The Catholic Contribution to America’s Greatness

June 29, 2026

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has done a very nice job of raising awareness of the great contributions to America, not only by the institutional Church but, more so, through the lives of the Catholic faithful. You need to see what they have put together. Click USCCB….

Visit the U.S.C.C.B for details

Are You a True Patriot?

Ask 10 people what it means to be a true patriot, and you will get 10 different answers. The U.S. Bishops give us great guidance on the aspects of true patriotism and the dangers of Christian Nationalism. More…

Consecrating a Nation to the Sacred Heart

June 29, 2026

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(Updated June 28, 2026) As part of the national commemoration of the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration took place on June 11^th, the vigil of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. How did this devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus come about, and what significance does it hold that a nation would be consecrated?

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus grew from the revelations of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun with the Order of the Visitation. Margaret Mary’s early years were laden with suffering due to poor health and a difficult family life. The Church in that age was also suffering as it faced the heresy of Jansenism, a movement plagued by fear of God and rigorous scrupulosity. The sacraments were seen as a reward after much penance, preparation, and purification, rather than as a source of grace for healing and imperfection.

It was through that suffering nun to this suffering Church that Jesus had a message of love and mercy for the world. He appeared to Margaret Mary on the feast of Saint John the Beloved in 1673 while she was praying before the Blessed Sacrament. He invited her to be like John at that First Eucharist, and to rest her head against His Sacred Heart.

The image of the Sacred Heart given to Margaret Mary was a heart of human flesh, on fire, surrounded by thorns, bleeding, and surmounted by a cross. The fire was to show that Jesus is consumed by His passionate love for humanity – uncontainable, all-encompassing, transforming. The thorns, the bleeding, and the cross are all symbols of his suffering, his vulnerability, his total gift of self on the cross, and the price of redemption. The human flesh was the final word against Jansenism, showing that God was not a distant dictator but the Word made flesh, who longed to be one with His people. Where Jansenism made the Sacraments unapproachable, Jesus urged them to receive His Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament frequently, desiring to feed a spiritually malnourished culture with His very self.

While the Church of France was wrestling with Jansenism, the country itself was facing somewhat of a golden age. King Louis XIV wanted to see the rise of the absolute monarchy, with pure indulgence being the crown jewel. It was a kingship characterized by lavishness and ultimate power, with domination and total allegiance as the end goal. Again, it was to this monarchical misalignment that Jesus came to reveal the true Kingdom, the Kingdom where his humble, merciful Sacred Heart reigns over all. Whether it was the pride and indulgence of a king or the false humility and coldness of Jansenism, the Sacred Heart of Jesus stood as the remedy to the two extremes faced by the French.

This wouldn’t be the last time the monarchy wrestled with the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1689, Jesus told Margaret Mary that the king was to publicly consecrate the nation and himself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart was also to be added to the coat of arms and the banner of France, in exchange for Divine protection and French victory. The last request for His enthronement was the command to build a basilica dedicated to the Sacred Heart, in which the nobility would worship Jesus as the Lord of Lords. These requests were ignored by Louis XIV and his successor, Louis XV. One hundred years to the day after the request was made, the French Revolution began. The imprisoned, terrified monarch of the day, King Louis XVI, promised in desperation that if he was restored to the throne, he would fulfill the request and consecrate himself and all of France to the Most Sacred Heart. It was too late for him to make a public consecration to a kingdom that he no longer had authority over, and thus, Jesus’ command went unfulfilled by Louis XVI as well. Jesus even made reference to the tragic disobedience of the French monarchy to Lucia, one of the Fatima children, as a warning to the Pope’s delay in consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

While no French monarch ever obeyed the requests of Jesus (and now no longer can since the French monarchy no longer exists), the people of France have been obedient. The emblem of the Sacred Heart made it onto the banners of France unofficially in 1793, when peasant Catholics revolted against the revolutionary government, which was trying to outlaw Catholicism and martyr clergy. In 1875, the request to construct the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was made possible by the French people’s decision to undertake a public act of reparation for the sins of the nation. The funds were raised by ordinary French Catholics, and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur was officially consecrated in 1919. It wasn’t until 1922 that France was consecrated to the Sacred Heart, a collective action of the Bishops of France (much like the Bishops of America have accomplished in 2026).

While Jesus might not have appeared asking for a national consecration, the Bishops of the United States have clearly heard the call to do so. The Church is already seeing a tidal wave of renewal after the Eucharistic Congress (and the Eucharistic Procession that preceded it). However, we’re still a deeply divided and hurting nation, hungry for even more renewal.

The bishops created a blueprint for lay Catholics to participate in the consecration. First, they asked people to join a novena, which began on June 3rd and led up to the consecration day on June 12^th. They are also encouraged parishes and small groups to collectively complete 250 hours of Adoration and 250 works of mercy. By loving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and in our neighbor, the bishops hope this consecration becomes more than passive; it becomes active and makes a real impact.

If you or your parish were not part of this consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is not too late. See the USCCB website for details on how to join in now.

As we have been doing with the synod, parishes will also be asked to pray the consecration prayer as an act of thanksgiving and reparation. Recognizing the immense need for renewal of the domestic church as well, the bishops are asking that families make an act of enthronement of the Sacred Heart in their homes, embracing His Lordship over their household.

Another integral piece of the consecration crusade the Bishops have begun was a national Eucharistic procession, carrying the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus for all to see. The theme for the pilgrimage is “One Nation, Under God” and the route is called the Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini route. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini is the patroness of the pilgrimage because she was the first American citizen to be canonized a Saint. Mother Cabrini had a deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist which fostered her missionary spirit. She was sent by the Holy Father to New York where she ministered to immigrants, started hospitals and orphanages, and fostered a religious educational system. Her mission lives on today through her order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which she founded.

The pilgrimage began in Augustine, Florida on Memorial Day weekend. “The route will continue up the Eastern Seaboard through most of the 13 original colonies, reaching as far north as New Hampshire and Maine. Stops will be made in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, our country’s very first Catholic diocese, as well as the Archdiocese of Boston to visit significant national historical sites. The pilgrimage concludes over the 4th of July weekend in Philadelphia, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.” (National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Website). The closing Mass will take place on July 5^th in Philadelphia and will be celebrated by Archbishop Perez.

The official consecration by the USCCB took place on June 11^th, during the USCCB’s Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida. In his homily, the Archbishop of Baltimore, Archbishop William Lori, said, “Consecration is also an act of hope. It is a declaration that the future does not belong merely to political movements, economic forces or human plans. The future belongs to God. And so we place into his heart not only ourselves, but generations yet unborn; all those who will inherit the church and nation we leave behind.” He also acknowledged the deep imperfections and failures we’ve had as both a church and a nation in reflecting the love of Christ, while also giving the Heart of Christ as the merciful remedy for healing, communion, and friendship with Jesus and our neighbor.

“Today we place the church of the United States and these United States of America into the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Not because we have everything figured out, but because we know the one whose love endures forever. In his heart we find gratitude for the past, strength for the present, and hope for the future.” -Archbishop Lori

The people of France led the movement towards honoring the Sacred Heart devotion, and the bishops completed it by consecrating the nation and the basilica. Yet, as mentioned, the French government never took part in the consecration. In the United States, the Bishops have led the movement, the people have faithfully followed, AND our president joined in the consecration day. The White House released a statement from President Trump stating that he and Melania were joining in prayer for the consecration. He also noted that the nation had already been consecrated to Our Lady under Bishop John Carroll, shortly after the Revolutionary War, in the earliest years of our nation.

“Above all, we pray that America will continue for the next 250 years, and beyond, to be a land of faith, a country of miracles, and a light and glory to all nations.” -Closing Statement of President Trump

Jesus made the request that France be consecrated in 1689. France wasn’t officially consecrated as a whole nation until 2022, 333 years later, and completed by French Bishops and the faithful. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 2026, the United States bishops, faithful, and government have together consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

We have much to be grateful for in these 250 years as a nation, and these 250 years of navigating what it means to be an American Catholic. We also have much reparation to make for those many years, and many prayers to offer for the years to come. What an immense grace for the United States Bishops to prioritize the consecration of our nation. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have written encyclicals on the Sacred Heart, showing that this devotion remains at the forefront of Jesus’ call for His Bride today. There can be nothing more life-changing than the fact that the Sacred Heart burns with love for you.

In America, as it is in heaven. Amen.

My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with men that it can no longer contain within itself the flames of its ardent charity. It must pour them out by thy means, and manifest itself to them to enrich them with its precious treasures, which contain all the graces of which they have need to be saved from perdition.

Official Consecration Day - June 11th, 2026

Links on how to join the Consecration from the USCCB

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the Home

Our Lady, Patroness of America Follows Her Son to the White House.

June 29, 2026

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YOU are spreading the devotion…And it’s starting to show!

How did this happen? We scan our Social media favorites, and there she is, Our Lady, Patroness of America, in procession with her Son, on the streets of Washington, D.C. Is this real or AI? A few internet searches later, I was on EWTN’s coverage of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Devotion to Our Lady, Patroness of America, has continued to grow each year, as evidenced by the number of pilgrims at the center, the number of events we host or attend, and the number of people viewing our content online.

And now the source of the largest growth is not the work of the Our Lady, Patroness of America center, now it is you – Our Lady’s faith-filled children! This is what we have always hoped for, and now it is becoming obvious and fruitful. Grassroots support is bearing more fruit than we could have imagined or achieved on our own. Heaven is moving in unmistakable ways, and it’s using the faithful to accomplish Our Lady’s mission. This is more than a moment; this is a movement gaining serious momentum. In the last six months, things have changed significantly in how we’re seeing this devotion spread, in ways and places that leave us in awe. And it is through the work of people like you that Our Lady’s call is spreading.

Have you seen it too? Here is the proof!

Watch this three-minute video as it happened in Washington, D.C. – Our Lady, Patroness of America, follows her Son to the White House.

As Jesus in the Eucharist was processed as King and Savior through our nation’s capital, the image of His Mother, Our Lady, Patroness of America, was always with Him. And she was leading her Children as they followed Jesus, in adoration and worship.

How did this happen? The Our Lady, Patroness of America Center had no role in arranging this. This is the work of Our Lady and the “Yes” of her children, like you, who care deeply about this devotion and make it known. This is grassroots support inspired by the Holy Spirit.

In this procession marking the 250th anniversary of our nation, it only makes sense that our nation’s patroness would have a prominent place. The Our Lady, Patroness of America Center did not know of this until the next day. This was entirely done by the laity who had heard her call and gave her their “Yes”!

We have a very small staff at the center, and while we may be a great team, the growth that we’ve seen is only possible by the grace of God and the great faith of pilgrims. We attend a few conferences each year to promote the devotion. Yet, we keep hearing more stories about how Our Lady of America is reaching states as close as Michigan and as far as California. It is this grassroots effort that bears the most fruit in ensuring the messages of Our Lady are not ignored.

We have heard stories of people opening their homes for group prayer, using the prayers to Our Lady of America and the Patriotic Rosary. We’ve heard of presentations happening at parishes and in small groups. We have to respond quickly to keep this momentum going; the people in your circle, in your state, and in our nation need Our Lady of America to be a household name. Please let us know how this devotion is reaching your communities and how we can help you bring it into your homes and places of influence. Leave feedback below or call us.

At the Center, there are just a few of us, but there are 10’s thousands of you. We can’t reach your pastors, parishes, friends, neighborhoods, schools, or your local ministries, but you can. We aren’t making it to all 50 states anytime soon, but we have pilgrims in each. It is the grassroots movement of the faithful that truly bears the most fruit, makes this devotion known, and makes Our Lady’s message heard.

The time is now! Please help Our Lady lead the world to the Peace of Christ!

Please let us know how we can help by leaving comments or calling the office!

Full coverage by EWTN.

President Joins Bishops in Consecrating the Nation

June 29, 2026

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President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, joined the U.S. Bishops in prayer as they consecrated our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our President joined the spiritual leadership of our nation in this historic event.

The cooperation of the U.S. Head of State and the leader of the free world adds significant weight as we pledge our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Great graces came upon our nation and world on June 11, 2026, and we should offer a most loving prayer of thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity.

Now, it is up to us to live the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

LINK TO PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

The Rise and Fall of America?

June 28, 2026

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“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

American greatness started with this! Thomas Jefferson and his fellow forefathers acknowledged the existence of unalienable rights. Recognizing God’s Divine Mandate, that man was created to be free in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by God’s own hand, was critical in the foundation of this new experiment in government they set to establish.

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Alternatively, if the concept of freedom was established as coming from man himself, it could be taken away at any time by men. God is the source of these rights. When man denies God, he denies for himself the very source of his Freedom which then leaves him subject to men as his arbiter. If able, evil men will place their brother into bondage. (Genesis 37: 28 “They sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.”)

As many in society increasingly choose the perceived conveniences, comfort, and security of the secular world, they steadily move away from God. And with that chosen course they steadily find themselves losing the freedom our forefathers had so wisely recognized in God’s creation and enshrined in our nation’s founding.

