Catholics looking for an excursion that doesn’t require an overnight stay — or plane ticket — might consider the following pilgrimage sites, all within a few hours’ drive from the Twin Cities.
• “Grasshopper Chapel.” In the summer of 1876, Rocky Mountain grasshoppers descended upon an area near St. Cloud, devastating crops in their wake. Because the grasshoppers laid eggs, the following year was worse. Benedictine Father Leo Winter urged his parishioners to pledge to Mary that they would build a chapel in honor of the Assumption and offer Masses there frequently for the next 15 years if she would intercede for them. That year, a small wood chapel was constructed, and a statue of the Madonna and Child was placed inside. The grasshopper plague ended. Although a tornado destroyed the original chapel in 1894, the statue remained intact. In 1951, Benedictine Father Victor Ronellenfitsch and community members of St. Boniface church in Cold Spring oversaw the building of a new chapel among towering trees. The chapel remains in the care of St. Boniface. State Highway 23 and Chapel Hill St., Cold Spring. 320-685-3280.
• Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A 1-mile meditation trail guides visitors along several devotional areas dedicated to saints. The shrine’s 70 acres include statues of St. Juan Diego, to whom Mary appeared in Mexico in the 16th century, and the Mother of the Unborn. The shrine church offers Mass, confession, eucharistic adoration, Stations of the Cross and the divine mercy chaplet, and has public venerations of relics after Masses. Pilgrims have the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence. Picnic tables are available April through October. 5250 Justin Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin. guadalupeshrine.org.
• Assisi Heights. Built in 1953 and situated on 100 acres, this landmark building is the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis, who founded St. Marys Hospital, now part of Mayo Clinic. Assisi Heights reflects the heritage of the Umbrian region of Italy, where St. Francis of Assisi lived. The grounds express the Franciscan respect for the environment. The ornate lobby has a slate floor, Italian marble columns and hand-blown stained glass windows from Germany. Tours are 2 p.m. most Mondays and Saturdays, and special group tours are available upon request. Preregistration is required at least one day in advance. Mass is held 11 a.m. Sunday through Thursday in Lourdes Chapel. 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester. rochesterfranciscan.org. Contact Sister Alice at 507-282-7441.
• Cathedral of St. Paul. Designated the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul, the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis — and Minnesota — offers guided tours 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday of the 102-year-old cathedral. Six shrines surrounding the sanctuary honor the national patron saints of many of the immigrants who settled in Minnesota in the 19th century: St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), St. John the Baptist (French Canadians), St. Patrick (Ireland), St. Boniface (Germany), Sts. Cyril and Methodius (Slavic nations), and St. Therese of Lisieux (protector of all missions). Paintings, frescoes and stained glass windows also depict Christ and saints.
The Cathedral Museum exhibits historic photographs, paintings, drawings and artifacts. 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. cathedralsaintpaul.org.
• Grotto of the Redemption. On the National Register of Historic Places and noted as the largest man-made grotto in the world, it claims to contain the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location. Nine stone grottos depicting scenes in Christ’s life offer quiet places for reflection. According to lore, after a seminarian contracted pneumonia, he prayed for healing through Mary’s intercession and promised to build a shrine in her honor if he lived. The man recovered, and after his ordination, Father Paul Dobberstein came to West Bend as a pastor in 1898. For over a decade, he collected rocks and precious stones for the grotto, which is believed to have been completed in the 1930s. Mass and confession are offered at nearby Sts. Peter and Paul in West Bend and St. Mary in Mallard. 208 First Ave. NW, West Bend, Iowa. westbendgrotto.com.
