Catholic Pilgrimage Destinations in the U.S.

In gathering spaces before and after mass, it’s common to find at least one posting for a pilgrimage abroad.  Italy and the Holy Land are common destinations for pilgrims, as is the El Camino de Santiago.

All of these destinations are on my bucket list.  However, as someone who often travels, I have found many sites within the United States very much worth seeing.  My family and I have deliberately visited a number of these sites, but there are also some sites which I stumbled across completely by accident.

Be that as it may, I would like to offer 5 places within the United Stated as destinations for a Catholic pilgrimage.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL

The first Catholic Mass in the continental United States took place in 1565, soon after Spanish sailors landed in Florida.  They founded both the city and parish of St. Augustine.  They named the city St. Augustine because they sighted land on the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo.

This parish is still thriving and holds mass in a basilica dating back to the 1700’s.   Built in the Spanish Mission style, the basilica is located in heart of St.  Augustine.

Numerous murals, triptychs, statues, and sculptures adorn the walls.  Looking up, one marvels at the breathtaking hand painted ceiling.  The stained-glass windows in the nave illustrate the life of Saint Augustine of Hippo and his Mother St. Monica.

Florida is known for its resorts along the Atlantic Ocean.  Be that as it may, a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine for mass or adoration would be a worthwhile visit for any traveler.

In addition, about 100 yards away from the basilica, one can visit the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was arrested for asking to be served in a whites only hotel restaurant in 1964.  A Hilton replaced the now demolished old hotel in 2003.  However, the steps where Dr. King was arrested are preserved and marked by a plaque.

Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, MI

In the Midwest United States, one may visit the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, in Royal Oak, MI, a few miles North of Detroit.

Named in honor of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux the current structure was built from 1931 through 1936.  Distinctive from the outside is the Charity Crucifixion Tower executed in an art deco style.

Inside, one finds an octagonal nave with the altar in the center.  Seating surrounds the altar on two levels.

The artwork blends traditional Catholic themes and symbols into a zig zag art deco style motif.  Numerous statues and murals ordain the basilica with small chapels located on the outside of the octagon.

Embedded on the artwork are commentaries which apply to the social climate of the 1930’s as well as today.  One chapel describes the need for capital and labor to collaborate peacefully – a commentary apropos for the Motor City.

Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, NM

In the Southwestern United States, not far from Santa Fe’s Plaza and market square is Loretto Chapel.  This gothic style chapel is beautiful in its own right.  However, the chapel is also the home of a very unique staircase.

Upon completion of the chapel in 1878, a problem revealed itself: there was no way to access the 22-foot-high choir loft.  And due to the small space remaining at this point in the project, no one would accept the bid to build a staircase.  So the Sisters of Loretto made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, asking for help.

On the final day of the novena a traveling carpenter new to Santa Fe took on the project.  He proceeded to build a truly remarkable spiral staircase without a center pillar or metal fasteners.

The wood the carpenter used was also a rare wood not native to the American Southwest.  And upon completion of the staircase the carpenter disappeared without accepting payment.  Some say the unknown carpenter was St. Joseph himself.

After more than 150 years, the staircase survives.  A railing was added later to make the tall climb with tapered stairs safer.

Santa Fe National Forest or the pueblos may be a common destination in New Mexico.  Be that as it may, the staircase in Loretto Chapel is a wonder worth seeing.

Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s hands touched many parts of the United States.  There are countless parishes named after her as well as shrines in Chicago, New York, and Burbank.  Although she is most well known for her ministries in New York, she also ministered to Italian immigrant miners in Colorado and other parts of the Southwestern United States.

On the West side of Denver, one can find the Mother Cabrini Shrine.  The site is rich in history.

Purchased by Mother Cabrini in 1910 as the site for a summer camp for residents of the Queen of Heaven Orphanage, three sisters of the Sacred Heart took charge of the grounds.  These sisters used the property as a small farm with poultry and other livestock in addition to looking after girls sent from the orphanage in the summer months.

But water was scarce on the property.  The small pond on the property often dried up.

When Mother Cabrini visited in 1912, she heard the grievances of the sisters regarding the lack of water.  She replied, “Lift that rock over there and start to dig. You will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash.”  The sisters did as she asked and found a freshwater spring that has never gone dry since.

The Mother Cabrini Shrine is a campus with a small museum, 2 chapels, meditation walk, outdoor stations of the cross, and several original buildings.  This sight is worth going to visit to escape the bustle of downtown Denver.

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

Washington, D.C., is the home of the largest Catholic church building in North America.  This grand structure is worth seeing if one is visiting the Nation’s Capital.

Construction on this magnificent church began in 1920.  It took 39 years to see the completion of the great upper church.  But even with that milestone complete, construction continued. The last major element, the installation of decorative Venetian glass in the Trinity Dome, completed construction in 2017.

The Grand Upper Church is awe inspiring.  As this church has no formal parishioners, attendees at mass are both national and international visitors.

Beneath the Grand Upper Church are over 80 chapels and oratories, with most dedicated to Mary, but also representing different ethnicities who have come to make the United States their home.

Deliberate Destinations

I doubt any of these destinations would show up on Tripadvisor as a site to see while traveling.  One must be deliberate to seek out such places.

Moreover, these are just five locations which I found inspiring.  Without a doubt, one can find many more Catholic destinations to see woven into the fabric of America.