Divine Mercy in La Crosse

Last Saturday night we called up some family friends at 11pm at night (Mike was sure they were still awake!) and asked them if they wanted to accompany us to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They, in fact, did want to join us so we all piled in to our mini van at 7:30am the next morning for the 2 hour drive. 4 adults and 4 carseats! Saint Maria Faustina (whom we named our little girl after)received revelations into God's divine mercy and Pope John Paul II made the Sunday after Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday - a special day to renew ourselves in God's goodness and his mercy.

We had an excellent brunch at the Shrine, walked the mile up to the Church and went to mass, confession, and then said the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Last time we were here it was the summer of '09 while I was pregnant with Jude and my Mom was sick. We were headed out to Michigan and visited the shrine for the first time. Life is certainly very different a few short years later. It was fun to visit it again - perhaps we will make it a tradition on Divine Mercy Sunday.

The monks make delicious food at their cafe. Everything is made from fresh ingredients and full of flavor. It really is very good.


The priest at mass sounded like he just got off a plane from Russia. Thick accent, almost hard to understand.He gave a stellar homily.


Here is our Faustina by the picture of Saint Faustina and a first class relic of Saint Faustina. The art work in the Church is breath taking.





Faustina and Belle in front of a bronze statue of Our Lady appearing to Juan Diego.




They have a beautiful 'rosary walk'. They have pictures of each mystery in blue and white tile on a wall.