SHRINES, BASILICAS, CATHEDRALS, AND MUSEUMS

ILLINOIS

St. Therese Shrine – 8501 Bailey Road, Darien, IL   - (.5 from Minooka)  This shrine has a beautiful museum honoring the life of St. Therese of Lesieux,  along with a gift shop, and outdoor devotional areas.  The shrine church offers daily and weekend masses.  Not far down the road is the Carmelite Retreat Center and Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish.   Website:   Littleflower/org.national-shrine-and-museum-of-st-therese

St. Anne Parish – 230 N. 6th Avenue, St. Anne, IL  (1.25 hours from Minooka)
These two churches are hidden gems in rural Illinois, just south of Kankakee/Bourbonnais.  The town of St. Anne was founded by French-Canadian settlers who dedicated the town to the patronage of St. Anne, mother of our Blessed Mother and grandmother of Jesus.  For 145 years the town of St. Anne has had a celebration to commemorate the many physical and spiritual healings that have taken granted those praying to St. Anne during the Novena.  Activities that day include mass, rosary procession, food and vendors, special music. Website:  www.Stpatrickmomence.org/st-annes-catholic-church
St. Mary’s Catholic Church – 308 St. Charles Street, Beaverville, IL  (15 minutes from St. Anne)
Just down the road there is another special church that rises right up out of the fields in the middle of nowhere.  The French-Canadian settlers built this massive Romanesque church that has been called “Cathedral of the Cornfields.”  It is well worth the short extra drive to see this beautiful building that was built entirely by the hands of the original settlers.   Website:  www.Stmaryschurchbeaverville.com

National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe and Museum/Holocaust Exhibit at Marytown –  1600 W. Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL  (1-1/2 hrs from Minooka)  This national shrine and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament honors  St. Maximilian Kobe.  In addition to being the founder of the Militia Immaculata, he is most known for his martyrdom in Auschwitz in 1941 where he offered to take the place of a Jewish man (husband and father) who was condemned to die.  He is considered an Apostle of Mass Media, having been dedicated to using whatever means necessary to evangelize the entire world.   In addition to the museum,  you can attend mass or adoration, light a candle at the beautiful candelarium, walk the gardens and devotional areas,  Website:  Kolbeshrine.org

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum – Spalding Pastoral Center, 419 NE Madison Ave, Peoria
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception  - 607 NE Madison Avenue, Peoria  (2  hours from Minooka)   Archbishop Fulton Sheen grew up in and around Peoria but eventually become famous as a radio and TV personality in the second half of the 20th century.  He was a prolific author as well.  His life story is beautifully laid out in the museum, where you can explore on your own or have a personally-guided tour by one of the nuns who staff the museum. At the cathedral on the very next block, you can visit Sheen’s tomb and tour the beautiful cathedral as well.  
Website:  www.catholicpeoria.org/cathedral

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville, IL   (4 hours from Minooka) The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are the keepers of this beautiful shrine commemorating the miracle that took place on Esquiline Hill i  Rome in the 4th century, where Saint Mary Maggiore now stands.  In addition to the main shrine amphitheater, there are several chapels,a main church, a rosary court of mosaics, and devotional areas on 200 landscaped acres.  Allow plenty of time to visit the many places to pray in a peaceful setting.  Particularly noteworthy is a replica of the Lourdes Grotto and the Our Lady of Guadalupe  Hill.  For Christmas, the shrine grounds are lit up with the “Way of Lights” from mid-November until Epiphany.  

WISCONSIN

Our Lady of Champion (formerly Our Lady of Good Help) – 4047 Chapel Drive, New Franken, WI  (3.75 hrs from Minooka)  Probably the most important shrine in our area, this is the site of the first and only approved Marian apparition in the United States.  In 1859, Our Lady appeared to a young woman, telling her to “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they need to know for their salvation.”  As Adele carried out her mission of catechesis of the farm families, other women joined her mission. Eventually a church, convent and orphanage were constructed.  And then in 1871, “The Miracle of the Fire” occurred, when the nuns and children were spared from certain death from the Great Peshtigo Fire that burned 1.2 mil acres and killed over 1200 people.  Key dates for a visit would be the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15, anniversary of the Miracle of the Fire on Oct. 8/anniv of the apparition on Oct. 9th, as well as the annual “Walk to Mary” on the first Saturday of May.  But everyday of the year, this simple and secluded shrine is open and offers a more quiet place to worship and pray.   Website:  www.championshrine.org

