St. Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine - Bensalem, Pennsylvania

(Photo courtesy of the Archives of the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament)

Destination: The St. Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine is just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order established by St. Katharine Drexel in 1891. Historically, the apostolate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament has been primarily with African and Native American peoples.
There is no daily Mass schedule on the website, but check http://masstimes.org/ for area churches.
Why to go: St. Katharine Drexel’s story is told through an exciting collection of furniture, photo displays, and artifacts. There is a five minute video which makes St. Katharine Drexel’s life come alive. Pilgrims can pray, reflect and leave written prayer intentions in the Apache Burden Basket located next to St. Katharine’s crypt. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament pray daily for these intentions.
The shrine area, which holds the entombed remains of St. Katharine Drexel, was built in 1949. The bas relief of the angels above the tomb was designed by Mother Mary of the Visitation, SBS, and Kathleen Dorsey.
Events: There is an open house scheduled May 15, but if you plan to be in the area that day, the sisters would like to know you’re coming. Email them at skdcenter@comcast.net.
Accessibility: All facilities are wheelchair accessible.The shrine is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, but it is closed on major holidays.
Ammenities: There are a gift shop, auditorium, indoor cafe and open air patio. A covered entrance accommodates busses and cars, and there is a large parking lot.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The Motherhouse grounds and the Mission Center offer visitors a serene place to pray, relax, learn, and converse — something to keep in mind.
Info: Address: Saint Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020. Phone: 215/244-9900. Web: http://www.katharinedrexel.org/Mission_Center.html

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

De Young Museum - San Francisco, California

 (Photo/www.missionandshrine.org)

Destination: The de Young Museum in San Francisco is hosting the first exhibit outside the Vatican dedicated solely to the Catholic Church’s collection of indigenous art and artifacts.
“Objects of Belief from the Vatican: Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas” runs through Sept. 8 at the museum in Golden Gate Park.
To fit a Mass into your trip, check http://www.masstimes.org.
Why to go: From the Vatican Museums’ collection of 80,000 Vatican ethnographic objects, Ethnological Museum director Jesuit Father Nicola Mapelli chose 39 that represent the collection’s breadth. All are unique pieces and most have never left the Vatican before, he said.
“What is important for us is that these objects are cultural ambassadors. They can tell the story of the people who gave the objects to the pope,” said Father Mapelli, who since 2009 has traveled to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America, Australia and elsewhere to find descendants of the artists who sent objects to Rome.
The exhibit “will show to the people of California the love and appreciation that the Catholic Church has for the cultures and religions from all over the world,” Antonio Paolucci, director of Vatican Museums, wrote in a Jan. 22 letter to San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone.
The Ethnological Museum sent many of its best known and treasured pieces to San Francisco. Access: Depending on where you go on the grounds, there are some stairs to manuever.
Accessibility: The de Young is wheel chair accesible and a few are available to borrow at the museum. Parking is limited. Public transportation might be a good idea.
Amenities: There are a cafe and a store at the museum.
Admission: There is a $10 admission fee for adults ($7 for 65 and older) and $6 for college students and children 13 and older. There may be additional costs for some exibits or programs.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Check the website’s Education tab for activies for children and families.
Info: Address: de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, CA 94118. Phone: 415/750-3600. Web: http://deyoung.famsf.org

- By Valerie Schmalz (CNS) and Sharon Boehlefeld

Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Editor's note: This exhibit is closed, so we have removed the images that illustrate the collection described. Check the museum website when you plan your trip to see if there are other exhibits of interest to you.

Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche - St. Augustine, Florida

 (Photo/www.missionandshrine.org)

