10 popular pilgrimage sites in the US for Holy Week
Photo from Blue Army Shrine Our Lady Of Fatima/Facebook
Visiting pilgrimage sites – places of reflection, prayer and healing – during Semana Santa or Holy Week can provide a much-needed break from daily life and help believers deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.
From mountain grottos to historical shrines, here are some of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the US.
10 Holy Week pilgrimage sites in the US to visit this 2025
1. National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche – St. Augustine, Florida
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Recognized as the oldest shrine in the US, this sacred site offers a serene place for reflection this Lent.
Pilgrims come here to pray for healing, fertility and motherhood. Its grounds, mostly covered with ancient oak trees, offer a calming escape for spiritual renewal.
See their Holy Week schedule here.
2. Saint John Paul II National Shrine – Washington, D.C.
Photo from Saint John Paul II National Shrine/Facebook
A place for hope and legacy, this shrine in the heart of Washington, D.C., features a first-class relic of St. John Paul the second’s blood for veneration.
Part of the shrine’s mission this Holy Week 2025 is to offer reflections on faith and hope for future generations.
Check the shrine’s full Lenten schedule here.
3. National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini – Chicago, Illinois
This quiet refuge in the city, nestled in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, honors Mother Cabrini, America’s first canonized saint.
Its artful interiors and peaceful meditation garden provide a reflective escape during this Lenten season.
See Holy Week 2025 details here.
4. California Missions Trail
Photo from California Missions Trail/Facebook
Spanning 800 miles across California, this American version of Camino de Santiago connects 21 Spanish missions – a pilgrimage for those seeking a reflective journey on foot or in prayer.
While there are no events slated for this Holy Week, the trail provides a spiritual journey in solitude.
5. National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe – Orlando, Florida
More than just a spiritual stop, this is a pilgrim’s oasis, featuring a Rosary Garden, an outdoor chapel and peaceful, scenic landscapes perfect for reflection this Lent.
Check their Holy Week 2025 schedule here.
You may also like: Why pilgrims flock to Santuario de Chimayó during Holy Week
6. National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Middletown, New York
Set on 65 acres in the Hudson Valley, this shrine offers daily liturgies, masses, days of recollection and novenas.
The shrine also provides opportunities for confession and meditative prayer through its outdoor Stations of the Cross, making it an ideal place for spiritual reflection throughout the Lenten season.
View their Holy Week activities here.
7. National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes – Emmitsburg, Maryland
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Inspired by the Lourdes Shrine in France, this shrine draws pilgrims who come for its priest-blessed grotto water and breathtaking mountain views.
It’s a sacred place for healing and prayer this Holy Week.
See their full Semana Santa calendar here.
8. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – San Juan, Texas
One of America’s most visited Marian Shrines drawing over a million visitors annually, this shrine is a beacon of hope and prayer in the Rio Grande Valley.
Check their complete Holy Week schedule here.
9. National Shrine of Saint Jude – Chicago, Illinois
Known for its community of devotion and prayer, this shrine welcomes pilgrims seeking miracles and healing. Every year, pilgrims gather for the Solemn Novenas to St. Jude, held five times annually. Throughout Holy Week and Easter, the shrine displays its symbolic cross and prayer candle.
Explore their full Holy Week schedule here.
10. National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima – Asbury, New Jersey
This shrine, operated by the World Apostolate of Fatima USA, is a sacred space for Marian devotion, offering pilgrims a retreat center ideal for quiet reflection this Holy Week.
Among its most cherished features is the Holy House Chapel – a detailed replica of the Holy House of Loreto. Surrounded by a Rosary Garden and outdoor shrines, it’s a perfect place for spiritual renewal.
See their full Holy Week 2025 schedule here.
