Year of Faith Marian Pilgrimage: Maria Stein, Our Lady of Consolation and Sorrowful Mother Shrines

The rows of corn stretched to the horizon, punctuated only be equally endless rows of soybeans. The road before us ran smooth and straight.  Every so often a rural town would appear in the distance and then we would slow down relishing the sight of a few tidy houses and stores. We were on a pilgrimage to Marian shrines in the state of Ohio. My companion and I didn't know what to expect, neither of us veteran pilgrims nor familiar with Ohio aside from the major cities.

The decision to go on pilgrimage was made at the last minute and I am sure neither of us knew for sure the reason for going. Perhaps we didn't need a reason or perhaps we would find it once we arrived at the shrines only previously seen on the internet.

Stop 1
Sorrowful Mother Shrine, Bellevue Ohio

The GPS system in the car insisted we had arrived at our destination. But before us was a lone house and acres of crops ripening in the summer sun. Back around we turned the car and retraced our steps with no luck. I will admit I was skeptical when my companion suggested driving on past the point the GPS told us to stop at, yet several miles further there was the entrance to the shrine, marked with a large sign.

After parking the car we noticed a large number of trees toppled over in the parking lot. Soon we spotted a friendly priest who informed us the area was hit by a tornado a few days back and most of the shrine was closed off. The main church was open, so we took time to pray and then browsed the gift shop.

Plans don't always work out to the last detail. It sometimes hard to remember that all the details of life and love are part of a larger journey. So perhaps this was a fitting start to the pilgrimage. 

The church was a peaceful retreat from the summer sun. The coolness of the interior lulling us into quiet prayer and meditation. 

Stop 2
National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey Ohio

Dazzled by the Byzantine style interiors of the basilica, downstairs we were moved to tears of awe and inspiration at the sight of crutches and casts, splints and supports. All these being arranged around the chapel of the lower level, set amongst candles and statues of saints and the Blessed Mother. And then we saw the endless notes of thanks tucked in around the statues and shrines, accompanied by an equally endless amount of requests for intercession.

We took places among the pews and prayed. And I thought of the Communion of Saints.
Each one of us on earth or in heaven are united as one body. We pray as one and help as one. This is awesome!

Stop 3
Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, Maria Stein Ohio

In the distance we kept seeing steeples topped with crosses long before arriving at our destination. At times it seemed like cross topped steeples were visible all around. By excited agreement we decided to drive towards some and see just what they are. To our surprise we found soaring Catholic houses of worship amongst the farmland of Ohio. But why so  many?

The reason: We were in the Land of the Cross Topped Churches A rural area of Ohio with a very large concentration of Catholic churches. Soaring red brick churches with steeples climbing high over the tree line.
Driving along these country roads and spotting cross topped churches in the distance was a sort of pilgrimage in itself. We found great joy in picking out a cross in the distance and driving towards it.

At Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics we found the second largest collection of relics in the U.S.A. Housed in a former convent the shrine looks out over the surrounding countryside. We took time explore the museum that tells the history of convent life and is a must see in and of itself. The religious community that once resided here was self sufficient making their own soap, growing food and even making vestments and religious art to support the community.  The sisters have long moved away and the few that are left live some distance from the original mother house. I did happen to meet a nun from the order and we had a chance to talk and look around the shrine.  She invited us to join the mid day prayer.

We gathered in the chapel for mid day prayer and prayed aloud, together. I can't emphasize enough the word "together". We prayed together. 

We are one body in heaven and on earth, praying together. We are one family praying together. Together we lift our voices in prayer. Together we sing hymns of praise. Together, we love and help one another. Together.

Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Detroit

Crossing downtown Detroit in lunch time traffic is not the easy task one imagines it to be. Pedestrians throng the intersections and continue to cross long after the light has changed. And the streets of downtown follow the "French" plan of radial streets converging in a twisted mass of intersections.

I navigated my way across downtown and found a handy parking lot behind Saints Peter and Paul and raced into Mass. The gospel reading that day centered around Jesus telling his disciples that the harvest is great and the workers few. This is a  gospel reading that many of us know so well. And yet hearing it that day I couldn't help but think that it's so very relevant today.

How many of us are willing to engage in the hard work required of us as Christians? Jesus doesn't shy away from the fact that following him will be difficult. In our world today I can't help but wonder if we as a culture have become adverse to difficulty. What is difficult is not worth attempting. Christianity, The Way, is difficult and that's precisely what makes it so powerful.

It can be difficult to love
It can be difficult to help others
It can be difficult to see Jesus in every face
It can be difficult to forgive

Is this why there are so few "workers" for the "harvest"?

Holy Redeemer - Detroit

Yes, this is the church made famous by the  The Rosary Murders. The film based on the book was actually filmed right here at Holy Redeemer. And yes, that may be reason enough to visit this magnificent church especially if you are a tourist or film buff.

An even better reason to visit this church is that Mass is offered here! And, well, the church sits right in the middle of a bustling neighborhood complete with thriving commercial strip. A church location like this has become a rarity in Detroit. Churches still anchor many neighborhoods in Detroit but the surrounding commercial structures are usually empty and long since closed. Here at Holy Redeemer you can exit the church and stroll down the block for coffee or ice cream, a particularly pleasant activity after Sunday Mass.

At one time the parish church was woven into the very fabric of the neighborhood and surrounding community and here at Holy Redeemer one gets that sense again. Church was a communal activity with the family walking to Mass together, greeting neighbors and friends on the front steps and afterwards walking through the neighborhood to get an ice cream or coffee and stopping again and again to chat with neighbors and parishioners. That scene has changed so much over the years. We so often drive to church, park in a sea of cars and scramble into Mass. Though sometimes we stay for doughnuts afterwards, more often we race to the exit to beat the parking lot madness.

The weekday afternoon that I attended Mass at Holy Redeemer was bright, cool and clear. After Mass I took a stroll along the commercial strip and even stopped for lunch before heading back to work.

Saint Charles Borromeo - Detroit

The ancient church was few in numbers and often persecuted. With no designated building to worship in and the need to worship in secret the early Christians met in houses. As the number of believers grew these houses must have grown crowded and uncomfortable, warm with the heat of bodies. And yet despite the obvious discomforts and fear of persecution these believers continued to come for Mass, they continued to gather around the table and share the body and blood of our Savior. Despite having to risk their earthly lives to worship the ancient church grew, attracting ever more people eager to hear the Good News.

I was reminded of all this when I attended weekday Mass at Saint Charles Borromeo in Detroit. Navigating through a forlorn neighborhood of Detroit, I arrived at the church nestled on the edge of the hip West Village area. As I ascended the steps to the church a lone figure sitting at the top step told me that Mass is celebrated in the rectory on Wednesdays. So off to the rectory I went and rang the doorbell. The man who answered turned out to be the parish priest, he introduced himself and his dog and invited me in. Mass was celebrated in the dining room at a heavy wood table that must have been as old as the house itself. The warm wood had a faint zebra pattern to the grain and gleamed with years of careful polish. Set to the side of the table was the heavy silver vessel holding the body of our Lord.

Seven of us gathered around the table to celebrate Mass and I couldn't help reflecting on the ancient church. We gathered around this table to share the Good News, united in Christ. Mass was followed by coffee and cake and we sat and talked and got to know one another. The early Christians must have done a similar thing after Mass, taking time to share food and getting to know their fellow believers.


Over two thousand years and we still are gathering at His table.

Charlie the dog. Charlie spent Mass sleeping near my feet. During cake and coffee he was everyone's friend as he looked for a treat.