The Walk to Mary with Fr. Aaron Nett

National Shrines of Our Lady of Champion & Our Lady of Guadalupe

May 2-4, 2025

     The Walk to Mary has become a pilgrimage like no other in the world.  This is your opportunity to accompany Father Aaron Nett and others on this annual pilgrimage that has uplifted lives and filled hearts with many blessings from the Holy Family.   Our North Star Coach departs early in the morning on May 2nd at St. Joseph’s Church in Pierz.  Our journey will take us through eastern Minnesota and over the border, into Wisconsin.  Nestled amid the beautiful natural setting of southwest Wisconsin, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, serves the spiritual needs of those who suffer poverty in body and soul, especially those most in need.   Faithful to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary through her appearances on the American continent in 1531 and funded entirely by private donations, the Shrine includes a Pilgrim Center with café and gift shop, Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel, Memorial to the Unborn, Meditation Trail, numerous devotional areas and, of course, we’ll have a guided tour of the magnificent Shrine Church and lunch at the Culina Mariana Café is included.  Father Aaron will be concelebrating Mass this afternoon with His Eminence, the retired Cardinal Leo Burke at the Shrine church.  We’ll travel across Wisconsin until we arrive at the Hampton Inn, downtown Green Bay.    Dinner tonight is on you own.     

    Day two begins with the Grab & Go breakfast at the hotel as walkers depart the hotel early in the morning and travel to Old St. Joseph Church at the St. Norbert College campus in DePere.  A prayer and send-off blessing are held before the Walk to the National Shrine of Our Lady Champion begins.  The 21 mile walk spiritually prepares us for our destination, America’s only Church-approved apparition site, where in 1859, the Blessed Mother appeared to Adele Brise on what is now the site of the National Shrine in Champion, Wisconsin.  You don’t need to walk the entire route, you can walk at your own pace or not walk at all.  Whenever you want to stop, a shuttle will take you to the next destination.  So young and old can participate.  Non-walkers will depart the hotel, at mid-morning, and will be shuttled to the Shrine of St. Joseph in DePere.  From there, you will be shuttled to Holy Cross Parish in Green Bay for an included lunch for walkers and non-walkers.  Following lunch, non-walkers will be taken to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.  A one and a half mile walk will be available, after Mass, to those who can’t do the long walk. This begins at St. Joseph’s Grotto on the Shrine grounds and ends at the Apparition Grotto.  While you’re at the Shrine, the café and large gift shop will be open.  You can also view the history of the Shrine film or spend time at the chapel which surrounds the site where Mary appeared to Adele.  Reconciliation is available, as are a number of Masses, one of which Fr. Aaron will participate.  After departing the Shrine, we’ll stop for dinner on your own and then spend a peaceful evening at the hotel.  

     Day three begins with breakfast at the hotel and a departure at mid-morning.  May is Mary’s month. The day after the Walk to Mary, we start with Mass with Fr. Aaron concelebrating, and then we’ll join the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion as it celebrates its time-honored tradition of crowning Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Following Mary’s crowning, be sure to participate in the National Shrine’s traditional rosary procession around its grounds. This will be such a wonderful experience for this one-of-a-kind pilgrimage.    

     What a wonderful journey for three days.  Arrival back in Pierz will be later in the evening.  Please join us in May and sign up soon!!!!  A portion of the profits will go to St. Joseph’s Parish. 

$399 per person double occupancy                  $359 per person triple occupancy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

$319 per person quad occupancy                      $569 single occupancy

 

Entire amount is due when you sign up. Please turn the page over and fill out and return the form.

 

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Transportation and lodging hosted by Gary Block Tours is arranged with independent firms.  Bookings for entertainment are arranged through independent hotels, theatres and other entertainment venues.  We take great pride in our selection of reliable firms.  However, we do not control these independent firms.  Sometimes shows or celebrity appearances are changed or cancelled without notice.  We cannot be responsible for claims or losses arising out of injury, accident, death, loss of enjoyment, frustration or inconvenience that arises from the act or omission of any independent firm supplying services to Gary Block Tours, or for mechanical breakdowns, governmental actions, acts of God, strikes or acts of war beyond our control.  We cannot be responsible for the consequences of your failure to follow instructions, including but not limited to check in, check out and baggage handling.  If events or reservations are cancelled or changed, we will make every effort to provide a comparable substitute tour experience. Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled.   

Ø  Comfortable North Star Coach transportation

Ø  Two night’s accommodations at the Hampton Inn – Green Bay, WI

Ø  Baggage handling

Ø  Guided tour at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine

Ø  Lunch at Holy Cross Parish and at The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Ø  Participation fee for Walk to Mary

Ø  Walk to Mary event, The Shrine of St. Joseph and the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion

Ø  The Apparition Chapel & Oratory where the Blessed Virgin appeared to Adele Brise

Ø  Choice of a number of Masses, the Crowning of Mary and more

Ø  Four meals which includes two breakfasts and two lunches

Ø  Fun and prizes

Ø  Hosted by Father Aaron Nett and Laura Block

 I have read and understand the Cancellation and Refund Policy notice.  All participants of this trip must sign below.

Mail registration and payment to: Gary Block Tours, 112 SE 4th Street, Little Falls, MN  56345

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   Gary Block Tours

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Mail payment to Gary Block Tours, 112 SE 4th Street, Little Falls, Minnesota 56345 

Walk to Mary 2025 

You’ll receive an itinerary, luggage tag and emergency form a couple of weeks before the trip.