Basilicas: A Pilgrim's Guide to America's Most Remarkable Catholic Churches

“Do not be like superficial sightseers. . . . Tourists do this. Pilgrims, on the other hand, immerse themselves fully in the places they encounter.” ―Pope Francis

Pope Francis’s call to move beyond sightseeing and into pilgrimage sets the tone for Basilicas: A Pilgrim’s Guide to America’s Most Remarkable Catholic Churches―a breathtaking Catholic travel guide to the sacred beauty, history, and spiritual richness of the Catholic basilicas of the United States.

Grady Connolly, known as the Social Thomist, has personally visited every single one of the ninety-four Catholic basilicas in the United States. Drawing on years of travel, prayer, and lived encounter, he offers a Catholic guidebook designed not merely to be admired but to be used. Basilicas is as portable as it is beautiful―crafted to slip easily into a backpack, withstand the wear of the road, and accompany readers as they explore the stand-out Catholic churches in this country.

Basilicas are churches formally designated by the pope as special places of pilgrimage because of their profound spiritual, historical, and cultural significance. While every diocese has a cathedral, a basilica stands apart as a living witness to the faith, sacrifice, and devotion of the community that built it. When approached with prayerful intentionality, even a brief visit to a basilica can become a genuine encounter with Christ and his Church.

Inside this Catholic travel and pilgrimage guide, you’ll discover

• Essential Information for Every Basilica
  Clear, accessible details on history, papal designation, and the faithful communities who have shaped each sacred space.
• Stunning Photography of Catholic Churches and Sacred Art
  Striking images that highlight architectural beauty, devotional details, and moments easily missed by the casual visitor.
• Personal Encounters and Reflections
  Thoughtful spiritual insights and firsthand stories drawn from Connolly’s journey through America’s Catholic basilicas.

Whether the nearest basilica is a flight away or just down the road, Basilicas invites you to walk as a pilgrim rather than a tourist. This rich Catholic devotional travel guide opens the door to deeper faith, greater wonder, and a renewed appreciation for the beauty and enduring legacy of Catholicism in America.

Ideal for Catholics seeking meaningful travel, parish groups, pilgrimage planners, OCIA candidates and converts, lovers of Catholic history and architecture, and anyone longing to encounter God through sacred places.

Grady Connolly is a content creator, entrepreneur, and the founder of Social Thomist, a social media agency working with Catholic priests, apostolates, and thinkers to evangelize and shape culture online. He works on projects that use social media and technology for human flourishing.

Connolly has traveled to more than twenty countries―creating content, visiting sacred sites, and sharing the joy of the faith online. He is widely known for his Basilica Pilgrimage Across America social media series, which documents visits to America’s basilicas and showcases their beauty and spiritual significance.

Connolly earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from The Catholic University of America. His work has been featured in the National Catholic Register and ChurchPOP, and he has appeared as a guest on The Katie McGrady Show on SiriusXM and Ave Explores.

Connolly resides in Washington, D.C.

Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, JCL, is the rector at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Cardinal James Harvey is the archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy.