We all have a responsibility to each other to dress modestly, especially during the warmer seasons. Appropriate dress is conducive to an atmosphere of prayer and of meeting the Lord. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a place of religious pilgrimage and of worship. Thus, reverence in manner of dress and behavior is appreciated.
“To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament (i.e. the Holy Eucharist) … Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.” (cf. CCC 1387)
Inappropriate dress is distracting to maintaining a prayerful atmosphere, and it becomes a source of temptation and sets a bad example when attending Holy Mass and other devotions.
Inappropriate clothing includes:
Thank you for giving the respect due to God at Our Lady’s Shrine.
We understand that you may want to take photographs of many of the beautiful areas of the Shrine, including the Church. The photography, however, must respect the personal “space” and privacy of other pilgrims. For example, including a photo of a pilgrim in prayer and posting that photo on social media is inappropriate unless he/she gives prior permission. Please be considerate of others.
Tripods are not permitted in the Shrine Church without written permission from the Executive Director.
If you arrive with extensive photo gear and/or a tripod, expect to be asked your intentions. We realize there are enthusiasts who bring such gear for personal photography, but many more come to shoot images commercially and consider the Shrine merely a prop or background.
These same rules apply for video use.
No pets are permitted beyond the Shrine parking lot. Only service animals are permitted beyond the Shrine parking lot, and into the Pilgrim Center, upon the Meditation Trail, the Rosary Walk, the outdoor Stations of the Cross, and into the Shrine Church.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a Service Animal is defined as an animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe welcomes service animals. A Service Animal is allowed to accompany an individual with a disability to all areas of the Shrine where pilgrims are normally allowed entry. Non-service dogs (pets) are permitted only in the parking lot.
Examples of common tasks performed by Service Animals:
No, emotional support animals are not permitted. Under the (ADA), an animal whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support to an individual does not qualify as a Service Animal.
A Service Animal can be asked to leave the Shrine grounds if it is out of control and its owner does not take effective action to control it or when the Service Animal is not housebroken.
While dogs are the most common Service Animals, miniature horses, and monkeys may also be recognized as ADA Service Animals.
A pilgrimage as a journey to a sacred place undertaken as an act of religious devotion.
Its purpose may be simply to venerate a certain saint or ask some spiritual favor; beg for a physical cure or perform an act of penance; express thanks or fulfill a promise. From the earliest days pilgrimages were made to the Holy Land, and later on to Rome, where Peter and Paul and so many Christians were martyred. From the eighth century the practice began of imposing a pilgrimage in place of public penance. As a result, during the Middle Ages pilgrimages were organized on a grand scale and became the object of special Church legislation. In modern times, beside Rome and the Holy Land, famous shrines such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe draw thousands of pilgrims each year from the Catholic world.
— Modern Catholic Dictionary, Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
As few or as many people may come to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on pilgrimage. Individuals, families, parishes, and even the faithful of an archdiocese, visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on pilgrimage.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Flores Mariae Gift Shop is open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily. The Culina Mariana Café hours click here.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 5250 Justin Road La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
From I-90 E, take Exit 5 toward WI-16 E. Turn left on WI-16 W. Continue onto Losey Boulevard N for 3 miles. Turn left onto US-14 E/US-61 S/WI-35 S/Mormon Coulee Road and continue for 1.9 miles. Turn left onto US-14 E/US-61 S and continue for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Justin Road. The entrance to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be 0.3 miles on the right.
From I-90 W, take Exit 5 for WI-16 toward Onalaska. Turn right onto WI-16 W and continue for 4.5 miles. Continue onto Losey Boulevard N for another 3.0 miles. Turn left onto US-14 E/US-61 S/WI-35 S/Mormon Coulee Road and continue for 1.9 miles. Turn left onto US-14 E/US-61 S and continue for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Justin Road. The entrance to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be 0.3 miles on the right.
Yes, please visit our Travel & Lodging Page for details.
The Shrine Church is located a 1/2 mile from the Pilgrim Center. There is an additional 1/2 mile of paved trails beyond the Church. Golf Cart shuttles are available at no cost during normal business hours.
It is recommended that a pilgrimage group begin planning its pilgrimage between two and three months in advance. For more information regarding planning a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit Pilgrimage.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe does not have overnight accommodations for visitors at this time.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is free and open to the public.
Yes, picnic tables are available near the parking lot from April through October.
With the exception of assistance animals, pets are not permitted on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Yes, golf cart transportation is provided daily to and from the Shrine Church starting at the Pilgrim Center for visitors with physical disabilities. Wheelchairs are also available in the Pilgrim Center and Shrine Church.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is closed on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
To learn if there will be any special events at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the day your group visits
No, group discounts are not available in the Culina Mariana Café. However, there is a group menu present on our website.
A shrine is a prominent sacred locality. It may be the burial place of a saint, or where he or she lived or died, or where a heavenly apparition took place. Shrines are the focuses of pilgrimages by the faithful and often of miraculous phenomena approved by the Church.
— Modern Catholic Dictionary, Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe welcomes tens of thousands of visitors annually, including individuals, families and organized pilgrimage groups. The staff of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is available to assist you in the organization of pilgrimages for a variety of groups: senior citizens, men’s and women’s organizations, First Holy Communion and Confirmation candidates, school children, as well as groups desiring a spiritual retreat. Come alone, come with family, or come as part of a group.
La Crosse has a temperate climate. July is the warmest month of the year, when the average high temperature is 85 °F (29 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 26 °F (-4 °C). Periods of heavy snowfall are normal during winter months.
To learn about various ways to support the ongoing mission of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, please visit Donate. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacraments of Marriage and Baptism are most properly celebrated within the worshiping community of a parish; therefore, the Shrine does not ordinarily celebrate weddings or baptisms.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located in the Diocese of La Crosse but is not an entity of the Diocese of La Crosse. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is financially independent of the Diocese of La Crosse.
Discover spiritual fulfillment at Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe. Join our welcoming community for worship, fellowship, and meaningful connections. Embrace a journey of faith and love with us. All are welcome.
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