Dates & Activities
The presentation is the same on both Saturday and Sunday so please select the date that is most convenient for you.
Please join us for Mass and Marian Consecration on Monday Sept 8th.
Sat, Sept 6
Arrive at 1:00PM if you want a brief tour of the Shrine
- 1:30 - 2:15PM: Sacrament of Reconciliation
- 2:30 - 4:00pm: Presentation: Intro to St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Franciscan Crown "7 Joys of Mary" (option A)
- 4:00PM: Rosary in Church
- 4:30PM: Holy Mass in Church
Sun, Sept 7
- 8:30AM Holy Mass in Church
- 9:30AM Light Refreshments, St. Leo Hall
- 9:45 - 11:15AM Presentation: Intro to St. Maximilian Kolbeand the Franciscan Crown "7 Joys of Mary" (option B)
Mon, Sept 8
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 8:30 -9:45AM Confessions
- 10:00AM Holy Mass
- Marian Consecration during Mass
Fr. Thomas Czeck OFM Conv., the National Spiritual Assistant for the Militia of the Immaculata will be presenting the 7 Joys of Mary on September 6th and 7th at The National Shrine of Mary.
The 7 Joys of Mary also known as the Franciscan Crown has been prayed by Franciscans since 1422. The 7 Joys of Mary were prayed by St. Maximilian Kolbe and Fr. Thomas has added reflections from the writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe which show his profound love and understanding of the Immaculata. Fr. Thomas will offer a Consecration to Mary after Mass on September 8, the birth of Mary, at the Shrine offering the prayer of Total Consecration composed by St. Maximilian Kolbe for the Militia of the Immaculata which he founded on October 16, 1917.
Fr. Thomas Czeck OFM Conv. professed vows as a Conventual Franciscan in 1992. He was ordained to the Priesthood at St. Patricks Seminary in Menlo Park CA in 1998. Some of his notable ministries were Rector of the Cathedral of St. Thomas Aquinas in Reno Nevada from 2005-2010, Vocation Director for the Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino from 2010-2015, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace in Castro Valley from 2015-2022. In 2014, Fr. Thomas became the provincial promoter of the Militia of the Immaculata in California and was named the National Spiritual Assistant for the Militia of the Immaculata in 2017. He currently resides at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe where he has ministered since 2023.
Fr. Thomas has worked with National President, Mr. Ronald Rodrigues, and Council of the Militia of the Immaculata to promote and support Total Consecration to Mary Immaculate. St. Maximilian Kolbe OFM Conv. founded the Militia of the Immaculata on October 16, 1917. The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) is an international evangelization movement that encourages a total consecration to the Immaculate Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for all individuals and society, as well as the Church. Fr. Thomas offeres Retreats, Parish Missions, Pilgrimages, and Days of Recollection to introduce people to St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life and mission to build a civilization of love through consecration to the Immaculata leading them to the Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.