Boys Town, Nebraska

(CNS photo/Susan Szalewski, Catholic Voice)

Destination: People have been touring Boys Town for nearly 100 years — since Father Edward Flanagan purchased land for the campus in what is now west Omaha and welcomed visitors. But now tourists have a whole new way of exploring the famed home for at-risk children — an interactive, smartphone guided tour. The electronic assistance makes a trip easier than ever.
Masses are offered in Dowd Chapel at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, and at 7 and 11:40 a.m. Monday-Saturday.
Why to go:  If all you know about Boys Town comes from the 1938 movie starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, then you’re ready for an update. Boys Town has about 100,000 visitors each year, including people attending Mass or classes, but it also draws visitors who are curious to learn about Boys Town’s founder, Father Edward Flanagan. (Tracy won an Oscar for portraying him, and the golden statuette is at Boys Town.) And Father Flanagan wanted visitors. “He always had big signs welcoming visitors. He wanted transparency. He had no large walls keeping kids in and visitors out,” says  Tom Lynch, director of community programs at Boys Town.
Smartphone users touring the campus can scan quick response (QRC) codes found on maps and signs at the village to read about famous sites there. Among those sites are Father Flanagan’s house, the Garden of the Bible, the Hall of History, a 22-bed rose garden tended by residents, and the Leon Myers Stamp Center, home to the world’s biggest ball of stamps.
A drive or stroll along the Village Drive offers lots of photo opportunities, no matter the season. No smartphone? No problem. There are CDs to rent or buy with tour information.
Amenities: For those who prefer a guide, they are available seven days a week, and student-led tours are an option. Ask about them at the gift shop.
Special events: In November and December, Boys Town celebrates Christmas. Check the website for details.
Admission: Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. The Mission is closed Easter Sunday and Monday, Thanksgiving, and from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26. Cost is $6.50 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children over 7, free  for children under 6.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course. It’s Boys Town.
Info: Address: Boys Town, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010. Phone: 402/498-1300. Web: www.boystown.org

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

National Shrine of St. John Nepomucene Neumann - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(Photo/www.stjohnneumann.org)

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/. In future issues, we’ll highlight shrines in the Philadephia area.
Destination: The national shrine at St. Peter the Apostle Parish (in photo) is the final resting place of St. John Nepomucene Neumann. Born in Bohemia, he came to America in 1836. He was ordained a priest in New York the same year, served as the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and was declared a saint in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.
Masses are offered in the lower church Monday-Saturday at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. (in Spanish), and 3:30 p.m.; and in the upper church at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Why to go: The parish is where St. John Neumann asked to be buried. He was the first priest to profess vows as a Redemptorist in the U.S. and he wanted to be buried near the priests of his order. His body can be viewed in the lower level church, near the Shrine Museum. 
As a young man, he knew he wanted to become a missionary to America, so he learned English. Having studied Italian in seminary in Boehemia, he used that knowledge to minister to Italian immigrants. He founded the first national parish for Italians in the U.S. He also learned enough Irish to hear confessions in that language.
St. John also unified Philadelphia schools in a diocesan system and founded the Third Order of St. Francis of Glen Riddle.
Though St. John never lived at the church where he is buried, he visited there often. Built to serve a German immigrant population, it was consecrated in 1847, five years after property was bought for the parish.
Amenities: A gift shop is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Admission: Shrine hours are Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Museum hours are Monday-Friday, 8a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Depending on the time of year you visit, school may be in session. Visiting youngsters should be a little quiet as they visit the church and museum.
Info: Address: The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, 1019 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia, PA 19123. Phone: 215/627-3080 . Web: http://www.stjohnneumann.org/shrine.html

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

National Shrine of St. Therese - Juneau, Alaska

 (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

UPDATE-- This popular Alaskan retreat has been designated a national shrine by the U.S. bishops.
Bishop Edward J. Burns of Juneau, Alaska, announced the news on the Oct. 1, 2016, feast of St. Therese Lisieux, the patroness of Alaska after whom the Catholic shrine is named.
The National Shrine of St. Therese, located about 23 miles north of Juneau along Glacier Highway, has served as a place of spiritual refuge since its dedication in 1941.
"The shrine is a place of tremendous spiritual and natural beauty for all who visit," Bishop Burns said in a statement. "We are happy the bishops have confirmed what so many shrine visitors have felt in their hearts -- that the National Shrine of St. Terese, Juneau, is a gift from God and a treasure to all who pilgrim to her shore."


