Pope Francis proclaimed Jubilee 2025 as a holy year of hope, which began Christmas Eve 2024 and concludes Jan. 6, 2026. Additional information about observing Jubilee 2025 is available at https://stcdio.org/jubilee-2025-pilgrims-of-hope/.
The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the holy year because it represents the journey each person makes in this life. The St. Cloud Diocese is home to many sacred sites for people to visit. Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC, has encouraged parishioners to pray at these sites throughout the year as well as with the diocese’s religious communities.
The Central Minnesota Catholic introduced a Jubilee Passport to encourage people to participate in pilgrimages and perform corporal and spiritual acts of mercy which may provide eligibility to receive plenary indulgences during this year. The passport may be downloaded at https://stcdio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025-Jubilee-Passport-11-19-24-FINAL-web.pdf.
Assumption (Grasshopper) Chapel is the fourth pilgrimage site in the St. Cloud Diocese be featured in Friday Feed. The series previously spotlighted St. Clare’s Monastery in Sauk Rapids, Sacred Heart Chapel of the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, and the Divine Mercy Chapel in Sauk Centre.
Where is it?
The Assumption (Grasshopper) Chapel is located on the east end of Cold Spring. Turn off Highway 23 by the traffic light and onto 3rd Ave. S.E.; turn left at the corner onto Chapel Street and immediately take a right up Pilgrimage Road to the chapel. The street address is 22912 Chapel Hill Road, Cold Spring.
What will you see?
At the top of the hill sits a granite chapel dedicated to our Blessed Mother. Granite steps leading to the chapel mark the steps early pilgrims walked and prayed on their pilgrimages. Over the entrance doors of the chapel is a stone carving of Mary with the Latin inscription, “Mary has been taken up into heaven.” At her feet, two grasshoppers kneel in submission. Rosary beads are carved around the scene.
Through the Holy Doors is the granite altar. On its front panel is a cross with the Lamb standing beneath it; on the crossbeam are two doves representing Christians. Above the altar is a statue of Our Mother and Child that was carved in 1877 by Joseph Ambroziz of St. Joseph and placed in the first wooden chapel. Imported stained glass windows depict the life of the Blessed Mother.
On the grounds are granite Stations of the Cross.
What’s the history of the chapel?
In 1877 the shrine 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.
Rocky Mountain grasshoppers (locusts) had destroyed crops in the southwestern counties of Minnesota. In 1874, 1875 and 1876, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated funds to help farmers, but millions of grasshoppers continued to hatch and devastate the area. Besides devouring plants, grasshoppers also attacked livestock such as cattle (which then died from blood poisoning) — bringing total crop failure for farmers — and infested homes, even eating clothing hung out on the clothes lines.
In the spring of 1877, Gov. John Pillsbury declared a Day of Prayer. Benedictine Father Leo Winter suggested his parishioners ask for Mary’s divine intervention, building a chapel in her honor (called Mary’s Help, or “Maria Hilf”). They would offer a Mass every Saturday, or whenever possible, for her intercession to free the area of the plague of locusts.
On donated land, the chapel was completed Aug. 14, 1877; the following day, it was dedicated, and the first Mass was celebrated. The plague ended that summer. More information may be found in the book “The Story of Mary and the Grasshoppers” by Robert J. Voigt.
Annual novena
The annual novena at Assumption (Grasshopper) Chapel is offered Thursdays, from May 1 through June 26. It begins with praying the rosary at 7 p.m. followed by 7:30 p.m. Mass. Bring a lawn chair. In case of rain or cold weather, Mass will be celebrated at St. Boniface Church on Main St. in Cold Spring. For a listing of priests who will celebrate each week, visit christcatholic.com and search for parishes; then click on “learn more.”
- Bishop Patrick Neary will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption Mass on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. with rosary at 6:30 p.m. (Note time change, due to shorter daylight hours.) For more information, check The Central Minnesota calendar.
- For more information about the annual Mass for the Feast of Thanksgiving, visit the Central Minnesota Catholic website calendar.
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For more information, call St. Boniface Church at 320-204-1111, or visit christcatholic.com. (Search for “parishes” and click on Assumption Chapel.)