National Shrine of Saint Joseph (De Pere, Wisconsin) facts for kids
The National Shrine of St. Joseph is a special church located in De Pere, Wisconsin. This town is close to Green Bay. The Shrine is part of the St. Norbert College campus at 123 Grant Street. It's a place where people come to pray and learn about St. Joseph.
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A Look Inside the Shrine's History
The National Shrine of St. Joseph was started in 1888. A priest named Father Joseph Durin, who was a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, helped create it. At first, it was called St. Joseph Parish.
In 1890, it was first called a "Shrine." Then, in 1892, Pope Leo XIII agreed to call it a "National Shrine." This made it a very important place for people who follow the Catholic faith in the United States.
Who Cares for the Shrine?
In 1898, a group of religious people called the Norbertines (also known as Premonstratensians) took over caring for the Shrine. This was the same year they started St. Norbert College, where the Shrine is located.
The Special Statue
The Shrine has a special statue of St. Joseph. In 1892, Bishop Sebastian Messmer placed a crown on the statue. This was a very important ceremony.
For a while, from 1969 to 2015, the Shrine was moved to a different building. But now, it is back in its original home.
Prayers and Traditions
Since 1888, people have prayed a special "Perpetual Novena" every Wednesday at the Shrine. A novena is a prayer that is said for nine days. A "Perpetual Novena" means it happens every week, forever.
There is also an annual "Solemn Novena" from March 10th to March 19th. This leads up to a special day called the Solemnity of St. Joseph, which is on March 19th.
