What is usually one of the biggest weekends of the year for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion will have a different feel this year. Catholics around the world celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May with a number of different rites and prayers. As the country’s only officially recognized Marian apparition site, the Shrine has in the past celebrated with a 21-mile pilgrimage from St. Norbert College to its chapel, crowning its Mary statue, and hosting special masses. Worries about the COVID-19 pandemic have made many of those events virtual. Father John Broussard, the Shrine’s rector, says even though pilgrims may not be able to celebrate together on its grounds, he hopes they keep the meaning of the weekend in their hearts.

After renewing the consecration of the United States to the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday afternoon, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help will continue to stream its daily masses at 8:30 a.m.