Grotto offers pilgrimage options for Jubilee Year of Hope

The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is a designated pilgrimage site by Bishop Walker Nickless for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. The grotto is offering three pilgrimage options to satisfy the requirements to obtain the plenary indulgence for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. 

To book a pilgrimage, contact the shrine at (515) 887-2371 or Director of Operations Rose Walker at (515) 320-2874 or email [email protected]. 

Following are the options:
. 
OPTION A 
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Weekdays - $50.00 per person 
Includes Mass, Sacrament of reconciliation, prayer booklet (priced at $10), catered lunch, tour of the grotto, guided meditation, Stations of the Cross.  Groups are welcome to stay after 3 p.m. to further explore the grotto and/or visit the gift shop. 

Mass - Celebration of Mass and reception of holy Communion in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, by Msgr. Ed Girres, Rector of the Grotto. 

Tour of the Grotto - The tour begins with the group praying the Jubilee Prayer in the grotto.  

Sacrament of Reconciliation - During the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Msgr. Ed Girres will celebrate the Sacrament with groups of twenty or less (if there’s a larger group, an accompanying priest may assist or a local priest can be arranged to help).  The prayers for the Jubilee Year indulgence will be given as the penance.

Notes:
Guided meditation - Spend 30-40 minutes in a guided meditation by Msgr. Ed Girres, or Deacon Bruce Helleseth, in the grotto itself.   

Stations of the Cross - The Jubilee Year Stations of the Cross produced by Missio  

Lunch - Provided by a local caterer and volunteers. 
Recent pilgrims from ColoradoOPTION B 
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Weekdays - $35 per person 

Includes Mass, sacrament of reconciliation, prayer booklet (priced at 
$10), catered lunch, Tour of the Grotto.  Groups are welcome to stay after 1 p.m. to further explore the grotto and/or visit the gift shop. 

Mass - Celebration of Mass and Reception of holy Communion in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, by Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the grotto. 

Tour of the grotto - The tour begins with the group praying the Jubilee Prayer in the grotto.  

Sacrament of reconciliation - During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Msgr. Ed Girres will celebrate the sacrament with groups of 20 or less (if there’s a larger group, an accompanying priest may assist or a local priest can be arranged to help).  The prayers for the Jubilee Year indulgence will be given as penance. 

Lunch - Provided by a local caterer and volunteers. 

Options for those staying longer on their own: 

Use the prayer booklet for individual meditation in the grotto. 

Notes:
Individuals or groups can pray the Stations of the Cross in the grotto.  Jubilee Year Stations of the Cross are available for use in the gift shop. 

Explore the grotto on your own. 
OPTION C 
3 to 8 p.m. Weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays - $50 per person 
Includes Mass, sacrament of reconciliation, prayer booklet (priced at $10), catered lunch, tour of the grotto, guided meditation, Stations of the Cross.  Groups are welcome to stay after 8 p.m. to further explore the grotto.  

To visit the gift shop, note that summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and/or visit the gift shop. (April-May; September-October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winter hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Mass - Celebration of Mass and reception of holy Communion in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, by Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the grotto. 

Tour of the grotto - The tour begins with the group praying the Jubilee Prayer in the grotto.  

Sacrament of reconciliation - During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Msgr. Ed Girres will celebrate the sacrament with groups of 20 or less (if there’s a larger group, an accompanying priest may assist or a local priest can be arranged to help).  The prayers for the Jubilee Year indulgence will be given as the penance. 

Guided meditation - Spend 30-40 minutes in a guided meditation by Msgr. Ed Girres, or Deacon Bruce Helleseth, in the grotto itself.   

Stations of the Cross - The Jubilee Year Stations of the Cross produced by Missio  

Note:
Lunch - Provided by a local caterer and volunteers. 

OPTION D 
If these options do not meet your needs, groups are welcome to come and carry out their own pilgrimage schedule.  Please call to be sure we can schedule a tour with your group. Lunch and dinner can be arranged/reserved at the local restaurant, The Wagon Wheel, Monday through Saturday.  

NOTE: An accompanying priest from outside the diocese who wishes to celebrate Mass here at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, must send a “letter of good standing” to the Diocese of Sioux City.