You can pray in remembrance of two historical and sacred events at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion this weekend.
The Shrine’s grounds have their own unique perspective of the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871, which they will celebrate on Saturday. While the area’s countryside was charred and thousands of people died because of the fire, the blaze left the grounds unharmed. Residents came to pray with Sister Adele Brise and the other Sisters for Mary’s protection from the fire. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help commemorates this event with a special historical reading of the miracle, followed by a rosary procession with the statue of Mary at 7:30 p.m. The procession is similar to what happened 151 years ago when Brise, the sisters, and the residents walked around the Shrine’s grounds with a statue of Mary. An all-night adoration will take place after the procession until 7 a.m.
The anniversary of the Great Peshtigo Fire pairs with another important date in the Champion site’s history. Sunday marks the 163rd anniversary of the day when Mary appeared to Brise, which sent her on the future path of teaching catechism to the area’s children. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help wraps up its novena on Sunday with an anniversary mass at 11 a.m., followed by the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at 1 p.m.
