St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal -- Montréal, Quebec, Canada

 Destination: We suggested a visit to Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal, Canada, in 2019 when it was to begin a $110 million (US$82 million) makeover  under a plan to make the popular site more attractive to tourists.

Now that the border is open, it may be time to plan a trip to see some items that are part of the free Year of St. Joseph exhibit at the oratory.

Masses are offered throughout the day in French and English at the oratory. Check the website for details.  

Photos: Statues (top) and tools (middle) are among the items in the basilica's Year of St. Joseph exhibition. (Observer photos/courtesy www.saint-joseph.org/en/)
Visitors (below) are seen outside St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal in 2017. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) 

Why to go: The Oratory Museum team has gathered paintings, statues, ex-votos and other works of art representing the world of St. Joseph and reveals the ties that unite the Congregation of Holy Cross to the patron saint of the universal Church. The oratory was founded in 1904 by St. Andre Bessette, known as Brother Andre. 

Accessibility: Elevators and reserved parking make it accessible to people with limited mobility.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, 3800 Queen Mary Road, Montréal (Quebec) Canada, H3V 1H6
Phone — 514-733-8211 
Website — https://www.saint-joseph.org/en/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Update: National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -- Emmitsburg, Maryland

Destination: We originally visited the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md., in September 2009. But the shrine has recently received a number of relics of the saint from the Sisters of Charity of New York, which make it worth an update. In addition, 2021 marks the 200th anniversary of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s death.

Masses are being live-streamed on Facebook or the website on Sundays at 11 a.m., and Mondays through Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Check the website for changes.

Photos: St. Elizabeth Ann’s bonnet (top left) and wedding brooch (below left) are among new donations to the shrine.

Why to go: Emmitsburg was the home of Mother Seton from 1809 until her death in 1821.

In the northern bay of the basilica, beneath the altar, her relics are enclosed in marble in a small copper casket. A white marble statue shows her in the habit that she and her Sisters of Charity wore in 1809.

Additional new relics just donated include St. Elizabeth Ann’s rosary, bonnet, wedding brooch and her daughter’s christening gown.

(CNS photos/courtesy Devine Partners)

In addition to the basilica, the site includes the Stone House (circa 1750), which was the first permanent home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the site at which she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph on July 31, 1809. In 1979, the house was moved from its original site to its present location.

The White House, built during the winter of 1809-1810 when Mother Seton needed an expanded home, is also at the site. She called it St. Joseph’s House.

Accessibility: Much of the campus appears to be accessible to the handicapped.

Hours: The Visitor Center and Museum are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m. The gift shop is closed, with plans to reopen by July 22.

Access: The shrine sites are open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. On Mondays, only the basilica is open. Check the Web site for holiday hours.

(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome at the shrine, but check the Visitor Information Guidelines on the Web site for dos and don’ts.

Info: Address — The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 333 South Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727-9297
Phone — 301/447-6606
Web — www.setonshrine.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH: National Shrine of St. Joseph -- De Pere, Wis.

Destination: Just a few hours north of the Rockford Diocese is the National Shrine of St. Joseph on the campus of St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. 

Masses are daily at noon, and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.  

From March 10-19, the  solemn Novena to St. Joseph follows 6 p.m. confessions and 7 p.m. Mass.

Why to go: The National Shrine of St. Joseph is located in the oratory of Old St. Joseph Church on the St. Norbert College campus. The shrine and its perpetual novena were originally established on this site in 1888. 

French-Canadian  Catholics came to the De Pere area in the mid-19th century to work in the lumber mills. In 1870, a parish named in honor of St. Joseph was established to serve them.

Special events: The 134th annual Novena Mass in honor of St. Joseph on March 19  this year will be broadcast live on EWTN at 5:30 p.m. Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay will preside and Father Don Calloway, MIC, will offer the homily. 

The shrine is offering an online conference about the Year of St. Joseph on March 19. The conference will feature the rededication of the shrine’s statue of St. Joseph. Speakers will cover a variety of topics, including a general overview of St. Joseph, life in his times, devotions to St. Joseph, and his special role as protector of the family. Learn more at http://box5320.temp.domains/~theyeav3/.

Hours: The shrine is open to the public 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Accessibility: Much of the campus appears to be accessible to the handicapped. Take a virtual tour of the site at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLTk10x63cQ.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — National Shrine of St. Joseph, Old St. Joseph Church, 123 Grant St., De Pere, WI 54115 

Phone — 920-403-3010 

Website — https://www.snc.edu/parish/shrine.html

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to sboehlefeld@rockforddiocese.org

YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH: Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph -- San Jose, Calif.

