Catholic Shrines, Pilgrimage Sites & Places of Interest in the United States

 

Although the United States is a fairly young country compared to many others, it abounds with Catholic shrines and places of interest to Catholics. The history of the Catholic Church in the U.S.A. has not always been an easy one. Although many who settled here came for religious freedom, this did not always apply to Catholics. In fact, as immigrants from such countries as Ireland and Italy (with largely Catholic populations) came in the late 19th Century, anti-Catholicism arose in certain parts of the country, stoked on by such groups as the Ku Klux Klan and some Protestant pastors. Church-burnings and intimidation took place, and many newspaper cartoons portrayed Catholics as agents of the devil.

The Irish, for example, they were branded as shiftless drunkards and advertisements were known to include the words “No Irish Need Apply“.  The Italian, Czechs and Polish were also greeted with hostility.

 

Despite these obstacles, Catholicism grew in the country and today it accounts for roughly 25% of the population.

Almost every state has something to appeal to Catholic vacationers and pilgrims alike. If you are traveling and looking for a place to visit or attend Mass then check one of these out. In addition many of the shrines offer pilgrimages and retreats.

Have missed your favorite?   Email us and we will add it.

Alabama

     Cullman: Ave Maria Grotto and St. Bernard Abbey

     Birmingham:  Cathedral of Saint Paul and St. Stephen the Martyr Chapel

     Fort Mitchell:  Blessed Trinity Retreat Center

     Irondale and Hanceville: EWTN Studios and Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

     Mobile:  Churches & shrines

Alaska

     Juneau: Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux

Arizona

     Grand Canyon Park: El Cristo Rey Chapel

     Hereford: Shrine of Our Lady of the Sierras

     Mesa: Saint Peregrine Cancer Shrine

     Phoenix:  Saint Joseph Maronite Church & Shrine of Saint Charbel

     Scottsdale: Franciscan Renewal Center “Casa de Paz y Bien”

     Sedona: Chapel of the Holy Cross

     Sonoita:  Santa Rita Abbey & Retreat House

     Tonopah:  Our Lady of Solitude Monastery (Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration)

     Tucson: Mission San Xavier del Bac; Mary Undoer of Knots Byzantine Catholic Shrine;  Shrine of Saint Gianna;

     Yarnell:  Shrine of Saint Joseph of the Mountains

Arkansas

     Dardendale:  Ol’ Shalom Ranch /retreat center

     New Blaine: Hesychia House of Prayer

     Subiaco:  Subiaco Abbey

California  

     Beverly Hills:  Church of the Good Shepherd

     Big Sur:   New Camaldoli Hermitage

     Carmel: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission Basilica

     Fresno: Shrine of Saint Terese

     Garden Grove (Los Angeles area): Christ Cathedral & Our Lady of La Vang Shrine)

     La Jolla: Infant Jesus of Prague Shrine in Mary Star of the Sea Church

     Sacramento:  National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament

     San Diego: Basilica Mission San Diego de Alcala

     San Francisco: Many Shrines and Places of Interest

     Santa Ana: Heart of Jesus Retreat Center

     Santa Barbara:  Santa Barbara Mission

     Santa Clara: Shrines and Monastery

     Santa Cruz: Shrine of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer

     Silverado:  Saint Michael’s Abbey

    Statewide: The Spanish Missions

    Tehachapi: The Bethlehem Priory of Saint Joseph (Norbertine Monastery)

    Valyermo:  Saint Andrew’s Benedictine Monastery

Colorado

     Denver:  Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception & tomb of Servant of God Julia Greeley

     Golden: Mother Cabrini Shrine

     San Luis:  Stations of the Cross Shrine

     Snowmass: Saint Benedict’s Abbey

     Virginia Dale: The Abbey of Saint Walburga

Connecticut

     Litchfield: The Lourdes in Litchfield

     New Haven: Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly The Knights of Columbus Museum)

     New Haven: Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague

     Stamford:  Villa Maria Guadalupe Retreats

     Waterbury: Shrine of Saint Anne for Mothers

District of Columbia

     Washington: Click here for the many shrines & places of interest in Washington, D.C.

