At the site of the only approved Marian apparition in the United States, Catholics will gather this summer to celebrate the saints and holy men and women who helped shape the faith in America as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin will host a “Catholic Saints of America” celebration from July 1–9 that features a novena, relic veneration, and an exhibit on American saints, blesseds, and venerables.
The shrine’s website states that the exhibit was inspired by St. Carlo Acutis’ exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles.
“This spiritual initiative,” the website continues, “invites all pilgrims to join in prayer for our country, to draw inspiration from those who have gone before us, and to renew our commitment to living lives of holiness.”
The event will also include family activities such as a historical scavenger hunt for children, as well as talks by speakers promoting the canonization causes of American blesseds.
Father of Mercy Anthony Stephens, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, said the saints provide a model for Catholics seeking to live their faith in the United States today.
“First, through this novena and exhibit, we hope people will come to learn about the canonization process,” Father Stephens told OSV News. “Next, we want to help people discover those who may one day be declared saints. Finally, we hope to introduce pilgrims to new devotions that inspire them to grow closer to Christ.”
Ten saints were born in what is now the United States, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John Neumann, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Marianne Cope, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Other canonized saints such as St. Damien of Molokai, St. Junípero Serra, St. Théodore Guérin, and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne carried out major missionary work in North America.
In addition, roughly 70 Americans currently have canonization causes underway, and more than 35 promoters of those causes are collaborating with the shrine for the event.
The shrine itself is the site of the only approved Marian apparition in the United States. In 1859, Servant of God Adele Brice reported three apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary near present-day Champion, Wisconsin. Her cause for canonization opened in January, and she is buried at the shrine.
On July 5, the shrine will mark the 130th anniversary of Brice’s death with a Mass in her honor followed by a picnic and educational presentations, OSV News added.
“Our hope is that families will come together to celebrate this historic moment,” said Kim May, the shrine’s event and volunteer coordinator, “learn about the holy men and women who shaped our nation, and be inspired to grow in faith.”