(Photo by David Leigh Ellis, commons.wikimedia.org)

Destination: Another of the U.S. basilicas named for St. Joseph is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in San Jose, Calif. 

Masses are being celebrated outdoors and require reservations. Anyone older than 6 must wear a mask. Times are Monday-Friday, 12:05 p.m., live-streamed; Sundays 8:30 a.m. English live-streamed, 10 a.m. Spanish live-streamed, 11:30 a.m. English live-streamed, and 1 p.m. Spanish.         

Why to go: The first pueblo church was built on the site in 1803.  Made of adobe and wood, it was named in honor of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the pueblo. On the feast day of St. Joseph, March 19, 1876, the cornerstone for the fifth and present church building was laid. It was opened and dedicated on April 22, 1877. In 1981, the Vatican divided the Archdiocese of San Francisco, establishing the Diocese of San Jose. After renovations, it was dedicated as the Cathedral of St. Joseph on Nov. 4, 1990, and received basilical status in 1997. The basilica’s stained glass windows and Latin frieze on the ceiling are more than 140 years old.

Accessibility: Much of the grounds appear to be accessible to the handicapped.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone — 408-283-8100
Website — https://www.stjosephcathedral.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH: Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral -- Bardstown, Ky.

(Observer screengrab/Sharon Boehlefeld)

 Destination: As we begin the year of St. Joseph, we find few basilicas are named to honor St. Joseph, but one is the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown, Ky. 

Masses are being offered at 4 p.m. Saturday; 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday; and 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Check with the web site before you go to be sure things haven’t changed. 

Why to go: The church cornerstone was laid in July 1816, according to the parish website. St. Joseph was the first cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains and is listed by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national landmark. 

St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral campus is adjacent to Spalding Hall and Flaget Hall of what was originally St. Joseph College, which are all on the National Historic Register. Pastors served as president of the college. 

Paintings and other gifts from Europe donated by Pope Leo XII, Francis I — King of the Two Sicilies — and King Louis Phillippe of France, decorate the building and speak to the French beginnings of the diocese.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1819, though the interior was not fully completed until 1823. When the Episcopal See was moved 40 miles away to the fast growing city of Louisville in 1841, St. Joseph’s changed from a Cathedral parish to a parish church with the title “Proto-Cathedral.”

In 1995, Bardstown was named a Titular See by the Vatican for its contributions to Catholic Church heritage in America. Once again, Bardstown has a bishop, though in an honorary capacity. 

In 2001 Pope John Paul II declared St. Joseph a minor Basilica.

St. Joseph has nearly 5,000 parishioners.

Accessibility: Much of the grounds appear to be accessible to the handicapped.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, 310 W. Stephen Foster Ave., Bardstown, KY  40004
Phone — 502-348-3126
Website — https://stjosephbasilica.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Santuario de Chimayo -- Chimayo, N.M.

 Destination: If you haven’t heard of the “holy dirt” of New Mexico, the place to find it is Santuario de Chimayo or the Shrine of Chimayo.

Masses are being offered Sundays at 10:30 a.m. inside and at 12 noon in an outdoor Mass area. Daily Masses are not being offered. Check with the web site before you go to be sure things haven’t changed.

Photo: The chapel at Chimayo, N.M., is called the “Lourdes of America” for its holy dirt. (Observer screengrab/Sharon Boehlefeld)

The chapel at Chimayo, N.M., is called the “Lourdes of America” for its holy dirt.

Why to go: There are two significant chapels at Santuario de Chimayo, according to its website. The first, the Lord of Esquipulas Chapel, is also the site of el pocito, the small pit of holy dirt. Near the main chapel paintings of saints, holy cards, letters of thanks and crutches are mounted to walls as evidence of cures attributed to the holy dirt. A strange buried cross was discovered on the site on Good Friday in 1810. (For more about the site’s history, visit https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/646/article/holy-dirt.)

Photo: Photos surround a crucifix inside the historic El Santuario de Chimayo Church is pictured in Chimayo, N.M., July 29, 2020. Known as the "Lourdes of America," hundreds of thousands of people visit the adobe chapel built between 1813 and 1816 where, some believe, the dirt inside has healing powers. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

A second chapel is the Santo Niño de Atocha Chapel. Built in 1857, it is the destination of what is a strong and growing Easter pilgrimage tradition which now spans several generations. U.S. soldiers and sailors who prayed to the Santo Niño during the Bataan Death March started the pilgrimage when they returned to the United States after WWII to give thanks for surviving the march.