Florida

     Fort Lauderdale:  Churches near the cruise port of Fort Lauderdale

     Key West: Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea

     Miami: Click here for many Shrines & Places of Interest in Miami

     Orlando:  Click here for many Shrines & Places of Interest in Orlando

     Saint Augustine: Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

     Sarasota:  Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church (First class relic of St. Padre Pio)

     Tampa:  Our Lady Help of Christians Center

     The Florida Keys:  St. Mary Star of the Sea, Underwater statue of Christ of the Chasm

Georgia

     Atlanta: Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

     Conyers: Monastery of the Holy Spirit

     Macon:  Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Guam

     Agana:  Catholic Churches in Guam

Hawaii

     Lahaina, Maui, Molokai, Oahu: Catholic shrines and places of interest

 Idaho

     Coeur d’Alene: Cataldo Mission State Park

Illinois

     Belleville: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

     Berwyn (Chicago area): St Odilo Catholic Church & National Shrine of Souls in Purgatory

     Chicago: Many Catholic shrines and places of interest in Chicago

     Darien: National Shrine of Saint Therese

     Des Plaines (Chicago area): Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

     El Paso:  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Spiritual Centre

     Marytown: National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe

     Morton Grove: Shrine of All Saints (over 1500 relics)

     Peoria:  Tomb of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen & Museum of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

     Quincy: Grave of Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton

     Teutopolis:  Saint Francis of Assisi Church

 Indiana

Greensburg:  Edelweiss House Retreat Center and Farm

     Huntington: Saint Felix Retreat Center

     Saint John: The Shrine of Christ’s Passion

     Saint Mary’s: Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

    Saint Meinrad:  Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Monte Cassino Shrine

     Terre Haute:  Carmelite Monastery

Iowa

     Dubuque:  Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey

     Dyersville: Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier

     Sioux City:  Trinity Heights Queen of Peace Shrine

     West Bend: The Grotto of the Redemption

    West Burlington:  Our Lady of Grace Grotto

Kansas

     Mound City: Shrine of Saint Philippine Duchesne

     Victoria:  Basilica of Saint Fidelis…..”the Cathedral of the plains”

      Wichita:  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception & tomb of Emil Capaun.

Kentucky

     Covington:  Basilica Cathedral of the Assumption

     Nazareth: Nazareth Retreat House

      Trappist:  Abbey of Gethsemani

Louisiana

     Convent: Manresa House of Retreat

     Grand Coteau: Shrine of Saint John Berchmans

     Lake Charles:  Several Catholic places of interest

     Metairie:  National Shrine of Saint Ann

     New Orleans: Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest

     Opelousas:  Ave Maria Shrine, Orphan Train Museum

     Shreveport:  The Museum of the Holy Shroud at the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans

Maine

     Kennebunkport: Saint Anthony Franciscan Monastery

Maryland

     Baltimore: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption; St Jude Shrine, Nat Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori

     Ellicott City: Shrine of Saint Anthony

     Emmitsburg: National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes; National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Massachusetts

     Attleboro: National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette

     Boston: Several shrines & places of interest

     Chicopee: Saint Stanislaus Basilica

     Cape Cod Area: Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard

     Easton: Father Peyton Memorial 

     Fall River:  Saint Anne’s Shrine

     Fiskdale (Sturbridge):  Saint Anne Shrine

     Salem:  Saint John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy

     Spencer:  Saint Joseph’s Trappist Abbey

     Still River: Saint Benedict Abbey

     Stockbridge: National Shrine of Divine Mercy

Michigan

     Detroit: Shrine of Blessed Solanus Casey, Old Saint Mary’s Church, Mother of Divine Mercy Parish: St. Josaphat Church & Sweetest Heart of Mary Church

     Grand Rapids:  Basilica of Saint Adalbert

     L’Anse: Shrine of (Venerable) Bishop Baraga (“The Snowshoe Priest”)