Destination:  There is no doubt that nature is a prime attraction at the Shrine of St. Therese. Thousands of visitors each year make the short drive from downtown Juneau to the 46-acre site, a forest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock overlooking waters of the Inside Passage and the Chilkat Range. The shrine, less than 25 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaksa, is open year-round.
Masses are in the Shrine Chapel at 1:30 p.m. every Sunday starting on the first Sunday after Memorial Day and ending on the first Sunday of September. Mass is also offered on other special occasions throughout the year.
Why to go:  When St. Therese, “the Little Flower,” was canonized in 1925, Bishop Raphael Crimont, SJ, also a French native, shared his devotion to her with Catholics in Alaska. The idea of the shrine came from Father William G. LeVasseur, SJ, and Bishop Crimont endorsed the effort.
Volunteers raised the first buildings and laid a causeway to connect parts of the island-shrine in the 1930s. Their generous gift of time was matched by gifts of materials from Juneau businesses. The depression-era shrine fell into disrepair, but efforts in the middle 1900s helped keep the shrine and grounds operational, but again it fell into disuse. It was closed in 1985, but volunteer efforts and donations reopened it in 1986.
Today it is on a Juneau “must see” list, along with fjords, glaciers and the Alaska State Museum.
Activities: The retreat grounds feature a labyrinth, memorial gardents, Good Shepherd rosary and grotto trail, and stations of the cross.
Amenities: In addition to prayerful retreats, the shrine also hosts weddings, funerals, family reunions and other events. Its lodge and cabins provide plenty of room for guests. There is also a gift and book shop.
Accessibility: Parts of the shrine are wheelchair accessible.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Without a doubt, this destination is ideal for the whole family.
Info: Address: Shrine of St. Therese, 415 Sixth St., Juneau, AK 99801-1020. Phone: 907/780-6112 Web: www.shrineofsainttherese.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld; Nancy Wiechec of CNS
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 (Photos/ www.czestochowa.us)

Destination:  If you plan a visit in the northeast anytime, plan a stop at this shrine in Doylestown, Pa. An exhibit about Our Lady of Czestochowa (“The Black Madona”) recently came to Holy Family Parish in Rockford, generating interest. Among the shrine’s thousands of visitors was St. John Paul II, who visited twice before he was elected pope.
Masses are Saturday 5 p.m. (English); Sunday, 8, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Polish), and 9, 11 a.m., 2:30, 5 p.m. (English); weekdays, 7:30, 8, 11:30 a.m. (English). Check the website for holy day and holiday schedules.
Why to go:  The story of this American shrine began, according to its website, “in 1951 when Father Michael M. Zembrzuski, a priest in the Pauline Order from Poland, arrived on American soil.” Father Zembrzuski worked as a missionary during his first three years here, traveling to Polish parishes in the U.S. and Canada. His journeys made clear a need among “Polonia” to foster pride in their Polish heritage and culture. After gaining permission in late 1953 to establish a monastery in Doylestown, he also sought to develop a shrine. He had it weeks later.
On June 26, 1955, Father Stanley Nowak blessed and dedicated a small barn chapel to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The first recorded pilgrimage to the new shrine was from St. Laurentius Parish in Philadelphia for the dedication.
Activities: The shrine will host the 49th Polish-American Family Festival and Country Fair this year Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2014 (Labor Day Weekend), and Sept. 6-7, 2014.
Amenities: A cafeteria is open only on Sundays, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There is also a gift shop on the grounds, open 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. daily.
(Grand) Kid friendly: This is an ideal stop during a car drive. The aerial view of the grounds shows plenty of room for walks (or quiet runs) with the kids. And don’t forget the festival.
Info: Address: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
P.O. Box 2049, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901.Phone: 215/345-0600 Web: www.czestochowa.us

