'Catholic Saints of America' event celebrates America's 250th birthday

(OSV News) -- Drawing inspiration from St. Carlo Acutis, a national shrine in Wisconsin is inviting Catholics to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States this summer by joining in prayer and learning about the holy men and women of America.

"They founded schools, cared for the sick, served the poor, and witnessed to the Gospel through lives of sacrifice, service and unwavering love for Jesus Christ," said Father of Mercy Anthony Stephens, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. "Their example shows us what it truly means to be a faithful Catholic and to be American."

Scheduled for July 1-9, "Catholic Saints of America" will feature a special novena, an exhibit honoring Americans who are saints or on the path to sainthood, and an opportunity to venerate their relics. The relics or remains of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Blessed Solanas Casey and Blessed Stanley Rother will be among those on display.

All this is taking place on the site of the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States.

"First, through this novena and exhibit, we hope people will come to learn about the canonization process," Father Stephens told OSV News. "Next, we want to help people discover those who may one day be declared saints. Finally, we can help introduce people to a new devotion that inspires them to grow closer to Christ."

The novena prayer, which Father Stephens is writing, will seek Mary's intercession for unity, holiness and renewal nationwide. Alongside the novena, the exhibit will feature the stories of holy men and women of America. It will highlight their lives, virtues and legacy, organizers said.

Its format was inspired by a traveling Eucharistic miracles exhibit, which was based on a website created by St. Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager canonized last year.

"There are fewer than 15 American saints, and only a little more than 70 people whose causes (for sainthood) have been opened" in the U.S., Father Stephens said. "Each of these holy men and women has a beautiful story and powerful example, yet so few people know about them."

"We do not have saints from 2,000 years ago; we have saints of today," he added. "This shows that God is still at work, calling people to himself."

Americans who have been canonized are Sts. Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Neumann, Marianne Cope, Katharine Drexel, Damien de Veuster of Molokai, Junípero Serra, Kateri Tekakwitha, Théodore Guérin, Frances Xavier Cabrini and Rose Philippine Duchesne. St. Teresa of Kolkata was given honorary American citizenship in 1996, the year before she died.

Beatified Americans include Blesseds Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, Stanley Rother, Solanus Casey, Michael J. McGivney, Francis Xavier Seelos and Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago of Puerto Rico. Five Franciscan friars known as the Georgia martyrs will join them Oct. 31, and the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is also expected soon.

The shrine is in the process of inviting promoters of all U.S. causes to participate. So far, the promoters of more than 35 causes have confirmed they will collaborate in some way. Some will help create their respective exhibit displays, and many will attend in person, Father Stephens said.

While the novena and exhibit take place July 1-9, many of the promoters and representatives of these causes will be present July 3-5. For those days, guest speakers will also "engage with pilgrims, share the stories of these holy men and women, and provide opportunities to learn more about the path to sainthood in America," said Kim May, the shrine's event and volunteer coordinator.

Organizers expect that more than 15,000 pilgrims could attend, which would make this the largest event hosted by the shrine.

The exhibit will recognize in a special way the cause of Servant of God Adele Brice, a Belgian immigrant who reported seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary three times in 1859. She is buried at the shrine, which marks the site where they met. The cause for her sainthood opened in January.

Mary, as she appeared to Brice (sometimes also spelled "Brise"), is honored under the title of "Our Lady of Champion" for the nearby town of Champion, 15 miles northeast of Green Bay.
Father Stephens, who as the shrine's rector serves as the actor or promoter of Brice's cause, said the upcoming event will mark the 130th anniversary of the catechist's death July 5.

The shrine plans to celebrate Mass that day at 11:30 a.m. local time to pray for Brice's cause for canonization and for her continued intercession, he said.

"The afternoon will include guest speakers representing sainthood causes and catechetical presentations, continuing the mission Our Lady entrusted to Adele to teach the faithand lead souls to salvation," he said.

The shrine will also host a picnic that day. In addition to Mass and speakers, videos and educational presentations will highlight America's holy women and men.

The shrine, May said, is entrusting the event to the patronage of Mary under her titles of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas; the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States; and Our Lady of Champion.

The all-age event will include interactive activities for families. The shrine will offer history scavenger hunts, children's activity pages and more.

"Our hope," May said, "is that families will come together to celebrate this historic moment, learn about the holy men and women who shaped our nation, and be inspired to grow in faith."