The Best American Catholic Pilgrimage I Have Ever Taken
I am excited to do something new today on Catholic Travel U.S.A.!
Each week, we highlight a potential pilgrimage right here in the United States, which we usually source via Feast Days or monthly devotion. Today, however, I will share more about one of the best pilgrimages I have ever taken: Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the unforgettable Loretto Chapel.
For Christmas of 2020, my husband, Brandon, gifted me with the cutest voucher, saying I could take a vacation alone, with the family, or with a friend while he held down the fort. I chose the latter (something I'd never done before!) and invited my oldest son's preschool teacher turned dear friend, Audrey. We decided on our destination in January and began planning, and by June, we were more than ready to go.
Audrey and I after mass in Trinidad, Colorado. We started our trip from Denver on a Saturday afternoon, stayed the night in Trinidad, and then drove the rest of the way after church.
Why Santa Fe? I love it and Audrey had never been. If you've never been, I cannot recommend it enough, as the architecture, food, and culture are unlike anywhere else.
We stayed at the cutest Airbnb that perfectly matched the Santa Fe aesthetic inside and out! If you want the perfect home, message me, and I will send you the listing for this 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom beauty!
When we decided to visit Santa Fe, we had three main reasons: To relax, write, and see the famous world-famous Loretto Chapel.
Nestled in the heart of town, the Loretto Chapel is an architectural marvel and a spiritual sanctuary that draws visitors worldwide.
Built in the late 19th century, Loretto is renowned for its "Miraculous Staircase" that spirals gracefully towards the choir loft without any visible means of support.
As the story goes, the staircase was constructed by a mysterious carpenter who appeared at a time when the nuns needed access to their choir loft but had no means to build it. After praying for divine intervention, the carpenter arrived, made the staircase from non-native wood without nails or apparent central support, and disappeared without a trace. The identity of the carpenter remains a mystery, and many believe he was St. Joseph himself, sent by Heaven to assist the nuns.
As a Catholic/daughter of an engineer/human, I cannot recommend visiting the Loretto Chapel enough, as pictures do not do this miraculous marvel any justice.
After visiting the Loretto Chapel, you can walk to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Sadly, St. Francis was closed when we visited on that Monday. Please see their website for a list of mass times and hours of operation.
Who doesn't love St. Kateri? St. Francis of Assisi also houses a statue of the Church's first Native American saint at the front of the Cathedral.
Since our time in Santa Fe was short, we, sadly, didn’t get to see all of the other local Catholic pilgrimage sites, which include:
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
San Miguel Chapel
Cristo Rey
If you have the time, there are many other Catholic sites around the state, all of which can be found on our interactive map of New Mexico.
Did I mention that I was 20 weeks pregnant on this trip? (Hence the many breaks and food stops on this trip!)
I cannot wait to return to Santa Fe - next time, with my husband and three boys! (God willing, we will also get to visit more of the local pilgrimage sites.) If you haven’t visited Santa Fe, I highly recommend it for a memorable pilgrimage full of incredible history and inspiring places.
God bless!