Champion: As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, a Catholic shrine in Wisconsin is inviting people to mark the historic occasion with prayer, reflection and a renewed commitment to unity.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion has organised a special nine day Novena for Our Nation from July 1 to July 9. The prayer initiative asks Catholics and others across the country to pray for the United States and seek the intercession of the Virgin Mary for unity, holiness and spiritual renewal.
The initiative comes as communities across the United States celebrate the anniversary with fireworks, family gatherings, barbecues, patriotic music and other public events. At the same time, the shrine is encouraging people to make prayer part of the national celebration.
Father Anthony Stephens, CPM, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, wrote the novena as an invitation to pray for the country during this important anniversary. More than 50,000 prayer cards have been printed to help spread the initiative and encourage people to take part.
Alongside the novena, the shrine is hosting the Catholic Saints of America exhibit. The special exhibition presents the lives and stories of 76 holy men and women connected with the United States. They include saints, blesseds, venerables and servants of God whose lives reflect different periods, cultures and experiences in the history of the country.
The shrine is especially significant because it is located at the site of the first and only approved Marian apparition in the United States. Father Stephens said the shrine seeks to encourage devotion among the faithful while also helping visitors understand the history of the site and its spiritual message.
The story of the shrine dates back to 1859, when the Virgin Mary appeared three times to Adele Brise, a Belgian immigrant living in Wisconsin. During the final apparition, Mary gave her a mission to gather the children of the area and teach them what they needed to know for salvation.
That mission of teaching and sharing the faith remains an important part of the shrine’s work today. Father Stephens explained that the idea for the anniversary exhibition began during a meeting last year, when organisers discussed how the shrine could mark the 250th birthday of the United States in a meaningful and distinctly Catholic way.
The discussion eventually led to a plan to bring together photographs, relics and information about holy men and women from across the country. Material connected with 76 shrines was gathered in one place to show the Catholic contribution to the history and development of the United States.
Father Stephens said Catholicism has made a deep contribution to the country and continues to have something valuable to offer its future. The exhibition aims to remind visitors that holiness has appeared in many different communities and circumstances throughout American history.
Among those featured are Julia Greeley, who was born into slavery and later became known for her charitable work, and Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota spiritual leader and Catholic catechist. The exhibition also presents the story of Saint Katharine Drexel, who was born into a wealthy family but dedicated her life and resources to serving Native American and African American communities.
Father Stephens said the wide range of people represented in the exhibition reflects the universal character of the Catholic Church. Their stories show that people from different cultures, economic backgrounds and ways of life can respond to God's grace and serve others.
The shrine also holds relics connected with 14 of the 76 people represented in the exhibition. These include Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Henry Newman, Blessed Stanley Rother, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Blessed Michael McGivney.
According to Father Stephens, the stories of these men and women are not simply memories from the past. He believes their lives can encourage people today to work for a stronger culture of life and bring the stability and hope of faith into society.
The rector also sees signs of renewed interest in Catholicism in the United States. Although he does not describe the growth as dramatic, he said there are signs of people exploring the Catholic faith, joining the Church or returning after spending time away.
He said the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion has welcomed Catholics, members of other Christian communities and people with no religious background. Some visitors who are not baptised have also been drawn to the shrine and its story.
As Americans gather to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary, Father Stephens hopes the novena and exhibition will offer another way of marking the occasion. The invitation is to enjoy the celebrations while also making room for prayer, reflection and concern for the future of the nation.
Through the nine day novena and the stories of holy men and women from across American history, the shrine is encouraging people to see the anniversary as an opportunity for gratitude and renewal. For Father Stephens, the celebration is not only about looking back at 250 years of national history, but also about asking how faith, service and unity can help shape the years ahead.