The Constitution was constructed to deliver a Republic form of government, not a pure Democracy where the majority of opinion rules even if that rule is wrong, harmful or endangering to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness in a segment of our society. Our Republic is different in that it CAN operate for the protection of the individual against the majority when they get out of control. The three branches of government and the representative nature of our congress offers some protection to individual rights. But even a republic cannot save a people from themselves if they choose to stray.

William Tytle (1711-1792) a Scottish lawyer and historical writer documents the life cycle of democracies and republics. Attributed to him is this description of the rise and fall of democratic nations:

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.

Even though the progression described by Tytle seems to be confirmed by history, could there be another outcome? If we could understand the drivers that move us to the next step, then perhaps we could break the cycle! Is it possible, or is our nation doomed to tyranny?

Looking at the life cycle, there are 4 steps to the rise and 4 steps to the fall of democratic societies. One could divide the circle into two with a straight line up and down. There is commonality to the four items on the right(rise) and a different commonality to 4 items on the left(fall). Understanding this explains the pivot point from rise to fall.

In society, there is individual virtue. Virtuous choices are ones made according to the natural law as embodied in Matthew 22;34-40: Love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself. When taken as a whole, societal virtue is a composite of its members’ virtue (or lack thereof).

In the rise of nations, societal virtue is growing and becoming stronger. First is faith and the search for unity among the people. The Second is courage born of faith and unity. Next is liberty, which manifests in a people united in faith, who then have the courage and numbers to break the tyrannical bondage. As society rises, the measure of societal virtue also rises.

In the life cycle of nations, it becomes obvious that the rise of nations occurs during the period when faith and the practice of the Golden Rule are strong and growing. It is also obvious that the demise of nations follows when they are abandoned by more than half of society. This results in a situation where neighbors steal from neighbors and foster other immoral acts under the protection of the government controlled by the now immoral majority. Here are two examples: the taking of innocent life in abortion and the legitimized theft inherent in entitlement and other programs designed for the political benefit of government officials and not for the common good.

In the fall of nations, we see a gradual abandonment of the virtues, followed by an increasingly rapid pursuit of the vices. This marginalizes God and abandons the Golden Rule, thereby largely diminishing Grace. We are then left to the influences of evil.

Very simply, it is Grace that supports the rise of nations. Without Grace, nations collapse. Without faith, the practice of the Golden Rule is gone and is replaced by selfishness. And without the Golden Rule, the flow of Grace is halted, and societies move to narcissism, violence, and irresponsibility, eroding the pillars of society until they collapse!

It is not hard to see that as a nation, America has moved past the mid-point. Selfishness abounds, and dependence is becoming the norm for an increasing part of our society. I fear for where we are heading with apparent haste!

So that’s the bad news. Now for the good news!

I take issue with Tytle’s conclusion that “A democracy is always temporary in nature.” It doesn’t have to be that way. Here is why.

God is constantly open to us returning to him. In fact, Heaven gives us easy paths back and even extends personal invitations for us to come to Him. This is true for individuals and nations.

Right now, America has a personal invitation to return to a life of virtue and practice of the Golden Rule in devotion to Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America. Our Lady of America is calling us to imitate the Holy Family, where virtue was perfect, and sin was perfectly avoided.

She is calling us, the United States of America, back to increasing greatness by our faith and our imitation of the Holy Family. She is calling us to place God first and our brothers and sisters next. He is calling us to pursue the virtues and avoid sin. She is calling us to the Golden Rule. She is showing us the way.

But most importantly, she has a promise for us. She promises that if we pursue imitation of the Holy Family, fervently desire purity, through the Sacraments have the Indwelling of the Most Holy Trinity, practice the virtues, avoid sin, and pray, she will lavish upon us the graces to persevere in this Holy pursuit. And if enough of us do this, it will change the future of our Nation.

Growing up, I was blessed with wonderful parents. I forget the context, but I have never forgotten the words my mother said to me as a young boy: “One person can change the world.” The more I see in life, the more I know this to be true – both for the better or the worse.

Heaven has a hope and plan for America – to lead the world to peace! Will we rise to the call or disappoint our Sorrowful Mother? By tapping the infinite treasury of God’s graces merited by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, anyone can change the world for the better. We are called by baptism to do exactly this!

This slide into bondage is not a certainty! We can change the course of history; one soul at a time. Commit today to changing the world in cooperation with Our Lady’s call to America. We can do this. We must not fail! Millions of souls are at stake.

Updated 6/28/2026

2025-26 Finishes with Donations Up 135 Percent, Donors Up 40 Percent!

April 30, 2026

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THANK YOU!

YOU ARE HELPING OUR LADY BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD.

