Experience the Holy Land in Washington, D.C. This Easter Triduum
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Pope Leo XIV declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, which extends from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. This year, thousands of pilgrims will surely flock to Assisi to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. However, for most of us living stateside, taking a trip across the Atlantic isn’t feasible - especially with rising costs of living and airline tickets.
But what if we told you that there was a shrine with a Franciscan friary built in the Italian Renaissance style, that not only mimics the Sacro Convento (the very friary where St. Francis is buried), but also holds one of the most significant relics of another Franciscan saint - all right here in the U.S.A.?
About an hour northeast of Washington, D.C., and just over 25 minutes from Baltimore, Maryland, sits the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City. The Shrine of St. Anthony is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the Our Lady of the Angels Province. “The Shrine of St. Anthony is a place of encounter, where pilgrims can meet Christ in many different ways,” shared Anna Jones, Director of Advancement Communications for the Shrine of St. Anthony. “Open to the public for more than 20 years, friars have lived, studied, and ministered at this site since 1928.”
The Conventual Franciscan Friars are part of the three branches that make up the First Order of St. Francis. Though they can trace their origins back to St. Francis himself, the Conventual Franciscans have been living, studying, and ministering in Ellicott City for almost 100 years.
“The Franciscan Friars Conventual first came to Ellicott City, MD in 1928, living and working out of what is now Carrollton Hall – a manor house built for one of the granddaughters of the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll of Carrollton,” described Ms. Jones.
Over the years, the Franciscans cultivated 236 acres of beautiful landscape into an Italian Renaissance-style friary and eventually into a place for pilgrims to “come away and rest awhile.” (Mk 6:31) From the extensive walking trails, to outdoor Stations of the Cross to a Marian Grotto to a St. Anthony Garden of Eternity, pilgrims can easily enter into quiet reflection and the spirit of the Franciscan Order itself.
“Throughout the Chapel and the rest of the building, our Franciscan roots are clear,” said Ms. Jones. “The site includes beautiful imagery and statues of Franciscan saints, murals hand painted by friars, and quiet places to pray and reflect on Scripture.”
But perhaps most notable is the great relic that the Shrine houses.
“We have the most significant relic of St. Anthony in North America,” explained Ms. Jones. “The friars in Ellicott City were gifted the relic of St. Anthony from friars in Padua in 1995, when our patron’s body was exhumed. This relic rests in a gorgeous reliquary in the back of our Chapel and is available for veneration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.”
St. Anthony of Padua is perhaps one of the most beloved Franciscan saints, making this shrine a perfect destination during this Franciscan Jubilee. The shrine is also preparing for a jubilant celebration on St. Anthony’s feast day this year.
“Our biggest event will be the St. Anthony Festival on June 13,” said Ms. Jones. “On the eve of the festival, we will host a sung vespers with our friars, including a reflection on St. Anthony’s life. The festival on Saturday will include two talks by Laura Kelly Fanucci, an award-winning author and speaker, as well as time for Adoration, Confession, and Mass. We will have picnic lunches available and children’s activities so it's an event the entire family can enjoy.”
But even if you are unable to physically travel to the Shrine of St. Anthony, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a virtual pilgrimage to this sacred destination. “The Shrine of St. Anthony has a 360 Virtual Tour available on our website for all interested in visiting us but may not be able to travel here,” shared Ms. Jones. “The tour includes historic facts about the site and close-up images of almost every corner of our historic building.”
The Shrine’s website also offers a variety of Bible studies and spiritual workshops, all of which can be viewed or watched livestreamed on the Companions of St. Anthony YouTube Channel.
Whether or not you choose to travel to this “little Assisi” in Maryland, we encourage you to partake fully in this Extraordinary Jubilee Year by discovering a Franciscan pilgrimage site near you. You can do so by exploring our “Go Franciscan” collection.