Hours: The shrine is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but with limited availability. The Santuario gift shop is open but the Santo Niño gift shop and welcome center are not. Masks  and social distancing are required. The restrooms are also closed.

Accessibility: Much of the grounds appear to be accessible to the handicapped.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Santuario de Chimayo, 15 Santuario Dr., Chimayo, NM 87522 
Phone —  505-351-9961 or 505-351-4360
Website — https://www.holychimayo.us/ 

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Arte Poli Gallery -- Rome, Italy

Destination: Should travel restrictions open in time, anyone heading for Rome may want to schedule a stop to see an exhibit only a few steps from the Vatican, on the 42nd anniversary of the election of St. John Paul II.

Masses are not held at the exhibit, but there are plenty of options in Rome. Check the internet before you go. 

Photo: Alessia Giuliani and her father, Giancarlo, both photojournalists, are pictured in front of their exhibit of photos from the pontificate of St. John Paul II in Rome Oct. 16, 2020. Both photographers contributed photos to Catholic News Service for many years. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Why to go: The exhibit opened to celebrate the Polish-born pope, and a father-daughter team of photographers who helped document his pontificate. 

Giancarlo Giuliani began covering the Vatican as a photojournalist in 1961. His daughter, Alessia Giuliani, joined him in 1999. 

The COVID-19 lockdown and ongoing restrictions meant that most of the events planned in Rome to mark the centenary of St. John Paul’s 1920 birth were canceled or postponed. 

But at the Arte Poli gallery, from Oct. 16 to April 2, 2021, visitors can glimpse the late pope’s personality through the Giulianis’ photographs and through objects the pope used, speeches written in his own hand and sculptures of him loaned to the exhibit. 

For the elder Giuliani there is no doubt who was his favorite pope to photograph. St. John Paul “was an actor,” who was comfortable in front of the cameras and who “would let us work,” he said. 

Giancarlo Giuliani, a contributing photographer for Catholic News Service for many years, accompanied the pope on 103 of his 104 foreign trips.

Hours: The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday,10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. Details about entrance and booking guided tours are available by phone or email.

Accessibility: Ask when you organize your visit.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Galleria Arte Poli, Borgo Vittorio 88, zona Basilica di S.Pietro, ROMA 
Phone —  39-06- 68309510 or 39-33-81363298
Website — https://www.poliartesacra.com/en/index.php
Email — galleria@progettoartepoli.com

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story; CNS contributed

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit -- Detroit, Mich.

 Destination:  “On July 24, 1701,” explains the history on the parish website, “25 canoes glided to a stop at the foot of a high bluff which ran along a narrow part of the Detroit River ... . French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his party of 50 artisans, 50 soldiers, and two priests began construction of Fort Ponchartrain du Detroit. Among the first log structures was a tiny chapel which they dedicated on July 26, the feast day of Ste. Anne, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.”

 On Sept. 20, the basilica parish founded a guild  to look into the possibility of sainthood for one of its early pastors, Father Gabriel Richard. The guild is exploratory, and not yet  part of the official sainthood process.

Masses are being offered at 10 a.m. in Spanish and 12 noon in English on Sundays. See the website for the parish’s COVID regulations.

Photos: TOP--On July 15, Pope Francis elevated the Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, Calif., to the rank of minor basilica. (Observer screen grab); MIDDLE-- The Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit is  in Michigan. (CNS photo/James Silvestri via Detroit Catholic); BOTTOM--A detail of a mural of Father Gabriel Richard is inside the TCF Center in downtown Detroit. (CNS photo/Detroit Catholic)

Why to go: The only parish operating continuously longer than the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit is St. Augustine in Florida. 

Among the basilica’s features is the Shrine of Ste. Anne de Detroit. The website says it “has been a place of pilgrimage for the faithful for many years, and was named the official (Detroit) Archdiocesan Shrine of Ste. Anne in 2017 by Archbishop (Allen) Vigneron.”

The current church is the parish’s eighth and was built in 1886. It contains a number of items from the previous 1818 building that was constructed while Father Richard was pastor. Born and ordained in France, Father Richard is buried in the basilica. 

During the War of 1812, Father Richard opened field hospitals, and advocated for Detroit’s French and American community among the British. He was captured in 1813, but freed three weeks later — some say at the demand of the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. 

