National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows facts for kids
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is a special Catholic place dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belleville, Illinois. It's about nine miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The Shrine is managed by a group called the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Its name comes from an old story about snow falling in summer in Rome, where a famous church called the Basilica of Saint Mary Major stands.
Quick facts for kids National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows |
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| 38°56′12″N 90°09′23″W / 38.93667°N 90.15639°W | |
| Location | Belleville, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Religious institute | Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate |
| History | |
| Status | National shrine |
| Founded | 1958 |
Contents
History of the Shrine
How the Shrine Started
The idea of honoring Our Lady of the Snows in the Midwest began in 1941. A missionary named Father Paul Schulte, OMI, brought this special devotion. He set up a small shrine in a chapel at St. Henry's seminary in Belleville.
In 1943, the Oblates, a religious group, started holding a "novena." A novena is a special prayer time that lasts for nine days. They prayed in honor of Our Lady of the Snows.
Building the Shrine
Father Schulte worked for years to make the shrine a reality. Work on the main shrine began in 1958. The shrine was designed by a sculptor named William C. Severson and an architect named Richard Cummings.
By 1963, a reflecting pool at the shrine was finished. This pool has bells that were made in Germany. These bells came from a church in Chicago that was taken down.
What You Can Find at the Shrine
Visitor Facilities
The Shrine has many things for visitors to enjoy. There is a hotel where people can stay. There is also a place for retired people to live. A gift shop offers many items. The Shrine also has a center for visitors and meetings.
Special Events and Gardens
During the Advent and Christmas seasons, the Shrine hosts a popular event called the "Way of Lights." This outdoor light display has over 1.1 million white lights! About 350,000 people visit it every year. You can drive through the mile-and-a-half-long display. You can also ride in a warm trolley or a horse-drawn carriage.
In the summer, people from all over the world come for the Our Lady of the Snows Healing and Hope Novena. This is a time for prayer and worship.
Other Features
The Shrine also has a church for services. There is a natural outdoor amphitheater for events. You can walk the Stations of the Cross, which show Jesus's journey. There's a Resurrection Garden and a special area like the Lourdes Grotto. An Annunciation Garden and a devotional site for Our Lady of Guadalupe are also there.
In 2021, the Shrine Guesthouse was updated with new paint inside. You can rent the Shrine's facilities for weddings, meetings, and other events.
Programs and Ministries
The Oblates offer many spiritual and family programs. These programs help people in the local area and across North America. The Shrine has different departments like Youth Ministry and Hispanic Ministry. They host various programs all year long. These programs are designed to help the many visitors who come to the Shrine.
The Shrine Restaurant & Banquet Center closed in 2020. This happened after a worldwide health situation caused many places to close or change how they operated.