     Indian River: The National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods

     Marquette:  St. Peter Cathedral & Tomb of Ven. Bishop Baraga

     Royal Oak: National Basilica Shrine of the Little Flower

     Washington: Capuchin Retreat Center

Minnesota

     Cold Spring: Assumption Chapel

     Minneapolis:  Basilica of Saint Mary

     New Prague:  Shrine to Blessed Karl of Austria

     New Ulm:  Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

     Saint Paul:  Cathedral & National Shrine of Saint Paul

     Onamia: National Shrine of Saint Odilia

Missouri  

     Branson: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church

     Clyde: Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Monastery

     Eureka: The Black Madonna Shrine

     Florissant: Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine

     Gower:  Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus

     Laurie: National Shrine of Mary, Mother of The Church

     Perryville:  National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal

     Saint Charles: Shrine of Saint Philippine Duchesne

     Saint Louis:   Cathedrals, shrines and Basilca

      Saint Patrick:  Shrine of Saint Patrick

     Starkenburg: Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows

Montana

     Butte: Our Lady of the Rockies

     Stevensville: Saint Mary’s Mission and Museum

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Nebraska

     Gretna: Shrine of the Holy Family

     Gretna:  The Cloisters on the Platte

     Omaha: Cathedral of Saint Cecilia

     Schuyler:  Saint Benedict Retreat Center

    Waverly: Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House (Diocese of Lincoln);        Knights of the Holy Eucharist (founded by Mother Angelica)

Nevada

     Las Vegas: Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer

     Reno: Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral

New Hampshire

     Colebrook: National Shrine of Our Lady of Grace

New Jersey

     Clifton:  Holy Face Monastery

Elizabeth:  Saint Walburga Monastery and Retreat Center

     Landisville:  Shrine of Saint Padre Pio

     Newark: National Shrine of Saint Gerard

     Summit: Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary

     Washington: Blue Army National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

New Mexico

     Abiquiu: Monastery of Christ in the Desert

     Albuquerque: Many old churches plus the Shrine of Saint Bernadette

     Chimayo: El Santuario de Chimayo & Shrine of Santo Nino de Achoa

     La Laguna:  Laguna, New Mexico: Saint Joseph of Laguna Mission

     Mescalero: Saint Joseph’s Apache Mission

     Santa Fe: Many places of interest

New York State

     Auriesville: Shrine of the North American Martyrs

     Buffalo: Two national shines and more

     Edmeston: Rosa Mystica House of Prayer & Retreat Center

     Fonda: National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine

     Manorville (Long Island):  Shrine of Our Lady of the Island

    Middletown:  National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

     New York City: Many sites of interest listed 

     Piffard (Finger Lakes area):  Abbey of the Genesee

     Stony Point: Salesian National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians

     Syracuse: Shrine of Saint of Marianne Cope

North Carolina

     Asheville:  Basilica of Saint Lawrence

     Raleigh:  Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

Ohio

     Bellevue:  The Sorrowful Mother Shrine 

     Bloomingdale: Catholic Family Land

Burton:  Christ the Bridegroom Monastery & Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch

     Canton: Rhoda Wise House and Grotto

     Carey: Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation

     Cincinnati:    Holy Cross Immaculata; Saint Anthony Shrine & Friary; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center

Cleveland:    Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist; Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Chapel; St Elizabeth of Hungary Shrine

     Columbus:  Jubilee Museum; Shrine of Blessed Margaret of Castello, O.P

     Euclid:  National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

     Maria Stein: Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics & Spiritual Center of Maria Stein

     Marietta:  Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption

     Massillon: National Shrine of Saint Dymphna

    Mogadore:  Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto (life size replica of the Lourdes Grotto)