Amenities: Walk-in visitors are not allowed but tours are available by calling ahead and asking to be added to a group. The tour fee is $3 per child, $5 per adult.

Accessibility: Ask when you call for a tour.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit,  1000 Sainte Anne St. Detroit, MI 48216  

Phone — 313-496-1701 

Website — https://ste-anne.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story; CNS contributed

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Mission Basilica - San Buenaventura Ventura, Calif.

(CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

 Destination:  Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, celebrated Mass at the new Mission Basilica San Buena-ventura in Ventura, Calif., July 15. The mission became the first basilica in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the 88th in the United States when Pope Francis elevated it on July 15.

In addition to Archbishop Gomez, also celebrating the Mass were Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, Father Thomas Elewaut, pastor of the mission parish, and Father Leon Hutton, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura. 

Masses are being offered in the garden. Mass times as of Aug. 25 are Sunday English Masses at 7:30 and 9 a.m. and Spanish Masses at 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Daily garden Masses are at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Saturday Evening Vigil Masses are not being celebrated pending further notice.

Why to go: The church at Mission San Buenaventura is the second oldest house of worship in the three counties comprising the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara — according to the archdiocesan website. The founding of the mission, it says, traces to a decision on Palm Sunday, March 30, 1749, made by the Franciscan priest Junípero Serra to journey to the new world as a missionary. The canonization of Father Serra was celebrated by the mission parish community 266 years later in November 2015.

Founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Mission San Buenaventura is the ninth and last of St. Junípero Serra’s missionary foundations along El Camino Real. 

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura remains an active parish serving about 1,600 families as well as a pilgrimage center, which thousands of visitors come to annually.

Amenities: The mission’s Museum and Archival Center chronicals the history of its founding and the development of the area. 

Accessibility: Generally, the mission is accessible..  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Mission Basilica San Buenaventura,  211 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001 • Phone — 805-643-4318 • Website — https://www.facebook.com/sanbuenaventuramission/.

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Virtual Visits Catholic Holy Sites Online

(CNS photo/Debbie Hill) 

 Destination:  There are several places important to Catholics that are offering some kind of virtual visit or live streaming service. Many of these online sites are also appealing for donations since lockdowns and restrictions have seriously reduced a major source of income from pilgrimages and tourism.

Online Masses may be available at some of these places. Check the individiual websites.

Photo: A worshipper wearing a protective mask lights a candle as she visits the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City May 26, 2020, the day it reopened after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Where to go: 

• The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land oversees 55 sanctuaries in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. Visitors at www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries can get a more in-depth look at these sacred places, especially the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revered as the site of Jesus’s tomb, in Jerusalem.

• The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal offers a livestream of the chapel and live daily broadcasts of praying the rosary and Mass at www.fatima.pt/en/pages/online-transmissions. The same link also provides a gallery of pictures, videos and “sounds,” including an audio library of Marian hymns.

• The website of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi offers a huge list of online opportunities, all in Italian, but still visually enriching, like a livestream of the tomb of St. Francis with an option of sending a prayer petition at www.sanfrancescopatronoditalia.it/web-cam-cripta-di-san-francesco-assisi and a livestream of daily Mass in the basilica at www.sanfrancescopatronoditalia.it/messa-diretta-streaming-oggi.

There is a 360-degree virtual tour of the basilica at www.sanfrancescopatronoditalia.it/basilica/ and of the tomb at www.sanfrancescopatronoditalia.it/visita-virtuale-tomba-san-francesco/. The 13th-century basilica had to be painstakingly restored, including its frescoes by Giotto, after a devastating earthquake in 1997.

• While a special online exposition of the Shroud of 

Turin was held April 11 for prayer and contemplation during the coronavirus epidemic, the recorded event, with commentary in English, can still be found online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7BmsSE_4Wk.

Accessibility: Everything is accessible online.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: Watch along with them.

Info: See websites with locations in descriptions.

— Carol Glatz, CNS; Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story.

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies -- Canmore, Alberta, Canada

(CNS photo)

Destination:  The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies is a new church for the parish, which dates back to the 1800s, and the first Marian shrine in the Diocese of Calgary in Canada. Pilgrimages, conferences and other events are planned once pandemic restrictions are eased.

Masses at the shrine, as at so many places right now, require reservations. That may change by the time you plan your trip to Alberta. Check the website for updates.

Why to go: The Virgin Mary is sitting with her son Jesus in a lush Alberta forest, surrounded by deer drinking from a gurgling stream, with the majestic Three Sisters peaks in the background.

