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
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
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
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
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
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Email us with your suggestion and we will get right on it.
St. Andrew in Roanoke, Virginia should be on your list. I wonder why it isn’t
Dear John,
Thank you for your suggestion….we were not aware of this parish and its rich history. We will add a page to our site.
Please add St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi. It is a beautiful minor basilica and one of the oldest churches in the south.
Dear Rebecca,
Thank you for your suggestion, it is a beautiful Basilica. Unfortunately the Basilica is closed for renovation at the time. We will contact them to see how long that will be the case.
I believe that St Mary has now reopened.
Thanks for the comments…..Which St Mary’s?
Asheville NC has St Lawrence Basilica. Super beautiful place. You must add this site! Daily tours, Mass, Adoration.
Thanks so much for letting us know about this magnificent Basilica! We have added a page to our site that will offer more information.
Thank you for creating this list. It is a great tool to use while planning vacations!
Another shrine that you could add for South Dakota is the Fatima Family Shrine in Alexandria, SD. Also, there is a retreat center just outside of Irene, SD, called Broom Tree. It is a really neat place to visit, especially if you’re able to go at a time of year that you could walk around the grounds.
Thanks for telling us about this Shrine…we will add it to our website. And thanks for the compliments…we hope everyone will find it useful.
I didn’t see The Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima,in Younstown, NY nor St Anne’s Shrine in Fiskdale MA listed.
As far as the Fatima shrine is concerned it it is listed here, but their physical address is Lewiston, New York as shown on their own website.
We were not aware of the St.Anne Shrine….thanks for bringing it to our attention. We will get it listed as soon as possible.