We are so thankful for your support in this work of Our Lady. 2025 was a pivotal year (see Stakeholder Report). Momentum is building, and Our Lady is on the move, bringing Peace to the world. You won’t see it in the news, but we see it here, especially in the youth.

With this great financial support of our donors, we are moving forward with key strategic initiatives that will bring more souls to know of Heaven’s plan.

Even though donations more than doubled last year’s, we fell short of using up all the matching funds made available by our board. We are already working to get them to commit to a mid-year opportunity.

Please join us in a prayer of Thanksgiving. Know that we pray for you every day in our Rosary.

Come and visit, we would love to see you!.

May, the Month Dedicated to Our Lady

April 29, 2026

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Our Lady of Victory, Our Lady of the Rosary

While Mary is honored throughout the year, May is specifically set aside for special devotion to her as the Mother of God and spiritual mother of all. One of the best ways to honor her is to recite the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Christ-centered prayer is a means to share in the life of Christ through the eyes of His Mother.

The Rosary, as St. Dominic witnessed during his mission to the Albigensians (the source of the Albigensian Heresy), is also a powerful prayer for increasing the receptivity of souls to orthodox preaching.

Many have shared that devoutly praying the Rosary has brought them graces of a more personal nature, such as healing and the fulfillment of long-desired prayer intentions.

The benefits of what Pope St. John Paul II called “an exquisitely contemplative prayer” were enumerated in a special way by a 15th-century Dominican friar. According to tradition, Alanus de Rupe received the following 15 promises to those who pray the Rosary devoutly from the Blessed Virgin Mary herself through a private revelation. We hope that they encourage you in meditating on the mysteries of Christ by praying the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

15 Promises of Our Lady of the Rosary

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“This is the Night” – The Return of the Easter Vigil Light

April 8, 2026

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Watch Easter Vigil Livestream

On April 4th, the Easter Vigil was celebrated in the Oratory of the Holy Family for the first time in over 50 years. Thanks to ongoing renovations happening at Saint Gaspar parish down the road, the Oratory has become a host for all their Masses. This means daily Masses, weekend Masses, funerals, weddings, and holidays are all being celebrated within our oratory walls again. What a grace it has been to witness so many sacraments return to this old building! Many people have come to learn more about the Oratory since we began hosting the parish in the fall of 2025.

Father Louis Fowoyo, the pastor of Saint Gaspar and the chaplain at the Oratory of the Holy Family, was the celebrant for the Easter Vigil Mass. The darkness which begins the liturgy is soon dispelled by the light of the Paschal candle and candles of the congregants, followed by the oratory lights. Then the ancient hymn, the Exsultet, is proclaimed (text found here). Father Louis and parishioner Tim Worman sang the Exsultet together. This was then followed by a series of readings and Psalms, the triumphant return of the Gloria and Alleluia, and then the Gospel.

Father Louis preached on the great blessing of celebrating a peaceful Easter, mentioning modern-day martyrs in various parts of the world, including his home country, Nigeria. He also thanked those who helped prepare the liturgy and those who have been teaching OCIA and preparing candidates for reception into the Church, saying that he has also been learning from their instruction and their faithful witness. He reflected on the story of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb, heavy-hearted and grieving, but leaving with the joy, hope, and lightness of the Resurrection; how often, Father said, is this the story of every human heart?

“My dear brothers, my dear sisters, the empty tomb is not just a sign of absence but the beginning of a new presence, the beginning of life, the beginning of life that is given. So the empty tomb is the life taken away in order that life might be given to us. And so that is what it means. As Peter and the beloved disciple run toward the tomb, we see a journey of both urgency and wonder because they were told the news. They were asked to go see that the tomb is empty. Peter and John were rushing. They wanted to see it.” – Excerpt from Fr. Louis Fowoyo’s homily

His message continued with a challenge to be like the Apostles, particularly John, believing even amidst the confusion and uncertainty, and trusting beyond what we can see. He concluded by talking about how the light of Christ, the dawn of that Easter morning, changes everything, just as the lights of the candles and the church changed our perspective from the darkness that began the liturgy; “Now the movement from darkness to light reflects the journey of the disciples from confusion to belief, from sorrow to hope, from betrayer to trust.” He challenged all gathered to make this our story, to be a people who hope, who believe, and who live as people of the resurrection.

“My dear brothers, my dear sisters, we are Christians and so we must embrace this faith. Easter is not just an event we remember. It is a reality we are invited to live in. We live it every day.” -Excerpt from Fr. Louis Fowoyo’s homily.