“The window cries out to you ‘Rocky Mountains,’ and there is Our Lady in the midst of that,” said Father Nathan Siray, pastor of Our Lady of the Rockies Parish. “That’s kind of our No. 1 devotional image to Our Lady of the Rockies that is completely unique to this building.”

The powerful image is set in custom-made stained glass, one of the focal points of the new $20 million (US$14.8 million) church in the mountain community of Canmore, about 15 miles southeast of Banff. Bishop William McGrattan dedicated the new 17,000-square-foot church May 30, during a Mass that was livestreamed on the Diocese of Calgary’s Facebook page because of the restrictions. The first public Mass in the new church was celebrated June 8.

The new church is at the edge of town, off the Trans-Canada Highway, and figures prominently when motorists arrive.

The exterior design reflects a European-style alpine church. That was the vision of Father Bryan Frank, a former pastor of Our Lady of the Rockies, and Guy Turcotte, a parishioner and the developer of Silvertip Resort in Canmore, who donated the roughly three-acre property for the church.

Accessibility: Precautions because of COVID-19 are limiting tours to 10 people who must wear masks and sign-up in advance. Details are on the sign-up page. Find the link on the home page.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies, 2 Silvertip Trail, Canmore, AB  T1W 2Z7

Phone — 1-403-678-5022

Website — https://www.rockiesparish.com/

— Andrew Ehrkamp, CNS; Sharon Boehlefeld contributed this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Oldest Catholic Churches - San Miguel Chapel -- Santa Fe, N.M.

(Photos/San Miguel Chapel)

Destination: We’re finishing off our series on the oldest Catholic churches in the U.S. with San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, N.M., founded sometime in the 17th century. It is yet another indication of the Spanish introduction of Catholicism to the new world.

Masses offered at the chapel are a Latin Mass at 3 p.m. and an ordinary form English Mass at 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Photos: Exterior (top) and interior (below) of San Miguel Chapel.

Why to go: The earliest record of the existence of San Miguel Chapel is from 1628, and it was built sometime before that year. The parish website says oral history says it was built around 1610. A fire in 1680 destroyed the first building, and it has been rebuilt and restored several times over the past 400 years. 

The parish was established as the “Hermita de San Miguel,” and was built on the site of an ancient kiva — a gathering place — of the Analco Indians. Tlaxcalan (Tas-cal’-en) Indians, who  are believed to have built the church, came to New Mexico from old Mexico in 1598 with the Spanish. At that time, the parish served a small group of Tlaxcalan Indians, laborers, and Spanish soldiers who lived in the area on the south side of the Santa Fe River.

The wooden altar screen, or reredos, at the front of  the chapel is one of the oldest in New Mexico. An inscription dates the screen to 1798. Credit for the work is given to “Laguna Santero,” an anonymous artist who was active and influential in New Mexico between 1796 and 1808. 

Hours: The chapel is open before and between Sunday Masses and  from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Accessibility: The chapel is at ground-level, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for anyone to enter.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — San Miguel Chapel of Santa Fe, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Phone — 505-983-3974

Website — http://sanmiguelchapel.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Oldest Catholic Churches: San Fernando Cathedral - San Antonio, Texas

Destination: The third oldest church still in use in the U.S. is part of the Cathedral of San Fernando in San Antonio, Texas. Called “The Oldest Cathedral Sanctuary in the United States” on its parish bulletin, the church was founded in 1731. It is the oldest Catholic Church still functioning in Texas.
Masses are offered Saturday at 5 p.m.; Sunday in Spanish at 6, and 8 a.m. and 12 noon, in English at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; bilingual at 5 p.m.; Monday, Friday bilingual at 12:05 p.m.; Monday, Thursday bilingual at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday in Spanish at 8 a.m.
Photos: exterior (top); an old picture shows the exterior of the cathedral early in its history before the city surrounded it. 
Why to go: Fifteen families from the Canary Islands came to San Antonio after being invited by King Phillip V of Spain. They were the founding families of the San Fernando Cathedral.
It has served Catholics in the city more than 280 years. For almost 95 years in its past, it served all denominations in San Antonio because the Catholic Church was the official religion of both Spain and Mexico, which claimed the land before Texas became an independent nation.
It was intended to be the center of the city’s life, according to the cathedral website.  While it was surrounded by wide open spaces once, today San Antonio city buildings, including City Hall and the Justice Center among others, are its neighbors.

