“Lighting the Way to Hope” Tree Lighting Event
Sunday, December 3, 2023, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal invites you and your family to be a part of our annual tree lighting event on the Shrine grounds and attend the Vincentian Marian Youth Mass at 5:00 p.m. A tree near the Shrine Church will be decorated with lights for the Advent and Christmas seasons and will be lit at 6:00 p.m. We ask those planning to attend the event to bring at least one non-perishable item that will help the Ladies of Charity Food Pantry assist those in need in the community. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available at Laboure Hall. We also invite you to enjoy the Christmas decorations on the grounds. Please join us for this celebration.
If you have questions, please contact us at 1-800-264-6279 or email us at ammfather@amm.org.
Christmas Country Church Tour
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church) in Perryville, Missouri, will again be participating in the Christmas Country Church Tour along with 36 other churches and chapels. The tour will take place December 14 and 15, from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. All of the participating churches welcome visitors to view their Christmas decorations and to spend a few moments in silent prayer during the Advent season. Here at the Shrine, a tree will be decorated with prayer petitions from local students. There will be live music both nights. Light refreshments will be served in the Visitor Center, where unique Christmas items including nativity sets will be on display. If you have any questions, please call the Association of the Miraculous Medal at 1-800-264-6279, or visit our website at www.amm.org. We look forward to your visit. Christmas Country Church Tour Map.
Relic of St. Catherine Labouré
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was gifted a first class relic of St. Catherine Laboure by a young man who wishes to remain anonymous.
The relic was given to his grandmother by a priest friend and was then passed on to the young man years later. After prayerful consideration, he felt sure the relic belonged in a place where it could be seen and venerated by the public—not hidden away in his safety deposit box. He found our Lady’s Shrine while searching the internet and made a special visit to Perryville to “check us out.” After his visit and tour of the Shrine, the grounds, and the Miraculous Medal office, he knew in his heart that he had found the right home for his relic of St. Catherine to reside. Of course, we are honored and blessed that this young man chose to pass on his precious heirloom to us.
Now that we have prepared St. Catherine’s relic for veneration here at our Lady’s Shrine, it will be available every Monday before and after the Miraculous Medal Novena which follows the 12:10 p.m. Mass.
May we all be reminded of St. Catherine’s exemplary cooperation in the mission Mary gave her. Let us also be inspired to call on Catherine in prayer, and on the grace of God to live the same faith-filled life that she did.