Group Pilgrimages and Retreats

Please complete the group reservation form located below to schedule your group visit so we may accommodate you. We ask that you give us at least a 7 day notice. ​

Things to know about when visiting as a group: 

Visits:

• We greatly appreciate advance notice of a group over 15 people. This is to help us prepare for a large group We may have multiple events going on or a special event that you should be notified about. Thank you in advance for filling out the group reservation form above to let us know you are coming as we would love to have your group visit the Grotto!

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Celebrating a Mass:

• If you wish to celebrate a private mass with your group, we are able to offer the days and times below.  We have four locations to hold a private group Mass and they are  listed  under facility rental along with their capacity.  Please indicate your choice on your group reservation form, and we will check availability on your requested date. 
  • Monday - Friday: 9 AM, 1 PM, or 3 PM
  • Saturday 9 AM, or 2:30 PM
  • Sunday: we are not able to schedule group masses for Sunday, but your group is  welcome to join us at our 12 PM Mass or 2 PM Spanish Mass.

• A Letter of Suitability is required for all clergy outside of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This is incredibly important as we see hundreds of groups throughout the year and need to be sure each priest is in good standing in order to celebrate mass here. Without a letter of suitability from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, a priest from outside of this Archdiocese , will not be able to celebrate mass, there will be no exceptions.    Please reach out to us if you need help with the process of obtaining this letter of suitability or have any questions
• We have limited vestments. On a busy day (especially a special feast day) we may not have enough vestments for all groups. Please bring your own or double check with us if this will be a challenge. 
• We have many groups coming through, especially on weekends. If you have a scheduled mass time, please be considerate of other groups and start on time. We try to accommodate all groups that wish to have a mass, but in order to do that, we have a short window to set up for each mass. 

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Facility Rental

• St. Mary's Chapel (350 seats), $50/hr
• Corpus Christi Chapel (8 seats), $50/hr
• Grotto Cave (45 seats in cave area, 1000 seats in amphitheater), $50/hr
• Dubois-Seton Garden (26 seats), $50/hr

Mass/Chapel Supplies  (if your group is celebrating Mass)

• Groups less than 25:       $25
• Groups of 25-50:              $50
• Groups of 51-100:           $100
• Groups over 100:             $150​
• Sound System:                   $50  (for Grotto Cave Mass only—suggested for groups over 100)
• Mic and speaker:              $25 (portable, for use in Seton–Dubois Garden—suggested for groups over 50)

Suggested Stipends

• Preside Mass:                   $150
• Confessions:                     $100/hr
• Priest/Retreat leader: $350

Payment: There is no charge unless you are reserving space on our grounds. However, donations are greatly appreciated! After you have been scheduled and contacted by our Visitor Relations Associate you will be sent a link to the payment form along with an invoice. Note: that completing the payment form before your group has been confirmed does not guarantee reservation, please wait until you are contacted by the Visitor Relations Associate. 

​For more information or inquiries, please contact our Group Coordinator, Monica Rubeling at 301-447-7434 or m.g.rubeling@msmary.edu.

GROUP RESERVATION FORM

Attention Bus Drivers! 

• Please call 15 minutes prior to arrival so we can prepare for your entrance into the one-way Visitor Center circle. For bus parking, please follow the directions of our Bus Map.

Area  Restaurants that offer group dining:

• The Carriage House, 200 S Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, MD 21727; (301) 447-2366 
• Mountaingate Family Restaurant, 133 Frederick Road, Thurmont, MD 21788 ; (301)-271-4373
• Chubby's Barbeque, 16430 Old Frederick Rd # A, Emmitsburg, MD 21727;  (301)447-3322​
• Brewers Alley, 124 Market St, Frederick, MD 21701, (301)-631-0089
• Dutch's Daughter, 581 Himes Ave, Frederick, MD 21703, (301)-668-9500
• IL Forno Pizzeria, 1035 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21702, (301)-846-0422​​

Area Hotels for groups needing overnight accommodations;

• Sleep Inn and Suites, 501 Silo Hill Parkway, Emmitsburg, MD 21727; (301) 447-0044
• Courtyard by Marriott, 5225 Westview Drive, Frederick, MD 21701; (301) 631-9030

• Inn at Springfield Manor Bed and Breakfast , 11836 Auburn Road, Thurmont, MD 21788 ; (301) 271-0099
• Home2 Suites by Hilton, 4850 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
• MainStay Suites, 7310 Executive Way, Frederick, MD 21704

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