On a hillside overlooking the Mississippi River bluffs, a pilgrimage destination has risen that rivals the great Marian shrines of Europe. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, founded in 2004 by Cardinal Raymond Burke when he served as Bishop of La Crosse, has quickly become one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States, drawing over 300,000 pilgrims annually to its 70-acre grounds of gardens, chapels, and a magnificent votive church.
The shrine's origins are unusual. Unlike most pilgrimage sites, which develop organically around an apparition, miracle, or saint's tomb, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was deliberately created as a center of Marian devotion and traditional Catholic worship. Cardinal Burke envisioned a place where pilgrims could experience the beauty and solemnity of Catholic liturgy, where the Tridentine Mass would be celebrated alongside the Novus Ordo, and where devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe—Patroness of the Americas—would flourish.
The result exceeds expectation. The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, completed in 2008, features exquisite stonework, hand-painted iconography, and an altar positioned so that Mass can be celebrated facing God (ad orientem). The grounds include a Rosary Walk, Stations of the Cross winding through the woods, and a reproduction of the Guadalupe tilma so precise that pilgrims often weep upon seeing it. For those seeking a traditional expression of Catholic faith in America, La Crosse has become a beacon.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe traces to December 1531, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Aztec convert named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City. She left her image miraculously imprinted on his tilma (cloak), a cloth that remains incorrupt nearly 500 years later and hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City—the most visited Marian shrine in the world.
Bishop Raymond Burke (later Cardinal and Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura) established the La Crosse shrine in 2004, acquiring farmland on the bluffs south of the city. His vision was to create a place of pilgrimage that would promote devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, provide a setting for beautiful liturgy, and serve as a center for the New Evangelization.
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe was dedicated on July 31, 2008, designed by Duncan Stroik in a classical style that draws on the great basilicas of Rome. The church features a baldachin over the altar, side chapels dedicated to various saints, and a stunning reproduction of the Guadalupe image behind the main altar.
The shrine quickly outgrew its original facilities. Expansions have added a pilgrim center, enlarged gift shop, confession chapel capable of accommodating multiple priests, and extensive outdoor devotional spaces. The annual Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 3-12) draws thousands.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in La Crosse
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A classical church designed for the sacred liturgy
The shrine church, designed by Duncan Stroik, combines Roman classical architecture with devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The reproduction of the Guadalupe tilma behind the high altar was painted using the same dimensions and technique as the original. Mass is offered daily in both the Ordinary Form and Extraordinary Form (Tridentine).
Shrine Grounds and Gardens
The 70-acre grounds include the Rosary Walk (with bronze mysteries), outdoor Stations of the Cross through wooded trails, a Mexican-style plaza, and beautiful gardens. Devotional areas honor various Marian titles and saints important to the Americas.
Pilgrim Center and Chapel of Confession
The Pilgrim Center provides space for retreats and quiet prayer. The adjoining Chapel of Confession can accommodate up to seven priests hearing confessions simultaneously during major pilgrimage events.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 3-12
Nine days of special Masses, processions, and devotions leading to the December 12 feast. Thousands attend.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe — December 12
The principal feast, with Solemn Mass, mañanitas (pre-dawn serenade), and festive celebration.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Major pilgrimage day with outdoor Mass on the grounds.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Stoney Creek Hotel La Crosse ⭐⭐⭐ — Lodge-style hotel with indoor pool. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Radisson Hotel La Crosse ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Downtown hotel on the Mississippi riverfront. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Hampton Inn & Suites La Crosse ⭐⭐⭐ — Modern hotel with complimentary breakfast and indoor pool, conveniently located near I-90 and a short drive from the shrine. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE) has limited commercial service. Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) is 150 miles north; Madison (MSN) is 140 miles southeast.
By Car: I-90 runs through La Crosse. The shrine is south of the city, accessible from Highway 35.
By Bus: Greyhound serves La Crosse.
📚 Further Reading
Online Resources:
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe — Official shrine website with history and pilgrimage planning.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Tour of the Shrine — Virtual pilgrimage through the grounds.
🔗 Useful Links
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe — Mass schedule, events, directions.
Diocese of La Crosse — Diocesan information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Champion (250 km east) — America's only approved Marian apparition site.
Holy Hill, Wisconsin (300 km southeast) — National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Am I not here, I who am your Mother?" — Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, December 12, 1531
