COURTESY THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CHAMPION
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in New Franken, Wisconsin, is encouraging prayers for Archbishop Bernard Hebda on May 19 as part of the shrine’s Shepherd Project, which began May 1 and urges prayers for one U.S. bishop every day. The project is set to conclude in October.
The shrine will also offer prayers for other Minnesota bishops leading dioceses: Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Diocese of Crookston, on May 20; Bishop Daniel Felton, Diocese of Duluth, on May 21; Bishop Chad Zielinski, Diocese of New Ulm, on May 22; Bishop Patrick Neary, Diocese of St. Cloud, on May 23, and Bishop Robert Barron, Diocese of Winona-Rochester, on May 24.
The shrine — the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States — recognizes the site where Mary appeared to Adele Brise, a Belgium immigrant, in 1859. The apparition of Our Lady, who appeared to Brise three times as a luminous figure crowned with stars and dressed in a white dress and a yellow sash around her waist, instructed her to catechize children.
The Shepherd Project recognizes bishops as recipients of Our Lady of Champion’s injunction to teach the Catholic faith.
“Our church leaders, especially our Bishops, are entrusted with this mission in their own communities and we, as the Church, have a great responsibility in praying for them as they continue the good work,” the shrine website states. “As our world faces a shortage of peace and an increase in division and attacks within our families and the Church, our Bishops are facing extreme challenges. This is why they need our prayers, now more than ever, for the grace necessary to heroically lead people of faith in these uncertain times.”
In addition to daily prayers offered for the bishops, the shrine burns a perpetual candle for the bishops in the shrine’s Apparition Oratory.
Part of the prayer offered daily at the shrine for the bishops reads, “Renew in Your bishops deeper faith, greater trust in You, childlike reliance on our Mother Mary, and unwavering fidelity to the Holy Catholic Church.”
To read more about the shrine and for a list of all the bishops the shrine is recognizing with special prayers visit championshrine.org.
