You may think you need a ticket to Rome or Lourdes to experience a pilgrimage. But across the six dioceses of Minnesota there are thousands of miles of backroads and years of rich Catholic history. We would like to suggest that a road trip around the North Star State might be just the pilgrimage you need this summer.
“When people hear the word ‘pilgrimage,’ they often think of Rome, Lourdes, or the Holy Land,” said Chris Conway, associate professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
“Folks often associate pilgrimage with traveling to far-off places,” he said.
The intensity of such journeys, their duration, and the heightened sense of the holy encountered in the ultimate destination can make such undertakings especially rich, but long-distance pilgrimages can be expensive, Conway said, and they also can risk being self-centered rather than God-centered.
“A more close-to-home kind of pilgrimage can be a humbler endeavor that is no less powerful and rewarding,” he said. “At the heart of any pilgrimage are intention and attention. Intention concerns the reason for one’s pilgrimage — hopefully to grow in one’s love of God, one’s neighbors (near and far), and God’s creation. Attention entails being aware of God’s presence both in the holy site towards which one is journeying as well as in the journey itself. Local pilgrimages invite cultivating this love and awareness closer to home.”
The following are suggested destinations, one (or maybe more) from each diocese in Minnesota. If you do some research, there are many more worthwhile shrines, churches and historical places to visit. These are some ideas to get you started. Included below also is a detailed guide to prepping your vehicle for a road trip, provided by Father Tom Knoblach. Father Knoblach is pastor of the One in Christ ACC and also serves the diocese as Vicar for Clergy and Vicar for healthcare ethics. He works as an auto mechanic in his spare time.
Diocese of New Ulm:
Way of the Cross. For more than a century, the Way of the Cross has offered visitors a peaceful place for reflection, prayer, and quiet walks in New Ulm.
Completed in 1904 and renovated in 2004, the site features 14 Stations of the Cross with statues imported from Bavaria, Germany. The stations follow a gentle hillside path leading to the Chapel of Our Mother of Sorrows. More than 1500 people visit the shrine each year.
“The Way of the Cross was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 as being one of the earliest outdoor stations of the cross in the United States,” said Gary Neubauer, past Grand Knight and Way of the Cross chair.
The seasonal shrine maintenance and fundraising for restoration efforts is a joint project of the local Knights of Columbus Council No.1076 and the Diocese of New Ulm Way of the Cross Committee, according to Gary Neubauer, past Grand Knight and Way of the Cross chair.
“The Way of the Cross is a tranquil place in the midst of trees and hills in New Ulm for prayer, peace & meditation,” Neubauer said. “Everyone is in need of prayer, and the shrine is open to people of all faiths. We encourage everyone to enter their prayer petitions into the book located in the small chapel at the top of the hill where you will also find complimentary crosses.”
The Way of the Cross is located at 1500 5th North, New Ulm, Minnesota.
Open daily year-round. The chapel is open April through October.
While you’re in New Ulm, also consider visiting:
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
605 N. State St.
New Ulm, MN 56073
cathedral@holycrossafc.org
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis:
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 (see the “Tours” tab on the cathedral’s website to register). 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.
“For any Catholic visiting the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, stepping inside the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul is an absolute must,” said Dave Hrbacek, senior content specialist for the Archdiocese and its Catholic Spirit newspaper. “First, there’s the stunning grandeur and beauty of this 100-plus-year-old religious and civic landmark that stands more than 300 feet tall and was designed by master architect E.L. Masqueray. Second is the place the Cathedral has played in history. President John F. Kennedy once attended Mass there, as did St. Teresa of Kolkata.”
Cathedral of St. Paul
239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 28-1766
cathedralsaintpaul.org.
Diocese of Crookston:
Itasca State Park. You might not think of a state park as a great Catholic pilgrimage site, but Diocesan chancellor and director of communications Janelle Gergen, suggests that it is. Itasca State Park, with the Headwaters of the Mississippi and a Catholic Chapel, St. Catherine’s, would be a great destination for a pilgrimage trip, she said.
In addition to being the place where the Mississippi River starts, this historic site offers camping, fishing, visitor centers, gift shops and more. St. Catherine Chapel also has Mass on Sunday mornings from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
More information on planning a trip here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181#homepage
Or if you are feeling really adventurous:
Fort St. Charles (Lake of the Woods). This is arguably the most intriguing Catholic site within the territory of the Crookston Diocese, though it is remote. The site of the martyrdom of Jesuit missionary Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau in 1736 contains a chapel and memorial honoring Aulneau and his companions. Accessible mainly by boat or, in winter, by snowmobile. It is maintained by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and is located on Magnuson Island at the very northern tip of Minnesota.
While you’re in the Crookston area, also consider visiting:
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
702 Summit Ave
Crookston, MN 56716
Phone: (218) 281-1735
https://crookstoncathedral.com
Diocese of Winona – Rochester:
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. Mary’s 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 at 1:30 p.m. Special group tours are available upon request. (Preregistration is required at least one day in advance.)
Mass is held 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in Lourdes Chapel, located at 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester.
For information visit: https://rochesterfranciscan.org/visit-assisi-heights/
While you’re in the Rochester area, also consider visiting:
Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
11 4th Ave SW
Rochester, MN 55902
(507) 288-7372
www.sj.org
Diocese of St. Cloud:
Grasshopper Chapel (Cold Spring). In 1877 the Assumption (Grasshopper) Chapel was built by Benedictine Father Leo Winter with the help of his parishioners, in response to a need to end the grasshopper plague of 1873.