Today, more than 5,000 people attend weekend Masses at the cathedral, in addition to hundreds who come in each day to pray.
Amenities: The gift shop is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.  and 2-5 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The cathedral is selling a 2020 Fiesta Medal for $10 plus shipping. Look for details under Fiesta on its website.
Accessibility: The cathedral has stairs in the front. Some areas are accesible to wheelchairs.
Parking may be challenging. Open a bulletin on the web site and look for parking information.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome. Don’t be surprised to see a school tour while you’re there.
Info: Address — San Fernando Cathedral, 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone — 210-227-1297
Website — https://sfcathedral.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Oldest Catholic Churches: Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá - San Diego, Calif.

(Observer photos/parish website)

Destination: The fourth oldest church still in use in the U.S. is part of the San Diego de Alcalá Mission in San Diego, Calif. Last year marked its 250th anniversary. 
Masses are offered in the mission church at 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 7, 8, 10 and 11 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. Sunday; 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There is also an 11 a.m. Spanish Mass at the St. Francis Chapel on Sunday.
Photos: Mission exterior (top); nterior of San Diego de Alacalá Church retains its Spanish architectural roots after a 1931 rebuilding project.
Why to go: San Diego de Alcalá was the first of the 21 California Missions, and was California’s first Mission Church founded in 1769. Today it remains an active parish. 
St. Junipero Serra was among the Franciscan Friars already in Baja (Lower) California who were assigned to develop the Alta (Upper) California missions. Spanish military men went with the friars to protect and support them. Father Serra, a native of Majorca, was the superior of the Franciscan missionaries.
The mission had struggled in its early years, both in trying to raise crops and in converting the native Americans in the area while Spanish authorities tried to impose stict rules on them. On Nov. 4, 1775, the hundres of native people attacked the mission, burned it to the ground and killed a blacksmith, a carpenter, and Father Luis Jayme, who became California’s first Catholic martyr. He is buried next to the altar in the present church.

The mission has been rebuilt five times and in 1931 the reconstruction used architectural plans designed to look like the 1813 church. One of the large bells is original and is dated 1802. The other large bell is made of remnants of the original bells.
Amenities: The mission gift shop is open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily. The mission offers self-guided tours for families, though it offers group docent tours with reservations in advance. Check the website for details.
Accessibility: Most of the mission appears to be accessible, but expect variations throughout the grounds.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome. Don’t be surprised to see a school tour while you’re there.
Info: Address — Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, 10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA 92108 
Phone (Visitor Center) — (619) 281-8449 
Website — https://www.missionsandiego.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Oldest Catholic Churches: St. Gabriel Church - St. Gabriel, La.

(Observer photo/https://commons.wikimedia.org)

This is the first in a five-part series on the oldest Catholic Chuches in the U.S. still in use. 
Destination: With this issue, we begin a short series on the oldest Catholic churches still in use in the U.S. The fifth oldest church, St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Louisiana is readying for its 250th anniversary and “grand celebration”  on Feb. 2
Masses are offered Sunday at 7 and 10:15 a.m.; Saturday at 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday at 8 a.m. There is no Mass on Monday.
Why to go: St. Gabriel Church was believed to have been built in 1771. Parish website says its first location was probably near Fort Manchac. Mississippi River flooding forced several moves of the building. The church was moved to its present site in December 1887.
The 250th anniversary of the Catholic faith on the banks of the Mississippi is “a wonderful milestone and testimony of our French Acadian Christian Catholic Faith,” the website states. “We Cajuns are known for our strong Christian Catholic way of life through our love of God and our love for one another. We are also known for ‘passing a good time.’ Through the (anniversary) year we will be coming together to pass a good time and to share precious memories and stories that make us the unique Christian Catholic Community of St. Gabriel.”
If you plan to be in the area Feb. 2, the anniversary Mass will be at 10:15 a.m. with Bishop Michael Duca and Bishop Robert Muench. A luncheon will follow the Mass and the old church will be open for viewing. RSVP by Jan. 22 at http://www.stgabrielcatholicchurch.com/anniversary/rsvp/. (There is no charge listed, but we suspect generous donations from guests who are from outside of the parish would be appreciated.)
Accessibility: There are a few steps at the front door to this small-town parish.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.
Info: Address — St. Gabriel Church, 3625 Highway 75, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776
Phone — 225-642-8441
Website — http://www.stgabrielcatholicchurch.com/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Catholic Boston - Boston, Mass.

