Sacred Heart Pilgrimage - October
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin, is the first and only Marian apparition site officially approved by the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Adele Brice (also spelled Brise), a Belgian immigrant who later became known as a Servant of God.
In early October 1859, Adele Brice, then 28, was walking along a trail in the woods near Bay Settlement, Wisconsin, carrying grain to the mill. She saw a woman clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash, golden hair, and a crown of stars, standing between a maple and a hemlock tree. The vision was silent the first time, but on October 9, 1859, she saw it again while walking to Mass with her sister and friend. After Mass, guided by her priest, she asked, “In God’s name, who are you and what do you want of me?” The Virgin identified herself as the Queen of Heaven and entrusted her with the mission to pray for the conversion of sinners and to teach children what they needed to know for salvation.
The Shrine was founded in 1861 and known as Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. It was approved as a Marian sight on December 8, 2010 by Bishop David L. Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay. The Shrine was designated on August 15, 2016, by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The name was changed to The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion on April 20, 2023.
Our Lady of Champion is not only a historic site but also a symbol of the early roots of Catholicism in America — preserved in a small rural chapel amid farmland, with a legacy of faith, teaching, and devotion.
Our pilgrimage begins on the bus at 6:00 a.m. at SouthPark Mall on Tuesday, October 6th. After we arrive at the site, Fr. Mark celebrates a private Mass with us followed by lunch. You may explore the grounds with a Rosary Path, Adoration, the Oratory, History Center, and of course, the gift shop. We estimate our return to Moline by 9:00 p.m.
You are able to bring a walker or a wheel chair if needed. The ground is level for easy walking. The cost is $100.00 plus the cost of meals.
Please pay by cash, check or credit card (which can be done in the parish office during working hours). Signup forms are available at the Parish Office or the doors of the church.
Space is limited so please sign up soon.