Destination: Spanish settlers in the New World began their devotion to Our Lady of La Leche (The Milk) at St. Augustine’s Mission of Nombre de Dios (Name of God) in the 1560s. It is on the site of the first parish Mass celebrated in what is now the United States, on Sept. 8, 1565, the feast of the Nativity of Mary.
Today, it is a popular site for expectant mothers to pray for healthy babies and couples to pray for children.
Regular Mass is not offered at the shrine, but check the Diocese of St. Augustine website (www.dosafl.com) for nearby churches.
Why to go: Eric P. Johnson, director of the shrine, knows the power of this place and its history, according to an article in St. Anthony Messenger. The historic Mass there in 1565 marked St. Augustine as the birthplace of Christianity in America, not only for Catholics but for Christians of all denominations.
“This is where the Gospel was preached to the native people for the first time,” Johnson explains.
The shrine is also known as a place, according to the article, where the sorrowful also come to pray.
“They come seeking solace and forgiveness,” says Johnson, in the article. “This place offers an incredible sense of peace and an atmosphere of prayer. It allows the small but significant miracles to take place in the heart and the spirit.”
There are several other smaller shrines on the grounds, including one for Our Lady of Guadalupe and one for Lady of Perpetual Help. Prince of Peace Church is also on the grounds.
The site has also been researched by archeologists from the University of Florida, who have discovered a moat from a 16th century Spanish fort on shrine grounds.
Access: Depending on where you go on the grounds, there are some stairs to manuever.
Amenities: The shrine gift shop is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The shrine offers a good place for a quiet walk with children who may have been in a car too long.
Info: Address: Shrine of Our Lady of Leche, 27 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084. Phone: 904/824-2809 or 800/342-6529. Web: www.missionandshrine.org

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

Two Catholic Landmarks - New Orleans, Louisiana

(Photos/www.staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org; CNS photo/Frank J Methe, Clarion Herald))

Destination: Two old churches in New Orleans, both of which received preservation grants from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation after Hurricane Katrina, are worthwhile stops on your next visit to the city.
St. Augustine Church — which was saved from closing in 2006 — received $75,000 for repairs to its parish hall’s sealtab-shingle roof, and the St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center was given $80,000 to restore the 1891 front portico of the church building.
Mass is offered at St. Augustine Church at 10 a.m. Sundays. No Masses are said at the cultural center, a former New Orleans church.
In the photos are the Tomb of the Unknown Slave (top), which is part of the St. Augustine Church grounds. St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center (below).
Why to go: These Catholic landmarks represent two sides of the Church’s history in New Orleans.
St. Augustine Church, in the Treme neighborhood, was dedicated in 1842, as a church of the free black citizens of New Orleans, but welcomed both free and slave worshippers. The church was designed by J. N. B. de Pouilly’s, who also designed New Orleans’s St. Louis Cathedral. The parish is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. The monument features a fallen cross made from a marine chain, each link weighing about 45 pounds. Simple crosses, chains and shackles, along with a memorial plaque, complete the memorial honoring nameless slaves buried on the church grounds and elsewhere throughout the U.S.
St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, the girlhood parish of author Anne Rice, closed in 1979 and slowly deteriorated until a group of New Orleans residents convinced the Archdiocese of New Orleans to lease them the property in 1991. Consecrated in 1858, St. Alphonsus was originally built in 1855 by the Redemptorist Fathers to serve Irish immigrants. It boasts one of the largest collections of frescos crafted by Italian artist Domenico Canova in the world, contains stained-glass windows from Germany installed in 1888, and “from an artistic point of view, the building is priceless,” said Michael M. Davis, a center board member.
Access: There are some low stairs to manuever.
Admission: St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
St. Augustine Church is an active parish, so it might be worth a call to arrange for a tour or to be sure it’s open for a visit.
(Grand) Kid friendly: At both sites, children are welcome to visit.
Info: Address: St. Augustine Church, 1210 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans, LA 70116. Phone: 504/525-5934. Web: www.staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org
Address: St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center, 2025 Constance St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Phone: 504/524-8116. Web: www.stalphonsusneworleans.org

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

National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - Chicago, Illinois

(Photos by Karen Calloway/Catholic New World)