     North Jackson: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon

     Toledo:  Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral

     Windsor:  Servants of Mary Center for Peace

Oklahoma

     Hulbert:  Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey

     Oklahoma City:  Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine

     Prague: National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague

Oregon

     Portland: National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

     Saint Benedict: Mount Angel Abbey

     Weston:  Duchovny Dom Byzantine Catholic Mens Monastery

Pennsylvania

     Barto: National Centre for Padre Pio

     Doylestown: National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

     Kulpmont: Saint Pauline Spirituality Center

     Philadelphia: Many places of interest

     Pittsburgh: Five Shrines and places of interest 

     Uniontown: Mount Saint Macrina

     Warminster: Shrine of Saint Gianna

Puerto Rico

     San Juan: Major Catholic Churches in San Juan

Rhode Island

     Nasonville: First Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux

     Portsmouth: Portsmouth Abbey Monastery and School

South Carolina

     Charleston: Church of St. Mary of the Annunciation & cruise port     Saint Ann Catholic Church

     Greenville:  Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church (Romanesque & Mission style church)

      Moncks Corner:  Mepkin Abbey (Trappist Monastery)

South Dakota

     Alexandria:  Fatima Family Shrine & Our Lady of Mercy Carmelite Monastery

     Irene: Broom Tree Retreat & Conference Center (Diocese of Sioux Falls)

     Rapid City:  Saint Martin Monastery

     Sioux Falls: Saint Joseph’s Cathedral

     Yankton: The House of Mary Shrine

Tennessee

     Gatlinburg: St Mary Church at Great Smoky Mountains Natl Park

     Knoxville:  Sacred Heart Cathedral:  Beatiful new Cathedral built in the traditional style

     Memphis:  Saint Martin de Porres National Shrine & Institute

     New Hope: Shrine of Our Lady Virgin of the Poor

Texas

     Corpus Christi (South Texas):  Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center

     Cristoval (central Texas): Mount Carmel Hermitage

     Dallas/Fort Worth (North Texas): Cathedral Shrines & Retreat Centers

     Galveston (South Texas Gulf coast):  Near Houston, popular cruise port and historical churches

     Grand Prairie (Dallas area):  Nazareth Retreat Center

     Hill Country (central Texas): Painted Churches of Texas

     Houston Area (Southeast Texas):    Includes Dickinson, Friendswood, Houston

      Kerens (North Texas):  Benedictine Monastery of Thien Tam

     New Braunfels (central Texas): Mission of Divine Mercy

     Panna Maria (central Texas): First Polish Catholic Church in the U.S.

     Rockport (South Texas Gulf coast): Schoenstatt Center Lamar

     Round Top (Central Texas): St Martin Church….the smallest Catholic Church in the world.

     San Antonio (Central Texas): The Missions (incl the Alamo); Shrine of the Little Flower; Padre Pio Shrine & many others

     San Juan (South Texas): Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de Valle National Shrine

     Taft (South Texas Gulf coast):  Immaculate Conception Church (relic of Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio)

     Tyler:  (East Texas):  Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul

Utah

     Salt Lake City:  Cathedral of the Madeleine  (under the auspices of St Mary Magdalene)

U. S. Virgin Islands

     Saint Thomas: Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Vermont

     Isle de la Motte: Shrine of Saint Anne

     Jamaica: Our Lady of Ephesus House of Prayer

Virginia

     Arlington:  Basilica of Saint Mary

     Fredericksburg:  Saint Jude Catholic Church (relics of the 12 apostles)

     Roanoke:  Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church

     Williamsburg: National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

Washington State

     Olympia: Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

     Seattle:  Catholic churches near the cruise ports

West Virginia

Charleston:  Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

      Wheeling:  Churches and places of interest

Wisconsin

      Briggsville:  National Shrine of Saint Philomena

     Hubertus: Basilica Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill

     La Crosse: Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine

     Milwaukee: Many sites of interest

     Champion (Green Bay Area): National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion  (Formerly Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help)

     Peshtigo: Miraculous saving of a Tabernacle and Host

     Rudolph: Rudolph Grotto Gardens

     Saint Nazianz:  Holy Resurrection Monastery

Wyoming

     Cody: Yellowstone National Park

     Grand Teton: Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Pine Bluffs:  Statue of Our Lady of Peace

 

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