Join us on a beautiful 6-day pilgrimage through the Catholic heartland of the Midwest, where we encounter the witness of the saints, the legacy of great Catholic evangelists, and the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States. Journey to Peoria, Illinois, where we visit the Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen Museum, tour the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception where Bl. Sheen was ordained a priest, celebrate Mass, and pray at his tomb. Continue to Champion, Wisconsin, home of the National Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, where the Blessed Mother appeared to Adele Brise in 1859 as the “Queen of Heaven” and entrusted her with a mission to teach others what they should know for their salvation.

Along the way, discover the rich Catholic heritage of Wisconsin, from the National Shrine of St. Joseph in De Pere, the first shrine in America dedicated to St. Joseph, to the Norbertine tradition at St. Norbert College and the peaceful grounds of the Norbertine Retreat Center. Visit Holy Hill, the Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, majestically situated atop one of Wisconsin’s highest elevations and surrounded by beautiful countryside. With opportunities for daily Mass, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, personal prayer, spiritual reflection, and fellowship, this pilgrimage invites us to draw closer to Christ through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and the example of the saints. Come discover the treasures of our own Catholic heritage and return home renewed by Our Lady of Champion’s call to pray, offer our lives to God, and share the gift of faith with those we encounter.

DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

Depart from your local airport and arrive at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Proceed to Baggage Claim and just outside, meet with your Trinity Tour Travels Guide and Driver who will remain with you throughout the pilgrimage. From the airport, we transfer to Peoria, Illinois (3 hours) with a late lunch on your own en route.

Check-in, dinner, Pilgrimage Orientation & overnight in Peoria.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with a visit to the Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen Museum located on the historic campus where young Fulton Sheen attended the Cathedral Grade School and the Spalding Institute (boys’ high school).  The museum houses the largest collection of Bl. Sheen's personal artifacts and memorabilia. Here we learn about the life of the beloved priest, missionary, teacher, and pioneering Catholic evangelist.  We tour the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception where Bl. Sheen served Mass and where he was ordained to the priesthood on September 20, 1919. Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral, followed by personal prayer time at Sheen’s tomb in the side chapel.  Lunch on your own nearby and we travel to Green Bay, WI this evening (6 hours).

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Green Bay.

Breakfast at the hotel prior to our visit to Champion, WI, home of the only Church-Approved Marian Apparition site in America.  Internationally recognized as the site where Our Lady appeared to Adele Brise as “The Queen of Heaven” (1859), the young Adele was told to teach others what they should know for their salvation with the encouragement of: “Go and fear nothing, I will help you”.  Soon after, Adele’s father built a chapel to commemorate the apparitions.  On October 8, 1871, almost 12 years after the Blessed Mother’s last appearance to Adele, the historic Great Peshtigo Fire broke out, burning 1.2 million acres and taking over 2000 lives. Because of the high winds and dry grounds, the tornado-like fire storm took aim at the chapel’s holy grounds, where locals had gathered for protection. They processed around the sanctuary all night singing hymns, praising Jesus and asking Our Lady’s intercession.  Miraculously, by morning, a steady rain came and extinguished the raging fires. Everything outside a 5-mile radius was destroyed. Each year on October 8-9th, the people of the area (mostly descendants) re-enact the historic procession. 

Our tour begins with a stop at Mother of Mercy Hall for a welcome and overview of the history of the shrine. Mass is celebrated at The Shrine Chapel, followed by the Rosary, and continued touring of the grounds.  Lunch on your own in the Mother of Mercy Hall prior to extended prayer time, Stations of the Cross, and a visit to the Our Lady of Fatima Grotto. Our day ends with a stop at the gift shop prior to returning to the hotel.

Dinner & overnight in Green Bay.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we travel a short way to De Pere, WI to visit the National Shrine of St. Joseph.  Established in 1888, it was termed as a Shrine in 1890 by Pope Leo XIII.  The Shrine is renowned as being the first in America erected in honor of St. Joseph and is located on the grounds of St. Norbert College.  In 1892, under issuance of Pope Leo XIII, the National Shrine’s Statue of St. Joseph was solemnly crowned by the Bishop of Green Bay, and it remains one of only 17 crowned Josephian statues in the world by papal decree (and the only one in America).  We learn about the Norbertine Order who founded St. Norbert College and where the perpetual novena to St. Joseph was begun in 1888.   Mass is celebrated at the Shrine, paying homage to St. Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church.  We visit The Norbertine Retreat Center with time for lunch on your own and where its peaceful, prayerful setting serves as a perfect backdrop for spiritual meditation and guided prayer.  This afternoon’s schedule focuses on the life of St. Joseph, his role in the Holy Family, and his model of fatherly love.  We travel to Milwaukee, WI this evening (2 hours).

Check-in, dinner & overnight in Milwaukee.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we visit one of the most significant Marian Shrines in Wisconsin, the Holy Hill – Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Hubertus.  Majestically situated on 435 acres of lush scenery in Southeast Wisconsin, the basilica is a sacred place of peace, beauty and prayer and is visited by over 500,000 pilgrims each year.  Under the meticulous care of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Holy Hill, the Shrine sits atop a high glacier hill with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, at the highest elevation in all of Southeast Wisconsin.  Mass is celebrated here this day, followed by a guided tour, lunch on site on your own, time for private prayer, an opportunity to climb the 350 ft tower and time to visit the gift shop. We travel back to Chicago this evening (3 hours).

Check-in, Evening reflection, dinner & overnight in Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Holy Hill - Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians

An early breakfast at the hotel, followed by our last Mass together (hotel) as flight schedules permit.  As our pilgrimage draws to a close, we depart renewed in faith and strengthened by the Blessed Mother’s call to draw ever closer to her son. May we carry her message to with us to pray, to offer our lives to God, and to share the gift of faith with those we encounter. With grateful hearts we return home under the loving protection of Our Lady of Champion.

A Note from Trinity Tours Travels:

We are honored to have you travel with us and appreciate your trust in Trinity Tour Travels for your pilgrimage!  Though every effort will sincerely be made to follow the above itinerary, it should be considered a template of the journey, rather than a “contract” of sites to be visited.  There are times when local religious or national holidays, weather, traffic challenges, etc., may cause us to make changes in our schedule.  This MAY result in a change in the sequence of sites visited or, on the rare occasion, the missing of some certain site visits entirely.

As with all in life, we encourage the acceptance of possible change with a cheerful heart…after all, it is sometimes the unexpected that often makes the most beautiful memories!  Enjoy your trip to the fullest and relish every moment!