Pilgrimages to Rome, the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, etc., are wonderful! But there are also countless extremely holy places right here within our own borders. A U.S. road trip pilgrimage can save you lots of time and money and be just as edifying as any pilgrimage. I have done many of these (and Regina and my honeymoon was one!), and have always intended to compile a list of my favorite stops. Here is that list I have long intended to compile! I have been to almost all of these places, and heartily recommend visiting each of them.
Some of these are great to visit any time, others would be better to visit during some sort of event they are hosting. Either way, be sure to check the website of a place before visiting; strange hours of operation are common.
Feel free to comment with your own suggestions of holy Catholic places in America truly worthy of a pilgrimage, that I don’t yet have on this list.
- New York
- The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville
- Our lady of Victory Basilica near Buffalo
- St. Patrick’s in NYC
- Massachusetts
- The National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge
- I am blessed to live 45 minutes away from this holy place and I feel I cannot go a month without being there. The stations of the cross are outdoor, life-size, and the most edifying I have ever come across.
- The National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge
- DC
- Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — largest Catholic Church in America
- Maryland
- Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Mt. St. Mary’s
- Illinois
- St. John Cantius Church, Chicago
- Perpetual Adoration at Marytown, plus St. Maximilian Kolbe Shrine
- Indiana
- Grotto at Notre Dame
- Alabama
- EWTN at Irondale
- This would be the studio from which much EWTN programming is broadcast. Tours of the studio occur daily. Go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and you can be in the live audience for Life on the Rock, Journey Home, or Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s show.
- Monastery at Hanceville
- Alleged apparitions of Mary at Conyers
- While I make no statement on the apparitions themselves, I can certainly vouch for the sense of serenity and peace at this site.
- EWTN at Irondale
- Florida
- Nation’s first parish at St. Augustine
- Our Lady of la Leche Shrine
- Ave Maria University
- Perpetual Adoration across from the main Church
- Wisconsin
- Our Lady of Good Help — first approved apparition in America near Green Bay, WI
- Holy Hill
- Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse
- Pennsylvania
- St. Anthony’s Chapel in Pittsburgh — largest collection of relics anywhere in the world outside the Vatican
- Ohio
- Franciscan University at Steubenville
- Perpetual Adoration in the Portiuncula
- Franciscan University at Steubenville
- New Mexico
- Chimeyo Shrine
- Miraculous Staircase at Santa Fe
Starting on page 55, this publication (http://www.officialcatholicdirectory.com/images/ocd_pdg09_10.pdf) has more information on several of those mentioned above
Honorable Mention:
Daniel O'Connor's Blog 