St. Joseph Shrine - Detroit, Mich.

 Destination: If you share Gilbert Drendel’s interest in parish histories, St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Mich., offers plenty of history, including weekly Latin Masses, striking Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, and the first stained glass of its kind in the U.S. The shrine’s stained glass and architecture landed it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.  

Masses are offered daily at the shrine. Latin Masses are also offered at 11 a.m. on Sundays and at 7 p.m. on the first Fridays of each month. Confessions are offered daily 30 minutes before each Mass.    

Photos: Top --The shrine’s bell tower and steeple, completed in 1892, briefly made the shrine the tallest building in Detroit. 
Below -- Stained glass windows are among the architectural highlights of the church.

Why to go: The shrine was dedicated as St. Joseph Church in 1873 to serve the community’s German Catholics. The shrine features ornate Gothic detailing and high towers. 

The shrine’s bell tower suffered damage from storm winds in 2016, and the shrine was closed for repairs. This raised fears that the shrine would be forced to close down. 

However, a renewal campaign in 2017 raised interest in the shrine, and it found guidance in  the Canons of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The shrine now serves 600 parishioners, up from 25 in 2016. It was established as an archdiocesan shrine in March 2020. 

Accessibility: The shrine is accessible to those with limited mobility. Parking is available across the street.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome, though the Latin Masses may be too long for young ones. 

Info: Address — St. Joseph Shrine, 1828 Jay St., Detroit, MI 48207
Phone — 313-784-9152
Website — https://www.institute-christ-king.org/detroit

— Megan Peterson compiled this story.

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Divine Mercy Cross Stitch -- Monastery of the Holy Cross, Chicago

(Observer photo/ www.facebook.com/pg/ChampionShrine/)

Destination: A hand made cross stitch of the Image of the Divine Mercy, measuring 84 inches by 40 inches, will visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Chicago during Lent and through the Octave of Easter. The visit will culminate with Vespers on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23.
Masses are offered at the monastery at 10 a.m. Sunday and 6:35 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Why to go: The Divine Mercy cross stitch, was crafted by Brigitta Gedvillas (right in photo) with the assistance of her husband, Jerry, of Houghton, Mich., in the Diocese of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She began the work in 2005 and they finished in 2013. It contains 237 colors and 13.52 miles of floss. The computer generated pattern for the image consisted of 500 sheets of paper and 10 rolls of tape.
During the eight years of its fabrication, Brigitta faithfully prayed for the poor souls in purgatory as the 514,503 stitches of the image took shape.  Following in the footsteps of St. Faustina, who first received the image from Jesus in a 1931 vision, to make this mystery of His Divine Love known to the world, Brigitta  says she experienced great consolation and grace from God while enduring spiritual attacks on her faith and life from the devil, because of her cooperation with the dictate and desire of God: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy” (from the Diary of St. Faustina, # 699).
The monastery church will be open for private prayer and veneration of the Divine Mercy cross stitch from Ash Wednesday, March 1 through Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23, Monday through Saturday, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with Vespers chanted daily at 5:15 p.m. with the monks.
Public prayers scheduled on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23, include Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 3 p.m., Chaplet of the Divine Mercy at 4:30 p.m., Solemn Vespers at 5:15 p.m. and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 5:40 p.m.
This extraordinary display of the Divine Mercy Image is free and open to the public.  All are welcome and invited.
Admission is free and parking is available on the street and on the monastery grounds.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course, but remind them this is a working monastery and that prayer is an important part of the monks’ lives.
Info: Address — Monastery of the Holy Cross, 3111 S.  Aberdeen Street, Chicago, IL  60608
Phone — 773/ 927-7424
Website — www.chicagomonk.org
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send 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

Shrine of St. Joseph - Grass Lake, Michigan

(Photo courtesy Shrine of St. Joesph)

Destination: For respite and quiet prayer, the Shrine of St. Joseph is a lovely spot, worth a stop on almost any trip across I-94 in Michigan.
Masses are at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 8:30 a.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go:  The founder of the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Suffering and Dying, St. Louis Guanella, priest (1842–1915), was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 22. The Italian priest built a church — now a minor basilica — dedicated to the St. Joseph in Rome before asking Pope Pius  X if he could establish a group dedicated to praying daily to St. Joseph to intercede for the suffering and dying. The pope, according to the shrine website, not only gave his permission, but also was the first to enroll in what he termed, “this great crusade of prayer.”
The Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying was declared a “Primary Confraternity” by Pope St. Pius X on Feb. 12, 1914.
Blessed John Paul II also appreciated St. Louis Guanella’s efforts, saying in 2004, “In founding the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the dying, St. Louis Guanella has inspired continuous prayers to help all people on the point of crossing the threshold of eternal life.”
St. Louis Guanella also founded the Servants of Charity priests and brothers and Daughters of St. Mary of Providence sisters, who direct the shrine.
Amenities: Small gifts are available at a gift shop.
Access: The grounds
(Grand) Kid friendly: Walking the grounds to see Our Lady’s Grotto and the Calvary at the shrine will give kids a chance to stretch their legs on a car trip. And, if you have time to volunteer, look for Annie. She’ll have something you can do.
Info: Address: Pious Union of St. Joseph, 953 E. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, MI 49240. Phone: 517/522-8017. Web: www.piousunionofstjoseph.org

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

Shrine of the ‘Snowshoe Priest’ - L’ Anse, Michigan

(Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)

Destination: West of Marquette, Mich., between the towns of  Baraga and L’ Anse along U.S. Hwy. 41 is one of several sites that chronicle the history of Bishop Frederic Baraga. Look for the shrine’s “teepees” on the south side of the highway.
Masses at nearby Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in L’Anse are at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Why to go: The Shrine of the “Snowshoe Priest” features a statue of the bishop holding a pair of 26-foot tall snowshoes. Rising six stories above Red Rocks Bluff, the shrine overlooks virgin hardwoods, scenic coastline and the oldest mountains, geologically, in the world.
Five 9-foot-6-inch concrete teepees, each representing an Indian mission started by Bishop Baraga, hold curved wood beams that meet at a stainless steel cloud 25 feet above the ground. Atop the cloud is the 35-foot tall Bishop Baraga statue, snowshoes in his left hand and a 7-foot cross in his right.
Father Frederic Baraga, also called the Apostle of the Great Lakes, left present-day Slovenia in 1830 to come to the Great Lakes area to teach the native people about God. He traveled throughout the Upper Peninsula by canoe and on foot — wearing snowshoes in winter — to find, teach and celebrate sacraments for the Ottawa and Chippewa people. He established chapels and schools. He learned the Ottawa and Chippewa languages and wrote a Chippewa grammar and dictionary still used today. He became the first bishop of the Upper Peninsula, serving also the immigrants who came to work the copper mines.
Healings have been attributed to Bishop Baraga’s intercession, and the Bishop Baraga Association continues to promote his cause for canonization.
Ammenities: The grounds are always open. A gift and snack shop and restrooms are open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday, May 15-Oct. 15; Wednesday-Saturday, April 1-May 14 and Oct. 16-Dec. 24). The gift shop is known for pasties, a “yooper” (U-P) treat, which are served Thursday-Saturday.
Access: A quiet, unpaved road takes you back into the woods over railroad tracks and past piles of logs.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The kids will be impressed with the size of this bishop.
Info: Address — Shrine of The Snowshoe Priest, U.S. Hwy. 41, L’ Anse, Mich. Phone — 906/482-5240. Web — www.bishopbaraga.org

- Compiled by Amanda Hudson
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org