
Why to go: Begun in 1950 without blueprints, a local Italian builder, guided volunteers, Marian noviates and seminarians through the construction process. The shrine features extensive woodwork, 36 stained-glass windows and two mosaics. Stations of the Cross are from Spain. The altar is crafted of Vermont marble. Above it is the image of Jesus, The Divine Mercy, surrounded by the Apostles, which were carved in northern Italy. Above the image of Jesus is a statue of the Immaculate Conception, made from white Carrara marble.
In a side chapel devoted to her is a bas relief of St. Faustina, also carved in northern Italy. She recorded a series of revelations on Divine Mercy in her diary.
Also on the grounds at the Marian Center is one of the largest indoor candle shrines, and, outdoors, the Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine and Lourdes Grotto.
In honor of the shrine’s 50th anniversary, Pope Benedict XVI has offered a plenary indulgence for pilgrims who visit the shrine any time this year.
It was designated a national shrine in 1996.
Special events: In addition to more  than 15,000 piligrims expected for this year’s Divine Mercy Sunday weekend prayers, the shrine also expects many to attend its special events and services on its golden jubilee celebration, May 29.
Amenities: A gift shop at the shrine is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Access: Located in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, the site may be challenging for some visitors.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome, but should be mindful of the many who come for silent prayer.
Info: Address — National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, 2 Prospect Hill Road, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01262 Phone — 413/298-3931 Web — http://thedivinemercy.org/shrine

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

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine - St. Augustine, Florida

(Photos courtesy of the
Diocese of Saint Augustine)

Destination: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, “America’s First Parish,” is the oldest Catholic parish in the United States.
Masses at the cathedral are at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 5 p.m. Saturday; 7, 9, 11 a.m. and  5 p.m. Sunday.
Why to go: Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés’ expedition from Spain landed in what would become Florida on Aug. 28, 1565. The day he spotted that first land, which is now Cape Canaveral, was the feast of St. Augustine. He decided to name his first settlement after the saint.
Menéndez and his crew sailed further along the coast, eventually stopping in early September at a site called Mission Nombre de Dios (above, left), which is where Father López de Mendoza Grajales celebrated the first Mass of the new settlement. Today’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (above, right) is down the street from the site of the first Mass.
In 1586, the English, led by Sir Francis Drake, burned the settlement and the church. By 1786, the Spanish again controlled the area, and the crown ordered a new parish church for St. Augustine be built. The cornerstone was laid in 1793 and the church completed in August 1797.
After an 1887 fire, started in a nearby hotel, damaged the church, the pastor made a nationwide appeal for help in rebuilding. At that time, the church was enlarged and a bell tower added.
A nearby chapel, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, is the oldest Marian shrine in the U.S.
Special events: At 5:30 p.m. on the Fridays of Lent, the parish hosts a soup supper at the Bishop Baker Center. Stations of the Cross follow.
On March 5 at 6 p.m., the cathedral’s First Friday Art Walk Concert series will feature sopranos Cara and Catie Hutson and Ellen Marini.
Amenities: The Cathedral Bell Tower Gift Shop is located inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and to the left. It is closed during any liturgy, but is otherwise open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10-11 a.m. and noon-5 p.m.
Access: Parking is restricted in several areas around the parish. Check the Web site for details.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The cathedral is a working parish with a school attached, so children are more than welcome.
Info: Address: Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, 35 Treasury St., St. Augustine, FL 32084. Phone: 904/824-2806. Web: www.thefirstparish.org

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

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi - Santa Fe, New Mexico

(Photo provided)

Destination: If you’re about to “motor west,” plan a stop at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, which is celebrating is 400th anniversary in 2010. You’ll be among visitors as distinguised as Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain, who attended a ceremony at the basilica last October to mark the start of celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Santa Fe.
Masses are Sunday — 8 a.m. (Spanish), 10 a.m., noon and 5:15 pm; Monday-Saturday — 7 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Why to go: The first church on the site of the present-day basilica was built by Franciscan Friars in 1610. The original adobe church has been replaced several times. Construction on today’s building began in 1869 and continued until 1887. The new church was built around the old church. When the new walls were finished, the old church was torn down and removed through the front door.
A Blessed Sacrament Chapel was built in 1967, and in 1987, an altar screen showing famous saints from North and South America was added. In 2009, the church installed a new cross and tower bells.
Stained glass windows in the lower bay are from France and show the 12 Apostles.
One of the oldest features of the basilica is a statue of Mary under the title of “La Conquistadora.” The statue was brought from Spain in 1625 by Spanish conquistadors and Franciscans to help introduce the Catholic faith.
Special events: The parish is sponsoring a Valentine weekend art exhibit and sale Feb. 12-14. Parish artists will offer mixed media, oil, acrylic, watercolor, egg tempera, natural pigments, encaustic wax, wood, metal, fiber and leather, sculpture, clay, photography, glass, jewelry, furniture, drawings and hand-finished prints. Thirty percent of all sales will help reduce the school debt.
The parish’s senior group — Treasures of Wisdom — is sponsoring a series of full-length movies featuring a priest to celebrate the Year for Priests. Movies will be shown at 1 p.m. Feb. 11, 18 and 25.
Amenities: La Conquistadora Gift Shop is located at the front entrance of the Cathedral Basilica and is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1-4:30 p.m.
Access: Stairs at the street lead up to the church’s front plaza.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As with any church, children are welcome.
Info: Address: 131 Cathedral Place, P.O. Box 2127, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2127 Phone: 505/982-5619 Web: www.cbsfa.org

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