Mary’s Birthday Celebration
Over sixty pilgrims gathered at The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr. John Schmitz, Rector of the Mothers’ Shrine, offered Mass inside St. Patrick Catholic Church, then the congregation processed to the Mothers’ Shrine to offer prayers and a spiritual bouquet to the Blessed Mother.
Representatives from the Knights of Columbus, Honor Guard, Ladies Auxiliary, Women of Mary, St. Patrick Catholic Church Choir, St. Patrick parishioners and other Friends of the Shrine joined in the celebration.
Friends of the Shrine also returned birthday candles and prayers from around the United States. The candles were then melted into one larger birthday candle. Even though it was a windy morning, the birthday candle lit for our Blessed Mother remained lit throughout the day!
In addition to these offerings, the digital, online community for the Mothers’ Shrine submitted spiritual bouquet offerings through the Internet. Some also participated in an online prayer group which focused on the Canticle of Mary and her Ten Virtues, as attributed by St. Louis de Montfort.
Fr. Schmitz gave a blessing for the offerings during our event and Marian hymns were sung. Following the last hymn, the congregation spontaneously broke out in singing “Happy Birthday.”
Thank you!
Thank you to to all who contributed to our liturgy, especially:
- Rev. John Schmitz, Rector
- Dcn. Dave Lovell
- Choir of St. Patrick Catholic Church
- Server & Cross Bearer: Mike Miller
- Candle Bearers: Joe Gubbels, President/CEO, & Tom Vincent, Chairman of the Board
- Honor Guard: Rick Purdon & Jim Gerke
- Knights of Columbus, Mary, Mother of the Church Council
- Banner: Craig Huck, Knights of Columbus President
- Ladies Auxiliary
- Spiritual Bouquet Offerings: Georgia Vincent, Ladies Auxiliary President
- Women of Mary
- Prayer Intentions Basket: Denise Hiatt
Thank you to all our friends, near and far, for participating in and contributing to honoring Mary, our Mother! The Shrine is continuing to celebrate Mary’s Birthday during the whole month of September. Mary’s birthday candle continues to burn before her image in the chapel, and the new candles and intentions are added as they keep coming in honor of Mary’s Birthday!
