St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States

By Mercedes Shirts

For centuries humanity has made pilgrimages to divine landmarks and churches, searching for healing, answers to prayers and spiritual nourishment. As summer approaches and the travel bug spreads, consider adding one of these ten domestic pilgrimages to your summer bucket list!

1) San Antonio Missions, San Antonio, Texas

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the San Antonio Missions were originally founded by the Franciscans. The San Antonio Mission Trail along the San Antonio river invites pilgrims to spend a day biking their way to each unique mission.

2) National Shrine of Our Lady of la Leche, St. Augustine, Florida

Our Lady of la Leche Shrine is the oldest shrine in the United States. Pilgrims flock there each year, often seeking healing from infertility or pregnancy complications.

3) Chapel on the Rock, Camp St. Malo, Allenspark, Colorado

During World Youth Day in 1993, St. John Paul II visited St. Malo for personal prayer time and a hike along timber trails. Reflecting the rugged Colorado landscape and nestled upon a boulder, Chapel on the Rock inspires pilgrims to ponder God’s divine creation.

4) California Missions, California

Spanning about 800 miles from start to finish, making a walking pilgrimage to the 21 missions along the California Historic Mission Trail isn’t for the faint of heart, but the journey is sure to offer spiritual sustenance.

5) Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore, Maryland

Known as America’s First Cathedral, this basilica is an active parish, offering perpetual adoration in their Pope Saint John Paul II Chapel. Pilgrims often contemplate Mary’s heart in the Pope Saint John Paul II Garden. The focal point is a stunning mural of flowers associated with the Blessed Virgin.

6) The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, MD

The Seton Shrine will be launching a brand new museum on the life and legacy of Mother Seton, America’s first canonized saint, which is slated to open this fall! It’s also the only Shrine in the country that has a robust living history program with historical interpreters.

7) National Grotto of Lourdes, Emmitsburg, MD

Literally five miles away from the Seton Shrine is “the Grotto,” a replica of the Lourdes shrine in France. This haven in the mountains isn’t quite hidden: a 25 foot golden statue of the Blessed Mother is poised on top of the mountain welcoming all.

8) The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, Oklahoma City

We’ve been waiting for this one to open for years! The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine opened this past February, honoring America’s first martyr (who also visited the Grotto of Lourdes in Emmitsburg!). The architectural design is kind of a blend between the traditional Roman style, but it also has the beautiful blends of the Spanish colonial style that you would see commonly in Mexico or Central America where Rother served.

9) El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico

The Chimayo is a small shrine located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. For generations, American Indians, Hispanics, and other people of faith have traveled to the site of El Santuario to ask for healing for themselves and others, and to offer prayers of petition and of thanksgiving for favors received. Following a long tradition of miraculous shrines, El Santuario is now one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage centers in the United States

10) The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, New Franken, Wisconsin

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help is the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the United States. To this day, Champion Shrine continues to be a place of refuge and peace for thousands of pilgrims who travel here to pray for help and healing through the intercession of Our Lady of Good Help.