Basilica of St. Josaphat / Pope John Paul II Visitors Center / Reliquary Chapel – 2333 South 6th Street, Milwaukee, WI (2 hours from Minooka)   Wisconsin’s first basilica & largest Polish parish in Milwaukee.  This magnificent basilica was designed as a smaller version of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The huge golden dome soars above the skyline of Milwaukee and can easily be seen from Interstate 94.  The story of its construction is fascinating as the building materials were salvaged from the razing of the Chicago Post Office, loaded on flatcars and shipped to Milwaukee.  Take the guided tour to hear all of the fascinating details of the history and construction. Then take another hour or two visiting the JP2 Center in the lower level, along with a massive reliquary chapel.    Website:  www.TheBasilica.org

Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians (Holy Hill)  – 1525 Carmel Road, Hubertus, WI  (2-1/2 hrs from Minooka)  This basilica stands atop a cone-shaped mountain in the Kettle Moraine area just north of Milwaukee.  The view from the top of the 190’ spire is breathtaking, especially during the peak of fall colors.  The 100-year-old church built in neo-Romanesque style is stunning.  There is an outdoor stations of the cross to walk, a chapel dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, and an exhibit of a replica of the Shroud of Turin, as well as gift shop and café.  The Arts and Crafts Fair on Sept. 20th is massive, with 210 exhibitors, along with food, entertainment, auctions and raffles.  Website: www.HolyHill.com

MISSOURI
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis – 4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO (30 minutes from Our Lady of the Snows) Besides being convenient to many other tourist attractions in St. Louis, this is well worth the visit to marvel at the impressive architecture and history.  Tours are available of the museum and architecture.  It is also the site of a 1999 visit by Pope John Paul II.   Website: www.cathedralstl.org

Black Madonna of Czestochowa Shrine & Grottos / Our Lady of Czestochowa Church – 100 St,. Josephs Hill Road, Pacific, MO – (45 minutes from St. Louis Cathedral) l This is a mostly outdoor site in the foothills of the Ozarks.  The unique display  of grottos and sculptures are made with concrete and native Missouri “tiff rock”.  It’s quiet and peaceful, far from any crowds, and the history of the construction is fascinating.  This shrine is an easy stop-off point on the drive to Branson and the Ozarks.  Website:  www.theblackmadonnashrine.org

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal / St. Mary’s of the Barrens Church – 1805 W. St. Joseph Street, Perryville, MO (5 hours from Minooka, 1-1/2 hours from St. Louis)  Dedicated  Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.”)  This relatively small shrine, nestled in the rolling hills of the Shawnee Nat’l Forest, is a national center for Marian devotion.  It has been recently upgraded to include a brand new one-mile Rosary Walk that includes stone grottos, bronze statues, flowing water, a Marian meditation walk, and a new candelarium, in addition to the church, visitor center and gift shop.  Free guided tours are also available.   Website:  www.AMM.orgg

INDIANA

Shrine of Christ’s Passion / St. John the Evangelist Church – 10630 Wicker Avenue, St. John, IN  (1 hour from Minooka)   A very new shrine, started in 2001, well worth the hour drive any time of the year.  The main attraction is a half-mile prayer walk depicting the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus with life-size bronze statues.  News journalist  Bill Kurtis narrates each station; somber music and the realistic landscaping make you feel as if you are right there with Jesus on the way of the cross.  The shrine has grown to include many shrines and devotional areas such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Moses at Sinai, the Family Plaza, Our Lady of the New Millenium statue, and Sanctity of Life garden.  Set aside extra time to watch a movie about the shrine’s creation and history, and you’ll need at least an hour for the massive gift shop.  Website:  www.shrineofchristspassion.org

Discalced Carmelite Fathers – 1628 Ridge Road, Munster, IN  (1hr from Minooka)  This monastery was established to serve the needs of the Polish population of northern Indiana.  There are many beautiful areas to visit, indoors and out.  The highlights include the Marian Grotto, the Stations of the Cross (of which the 14th Station, the Grotto of the Lord’s Tomb, deserves special attention), the monastery church (with the miraculous figure of Our Lady of Ludźmierz, Queen of the Polish Highlanders), the Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, and the Highlanders’ Chapel, among others. Nestled among the trees in the quiet of the garden are figures of Polish saints and others associated with Carmel: St. Therese of the Child Jesus (and St. Louis Martin, her father), St. Raphael Kalinowski, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and St. John Paul II.  The unique rock used in this shrine is similar to the Missouri ‘tiff rock’ used in the Missouri shrine of the Black Madonna.  
Website:  www.Carmelitefathers.com

Basilica of the Sacred Heart – University of Notre Dame – 101 Basilica Dr., Notre Dame, IN  (2.25 hrs from Minooka)  Any trip out to Notre Dame for a football game should include a mass and tour of this beautiful landmark of the university.  The current Basilica was built in 1870 in the Gothic Revival style.  It is quite massive, 275’ long and 114’ wide, with a bell tower soaring 218’ high and containing possibly the oldest carillon in North America.   Website:  www.basilica.nd.edu

	
FOR MORE RESOURCES:  www.thecatholictravelguide.com