When I Googled “Things to do in Colusa, California,” only three things came up and one of them was the local casino. But one of the other things to do is visit the Little Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows. It was listed as the littlest church. I just had to see it! I was very happy to have a GPS that steered me in the right direction over small roads and around expansive farm fields.
Little, little shrine
And it does live up to the name “Little”! The 8 x 10 ft. brick church can only hold two people inside comfortably. There’s just enough room to light a candle, sign the guest/request book and say a prayer.
The first mass in Colusa County
This is the site of the first mass said in Colusa County in 1856. The site was considered a “little closer to God” because the land is a bit higher than the surrounding countryside. A wooden cross was erected on the site in 1864 to commemorate that first mass. The shrine was erected in 1883. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A place for all people
It has been continuously used for special services and as a place for people to meditate, pray and find spiritual solace. It is also a point of interest and a great short stop for anyone in the area.
The little church is open to everyone.
The doors are unlocked and an iron gate protects the altar. Candles burned and sunlight shone in.
Prayer requests
The open guest book records prayer requests and the names of the many people that have made the pilgrimage to this Little Shrine of our Lady of Sorrows.
Here is the Google Maps location of the shrine.
##RVT1074
I’ve driven through Colusa dozens of times and have never heard of this little shrine. Will have to stop on a future visit, as there is not a whole lot else to do there.
Thank you, Nanci! How neat! 🙂 Thank you for noting this! Perhaps one day we’ll get there. We did see something similar on the island of Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland. Teampall Bheanáin (Temple of Benan, https://www.visitgalway.ie/explore/religious-and-spiritual/religious-ruins/temple-of-benan/) is quite a lot larger at 15′ x 11′, but really cool to see. It is quite a hike to reach it from the ferry dock. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