In the 1870s swarms of Rocky Mountain Locust (an estimated 12.5 trillion) devastated farmer’s crops and rural areas in Stearns county and throughout the Midwest. The then Minnesota Governor Pillsbury, called upon a day of prayer while the local priest near Cold Spring and townspeople called upon the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to help end this disastrous plague with a promise to build a chapel in honor of Mary in doing so. Almost immediately after the first chapel was built, the plague subsided and the grasshoppers, through a series of unusual weather events, were gone. By the 1890s the Rocky Mountain Locust, a particular grasshopper species that swarms, disappeared completely off the North American continent. Its complete disappearance and extinction remains an ecological mystery, and many see it as a miracle of divine intervention itself.
“The current chapel was built in the 1950s and today remains a place of pilgrimage for people of all faiths who come to the Grasshopper Chapel to pray, to learn its history, and to reflect upon God’s power and mercy through Mary, the Mother of God,” said Father LeRoy Scheierl, pastor of Centered on Christ ACC, which includes Cold Spring. “As a pilgrim people, connecting with our past and learning the faith-stories and struggles of those who have gone before us can help us better understand our own struggles, cross, and journey in Christ.”
The chapel is located on State Highway 23 and Chapel Hill St., Cold Spring. For information, call 320-685-3280.
Read our pilgrimage site profile from 2025 here: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/shrine-profile-assumption-grasshopper-chapel-cold-spring/
While you’re in the St. Cloud Area, also consider visiting:
St. Mary’s Cathedral
25 8th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 251-1840
stmarystcloud.org
Diocese of Duluth:
Father Baraga’s Cross (Schroeder). This granite cross on the shore of Lake Superior commemorates Bishop Frederic Baraga, the “Snowshoe Priest,” who evangelized among the Ojibwe people of northern Minnesota and Michigan. The cross creates a dramatic pilgrimage setting where pilgrims can reflect on Baraga’s missionary journeys through the wilderness, often in extreme weather. This magnificent cross is located at 56 Baraga Cross Road, Schroeder, MN 55613.
More information here: https://www.fatherbaraga.org/father-baragas-cross
Read our 2018 story about Bishop Baraga here: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/michigan-diocese-marks-150th-anniversary-bishop-baragas-death/
While you’re in the Duluth area, consider visiting:
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary
2801 East 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812
( 218) 728-3646
duluth.cathedral@duluthcatholic.org
There is also a presentation on the diocesan website of some of the sites in the diocese which connect powerful prayer with historical interest. Click the link below to view:
https://files.ecatholic.com/34692/documents/2023/6/Pilgrimage%20power%20point.pdf?t=1687202848000
St. Benedict tells us that the Divine is present everywhere. Holy sites, whether historical or natural, possess the ability to amplify this presence for the pilgrim precisely because they invite the pilgrim outside the distractions of their everyday routines — distractions that are more ubiquitous today than perhaps ever before, Conway noted.
“One need not go far to do this,” he added. “A successful pilgrimage is one in which the intention and attention accompany the pilgrim well after the pilgrimage.”
Preparing your car for a safe trip
By Father Tom Knoblach
Preparing for a safe and serene road trip, it’s wise to give your vehicle some preventive attention to avoid breakdowns and inconvenience. Who wants that overheated engine to be the only thing you remember?
Tires: Check and adjust tire pressures. Check when the tires are cool, before driving. The recommended pressures are found in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s door jamb. Pressure varies with outside temperature by +/- one PSI per ten degrees. Don’t forget the spare if you have one.
Be sure the tire tread is sufficient – the old trick still works to insert a penny edgewise and upside down between the tread blocks: if Abe’s head is completely visible, you have less than 1/8” tread and need to consider new tires. Also check for unusual wear patterns. Visible cupping or feathering of the edges of the tire tread calls for an alignment.
Oil: Check the engine oil level with the engine warm — but shut off for at least two minutes to allow the oil to drain back to the oil pan. Better yet, have the oil and filter changed. The recommended oil type and capacity, along with maintenance intervals, are in your owner’s manual.
Other Fluids: Check the radiator level but do so only when the engine is completely cool. Some vehicles have translucent overflow tanks to easily check the level. Older ones may require you to check at the radiator cap. Use the recommended coolant for your make and model, in a 50/50 mix of coolant and water, or use a pre-diluted mix from the parts store. Also check the brake fluid level (another translucent reservoir with maximum / minimum marks.) Top-off the windshield washer fluid. Transmission fluid is often hard to check in newer vehicles; if you are having issues with slow or harsh shifting, see a reliable shop.
Lights: Check the operation of headlights, taillights and brake lights, backup lights, and all turn signals. If you are towing a trailer, check those lights, too.
Windows: Clean the inside and outside of all windows. Bugs and road grime build up outside, and outgassing from interior plastics can form a film on inside glass. At night especially, you’ll be glad you did this.
Funny noises: If you have been putting up with clunks from the suspension, grinding brakes, rumbling wheel bearings, leaking exhaust hisses or loud mufflers, clicking sounds when turning, or other unusual sounds, it’s time to see a mechanic to diagnose and fix them.
Dash lights: Is your “check engine” light on? There are well over a thousand codes that can be indicated by that light. Some are trivial, others are critical. One light for all those issues means you need to investigate when it comes on. If your brake light or ABS / Service Traction Control / DSC light is on, get it looked at as soon as possible; these are vital safety issues. The same with a Battery / Charging System light. While cold weather makes batteries work harder, summer heat can stress them even more.
What to bring: Be sure to pack your up-to-date insurance card and driver’s license, a tire-pressure gauge, a quart of the proper spare oil, the vehicle’s tire-changing equipment or tire-repair kit (many newer vehicles no longer have a spare), your phone charger and a small cooler with bottles of water and protein bars, just in case.
Your vehicle is perhaps the most complex item you own. There’s no way to prevent every possible problem, but a little added attention can help get you and your loved ones there and back again safely.