Top 5 Catholic pilgrimage sites in the USA

 The fall foliage is coming, so it's road trip time!

Why not plan a pilgrimage to somewhere holy?

Here are the top 5 Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States;

where ALL are welcome.  

#5 The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa is the world's-largest grotto; designed and hand-crafted by a priest. As a spelunking-seminarian, he became critically-ill with pneumonia. He asked the Mother of God to intercede for his health. In return, he vowed to build a shrine in thanksgiving. The illness passed, allowing him to complete his studies. Meanwhile, he stockpiled unusual fossils, rocks and precious stones. Once assigned to West Bend as Pastor in 1898, he took up his trowel and the rest is history. For over 40 years, Pastor and Father Paul Dobberstein lovingly-shaped petrified wood, malachite, azurite, geodes, jasper, quartz, topaz, calcite, stalactites and stalagmites into his miraculous Grotto. Over time, others joined his labor of love. Soon mini-grottos materialized within the structure portraying Christ's life in stone. Listed in the National-Registry of Historic-Places, over 100,000 tourists visit annually to experience the immense faith, hope and love that stirred the heart, mind and soul of Father Paul Dobberstein. Fr Paul passed in 2002; his remains rest in the West Bend cemetery.  

#4 The Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama is a reclaimed-rock quarry, home to the loving-labors of Brother Joseph Zoettl, OSB. In 1892, he came to the newly-founded St. Bernard Abbey, where his life was spent shoveling coal into furnaces and in prayer. Meanwhile, Brother Joe crafted 125 models of holy sites using broken plates, costume jewelry, ceramic tile, beads, marbles, seashells, broken pipes etc. While he had visited 6 of the sites personally, the other models came from photos, postcards and imagination. Originally from Bavaria-Germany, this consecrated-youth pursued his monastic life at Alabama's only Benedictine Abbey. Since 1934, tourists have wandered his abbey-quarry, now a 4-acre park and grotto of places graced by the saints. From Montserrat and Lourdes to St. Peter's Basilica, guests can meditate their way around the world while visiting this National Registry of Historic Places. Many of his models show the Via Dolorosa toward Calvary, intended to magnify the passion of our Redeemer. Brother Joseph died in 1961 and is buried onsite with his fellow monks in the nearby Abbey Cemetery. 
 
#3 The St. Anthony Chapel in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, houses the largest collection of relics outside the Vatican. Belgian physician and priest, Father Suitbert Mollinger, was from a wealthy family. He donated his spare time, money and travels to collect over 5000 artifacts from apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, widows and saintly penitents, as well a particle of the True Cross. In 1865, he arrived in Pittsburgh to establish mission parishes. Due to his medical training and strong faith, he believed in miraculous healings. In addition to his duties, he would care for the physical needs of 100-150 patients a day. He would celebrate annual healing-services which attracted 10-15,000 pilgrims over time. As reliquary-sole owner, this humble priest was responsible for the shrine's design and construction. His goal was to harness the power of the Church Triumphant to convert and heal the Church Militant. 

#2 Sanctuario de Chimay, north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1810 a wooden cross was found on a hill near a village in northern New Mexico. After healings began to occur, the Pueblo Indians believed the hill was sacred. As pilgrims came to pray before the miraculous cross and seek healing, a chapel was built. Today, the miracles have attracted >300,000 pilgrims annually resulting in its nickname, tje "Lourdes of America." The Shrine of Chimayo is among the favorite annual pilgrimage destinations in the USA. Increasing numbers of youth, young-adult, parish and school-groups include the Chimayo shrine as part of their spiritual formation. 

#1 The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion Wisconsin is the 1st and only approved-shrine site in US. In 1859, the consecrated-Adele Brice witnessed a lady in white 3-times while walking to church. None of her companions saw this floating lady. After consulting a priest, she was told to ask the lady what she wanted. Finally, she asked the lady who identified herself thusly, "I am the Queen of Heaven." Her message was to "gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.” Adele was confused since she could neither read nor write. "But how shall I teach them, when I know so little myself?” Her radiant visitor replied, “teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish of you. Go and fear nothing, I will help you.” Unsure of herself, Adele went door-to-door to teach the faith, even offering free maid service in return for access to homes and catechism. Over time, her companions grew and began a formal school with a chapel built onsite. Many unexplained healings occurred. On October 8, 1871, the Great Peshtigo Fire broke out killing 1200-2400 people and burning 1.2 million acres. Due to high-winds and dry-grounds, the firestorm roared like a tornado toward the shrine. Desperate for their lives, people fled to the chapel where Adele and her companions prayed for Mother Mary’s intercession. Lifting her statue, they processed around the sanctuary, praying rosaries and singing hymns. When the smoke threatened suffocation, they turned in other directions to breathe. Although the fire charred the Shrine’s outer fence, the grounds were unharmed. The only surviving livestock were those led to the chapel. While many wells in the area went dry, the chapel’s well gave cattle enough water to survive the heat. Annually, survivor's descendants gather to celebrate the miracle on its October 8th anniversary. The vigil draws thousands nationally, who join in all-night prayer into October 9: the anniversary of Mary’s last appearance to Sister Adele. After a formal investigation in 2009-2010, Bishop David Richen from the Diocese of Green Bay approved the apparition site. Supported by the USCCB, this national shrine has a humble oratory, museum, rosary walk, and meeting center. All radiate overwhelming tranquility and peace, especially Adele's grave, showing us that God's grace does not need fanfare to change the world.

Canon 1234. Pilgrimages and shrines supply a means to salvation. They offer abundances of graces to the faithful, in various ways.

• A diligent proclamation of the word of God 
• The suitable promotion of liturgical-life: especially through celebration of the Eucharist and Penance
• The cultivation of approved-forms of popular-piety. 

Safe travels and God-speed!

Mother Mary, pray for us

Jesus, we trust in You!

Source:

Top 5-Catholic Pilgrimage Sites in the US | Catholic Places To Visit - YouTube