Destination: After a decade-long closure, the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini reopened last October. Italian-born Mother Cabrini became a U.S. citizen in 1909. Her canonization was marked by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and thousands of others at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1946.
Mass is offered in the shrine chapel at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Why to go: Mother Cabrini, the universal patron saint of immigrants, worked tirelessly to help settle Italian immigrants to the U.S., and especially to Chicago, in the early part of the 20th century. The shrine includes a museum that tells the story of her life and work, built around the preserved room in which she died. The 1955 chapel also has been preserved and its frescoes, statues, lighting and acoustics enhanced. Four alcoves allow for individual prayer. Outside, there is a new gated garden.
Be sure to download the Shrine Tour Guide from the website before you go. It provides details about the individual elements of the shrine.
In the photo, a visitor to the shrine prays at Mother Cabrini’s preserved bedroom.
Special events: This month, the shrine will host its first movie night. At 7 p.m., Jan. 25, “The Way” will be screened and viewers can take part in a discussion afterward. Reservations are required; for information send email to SFXCabrini@mssh.onmicrosoft.com.
Access: There is limited parking in a garage at 460 W. Deming Place. You’ll need to pull up to a pedestal at the garage entrance and buzz for admission; if spaces are open, you can park there.
Admission: Donations to support the shrine are always appreciated. The museum is closed on Monday, but is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Yes, but because there are many people visiting the shrine to pray, this is a place for the kids to visit quietly.
Info: Address: National Shrine of St. Frances  Xavier Cabrini, 2520 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 Phone: 773/360-5115.  Web: http://cabrinishrinechicago.com

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

Saint Louis Art Museum - St. Louis, Missouri

(Photo provided/ Saint Louis Art Museum)

Destination: To see an exhibit of religious art by Federico Barocci (ca. 1533–1612), you might want to take a short trip on “Route 66” to see the St. Louis Art Museum. Barocci was a devout Catholic from Urbino in northeastern Italy, also the birthplace of the painter Raphael.
Mass options are many in the area. Check www.masstimes.org to find a church near your motel or hotel.
Why to go: “Our exhibition has the largest collection of Barocci drawings and paintings ever brought together in the Western Hemisphere,” says Matthew Hathaway of the museum staff. “Virtually the entire exhibition is religious art, with much of it coming from the Vatican and from churches in and around Barocci’s home town of Urbino.
“The artist is regarded as revolutionary in his treatment of many standard, religious scenes. And art historians — including our European art curator, Barocci expert Dr. Judith Mann — consider him to be the archetypical counter-reformation artist,” Hathaway adds.
Access: Handicapped-accessible parking is available in the public lots near the main entrance to the museum.
Admission: The museum is free. The museum will be closed on Christmas, but open New Year’s Day.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Absolutely; the museum hosts family tours every Sunday.
Info: Address: Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: 314/655-5493.  Web: www.slam.org

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

Editor's note: This exhibit closed in 2013. Check the museum website to see if other religious exhibits are planned.We have removed ticket prices and information about the exhibit.

Museum of Biblical Art - New York, New York

(Photo provided)

Destination: If you plan a trip to New York, add the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBiA) to your list of stops. Its collection of Bibles, on loan from the American Bible Society, includes some of the earliest printed Bibles in existence, as well as Bibles in many languages.
Mass options are many. The museum is on Broadway, just over a mile from St. Patrick’s Cathedral (www.saintpatrickscathedral.org), but it’s even closer (a few blocks) from St. Paul the Apostle Church (www.stpaultheapostle.org) near Fordham University.
Why to go:  Open until Jan. 20, 2013, is “Louis C. Tiffany and the Art of Devotion.” Tiffany and his artists designed wall decorations, mosaic floors — even vestments — for Catholic and Protestant churches and Jewish synagogues for nearly half a century. Leaded-glass windows of the type most often associated with Tiffany, as well as archival photographs and work in other media will be displayed.
Another exhibit open until Jan. 20 will feature Bibles of the “Gilded Age.”
Access: The MOBiA website gives you lots of options, including nearby parking. MOBiA can handle wheelchairs and umbrella-type, fold-up strollers.
Admission: Free. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, except Thursday when closing is  at 8 p.m.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  In a word, yes. The museum  is called “visitor friendly” by the Guides Association of New York City, and regularly hosts school and community events.
Info: Address: Museum of Biblical Art, 1865 Broadway at 61st St., New York, NY 10023-7505  Phone: 212/408-1500. Web: http://mobia.org

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

Editor's note: The museum asked us to remove illustrations of the art that was part of the Tiffany exhibition, but we left the descriptions. We encourage you to check the museum website for special exhibits when you plan your trip.