Suggestions
Although I am an avid seeker of new places to visit, I know there’s no way I’m finding everything worth visiting. If you have a suggestion of a religious site I should visit, please let me know in the comments! It doesn’t have to be Catholic, or even Christian, or even a building (or even in the US!). Leaving a website or location would be much appreciated too.
As people suggest places, I’ll be adding them to the list, and I’ll include an appropriate note about whoever suggested it. Many thanks!
Here is the Church... 
It’s not a building, persay, but the National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland, OR is BEAUTIFUL! Definitely worth a visit if you get a chance.
*make that the national Sanctuary, rather than shrine 🙂 it’s known by locals as “the grotto”
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I have some cousins out in Portland, so its pretty feasible for me to get out there at some point.
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I would be happy to write about St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA but only if you promise to go there yourself! It was absolutely the most beautiful church I’ve ever been in, other than St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The detail, the layout design of the church, the carvings on the ambo, oh-my-gosh the MARY GROTTO! It was unbearably beautiful.
Just thinking about it makes me want to fly out there to get married.
Their website doesn’t do it justice, but this is a well-photographed church, so I’m sure you can see what I mean in other places on the Internet.
I love Cathedral of Saint Paul in where else? St. Paul, MN! It is also the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul, awesome! Be sure to read some of his writings while visiting. 🙂
Also, some of my favorite churches are the old country churches. They are simplistic but hold a charm like no others.
The Basilica of St. Mary in that area is one of the closer basilicas to me, so I’ll be sure to stop by the cathedral if I can.
Do you have any old country churches in particular that you think are worth checking out? If they’re in the MN/WI area, they may actually be doable for me!
I imagine you’ve heard, but there’s a new Basilica:
WINONA, MN – Vatican Names Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish a Minor Basilica
http://www.dow.org/News/tabid/75/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/87/PRESS-RELEASE-WINONA-MN–Vatican-Names-Saint-Stanislaus-Kostka-Parish-a-Minor-Basilica.aspx
I’m out on vacation right now after the end to a long semester, so no, I hadn’t heard. Thanks for letting me know! This is close enough that I should be able to see it relatively soon. The pictures I’ve seen are gorgeous!
Oh, I think you would love Pittsburgh. That may be because I’m biased a teensy bit, but we really do have some awesome church buildings. You can check out this website : http://fatherpitt.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/the-top-ten-catholic-churches-in-pittsburgh/ though as he says, it is very incomplete. I love the juxtaposition of the old and new when viewing Church buildings in modern towns.
What a great resource Kayla! I drive near Pittsburgh a few times a year, either going from Cleveland to Virginia or Indiana to Virginia. This would be a great diversion during one of those trips.
I’ve heard a lot about The Grotto of Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. I’ve made plans to visit a few times, but it’s always rained on the road, and I run out of time. I really do intend to go someday, though. (So let me know if you go; I’d love to see it with someone who would enjoy it as much as you probably will.)
http://www.westbendgrotto.com/
And if you’re making a trip that far, you may also want to consider Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa. It’s a couple of hours west of West Bend and also pretty incredible.
http://trinityheights.com/
That looks gorgeous! I’ll add it to the list, and perhaps sometime this summer? It would be neat to go with someone else. I don’t know about Sioux Falls, but on the other hand, if I’m already out that far, what’s a little bit further…?
Also, if you’re ever in the Madison area, and are fond of Grottos, we have a similar one in Dickeyville, WI: http://dickeyvillegrotto.com/ I’ve visited once, but would like to go back some time to get a more complete set of pictures for a post.
Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church,Buffalo NY http://www.blessedtrinitybuffalo.org/
That church looks beautiful both inside and out! Thank you for the tip – I’ve added it to my map.
If you ever make it to Texas, you should also check our the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston – http://www.sacredhearthouston.org/index.cfm
Definitely! I have family in Bryan/College Station, so I’m a stone’s throw from Houston often. Thanks for the tip!
Gig ’em!!!
Dickeyville Grotto in Dickeyville, WI…quite a unique place to see. http://dickeyvillegrotto.com/
I actually had the opportunity to visit the Grotto quite some time ago – before I even started visiting basilicas, I think. It’s so close to me that I definitely plan on going back some time and doing more thorough photography of the place.
Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica, Lackawanna, NY, just outside of Buffalo, NY. Founded by Fr. Nelson Baker, who is well on his way to being named a Saint! Website: http://www.ourladyofvictory.org/ OLV is currently undergoing updating. Includes a museum on Fr. Baker.
http://historicstjames.org/ St, James at Sag Bridge established in 1833. Beautiful stained glass. My mother-in-law would get him to behave during mass by telling him th at th stained glass eye above the alter was God watching him.
Worth a drive. Located southwest of Chicago