(Observer photos/Sharon Boehlefeld)

 Destination: Boston, Mass., has a rich Catholic history that has recently been overshadowed by negative news. But it still is a worthwhile place to visit to see ways the Church and its faithful have left a mark on and helped preserve U.S. history.
Masses are offered at various places in the city, including in the North End parishes we’ve listed. Visit Masstimes.org and search for Boston, MA.
Photos: (top left) St. Stephen's Church interior; St. Stephen's Church sign (below right); Sacred Heart Church exterior (below left); Pieta replica presented to President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy by Pope Paul VI.
 Why to go: One of the oldest church buildings in Boston is St. Stephen’s in the North End. On the historic Freedom Trail through old Boston, the church building was designed by Charles Bulfinch, one of the first Americans to work as an architect.
Across the street from Paul Revere’s house, is Sacred Heart, an Italian parish. It was closed as of late October for repairs, and Mass-goers were directed to St. Leonard, a short walk away, for 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. The three churches, all in the North End, share a website with more information about Mass times and parish activities.
One more stop, though a little distant from these three parishes, is the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Among its collection is a replica of the Pieta, presented to President and Mrs. Kennedy by Pope Paul VI when they met him in Rome. A photo of the three together is to the left of the see-through case that houses the statue.
Accessibility: Handicapped accessibility varies widely in each of these places.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.
 Info: — St. Stephen, 401 Hanover St/ Boston, MA 02113
617-523-1230
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Stephens-Church-Boston-Massachusetts/198298816870815
— St. Leonard of Port Maurice, 320 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113
617-523-2110
https://saintleonardchurchboston.org/ 
— Sacred Heart Italian Church, 12 North Sq., Boston, MA 02113
617-523-5638
— John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston MA 02125
(617) 514-1600 
https://www.jfklibrary.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld 
Send ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower - San Antonio, Texas

(Photo courtesy Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower)

Destination: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower was the first National Shrine in the United States dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” Its cornerstone was laid Oct. 15, 1929, and dedicated in 1931. Showing its age, the basilica is undergoing renovations to repair some natural deterioration.
Masses are offered Sundays at  8 (English) and 10 a.m. (Spanish), noon and 2 p.m. (English), and 6 p.m. (Spanish); Monday-Friday at 12 noon and 6 p.m.; Saturdays at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Photos: (top left) exterior of the shrine; (middle right), Tomb Chapel of St. Thérèse; (bottom left) statue of St. Thérèse outside the shrine

(Photo courtesy Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower/
Carlos Ramirez)

Why to go: When the church was first built it was the first outside of France dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The basilica began as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thérèse Church, established by  Spanish Discalced Carmelite friars who came to San Antonio by way of Torreon, Mexico, in 1926.
The shrine was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
According to the basilica’s website, “the most treasured work of art at the basilica is a painting of St. Thérèse created by the saint’s own blood sister, Céline Martin (Sr. Geneviève of the Holy Face). It is located in the undercroft of the church. The Basilica is home to three first-class relics of the Little Flower. Two are contained within the tomb chapel of St. Thérèse.”

(Photo courtesy Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower/
RandyBeamer)

Hours: The basilica is open daily, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Accessibility: The website offers no information about handicapped accessibility.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.
Info: Address — Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Therese Parish, 1715 N Zarzamora, San Antonio TX 78201
Phone — 210-735-9126
Website — https://littleflowerbasilica.org/


— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Museum of Family Prayer -- North Easton, Mass.

(Observer photos/courtesy The Museum of Family Prayer)

Destination: The Museum of Family Prayer will hold its grand opening ceremonies Sept. 15, so it’s not too soon to plan a visit.
Masses are offered at noon Wednesdays through Fridays at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chapel, preceded by a rosary at 11:30 a.m.
Why to go: “This first-of-its-kind museum welcomes you and your family to a unique, interactive, digital experience of prayer that your entire family can experience together,” says the museum’s website. It continues:
“The museum provides:
“Inspiration: A spiritual experience of prayer – touch, listen and watch, reflect and pray.
“Exploration: Learn more about the history and power of prayer.
“Connection: Time to reconnect with your family and your faith.

