Two women named as Directors for Mothers’ Shrine

February 2024

The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, has two women leading efforts to build its capacity as a center of spirituality and support for mothers.

As Director of Operations, Texas native Heather Michelle Crouch oversees the programming and operational aspects of the Mothers’ Shrine, which welcomed more than 3,000 pilgrims and participants to its programs and activities in 2023 and nearly 9,000 to its outdoor weekend summer Masses. Crouch, who had been serving as Professional Administrator for the Mothers’ Shrine since July 2022, was the force behind the new programs and activities of the Mothers’ Shrine, and will assist the rector, Father John Schmitz, and the Board of Directors in their vision for expansion.

“The Mothers’ Shrine has a particular mission, bringing people to Christ through His Blessed Mother, and I am honored and thrilled to be able to help in bringing that mission to so many people,” Crouch said.

Crouch has an extensive administrative background working for both Catholic organizations and businesses, and in volunteering in adult and youth faith formation at the parish level. She has also experienced consecrated religious life with the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Discalced Carmelites. “All of these experiences make Heather uniquely qualified to lead our ministry effort at the Mothers’ Shrine as Director of Operations,” said Board Chair Tom Vincent. 

Terri M. Lynn of Overland Park, Kansas, assumes the role of Director of Development. She holds a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Ave Maria University. Before her roles in Catholic Church organizations, Lynn worked in the hospitality, real estate, and digital advertising and marketing industries. Since 2005 she has been in business development for Catholic media organizations such as CruxNow.com, and most recently served for five years in the Office of Stewardship and Development and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas as Planned Giving Director and Gift Planning Consultant.

“Helping the Mother’s Shrine benefactors advance the mission of the Mother’s Shrine for the faithful and future generations will bear much fruit,” Lynn predicted. “Mary, as Mother of the Church, is encouraging her children to greater holiness. We want her Shrine, under the same name, to be a tool to help her in that noble task. Many people are going to want to be a part of this mission.”

“With Heather and Terri taking on these new positions for the Mothers’ Shrine, we are excited to expand and enrich the experiences of visitors to our beautiful grounds and those participating in our online offerings,” Vincent said. “The Mothers’ Shrine will be able to build on the great foundation laid by its founders so that future generations can enjoy this little piece of Heaven on earth.”