FAQs & Guidelines 
Dress & Photography Guidelines
Please Dress Modestly
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:
- short shorts
- skirts above the knee
- low neckline
- sleeveless shirts
- exposed midriff
- exposed back
- clothing that is tight-fitting
- clothing that is see-through
- clothing that bears offensive print or imagery
Thank you for giving the respect due to God at Our Lady’s Shrine.
The principal purpose of the Shrine is a place of prayer, pilgrimage and worship.
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.
Photos inside the Shrine Church are permitted. However, please turn off the flash.
Tripods are not permitted in the Shrine Church without written permission from the Executive Director.
ALL COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IS FORBIDDEN WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL.
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.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED:
- Engagement photos
- Wedding photos
- Senior Photos
- Graduation Photos
- Fashion shoots
- Photos showing disrespect
- Photos intended for resale (due to copyright violations)
These same rules apply for video use.
Service Animals
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:
- Guide an individual who is vision impaired.
- Alert an individual who is hearing impaired.
- Pull a wheelchair.
- Alert an individual to the onset of a seizure.
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.
Pilgrimage FAQs
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.
Hours
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.
Directions
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
5250 Justin Road
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601From the East
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 the West
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.
Does the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe have overnight accommodations for visitors?
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe does not have overnight accommodations for visitors at this time.
Are there parking or admittance fees?
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is free and open to the public.
Are there any picnic tables on the grounds?
Yes, picnic tables are available near the parking lot from April through October.
Are pets permitted on the grounds?
With the exception of assistance animals, pets are not permitted on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Is transportation provided on the grounds for visitors with physical disabilities?
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, please go to our Events page.
No, group discounts are not available in the Culina Mariana Café. However, there is a group menu present on our website. Visit Culina Mariana Café or call (608) 788-8400.
General FAQs
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.
Privacy Policy
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Website Privacy Policy
PRIVACY POLICY
Effective date: October 1, 2021
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates the https://www.guadalupeshrine.org website (the “Service”).
This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, accessible from https://www.guadalupeshrine.org
Information Collection and Use
We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.Types of Data Collected
Personal Data: While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Data”). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:• Email address
• First name and last name
• Phone number
• Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
• Cookies and Usage Data
• Usage DataWe may also collect information on how the Service is accessed and used (“Usage Data”). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.
Tracking & Cookies Data
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and we hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Other tracking technologies are also used such as beacons, tags and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.Examples of Cookies we use:
• Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Service.
• Preference Cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
• Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.
• Use of DataShrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe uses the collected data for various purposes:
• To provide and maintain the Service
• To notify you about changes to our Service
• To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so
• To provide customer care and support
• To provide analysis or valuable information so that we can improve the Service
• To monitor the usage of the Service
• To detect, prevent and address technical issues
• Transfer Of DataYour information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction. If you are located outside United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to United States and process it there. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.
Disclosure Of Data
Legal Requirements
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
• To comply with a legal obligation
• To protect and defend the rights or property of Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public
• To protect against legal liability
• Security of DataThe security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Service Providers
We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service (“Service Providers”), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used. We do not share the information with a third party.Links to Other Sites
Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Children’s Privacy
Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”).We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. We will inform you via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “effective date” at the top of this Privacy Policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
• By email: info@guadalupeshrine.org
• By visiting this page on our website: https://www.guadalupeshrine.org/contact-us
• By phone number: 608-788-8400
• By mail: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5250 Justin Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601, United States.