The Mass continued with the singing of the Litany of the Saints; Father joked at the beginning of the homily that it would be the best they’ve ever heard it sung. This was followed by the reception of three men into the fullness of the Catholic faith, one of whom received Baptism and all three of whom received Confirmation and Holy Communion. The whole congregation renewed their Baptismal vows, and the Mass continued as usual with the Eucharistic prayer, communion, and the concluding rite.

After 50 years of no public Easter Masses, we could not have asked for a better return of Easter at the Oratory. Light, song, new members, and Resurrection joy shared by all; what a night!

Up until 1957, when the local parish built its church and established St. Gaspar Parish, the parish Masses were celebrated at the Oratory, which was then the Mother of Mercy Chapel.

When the parish left for their new home in 1957, it is most likely that there were no Confirmations at the Chapel until Easter 2026, nearly 70 years later.

So presumably, these three men were the first in 70 years to be confirmed here. And we can say with certainty, the first Confirmations ever under the gaze of Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America!

The Easter celebrations continued the next morning:

We Are Preparing for Your Visit

April 8, 2026

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Stop by this Summer

We are busy getting ready for Our Lady’s children. The grounds are being prepared, repairs are wrapping up, and improvements are in the works. But it is all pointless without you!

Dining Room Tear Down

A building in the process of collapse is being taken down for safety. It was an extension to the dining room added around 1955.

Plaza Repair

On the south Plaza, a retaining wall was failing. Not only was it eating away at the plaza, but it was also a safety concern, causing us to close the path below. Over the winter, the wall was replaced and will hopefully last 100 years, just like the last one

Water Fount Upgrade

We inspected the plumbing, replaced the return line, and upgraded the pump that lifts water the last 10 feet and supplies it to the spickets. Benefit: more reliable, faster flow. Come get the healing water.

Celebration Tent

The tent is up and ready for meals, community, fellowship, and rest.

Two New Bathrooms

We are finishing two new bathrooms, accessible from the back of the Oratory. Appropriate for families with young children. The location prevents that awkward trip to the bathroom that goes right past the ambo during the Father’s sermon!

Everything we do at the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center is for you, Our Lady’s children.

All we are missing is you.

Our Lady looks forward to welcoming you!

Our Lady and the Saint Joseph River – Rekindle the Fire Men’s Conference South Bend

March 26, 2026

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On February 21st, we had the great joy of being exhibitors at the 2026 Rekindle the Fire Men’s Conference. This was our third year with a booth, but our first year attending in South Bend. It was great to get the message of the devotion out to the South Bend half of our diocese. We saw many familiar faces, but met even more new ones. Since the conference, we have had many pilgrims from South Bend stop by to take a tour of the center.

As sponsors, we also got the opportunity to give a short presentation to attendees after lunch. Al Langsenkamp shared our 30-second promo video and shared for a few minutes about the devotion. It was primarily a short invitation to learn more about the devotion, and also to know that her message is for everyone of us, not just Sister Mary Ephrem. He also challenged the men in particular to answer her call, as the leaders of their families, in imitation of St. Joseph.

We also gave away a 14″ statue of Our Lady of America. Carl Shane Brown was our giveaway winner!

It has been a real grace to attend conferences, have so many great conversations, and increase our outreach efforts. From the banks of the Saint Joseph River to the California coast, we have lots more to come!

Our Lady of America on the Saint Joseph River in South Bend

Are You a True Patriot?

“Above all, we pray that America will continue for the next 250 years, and beyond, to be a land of faith, a country of miracles, and a light and glory to all nations.” -Closing Statement of President Trump

Official Consecration Day - June 11th, 2026

Links on how to join the Consecration from the USCCB

Signing the Declaration of Independence

So that’s the bad news. Now for the good news!

THANK YOU!

YOU ARE HELPING OUR LADY BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD.

Our Lady of Victory, Our Lady of the Rosary

15 Promises of Our Lady of the Rosary

Watch Easter Vigil Livestream

“My dear brothers, my dear sisters, we are Christians and so we must embrace this faith. Easter is not just an event we remember. It is a reality we are invited to live in. We live it every day.” -Excerpt from Fr. Louis Fowoyo’s homily.

The Easter celebrations continued the next morning:

Stop by this Summer

Dining Room Tear Down

Plaza Repair

Water Fount Upgrade

Celebration Tent

Two New Bathrooms

All we are missing is you.

Our Lady looks forward to welcoming you!

Our Lady of America on the Saint Joseph River in South Bend

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