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

Technical difficulties, faith rewards

Since we arrived in Rome, I've been unable to post to the blog, but I've been putting some pictures on Facebook at The Observer Catholic Newspaper. Through the generosity of the folks at Catholic News Service, I am posting this short note.
I'll keep trying and will post more about our wonderful trip to Rome and Italy as soon as I can.
One of the best parts of being lost in the crowd Sunday for the canonizations, though, was the wonderful moment when thousands of Catholics from around the globe realized the Mass was starting and began to settle down where they were. Every one says alleluia. Every one says amen. We became the universal church together in Rome.
At the greeting of peace, people who were jostling and shoving and bickering before the Mass turned to each other smiled and shook hands. That was a wonderful moment of church.

-- Sharon Boehlefeld from Rome

Old and new in Tuscany

Two stops today married the historic and the contemporary of Italy, but before we traveled to Florence and San Gimignano, we started our day in the church just steps away from our Tuscan residence, the Hotel Villa San Lucchese outside of the town of Poggibonsi
Msgr. Kobbeman offered Mass in the historic San Lucchese Church, in which the saint it is named for is buried. In his homily, he reminded us that the Gospels in this Octave of Easter are still sending us the message of Easter, that Jesus died for us.

As he offered Mass, the lighting on the altar reminded us, too, that Jesus died for us. The shadow from the crucifix behind the altar seemed to show Jesus looking over Msgr. Kobbeman's shoulder.
We also had a treat from one of our number, Caroline Muller, who sang the Ave Marie for us at Communion. The lighted case that holds the remains of the saint is visible behind her in the fenced-off side altar.
Outside the church, the vista of vineyards and valleys on one side, vineyards and mountains on the other, makes it easy to understand why the Franciscan friars who live there settled on that particular view.

The church is also home to a spring festival, which will be taking place this weekend while we are in Rome.
After a short ride to Florence and a drop off near the center of the old part of the city, we had options for shopping, sightseeing and people watching. For many of us, the first stop was an indoor market that has been open since the late 1800's.
Later, we met at the Accademia Gallery of Florence, where Michelangelo's famous David is housed. Originally situated outside what is now the seat of city government, it was moved to the museum to protect it from damage and replica put on its outdoor pedestal. The museum was the only place we couldn't take pictures.
We also stopped at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the duomo, near the center of the old town.
The colors of the marble on the face of the church are symbols of the faith. The green marble stands for hope, the black for faith and the red for charity.

Then we walked a few blocks to the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in the city that was not destroyed in World War II. Both sides of the river are lined with colorful buildings.
After we left Florence, we traveled to San Gimignano, a remarkably intact medieval city, known for its tower houses, which at one time numbered in the 70s.
The tower-house builders wanted to remain inside the thick, protective walls of the city, but space there is at a premium. So, buildings had to go up.The city is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Today, modern shops line many of the avenues of the walled city, as today they do in the old parts of Florence.
Tuscany has already found a place in our hearts. No doubt, Friday's visit to Siena will further link us to this region of Italy.

-- Sharon Boehlefeld from Poggibonsi,Italy

First stop -- Pope John XXIII's birthplace

It's a tiny village, Sotto il Monte, -- under the mountains -- in  the he far north of Italy. And it's the birthplace of Pope John XXIII.
Our first stop was the church where he was baptized and later said Mass, but we also stopped at the family home in the village.

We had a wonderful tour of the rustic, courtyard house where he lived with 30 family members until he went to seminary at age 11.

Our guide for much of the tour was Father Giulio Mariani, PIME. A seminary for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions is behind the old house, and is a repository of thousands of pieces of memorabilia relating to Pope John XXIII. The statue (left of Father Mariani) has a tradition -- and a shiny spot -- much like the statue of Lincoln's nose in Springfield, Illinois. Pilgrims, including those on our trip, rub the hand and forearm of the life-size statue.

But, by the time we had a wonderful lunch at the village's new cultural center about their native son and saint, got into a bus and drove six hours south to our destination, most of us had been awake for 24 hours or longer. I'll add details about the rest of the day later.

--Sharon Boehlefeld from Tuscany in Italy