Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville)
17th century St. Isaac Jogues Feast, October 19
The site associated with the martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues and companions in the 1640s.
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Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guideWhat happened here
The Story
The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York, rises above the Mohawk River valley on ground traditionally identified with Ossernenon, the Mohawk village where three Jesuit missionaries gave their lives for the faith in the 1640s. St. Rene Goupil, a lay missionary and surgeon, was killed there in 1642 after making the Sign of the Cross over a child. St. Isaac Jogues, who had been captured and tortured alongside Goupil, escaped, returned to France, and then came back to the mission of his own free will; he was martyred at the village in 1646, along with the young lay missionary St. Jean de Lalande. They are honored among the eight North American Martyrs, Jesuits of the mission to New France who died between 1642 and 1649. A decade after their deaths, the same village saw the birth of St. Kateri Tekakwitha in 1656, the Mohawk-Algonquin woman who became the first Native American to be canonized, a flowering of faith that pilgrims have long seen as the fruit of the martyrs' sacrifice. The shrine was founded by the Jesuits in 1885 and grew to include the vast circular Coliseum church, chapels, and outdoor ways of prayer across hundreds of acres. Pilgrims continue to come, especially in the summer and around the martyrs' feast, to walk the ravine associated with St. Rene Goupil's death and to pray where the Gospel was first sealed in blood on what is now United States soil.
How to read this account
Church Recognition
Sts. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil, and Jean de Lalande were canonized with the other North American Martyrs by Pope Pius XI in 1930; the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs is a recognized Catholic pilgrimage shrine within the Diocese of Albany.
Catholic Teaching
The shrine bears witness to the Church's teaching that martyrdom is the supreme testimony to the truth of the faith (CCC 2473-2474), and to the missionary mandate that carried the Gospel to the peoples of the New World (CCC 849-856).
Go Deeper
The shrine's official website, https://www.ourladyofmartyrsshrine.org, offers history, maps, and pilgrimage schedules; readers may also explore the Jesuit Relations, the missionaries' own accounts of the mission to New France, and the Catechism on martyrdom (CCC 2473-2474).
Useful before you go
Plan Your Visit
The Pilgrim’s Quick Card
- Ideal stay
- Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer
- Best months
- Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct Usually the best balance of weather and crowds
- Nearest airport
- Albany (ALB) About 45 minutes by road
- Language & currency
- English · U.S. dollar (USD) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
- Feast day
- October 19
- Accessibility
- Good Main worship areas are usually accessible; verify details
Plan the trip
How Long Should I Stay?
Half Day is a practical amount of time for Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville). Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer.
- Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
- Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
- Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.
Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.
Best Time to Visit
Best Overall
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct
Usually the best balance of weather and crowds.
Peak Periods
Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.
For a Quieter Pilgrimage
Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.
Feast Day
October 19 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.
Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.
Getting There From the United States
Best Gateway: Albany (ALB)
For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Albany (ALB) is the most practical arrival point. About 45 minutes by road.
From the airport, continue toward Auriesville, New York by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.
Typical U.S. Routing
United States -> Albany (ALB) -> Auriesville, New York -> Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville)
Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.
On the ground
Getting Around
A rental car is usually unnecessary for a visit centered on Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville). Auriesville, New York is best handled with walking, public transportation, and occasional taxis or rideshare services.
Use transit for longer city movements and walk the final approach when practical. Historic centers often have limited parking and traffic restrictions.
Good to Know: Allow extra time around major feast days, weekends, and large liturgies, when local streets and transit can be crowded.
Where to Stay
For a pilgrimage-focused visit, stay as close to Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville) as practical or in the center of Auriesville, New York. Proximity is more valuable than luxury when it lets you return for early Mass, evening prayer, or a quiet second visit.
Best For Pilgrims
- Pilgrim houses or religious guesthouses when available
- Small hotels or pensions near the shrine
- Lodging with meal options if the destination is rural
- Accessible accommodations for elderly or mobility-limited travelers
Pilgrim Tip: Confirm walking distance, hills, and evening transportation before booking.
Accessibility
The main worship and visitor areas at Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville) are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.
Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.
What to do
Most Important Things to Do
Venerate the Saint or Relics
The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville commemorates the North American Martyrs.
Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.
Attend Mass
If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.
Understand the Devotion
Read a short life of the saint before arriving, then pray for the grace to imitate the virtue most associated with that saint.
Explore the Church and Grounds
Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.
Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.
Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary
Half-Day Pilgrimage
- Begin at Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville) and spend time in quiet prayer.
- Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
- Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
- Go to Confession when available.
- Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.
Have more time? Add other churches and sacred sites in Auriesville, New York.
Mass, Confession & Prayer
When the church is active, Mass is the best way to place the saint's witness within the life of the Church. Confession, Adoration, and devotions vary by community.
Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.
Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.
Practical
What to Bring
Pilgrimage Essentials
- Rosary
- Small Bible or prayer book
- Written prayer intentions
- Journal and pen
- Reusable water bottle
Practical Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small backpack
- Portable phone charger
- Modest clothing for churches
- Payment card plus a small amount of U.S. dollar (USD)
Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.
Before You Go
Before leaving:
- ✓ Check current opening hours
- ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
- ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
- ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
- ✓ Check the weather
- ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
- ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
- ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer
Most Important: Do not experience Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville) only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.
Additional Information
The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville commemorates the North American Martyrs.
Official Information
Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.
Currency
United States uses U.S. dollar (USD). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.
Local Language
English is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.
Religious Etiquette
Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.
Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer
Travel with a group
Prefer to travel with a group?
No guided pilgrimages that include Shrine of the North American Martyrs (Auriesville) are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.
Information & sources
Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.
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