Places to see

Religious Destinations

Basilica of Saint Louis, King (The Old Cathedral)                http://www.oldcathedralstl.org/

(Across the street from the Hyatt)

The Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, now known commonly as the Old Cathedral, was completed in 1834. The land was platted by Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau on their founding of the city in 1764, when Laclede dedicated the block west of his home for the building of the city’s church and cemetery. The church was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi at the time of its consecration in 1834. The lower level museum houses historical church artifacts and documents.

Since 1776, the Old Cathedral has:

• Performed 18,752 baptisms including explorer William Clark’s five children and Sacagawea’s son
• Witnessed 12,485 marriages
• Conducted 28,152 burials, including 2,000 in the church’s graveyard until it was closed in 1857
• Been home to 11 Bishops and  Archbishops, 29 pastors and 93 Assistant Pastors

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis                                                    http://cathedralstl.org/

Completed in 1914, it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the seat of its archbishop. The cathedral is named for Saint Louis and was designated a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997. The church is known for its large mosaic installation (which is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere), burial crypts, and the addition of an outdoor sculpture to promote racial harmony.

St. Francis de Sales Church (Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales)   

http://www.institute-christ-king.org/stlouis/

It is the second largest church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis after the cathedral-basilica. The church is popularly known as the “Cathedral of South St. Louis.”

The historic main church was designed in the neo-Gothic style. Its stained glass windows were crafted by the St. Louis glazier Emil Frei, Sr. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 2005 the church has been operated by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which practices the Latin liturgy and emphasizes the liturgical arts, with a strong music program.

Shrine of St. Joseph                                        http://www.shrineofstjoseph.org/

The Shrine of St. Joseph is a Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri in Columbus Square. The church began in 1843 when the Jesuits founded the parish to serve the residential community consisting mostly of German immigrants. The church is the site of the only authenticated miracle in St. Louis.

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine – Florissant, MO           http://www.oldstferdinandshrine.com/

The site represents a physical link to American pioneer times, the North American Jesuit Missions to the Native Americans as well as the home of Catholic education in the Midwest. The 1819 Convent is the site of first Catholic school between the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains. The 1821 Church is the oldest church building built between the Mississippi River and Rockies Mountains. It was the home of the region’s only canonized Catholic saint, Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne.

Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne – St. Charles, MO            http://duchesneshrine.org/

The Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne in St. Charles, Missouri is a lasting tribute to the French missionary Religious of the Sacred Heart who brought formalized education and zeal for sharing the love of God to the Missouri frontier in 1818.

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – Belleville, IL              http://snows.org/

The mission of the Shrine is to bring a greater awareness of the presence of Christ in our lives through its ministries. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate welcome over one million visitors per year and it is our hope that all who visit the Shrine find the peace that awaits them here.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois, is one of the largest outdoor shrines in North America. Located just 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis, the Shrine provides an atmosphere where guests of all faiths have the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and one another.

The nation’s largest outdoor shrine offers a peaceful atmosphere on 200 beautifully landscaped acres. Twelve devotional areas offer places to pray, reflect or simply meditate. One of the most popular is the Lourdes Grotto, a replica of the famed shrine in France. Visitors are welcome to walk or drive the grounds.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests and brothers operate the shrine.

Grounds Open Daily from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos – Pacific, MO

http://franciscancaring.org/blackmadonnashri.html

Nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Ozarks, the Black Madonna Shrine and Grottos offer a galaxy of dazzling mosaics and multi-colored rock sculptures. Dedicated to the Queen of Peace and Mercy, the Shrine is a shining example of what one man of faith can achieve. Hand-built by a single Franciscan Monk from Poland, this peaceful shrine is named for Our Lady of Czestochowa, known in Poland as the Black Madonna. Constructed of Missouri tiff rock, the shrine contains mosaics and rock sculptures.

The Shrine is about a 40 minute drive from West St. Louis county.