+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan shore from the air

Midwest Catholic Shrines and Our Lady of Champion

Chicago, Milwaukee, Holy Hill, Green Bay and La Crosse

Seven days through Illinois and Wisconsin to Champion, the only Marian apparition in the United States approved by the Church.

Departures

Current Tours to the United States

Upcoming departures to the United States. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Five stops across Illinois and Wisconsin

Chicago, Milwaukee, Holy Hill, Green Bay and La Crosse.

Itinerary · AM_US-7D-02

The Midwest Shrines Itinerary

Seven days with two nights in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, one in Green Bay and two in La Crosse. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Days 1–2

Chicago

BAND 1, SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF POMPEII, CHICAGO
Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, Chicago
Day 1

Arrival in Chicago

We arrive in Chicago and transfer to our hotel, gathering this evening as our pilgrimage begins.Welcome dinner and overnight in Chicago.
Day 2

Our Lady of Pompeii

The shrine in Chicago’s Little Italy has served the city’s Italian Catholic community since 1911 and was named a Marian shrine in 1994. A panoramic tour follows, taking in sites connected to the Holy Father’s Midwestern roots.Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. Dinner and overnight in Chicago.
Days 3–4

Milwaukee and Holy Hill

BAND 2, BASILICA OF ST. JOSAPHAT, MILWAUKEE
Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee
Day 3

St. Joan of Arc Chapel and St. Josaphat

The Gothic chapel at Marquette University was brought stone by stone from the Rhône Valley and holds a stone on which St. Joan of Arc is said to have prayed before battle. The Basilica of St. Josaphat was raised by Milwaukee’s Polish community on the model of St. Peter’s.Mass at the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Dinner and overnight in Milwaukee.
Day 4

Holy Hill

The Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians stands on one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin, cared for by the Discalced Carmelite friars. There is time to pray at the grotto and the chapel.Mass in the basilica. Dinner and overnight in Green Bay.
Days 5–6

Green Bay and La Crosse

BAND 3, NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CHAMPION
National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
Day 5

Green Bay and Champion

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral has been the seat of the diocese since 1868. At Champion, Our Lady appeared to Adele Brice in 1859, the only Marian apparition in the United States to receive formal Church approval.Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in La Crosse.
Day 6

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

We climb the paved hillside path to the Shrine Church, returning in the afternoon for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Farewell dinner and overnight in La Crosse.
Day 7

Return Home

BAND 4, SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, LA CROSSE
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse
Day 7

Return Home

We return to Chicago for our flights home, with the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Champion and Mary, Help of Christians.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
IMMERSIVE BAND, CHAMPION
ChampionAdele Brice was told to gather the children of this wild country and teach them. The chapel she built stands where she saw Our Lady in 1859.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
GALLERY 1, ST. JOAN OF ARC CHAPEL, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
St. Joan of Arc Chapel, Marquette University
GALLERY 2, HOLY HILL, THE BASILICA OF MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Holy Hill, the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians
GALLERY 3, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL, GREEN BAY
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay
GALLERY 4, THE CHAPEL AT CHAMPION
The chapel at Champion
GALLERY 5, THE ROSARY WALK AT CHAMPION
The rosary walk at Champion
GALLERY 6, SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, LA CROSSE
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time for the Midwest shrines pilgrimage?

May through October. Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable, with the shrine grounds at Holy Hill and Champion at their best and the hillside walks easy. Summer is warm and green. Winter travel is possible, but snow can affect the drive between Green Bay and La Crosse.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport for this pilgrimage?

No. The route stays entirely within the United States, so United States citizens travel on a government-issued photo ID. Pilgrims travelling from outside the country should check their own entry requirements.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to the United States?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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