This majestic Catholic Cathedral was opened in 1907.It is located on Broad Street in the heart of the town surrounded by hundreds of old historic houses. The Cathedral was built on the foundation of the original church built in 1854 which sadly burned down. We attended 9am mass and it was good to see lots of young adults dressed up and attending. The pews are made from carved Flemish oak, and the three altars are made from white Vermont marble. The cathedral has many beautiful stained-glass windows, statues and paintings. It is the only cathedral in the state of South Carolina.
Built in 1873, the church’s had many German immigrant parishioners during the church’s early days. The church itself is very beautiful with many stained-glass windows.
Nestled on the slopes of Mauna Loa overlooking Kealakekua Bay, this St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church, also called Hawaii’s first painted church, is both an active church and a historic landmark. Set within Kona’s coffee belt, the church was built in 1899. Father John Velghe, a self-taught artist, decorated the interior walls and ceilings of his miniature Gothic Cathedral with colorful paintings. Six murals were about spiritual and biblical scenes such as (Photo#3) Jesus being tempted by the Devil and the appearance of the Cross to Saint Francis (Photo#4). Outside the church on the church grounds were beautiful flower gardens and an old cemetery.
At mass, this tiny church built in 1936 had about 40 parishioners, a very charismatic priest (Father Samuel) with a good sermon and dozens of beautiful murals. The wood building was a former military hospital. This was not the first painted church in Hawaii, but a former priest (Father Gielen) hand painted all of the colorful ceiling murals and side panels depicting scenes from the bible. Scenes included Jesus commanding Peter to drop the fishing net to catch fish (Photo#2), Cain & Able (Photo#3), and raising Lazarus from the dead (Photo#4)
We attended 7am weekday mass at this cute, small church along with four other locals. The priest was so happy to have non-Hana people attend church. It was a very spiritual mass because the windows of the church were open, there was a small breeze, and you could hear the tropical birds chirping (which almost drowned out the priest’s voice at times). It was so peaceful that you couldn’t help but feel Gods presence. After the mass, the priest came back out with a bowl of fresh avocados and gave us a couple that were handpicked from the avocado tree on church property. We visited the beautiful flowers and plants on the church property after mass. One reason that we enjoy being a Catholic is that you can go to mass every day anywhere in the world and you have the same bible readings. We took advantage of it and went to four masses in four different churches over our 12-day trip.
We enjoyed Ash Wednesday Mass in Hawaii and began our six weeks of Lent in this tropical paradise. This would be the largest of the four Hawaii churches that we attended. A statue of Saint Teresa of Lisieux was erected at the entrance. Inside, the carving of Jesus on the cross was quite different. Still reverent, Jesus’ rendition was wearing a Hawaii loin cloth, had longer hair and was quite muscular.
As we walked around Oldtown, we visited and prayed at this beautiful basilica. The cathedral’s original structure dates to the 1700’s. The church is built in a Spanish mission style, and the interior is adorned with beautiful murals, stained glass windows, sculptures, artifacts and relics. The basilica is the oldest church in St. Augustine and is the oldest parish in the USA.
Just off Route 66, this was a spectacular Texas tribute to our Lord Jesus Christ. It had a 19-story high cross that caught your attention along I-40. We parked and walked along a walkway with beautiful marble sculptures of the Way of the Cross, the Empty Tomb and the Last Supper. The buildings included a chapel, a room with a replica of Jesus shroud, a giftshop, paintings of the disciples and bible scenes, and the most beautiful water fountain of Jesus that I have ever seen. We had a long 380 mile drive that day across Texas and Oklahoma, so this was a great stop to pray, spiritually recharge and reflect for a moment. The giant cross was featured prominently in the Steve Martin comedy “Leap of Faith.”
Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Jacque Kelly
Date: July 6, 2024
Sitting atop Mount Adams on Guido Street, this limestone church constructed by stone quarried from the slopes, gives a spectacular panoramic view of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River. The church was built in 1859. It is small but has seven beautiful paintings by Johann Schmitt which hang over the main altar and side altars. The church has the nickname, “Church of the Steps”, for its 96 steps leading up to its entrance. It is known for its Good Friday Pilgrimage in which parishioners say prayers on each step until they reach the summit. We began at the church to walk behind Jesus 1.6 miles downtown to the Cathedral Basilica, this was part of the National Eucharistic Procession going across the country to Indianapolis.
Expedition Team: Rosie Miller, Jacque Kelly, Dave Miller
Date: July 6, 2024, September 14, 2025
One of the national eucharistic procession came through Ohio on its way to Indianapolis. The holy processions began at the four corners of the USA. We began at Immaculata Catholic Church atop Mount Adams and walked 1.6 miles down and through the streets of Cincinnati to the cathedral. We attended mass before joining a thousand other people (pilgrims) and walking behind the holy eucharist another .7 miles to Fountain Square. Leading the procession was about 30 priests, then singers then the Eucharist under a canopy. I imagined myself walking through the streets of Jerusalem following Jesus to hear him talk. A family oriented “Jesus is Here” event with musical performers, food trucks and games followed the walk and adoration.
The cathedral was built in the classic Greek style of architectural and dedicated in 1845, After 90 years it fell into disarray. The cathedral was refurbished in 1957 and designated a minor basilica in 2020. The church is the oldest cathedral west of the Alleghenies, still in use as a cathedral. More than 21,300 baptisms and 10,500 weddings have taken place here.
The towering Byzantine mosaic behind the alter depicts Jesus bestowing the “power of the keys” upon Saint Peter. The two smaller mosaics show Peter imprisoned. The two paintings are the two newly recognized Saints. Its single spire made of white limestone, rises 224 feet above street level making it the tallest man-made structure in Cincinnati for decades. The church has 33 columns, symbolizing Jesus’s 33 years of life. In 2025, we attended a special mass here for survivors of suicide loss administered by Archbishop Robert Casey. The choir was outstanding.
