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St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan

American Saints and National Shrines of the Northeast

Washington, Emmitsburg, Philadelphia, Doylestown and New York City

Eight days following the first American saints, from the national shrine in Washington to Mother Cabrini in upper Manhattan.

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 from the capital to New York

Washington, D.C., Emmitsburg, Philadelphia, Doylestown and New York City.

Route map of an eight-day pilgrimage beginning with two nights in Washington, continuing by Emmitsburg to two nights in Philadelphia, then by Doylestown to three nights in New York City. All travel is by motorcoach. Route map of an eight-day pilgrimage beginning with two nights in Washington, continuing by Emmitsburg to two nights in Philadelphia, then by Doylestown to three nights in New York City. All travel is by motorcoach. PENNSYLVANIAATLANTICOCEANCHESAPEAKEBAYNEW YORKNEW JERSEYMARYLANDWashington, D.C.START · DAYS 1 TO 3EmmitsburgDAY 3PhiladelphiaDAYS 3 TO 5DoylestownDAY 5New York CityEND · DAYS 5 TO 8 PENNSYLVANIAATLANTICOCEANCHESAPEAKEBAYNEW YORKNEW JERSEYMARYLANDWashington, D.C.EmmitsburgPhiladelphiaDoylestownNew York City

Washington to New York City


BY MOTORCOACHNorth from Washington by Emmitsburg to Philadelphia, then by Doylestown to New York City

OvernightVisit

Itinerary · AM_US-8D-02

The American Saints of the Northeast Itinerary

Eight days with two nights in Washington, two in Philadelphia and three in New York, closing with a day of prayer at the Cabrini shrine. 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

Washington

BAND 1, FRANCISCAN MONASTERY OF THE HOLY LAND IN AMERICA, WASHINGTON
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, Washington
Day 1

Arrival in Washington

Our escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to the hotel.Welcome dinner and overnight in Washington.
Day 2

The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land

After an orientation tour of the capital we visit the monastery where the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land have built faithful replicas of the Holy Sepulchre and the Grotto of Bethlehem, set among gardens and Roman-style catacombs.Mass at the Franciscan Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Washington.
Days 3–4

Emmitsburg and Philadelphia

The Jefferson Memorial and the cherry blossom in Washington
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia
Day 3

The National Shrine and Emmitsburg

A guided visit to the Great Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in North America. At Emmitsburg we venerate the remains of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint.Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine. Dinner and overnight in Philadelphia.
Day 4

Catholic Philadelphia

St. John Neumann, the first American man to be canonised, rests beneath the altar of his shrine. We visit Old St. Joseph’s, founded by the Jesuits in 1733, the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel, and the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown.Mass at the National Shrine of St. John Neumann. Dinner and overnight in Philadelphia.
Days 5–6

Doylestown and New York

BAND 3, ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, NEW YORK
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York
Day 5

Our Lady of Czestochowa and New York

The American Czestochowa at Doylestown was founded by the Pauline Fathers as a centre of devotion to the Black Madonna, for Polish-American Catholics and pilgrims of every heritage.Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Dinner and overnight in New York City.
Day 6

Saints on the streets of New York

In lower Manhattan we visit the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, on the site of the home where she lived before her conversion, and pass the church where she was received in 1805. Then Old St. Patrick’s, the city’s first cathedral, and the restored cathedral on Fifth Avenue.Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in New York City.
Days 7–8

Mother Cabrini

BAND 4, ST. FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI SHRINE, NEW YORK
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine, New York
Day 7

The Cabrini Shrine

Mother Cabrini, the first United States citizen to be canonised and the patroness of immigrants, rests in upper Manhattan. The rest of the day is set aside as a retreat, with time for quiet prayer and confession.Mass at the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine. Farewell dinner and overnight in New York City.
Day 8

Return Home

We transfer to the airport for our flight home, with the intercession of Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Neumann, Katharine Drexel and Frances Xavier Cabrini.

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, EMMITSBURG
EmmitsburgElizabeth Ann Seton was a widow with five children when she opened the first free Catholic school for girls in the country, on this Maryland hillside.
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
The Supreme Court building in Washington
The Supreme Court, Washington
GALLERY 2, NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, EMMITSBURG
National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg
GALLERY 3, NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN, PHILADELPHIA
National Shrine of St. John Neumann, Philadelphia
GALLERY 4, MIRACULOUS MEDAL SHRINE, GERMANTOWN
Miraculous Medal Shrine, Germantown
GALLERY 5, NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA, DOYLESTOWN
National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown
GALLERY 6, OLD ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, NEW YORK
Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York

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 this pilgrimage?

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant along the Washington to New York corridor. April and May bring mild weather and the cherry blossom in the capital, and September and October are clear and comfortable. July and August are hot and humid, and the shrines are at their busiest.

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.

Who we travel with

Trusted by Catholic organizations

Dioceses, parishes, schools and Catholic ministries plan their pilgrimages with Canterbury.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to the United States?

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

    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 AssisiPortugal, Spain and FranceMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeFrance, Lourdes and ParisPoland, Prague and Central EuropeThe Holy LandUnited States and Canada shrinesJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaChristmas markets and AdventSpain and the Camino de SantiagoWorld Youth DayGreece and TurkeyIreland and the United KingdomMedjugorje and the BalkansPortugal and FátimaA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageEgypt and Mount SinaiArgentinaPeruSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Your Information

    Preferred way to reach you
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    Your Group

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

    A Few Last Details

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