- Description of the tour
- Itinerary
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Pilgrimage to Wisconsin – Holy Hill, Champion, La Crosse
Itinerary
CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE- HOLY HILL- CHAMPION- GREEN BAY
We start the pilgrimage with a gathering in the morning at the location designated by the organizers. We travel through the states of Illinois and Wisconsin with a short stop in Milwaukee, where we visit the Basilica of St. Josaphat and have lunch at one of the local restaurant(at your own expense). We see the exterior of the art museum building before heading to Holy Hill – Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. This is a Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The central feature of the shrine is the Minor Basilica, and the shrine hosts about 300,000 pilgrims annually. We tour the basilica, chapels, and surrounding gardens, where we have time to follow the Way of the Cross.
After a coffee break, we travel to the site of the Marian apparitions in Champion. There, we visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, which is the first and only Catholic shrine in America approved by the authority of the Catholic Church. The apparition takes place on the site of the present shrine when the town is still called Robinsonville. On October 9, 1859, the Blessed Virgin Mary appears to Belgian immigrant Adele Brise, introducing herself as “the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners.” Since then, thousands of pilgrims visit this place to pray for help and healing. The Shrine in Champion features the Apparition Chapel, a prayer center, and a welcome center with the history of the Shrine. We learn about the history of the Marian apparitions and participate in a private Mass in the chapel of the shrine. After visiting the shrine, we head for a barbecue and overnight stay at a hotel in the Green Bay area. During free time, you can visit a casino located 7 miles from the hotel on your own.
GREEN BAY- LA CROSSE- CHICAGO
After breakfast at the hotel, we head to the Catholic place of worship, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This shrine, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, spans 100 acres (0.40 km²) and features a visitor center and various outdoor prayer areas, including a rosary walk, Stations of the Cross, and a votive chapel. We participate in Mass there before moving on to La Crosse to join the weekend beer festival, with an entrance fee of about $30. During the event, we enjoy sampling local beers and delicacies while listening to musical bands. Around 3-4 pm, we start our return journey to Chicago, making a stop for dinner along the way (at your own expense).
If you’re seeking more spiritual experiences, we also recommend:
Canada 2024 – Pilgrimage – Discovering Faith and Culture
https://stjosephtravel.com/en/tours/canada-2024-pilgrimage/
And other trips organized by Rek Travel:
Magical Italy 2024/2025
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The company is not responsible for client’s lost property due to burglary, theft, loss, etc. we are also not responsible for client’s losses in motels. Rek Travel Company reserves the right to change the program, dictated by circumstances beyond its control. The client is obliged to comply with the tour regulations. Tour participants are insured as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation for a total of $5,000,000 (policy available for review upon request). For an additional fee, participants may be insured for in-patient and out-patient treatment of medical conditions acquired during the tour, as well as for accidents at sightseeing facilities (all information at the office).