Memorial Hall Exhibit -- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Destination: An exhibit currently on display in Washington offers a moving portrait of the courage of Catholic journalists during the era of Soviet persecution in Eastern Europe, along with a potent message of faith and resistance to tyranny that has relevance in today’s world. 

The Embassy of Lithuania is presenting an exhibit on “The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania,” currently on display in the Memorial Hall of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception through early September.

Masses are held daily at the basilica, and a full list of times is available at https://www.nationalshrine.org/

Photos: Top -- The information in the exhibit is displayed on tall banners with large text, historical photos and bold illustrations. (CNS photos/Tyler Orsburn)
Below -- A visitor looks at some historical photos on display.  

Why to go: The exhibit tells the story of The Chronicle newspaper and the priests, nuns and lay people who risked their freedom to publish about the Church during the Communist era.

The Chronicle was the longest-running “samizdat,” or clandestine, publication of its kind in Lithuania.  

For 17 years the paper was a way to get  information to people in the West about the conditions affecting the Catholic Church. 

During the Communist era, Catholics suffered many atrocities. Churches were closed, clergy were prohibited from practicing key elements of the faith, religious education was forbidden, and many religious were arrested and imprisoned.

Admission: Free. 

Accessibility: The basilica is wheelchair-accessible, and disability parking is available in two of the basilica’s lots.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: The exhibit might be too complicated or heavy for young ones, but since the exhibit is free, it may be worth a quick visit. Depending on their age, you could talk with them about how they would feel if they couldn’t learn about their faith in school to help them understand the reason for the publication. Then you could follow up the trip with something more their speed. 

Info: Address — Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20017
Phone — 202-526-8300
Website — https://www.nationalshrine.org/

— Christina Lee Knauss, Catholic News Service. 
Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Museum of the Bible -- Washington, D.C.

(CNS photo)

Destination: Ken McKenzie, Museum of the Bible president and CEO, told Catholic News Service that an upcoming exhibit focusing on science and faith would bolster conversation on the answers to questions on two oft-ignored aspects of science, specifically “what ... science mean(s) for the existence and activity of God” and what science means for the “sacredness of humanity.”
Masses are not offered at the museum, but visit https://masstimes.org/ to find Masses in the area.
Photos: (Top left) Brian Hyland, associate curator from Oklahoma City, interprets a sarcophagus replica of Jonah inside the “Vatican Museums and Vatican Library” exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in 2017.
(Bottom left) A bound book is seen inside the “History of the Bible” exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in 2017.
Why to go: From the 17th-century ban by the Vatican of Copernicus’ mathematical calculation that the sun was at the center of the solar system to modern-day arguments about evolution’s compatibility with a belief in God, science and faith have regularly butted heads in the public square.
Seeking to illuminate these debates for the public is the Museum of the Bible in Washington, which announced April 1 that it would be using sizable grants from the John Templeton Foundation and the Templeton Religion Trust toward fostering a “greater understanding of the shared curiosity about our world that stimulates both scientific inquiry and biblical interpretation.”

(CNS photo)

The exhibits will be divided among six sections, each of which will be devoted to pressing existential questions about the beginning of the universe, what keeps it running, how humans and animals differ, what humans “are made of” and if humanity is alone in the universe.
Accessibility: The museum has stairless entries and wheelchairs — first come, first served — for its patrons. Check the website for details.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Families are welcome to the museum. Cost: (online/at the door) $19.99/$24.99 adults;  $19.99/$19.99 seniors citizens, military, first responders and students; $9.99/$14.99 children 7-17; free child 6 and younger.
Info: Address — Museum of the Bible, 400 Fourth St. SW, Washington, DC 20024
Phone — 866.430.6682  
Website — https://www.museumofthebible.org/

— CNS, Sharon Boehlefeld contributed to the story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception -- Washington, D.C.

 (CNS photo/Daniel Sone)

Destination: Whether you’ve been there before or have never visited, now is the time to plan a trip to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. With the completion and Dec. 8 dedication of the Trinity Dome, there is even more to see and to learn about our heritage as Catholics in America.
Masses are offered several times every day at the basilica. Check the website (below) for details.
Why to go: The basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, one of the 10 largest churches in the world. Known for its unique architecture and the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art in the world, the recently completed, 18,300-square-foot mosaic, was designed and installed by Travisanutto Giovanni, an Italian studio founded in 1980. The studio also completed the mosaics for the national shrine’s Knights of Columbus Incarnation Dome, Redemption Dome, and for Italian and Hungarian chapels.
The mosaic process began with color drawings to scale, which the studio then blew up to the actual size that would be placed in the dome. After the designer approved the larger drawings, workers cut the paper into 30,000 sections, which were then numbered to correspond with thousands of color shades.
Each part of the mosaic has precise coloring. For example, the blue garment worn by St. Mark the Evangelist has at least 20 different shades of blue in it, and each person’s face has about 30 different shadings.
The entire mosaic is made up of more than 14 million pieces of Venetian glass, called “tesserae,” which the workers hand cut with a hammer to create the right size for the design. For shipping, the pieces filled 60 crates.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Open daily, the basilica welcomes families, and offers free parking, guided tours, a gift shop, book store, cafeteria and more.
Info: Address — Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20017
Phone — 202/526-8300
Website — http://www.nationalshrine.com (Find an online tour at the website.)
—  Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story.
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Thomas More Exhibit -- St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, D.C.

(CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Destination: An exhibit featuring artifacts revolving around St. Thomas More has opened at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Titled “God’s Servant First: The Life and Legacy of Thomas More,” the exhibit runs through March 31, 2017. The title comes from what are believed to be More’s last words before he was beheaded: “I die the king’s good servant, and God’s servant first.”
Masses are offered at the shrine Monday through Saturday, 12 noon (preceded by the Angelus); and Sunday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Photo: A display depicting the 1535 execution of St. Thomas More by Henry VIII is seen at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington Sept. 15. An exhibit of artifacts associated with the saint be open daily at the shrine until March 31, 2017. Why to go: St. Thomas More, a lawyer and the first layman to serve as chancellor of England, had balked at helping Henry VIII obtain an annulment so he could marry Anne Boleyn. After the pope denied the annulment, Henry declared himself head of the church in England, conferring upon himself the power to divorce and marry whomever he pleased.  More resigned his position as chancellor to the throne to avoid being forced to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the church. More also refused to sign a document acknowledging Henry’s authority. His actions led to his beheading. He has since been seen as a champion of conscience rights.
Nearly all of the 60 or so items in the exhibit come from Stonyhurst College in England, according to Jan Graffius, the curator of collections at Stonyhurst, a Jesuit institution. The Knights of Columbus and Stonyhurst’s Christian Heritage Center organized the exhibit and are its sponsors.
The exhibit comes during the golden anniversary of the 1966 film biography of St. Thomas More, “A Man for All Seasons.” The movie was nominated for eight Oscars and won six, including Best Picture. It also won five British Academy Film Awards and four Golden Globes, as well as a Best Actor award for Scofield at the Moscow International Film Festival.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As a regular stop on the Rockford Diocese’s March for Life pilgrimage, the St. John Paul II shrine has welcomed  — and impressed — many young people.
Info: Address — St. John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC 20017 n Phone — 202/635-5400 n Website — www.jp2shrine.org
— Mark Pattison,  CNS
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Pope John Paul II Cultural Center - Washington, D.C.

(CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Destination: Catholics from around the country and the world can learn about the heritage left us by Blessed John Paul II at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. The Knights of Columbus announced that they would purchase the center during their annual meeting last August. Plan your visit during the week, though, because the center is only open Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tours can be arranged for other weekdays. (See contact information, below.)
Masses are held Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
Why to go:  The center sits on 12 acres in a part of the Washington, D.C., known as “Little Rome” or “Little Vatican.” Other Catholic institutions of note in the area are the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and The Catholic University of America,  the headquarters of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, Trinity University, Providence Hospital and the Franciscan Monastery and Commissariat of the Holy Land.
The center cost $75 million to build and the property has been valued at $37.7 million. It opened in 2001 with financial backing from the Detroit Archdiocese.
A Papal and Polish Heritage room features photos, videos, artwork and memorabilia from Blessed John Paul’s life, from his childhood through his papacy. Other displays include gifts from world dignitaries, vessels from Masses celebrated by Blessed John Paul II and other reminders of his lifetime.
The Knights plan a variety of exhibits for the center, including displays on the life and legacy of Blessed John Paul and on the Catholic heritage of North America.
Access: Navigating the grounds should not be a problem.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children of all ages will enjoy a visit to the center. It's a usual stop for diocesan youth groups who go to the annual January March for Life.
Info: Address: Pope John Paul II Cultural Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 4471, Phone: 202/635-5400. Web: www.jp2cf.org

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

Mount St. Sepulchre - Washington, D.C.

(CNS photos/Paul Haring)

Destination: Mount St. Sepulchre is a Franciscan monastery in Washington, D.C. The church and monastery were designated a National Historic Site in 1991. The church was dedicated in 1899. The site is also Commissariat of the Holy Land in America, which means the friars are responsible for collecting alms to help maintain sites in the Holy Land. (See page 1 of the March 27 Observer for more information.)
Daily Mass times vary. Sunday Masses are held  in English at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and noon, and in Spanish at 4 p.m.
Why to go: The grounds of the monastery feature dozens of replicas of significant Christian sites from Europe and the Holy Land, including many surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church is the dominant structure on the grounds. It is not a replica of any one structure found in the Holy Land, but was designed with a number of architectural influences found in buildings there. Within, beneath and around the church are full-size reproductions of actual Holy Land sites, including churches, memorials, shrines, tombs and historical monuments.
Special events: A workshop about saving heirloom vegetable seeds is scheduled March 21. Cost is $20 per person or $35 per family. Info: Candace Hack at 812/535-2935 or chack@spsmw.org.
Ammenities: Tours of the Monastery and shrines are given daily on the hours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Sundays, tours are given at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The grounds of the Monastery are open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no tour is required. The Catacombs can be visited only when on a tour.
A gift shop is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., except Monday.
Access: Walkways are generous, but the site is on a hillside.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Children are welcome for tours and walks around the grounds.
Info: Address: Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, 1400 Quincy St., N.E., Washington, DC, 20017. Phone: 202/526-6800. Web: www.myfranciscan.org

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