By Sarah Albanese • Posted July 2, 2025

Summer is a wonderful time to step outside of our usual routines and explore the beauty and richness of faith that is offered in the Philadelphia area and beyond. This summer I am encouraging my family to take the extra time we have been given to grow in our faith.

These summer days can be an opportunity to explore new churches and shrines and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is blessed with an abundance of beautiful ones. For the past few summers, our family has visited churches new to us throughout the archdiocese. This season is a wonderful opportunity to see the rich diversity of the many churches in our region.

It is also exciting to hear about the ministries and events being held in different areas. Last summer we learned about a vibrant youth group after visiting a church we had never been to in our county. My teenage boys have since joined this youth group and spend many weekends throughout the year participating with friends from different parishes.

So often we define who we are as Catholic by our parish. By doing so, we  miss the opportunities that present themselves in neighboring churches. The Catholic Church is Universal and asks us to step outside of the walls we so often create to meet those from different backgrounds, experiences, and locations.

The summer is also a great time to visit one of the many local shrines within our archdiocese. During this Jubilee Year of Hope you can earn an indulgence for visiting many of these shrines. The Catechism defines an indulgence as: “the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, after the sin itself has been forgiven.”

A visit to the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown or the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine in South Philadelphia, for example, along with participation in the Mass, receiving the sacrament of penance and praying for the Holy Father allow a person to receive a plenary indulgence.

Our family would also like to visit the St. John Neumann Shrine, the St. Katharine Drexel Shrine in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown. Malvern Retreat House also recently dedicated a new shrine to Blessed Carlos Acutis, who will be declared a saint Sept 7 in Rome.

Growing up, my parents would often stop at a local church or shrine on the way to one of our family vacation spots. Some of the shrines we visited included the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md., the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass., the Shrine to the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, N.Y. and Our Lady of Victory Shrine in Lackawanna, N.Y.

I still have a vivid memory of standing in the ravine where St. Issac Jogues and his companions were martyred for their faith in 1646. I was only about 8 years old, but this moment allowed me to experience the lives of the saints in a new way.  It was truly a transformative moment.

So often we get bogged down in our daily and weekly routines that going to church becomes another thing to check off on our to-do list. Going to church on vacation can be an exciting part of the adventure.

Once when we were in the Outer Banks in North Carolina we attended Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Seas Church on Cape Hatteras. The windows of the church overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. It was a breathtaking view which made us appreciate God’s creation while celebrating holy Mass.

On a college trip with my oldest child in Texas we experienced a Mass in Spanish  and we both left uplifted by the vibrant community who came together to celebrate Mass in a small, hot chapel.

I can honestly say after all these years our entire family looks forward to experiencing Mass in a new place. Sometimes we were asked to bring the offertory gifts to the altar, enjoyed a coffee hour, were offered gifts and have been asked more than once if our family was going to join the parish. I told one pastor we would consider joining his church if we didn’t live 12 hours away!

I hope you and your family can enjoy these wonderful summer months while also experiencing new opportunities for worship, fellowship and prayer. Remember, God does not take the summer off. He is always waiting to walk alongside you on the many journeys you take.

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Sarah E. Albanese is a mother of five and a parishioner at St. Pius X Parish in Broomall.