(CNS photo)

(Observer photos/courtesy
The Museum of Family Prayer)

“You’ll also learn about the remarkable story of sainthood candidate, Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, who inspired the world with his timeless message, ‘The family that prays together stays together.’ See artifacts from his life, ministry and priesthood.”
The Venerable Father Peyton (right) is buried near the museum at the Cemetery of the Congregation of Holy Cross Religious.His headstone is usually draped with rosaries, no doubt in recognition of him as founder of the Family Rosary Crusade of the late 1940s and 1950s. The website says the origin of leaving rosaries on the headstone is lost, but people who take a rosary are encouraged to leave one in its place.
In addition to the museum, there is also a rosary path on the grounds.
Accessibility: The website says the museum is accessible to all. And parking, like admission, is free.
Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.
Info: Address — 518 Washington St., North Easton, MA 02356
Phone — 800-299-7729
Website — www.museumoffamilyprayer.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

The Basilica of St. Mary - Minneapolis, Minn.

(Courtesy The Basilica of Saint Mary archives) 

Destination: The Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis has the distinction of being one of the oldest basilicas in the U.S. It and Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna, N.Y., were both declared minor basilicas in 1926 by Pope Pius XI.
Masses are offered weekdays at 7 a.m. and noon on the basilica’s ground level, St. Joseph’s Chapel; Saturdays at 5 p.m.; Sundays at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Photos -- (Left) Exterior of the Basilica of St. Mary; (Below left) Interior of basilica.
Why to go: The building was designed by the French architect Emmanuel Masqueray in the beaux-arts style.The exterior was completed between 1907 and 1915, and the interior begun in 1922. It was not quite finished when it was declared a basilica on Feb. 1, 1926.
Marble statues of the Apostles around the sanctuary were carved in Italy and are half-size replicas of the ones in St. John Lateran Cathedral of Rome.
In the 1950s, the basilica added a Wicks organ and installed eight double bronze doors cast by the Flour City Ornamental Iron Company of Minneapolis. The doors have symbols of the Apostles and Evangelists, and the coats-of-arms of the archbishops and popes who were key to the basilica’s development.

(Courtesy The Basilica of Saint Mary archives)

In 1975, the basilica was named to the National Register of Historic Places. On its website, the basilica lists three reasons it was nominated for this honor:
“Firstly, it exemplifies great design in architecture and engineering. ...
“Secondly, the Basilica is a testimonial to the religious movements and their roles in the development of Minnesota’s heritage.
“And, thirdly, the building was the first such church to be proclaimed a basilica in the United States.”
Later restorations involved areas of the basilica, the copper dome and roof.
Accessibility: The website says the basilica has access for all. For details, check the website’s Visit Us page.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As long as the kids know their church manners, they will be fine.
Info: Address — 1600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone — 612-333-1381
Website — www.mary.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Mary Basilica - Natchez, Miss.

(Observer photos/St. Mary Basilica archives)

Destination: Considered a masterpiece of architecture among Catholic churches in the south, St. Mary Basilica dates to before the Civil War and is an active parish that welcomes visitors.
Masses are offered Sunday at 10 a.m. (with nursery); Saturday at 4 p.m. CST, 5 p.m. DST; Monday-Friday at 8 a.m.
Photos: The interior and exterior of the basilica
Why to go: According to its website, “The construction of this place of worship was begun in 1842 as a cathedral in the newly established Diocese of Natchez, and St. Mary retained this status until 1977.
“Because the church is historically significant, in 1998 Rome granted St. Mary in Natchez, Miss., the elevated status of minor basilica, an honor it now shares with 70 of the 250 dioceses in the U.S. There are two kinds of basilicas. The world’s four major basilicas — or papal basilicas — are in Rome, and minor basilicas — some in Rome and others elsewhere throughout the world — are given special ecclesiastical privileges by the Holy Father.
“The portrait of the Christ on the Cross and his Sorrowful Mother (above) hangs above the main altar. The original fresco was executed by New Orleans artist A. Biorci in 1888 as an adaptation of Guido Reni’s classical painting. In 1931, the deteriorating fresco was replaced by the present painting on canvas. A later restoration of this portrait painted out the minor figures in the original to emphasize the church’s patron, Our Lady of Sorrows.
“St. Mary’s congregation takes pride not only in the Gothic Revival style of the Basilica but also its prayerful setting in the midst of colored carvings, painted ceiling, and ribbed vaulting. Natchez is the birthplace of Mississippi. It is a tourist destination because of its historic antebellum homes, and St. Mary Basilica — also antebellum — is the city’s central landmark.”
(Grand) Kid friendly: As long as the kids know their church manners, they will be fine.
Info: Address — St. Mary Basilica, 107 S. Union St., Natchez, MS 39120 
Phone — 601-445-5616
Website — www.stmarybasilica.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org