The Saint John’s Bible harbors a generous mission “to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world.” With 118 locations across the United States, every day, year-in, and year-out, the unique experience of The Saint John’s Bible is connecting with people and their communities far and wide.
How The Saint John’s Bible connects with a community and the area around it, further showcases the immense collaboration and devotion behind this truly transformational work.
If only it were possible to witness all these connections in person…
Here’s your chance!
We’d like to propose one of the most unique summer road trips that anyone has ever shared with you – visiting The Saint John’s Bible across the United States.
Listed below are 12, hand-picked locations around the nation, all mapped out in a convenient and activity-filled route. From its birthplace in Collegeville, Minnesota, to the East Coast in Maryland, through Texas, and ending in Schuyler, Nebraska – The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition is the golden thread that weaves each of these seemingly random locations together.
More importantly, these are locations where The Saint John’s Bible is available to the public to view in person.
And what’s a road trip without a great playlist? Check out our specially curated Road Trip playlist, after the listed locations, to get your spiritual imagination running and your friends singing in the backseat.
So – roll down your windows, turn on some tunes, and begin the journey!
Stop One: Collegeville, Minnesota – Start your road trip where The Saint John’s Bible first began! About 90 minutes northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, located on campus at Saint John’s University, is currently the only place in the world where you can lay your eyes on the original, gilded pages of The Saint John’s Bible. After your viewing, check out the Saint John’s Bookstore before 12:00 p.m. – you might be lucky enough to snag some “Johnnie’s Bread,” a rye flour bread recipe from Bavarian-born Benedictine monks that founded the university.
Next stop: Madison, Wisconsin. On your way, you may also take a pit stop in Rochester, Minnesota, to visit the Mayo Clinic, where The Saint John’s Bible is on display in the Hage Atrium of the Siebens Building for visitors and patients to enjoy.
Stop Two: Madison, Wisconsin – Learn about this city with a fun scavenger hunt to kick start your day! You’ll eventually stumble upon Edgewood College where, in the Oscar Rennebohm Library, a single, rotating volume of the Heritage Edition remains on display. For more adventure, find the remote Holy Wisdom Monastery, tucked away in nature and overlooking Lake Mendota for a wonderful place to retreat and rest.
You’ve been driving for a while now…happen to be hungry for some deep-dish pizza? Check out the dazzling city of Chicago as you head to the next destination!
Stop Three: Notre Dame, Indiana – Surrounded by a wonderful community, the next place to experience The Saint John’s Bible can be found in the Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame. A mile down the road, you’ll run into the beautiful Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Stop Four: Jersey City, New Jersey – On your way to the next destination, witness the massive city skyline of New York City from Liberty State Park! Then, head to Saint Peter’s University, which remains faithful to the education mission of the Society of Jesus. The University obtained their copy of the Heritage Edition in 2011. Since then, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition has been on rotating display in the Reference room at the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library.
Stop Five: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Get ready for Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies, because the next stop is located just outside this food-frenzy city. After being presented during a celebration of Saint Joseph’s University in 2014, two volumes of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition have since been on permanent display at the Post Learning Commons and Drexel Library on campus.
Stop Six: Emmitsburg, Maryland – In the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Mount St. Mary’s University proudly displays The Saint John’s Bible in the Phillips Library. After your viewing of the Bible, check out The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who became the first American-born Saint in 1975.
Halfway checkpoint! Getting low on gas? Need a snack? Don’t forget to make a quick pit-stop and stretch your legs out – the rest of the journey is still yet to come!
Stop Seven: Houston, Texas – In 1997, the Dunham Bible Museum was launched when Houston Christian University purchased a collection of rare American Bibles and Christian books from an entrepreneur. Here, you can see The Saint John’s Bible, along with many other books such as the Aitken Bible, Francis Bailey New Testament, and the Young Bible, to name a few. After your visit, wander over to the Houston Zoo and explore all eleven of their exhibits.
Stop Eight: Albuquerque, New Mexico – Contact The Cathedral of St. John and reserve a spot to visit their Bible Room – a special space dedicated to those who wish to admire and connect with the Heritage Edition. While you’re in Albuquerque, explore the Historic Old Town with a self-guided, walking smartphone tour!
Stop Nine: Oakland, California – Craving something sweet? Fenton’s Creamery, a handmade ice cream restaurant, is located just a few miles away from The Cathedral of Christ the Light. The Saint John’s Bible is displayed inside the beautiful chapel, available to the public for viewing.
Stop Ten: Portland, Oregon – Heading north from California, dense greenery will welcome you to the private, Catholic institution known as the University of Portland. Here, inside the entryway of the Clark Library, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition is proudly displayed while pages are turned frequently for guests to observe. And something else to see – the Benson Bridge over Multnomah Falls at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Stop Eleven: Denver, Colorado – On campus at the Archdiocese of Denver, the Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary has The Saint John’s Bible on permanent display in the Cardinal Stafford Library. There, you can see the top of Mount Evans, and even take a ride up to the highpoint and see the Great Plains below.
Stop Twelve: Schuyler, Nebraska – For the last stop on this trip, you’ll cut East between Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska at Christ the King Priory. Here, at the Saint Benedict Center – a sacred oasis open to the public – you can reserve a spot with your traveling buddies to see The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition on display.
This road-trip may be over, but the spiritual journey is a never-ending route. Twelve stops later and now we’ve seen what a gift The Saint John’s Bible is to all these wonderful institutions, proving to be a magnet that brings communities together around the art and beauty of scripture.
P.S. All the best road trips have a lively playlist on in the background. Check out The Saint John’s Bible Road Trip playlist and add it to your mix for an illuminating ride. Or, give it a listen after the fact to reflect on your trip!
See the full playlist on Spotify, here:
“Go in Light” by Marcus Mumford
“40” by U2
“Spirit Voices” by Paul Simon
“Blessings” by Chance the Rapper
“To the Great Unknown” by Cloud Cult
“Deep Field” by Eric Whitacre
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train
“Rocket Man” by Elton John
“Great Love” by Flyleaf
“Faith” by Lacey Sturm
“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel
“Mother Nature’s Son” by The Beatles
“Day is Done” by Peter, Paul and Mary
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Arise” by Flyleaf
“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
“How Great Thou Art” by Carrie Underwood
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2
The Saint John’s Bible: Connecting with Communities Across the Nation
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