During a semester studying abroad in Europe, my roommate and I were reminiscing on our experiences visiting the many Saints’ tombs and shrines we encountered throughout the continent. Marveling at how each one seemed to speak directly to our own hearts, we wondered why the United States did not have as many sites. We resolved to return home, live holy lives, and help make our country richer in pilgrimage destinations. Little did we know, the U.S. already boasts an abundance of pilgrimage sites.
Pilgrimage Sites Throughout the Midwest
This post, the third in our series, focuses on the twelve states of the Midwest, in line with the spiritual transformation inspired by the Jubilee Year.
Illinois
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows // Operated by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the outdoor shrine is one of North America’s largest. Attracting over a million visitors each year, this vast 200-acre site features spiritual gardens, a visitor center, a museum, a playground, a Lourdes Grotto, an amphitheater, and more. Pilgrims can also visit the shrine church, mothers’ prayer walk, and fathers’ memorial wall.
The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe // Run by the Conventual Franciscan Friars, the shrine spans fifteen acres and includes a retreat house, conference center, and Holocaust exhibit; relics of Saint Maximilian; and several outdoor shrines. The shrine is home to a sanctuary of perpetual Adoration, ongoing since 1928, and the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Pilgrims can explore the grounds, including the Marytown Gift Shop and Bookstore, while learning about the legacy of the martyr.
Indiana
Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin // In the backwoods of Indiana, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the the Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary of the Woods College. The shrine includes a museum with original artifacts, including the foundress’ writing desk, chaplet, prayer book, shoes, and more. In the small chapel room located in the back of the shrine, visitors can view Saint Mother Theodore’s final resting place and pray.
Iowa
Saint Anthony’s Chapel and Grotto // Built by Father Paul Dobberstein over decades, it contains nine separate grottos depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The largest man-made grotto in the world, it was constructed from an amazing collection of precious stones, crystals, and petrified materials from around the world, valued at over $4.3 million. Locals call it “the eighth wonder of the world” and over 100,000 people visit each year.
Kansas
Saint Benedict’s Abbey // Home to monks who established Benedictine College in 1858 to educate the sons of German settlers, the monks offer daily public prayers, a guesthouse for retreats, and tours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings by request. Seasonal events, such as processions and the Abbot’s Table, are also open to the public.
Michigan
National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica // Two weeks after the parish opened, the Ku Klux Klan responded by burning a cross in front of the church. In a courageous response, the parish erected the 104-foot "Charity Crucifixion Tower," crowned with a 28-foot figure of Christ on the Cross—a symbol of a "cross they could not burn." Today, the shrine attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe and is renowned for its striking Art Deco design.
The Solanus Casey Center // Run by the Capuchin Friars of Detroit, the Center is intended to be a place of pilgrimage, healing, reconciliation, and peace. The final resting place of Blessed Solanus (beatified in 2017), the Center has served as a spiritual oasis for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world each year.
Minnesota
Assumption Chapel // Locally known as the Grasshopper Chapel, it was constructed in gratitude to our Lady. When millions of invading Rocky Mountain grasshoppers destroyed a whole season of crops and afterward laid their eggs, the governor called for a day of prayer. Mary’s intercession delivered the people, as the grasshoppers were gone immediately. The original chapel was destroyed by a tornado, but the newest version remains built in the same scenic location.
Cathedral of Saint Paul // Close to two hundred years ago, this cathedral began as a humble log cabin and has grown to become the third largest Catholic cathedral and sixth largest in the United States. In 2009, it became the National Shrine of Saint Paul. Modeled in the neoclassical style, its copper-clad dome is a must-see.
Missouri
Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine // The oldest Catholic Church west of the Mississippi river lies in Florissant, Missouri. Founded in 1789, it was Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne’s home at two different points in her life. Currently, the shrine mostly operates as an event venue and museum, boasting a relic of Saint Valentine.
Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus // This pilgrimage site is growing in popularity due to the 2023 exhumation of their foundress, Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster. Her body appeared miraculously preserved, despite no embalming, and if confirmed incorrupt, she would be the first American and Black woman to be so. Pilgrims are welcome to visit her grave and join the sisters for Mass and prayers.
Nebraska
The Holy Family Shrine // Those who drive by not knowing what it is are drawn to this structure for the mystery of its beauty. Nestled in the wild countryside, this stunning sanctuary, with its unique glass chapel with criss-crossed beams to look like sheaves of wheat, provides a serene space for prayer.
North Dakota
Basilica of St. James // A prairie church to lift your spirits, it was constructed in 1889 as the first cathedral in the state. Because of this and its incredible romanesque architecture, it was elevated to the state of a minor Basilica one hundred years later. It remains a place of historical and spiritual significance for the state.
Ohio
National Shrine of St. Dymphna // In Saint Mary’s in Massillon, Ohio, lies a shrine to the patron saint of mental health. Humble, the shrine consists of a baptistry, a stained-glass window, and a statue of Saint Dymphna complete with spaces to light candles. Despite its modest size, the testimonies of those who have experienced relief from their sufferings after a visit are vast.
The Portiuncula Chapel // A replica of a church in Assisi restored by Saint Francis of Assisi is located near the entrance of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. The Vatican made it a permanent site for pilgrims to receive a plenary indulgence. The chapel offers 24-hour Adoration during the school year, and visitors can also pay respects at the Tomb of the Unborn Child, walk the Stations of the Cross, pray by a life-size Nativity scene (displayed year-round), or meditate in the Marian grotto.
South Dakota
The House of Mary Shrine // This shrine began as a “tithe” of sorts when a married couple set aside a portion of the land they purchased to give back to God. On a hill typical of all the state’s bluffs and overlooking a beautiful lake, pilgrims can walk the Way of the Cross and the Way of the Saints while enjoying panoramic views and witnessing wildlife all around them. The chapel, a Holy Innocents Garden, and a Veteran’s Memorial are also spots for prayer.
Wisconsin
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion // The site of the only approved Marian apparition to occur on U.S. soil, here our Lady appeared to Adele Brise, calling her to bring others to Christ—specifically children “in this wild country”—by teaching them how to approach the Sacraments. The shrine is open 365 days a year. Pilgrims can use the chapel, rosary walk, and grottos.
The Schoenstatt Shrine // The original Schoenstatt Shrine is home to the movement which sought to revitalize society in the spirit of the Gospel and by Mary’s example. In 1954 at Holy Cross Parish in Milwaukee (now St. Vincent Pallotti East Church) a replica was built by the movement’s founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, who moved to the city after his release from the Dachau concentration camp. Eucharistic Adoration is available daily.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe // Recommended for its transcendent beauty which elevates the soul to thoughts of the Divine, this 70-acre place of pilgrimage has a unique layout as envisioned by its founder Cardinal Raymond Burke. Whether stopping in the Pilgrim Center, the Shrine Church, the Memorial to the Unborn, the Votive Candle Chapel, or any of the many devotional areas, stunning visuals inspire reverence and awe in visitors. Opportunities for prayer and Sacraments are available.
More Pilgrimage Sites in the U.S.
Part one of our series includes pilgrimage sites in the southern region of the country, and part two includes the northeast corner.
Grace Bellon is a wife, mom, and high school theology teacher who has spent years walking with young people as they wrestle with faith, identity, and the ache for something more. She writes from the heart of a classroom, the hustle of family life, and the quiet corners where the Lord speaks most tenderly. She believes in miracles, mercy, and the delicate art of balancing home-cooked meals with takeout nights. Her sweetest joys are found in the company of one man who keeps her coffee cup full, her children who keep her laundry baskets fuller, and the Eucharist which fills her heart and soul.
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