By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

ORLANDO | Millions of pilgrims visit Rome each year, the capital of the Catholic World, and other popular Catholic destinations including Fatima, Lourdes and Camino de Santiago with many different routes seeking a dose of faith and some time at sacred and holy sites, but a Catholic pilgrimage away from routine doesn’t require traveling thousands of miles away.

A pilgrimage can be as simple as visiting a local church, chapel or shrine and spending quite time to encounter the Lord. The following are a few popular pilgrimage sites in Florida that you may want to put on your bucket list.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity located on Biscayne Bay in the Archdiocese of Miami is visited by thousands of pilgrims annually.

It was Miami’s late Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll who asked Cuban refugees in 1966 to build a Florida shrine to honor Our Lady of Charity, declared patroness of Cuba by St. John Paul II during his 1998 visit to the island country. Bishop Carroll donated land and the Cuban people gave contributions to construct the shrine.

A replica of the original icon of Our Lady of Charity smuggled out of Cuba during the Communist regime is housed at the Miami shrine opened in 1973 and designated a national shrine in 2000 by the U. S. Catholic bishops. Daily and weekend Masses are celebrated at the shrine and the grounds contains a gift and flower shop. Call 305-854-2404 or visit www.ermita.org.

 

Ave Maria

Ave Maria is a quaint town located 35 miles east of Naples in the Diocese of Venice. Established in 2005 by Ave Maria Development, a partnership led by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza, the town encompasses 5,000 acres, has a small university with strong Catholic identity and showcases a magnificent church.

Monaghan, a Catholic entrepreneur, visioned the development with a church at the heart. The magnificent 27,000-square-foot Ave Maria Church is now a reality.

Approaching the church, one is greeted by the 30-foot-tall sculpture of Archangel Gabriel proclaiming “Ave Maria” or “Hail Mary” reflecting both the name of the town and the church and representing the Annunciation, when the angel delivered the news to Mary that she would miraculously give birth to Jesus.

Monaghan stated in a release that his intentions were “to create a beacon of Catholic life with the church at center in the southwest area of Florida.” The church was completed and dedicated in 2009 by then Bishop of the Diocese of Venice Frank J. Dwane presiding.

Today, the church continues to be a special place of prayer and worship. The parish website has a message encouraging pilgrims to visit. “We invite you to come pray with us in “Our Lady’s Town” in sunny Southwest Florida.” Call 239-261-5555 or visit www.avemariaparish.org.

 

St. Mary Catholic Church

St. Mary Catholic Church in Pahokee is where pilgrims can walk and pray in the footsteps of the early-day Catholics of the Lake Okeechobee area.

The Catholic families first resided in the area, known as an agricultural hub, back in the 1920’s. Hardworking and dedicated, the people were strong in faith meeting in homes for prayer and Mass celebrated by visiting priests arriving by boat since there were no roads.

In the 1930’s, the people built a small church. The Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 destroyed it.

The 730-square-mile lake overflowed flooding the region destroying everything. More than 3,000 people were killed.

The survivors unshaken began a new journey forward. Building back homes and a new church with their time and labor in 1932. St. Ann Parish in West Palm Beach donated stained glass windows, altar and bell. The tiny church with seating for 140 worshipers was formally dedicated March 11, 1934 by the late Bishop of St. Augustine Patrick Barry.

Through the decades, tiny St. Mary weathered the storms and provided a spiritual home for the diverse families of the rural area with ties to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. The historic church still stands reminding all of generations of Catholics of the past.

A new $3.75 million mission-style church seating up to 500 worshipers opened in 2012 to serve the growing area. The church contains statues of saints, art and tapestries and a precious 16th-century jeweled icon of Our Lady of Bethlehem from Russia donated by a generous Palm Beach resident.

Stories go that the Lady of Bethlehem’s presence is strongly felt at St. Mary. Since the icon arrived, pilgrims from near and far have flocked to the parish. Many believe the Lady has something to do with several miraculous events including the tremendous support St. Mary received for the new church that is debt-free.

“People are welcomed to join our Masses or visit,” said a church representative who asked that people call ahead of their visit. Call 561-924-7305 or visit www.stmarysofpahokee.com.

 

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe

Mary Queen of the Universe in Orlando, a national shrine since 2004 and minor basilica since 2009, was dedicated Aug. 22, 1993 by the late Bishop Norbert Doresy, who described the ceremonial occasion as “a day of great rejoicing,” and turning to God, he asked that the Lord bestow grace upon “all who would be drawn to the shrine.”

No doubt, that one feels blessed upon entering the shrine’s basilica patterned after the first church built in Constantine Rome in the early fourth century. Every nook and cranny of the 60,000-square-foot place of pilgrimage contains a beautiful piece of art, statue or icon to inspire faith and prayer.

Pilgrims can walk the grounds, pray in the garden and attend Mass celebrated daily and on the weekends. Events are held year-round. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available daily and on Saturdays. Call 407-239-6600 or visit www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org.

 

The Mission Nombre de Dios

Mission Nombre de Dios or In the Name of God is a pilgrimage destination in St. Augustine connected to the beginnings of Catholicism in the United States and early Catholic pioneers.

Entering the 27-acre mission grounds, the Great Cross towering over 200 feet up into the air and over the property marks the actual location, where on Sept. 8, 1565, explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed and claimed the land for the Spanish Crown.

The spot is also where Aviles and Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, accompanying him, knelt in prayer thanking God for their safe landing and celebrated Mass. The celebration marked the first Eucharistic Mass in what later became the United States.

Today, the site with a statue of Father López keeps Church history alive passing it on to the generations. “We were given the title of the most peaceful place in the United States by Tripadvisor,” said Annmarie Skaggs, pilgrimage coordinator. “Pilgrims can visit for the day or for a retreat. We have docent-led tours. There is Mass and adoration in the historic chapel. People can pray in the rosary garden.”

The centerpiece of the mission ground is the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, which is the oldest Marian shrine in the country. The original shrine was built around 1677 by the Spanish, who brought the devotion with them from their homeland. In 2019, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the place of prayer a national shrine.

The mission is open from dawn to dusk, and a short distance away is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine with tours. Built in 1793, the basilica holds the distinction of being the first parish established in the United States. Masses are held daily and on the weekend. Call 904-439-7253 or visit www.missionandshrine.org.

 

Pope Leo XIV has stated several times the importance of pilgrimages.

“A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply,” he told pilgrims visiting Rome last summer for the Jubilee Year.

For those unable to travel, a pilgrimage can be a short ride to a local church for Mass. There is no better place to find the Lord than at Mass.

- - -  

This staff report was originally published by the Florida Catholic (Orlando).