Important Updates: Details for Bishop Rhoades’s Mass August 6, 2022
Events Add to Historic Past, Point to Future
Important Updates
August 4, 2022
We are so excited to be welcoming Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades to the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center this Saturday. And equally excited to be welcoming you, her pilgrims.
We are most thankful for the many volunteers that have helped us get ready for this day. It is also very exciting to know that over 600 pilgrims will be in attendance. It looks like Our Lady is taking care of the weather for us here in Northeast, Indiana. Saturday’s forecast is delightful and dry!
Here are just a few updates for your trip.
We have added a Vigil Service for 7:00 P.M. Friday (8/5) to venerate the sacred relic of St. Agnes of Rome, Virgin and Martyr. Details…
There is major road construction just outside our door. Please see Visit Rome City for details and a fast and easy way around.
We have parking for 600 cars and seats for 850 people. We may have more people than seats. So if you have a few extra lawn chairs then throw them in the car – to use or to share. The Mass will be live streamed to outside the Chapel.
We will have golf carts running from parking to the Entrance for those with mobility limits.
After Mass, grilled lunch featuring Tim Didier Meats of Fort Wayne – Free!
Original Post: We can’t wait to welcome you to the Holy Mass offered here on August 6th, 2020.
We are preparing for Bishop Rhoades’s visit to the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center to consecrate our new altar, bless our Chapel, and celebrate Holy Mass. Afterwards we will have an afternoon to celebrate this great gift with a cookout and music. Bring the family.
Just recently confirmed, Bishop Rhoades will do one more thing as part of these liturgical events. He will rename the chapel to The Oratory of the Holy Family! He determined this name is more fitting because of the chapel’s canonical status as an oratory. But more so, it is recognition that imitation of the Holy Family is a sure path in obtaining the gift of purity which Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America wants for us.
The Holy Family is the perfect example of the life that Our Lady wants for us. She calls us to imitate the familial life in their little home in Nazareth wherein Divinity and Humanity lived in perfect harmony, peace and purity. Renaming the chapel is yet another example of Bishop Rhoades’s clear understanding of this devotion and Our Lady’s hope for her children.
Help Make the Day Better for Everyone - RSVP
To make this day, the best it can be for you, we need to have an idea of how many are attending. Please help us out by completing the RSVP form. We know that we will have more pilgrims than the chapel can seat, so we will have overflow in the conference room and in a huge outdoor tent with live streaming of the Mass in all overflow locations. Your RSVP does not get you a reserved seat but will help us be better prepares so that all will have a seat. But how well we do is dependent on you letting us know. However, if you forget to RSVP still feel free to attend.
Caution! Detour
The intersection of State Road 9 and Northport Road where you would normally enter the grounds is closed for construction. It is not passable at all. A detour is provided that will get you to the center.
The detour will add about 5 minutes to your trip time.
Check Current Detour for details.
Special Needs
If you have special needs during your visit, please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate. Call the office at 260-303-4990
Streaming
If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to participate remotely you may STREAM LIVE HERE
What to pack
If you are staying for the afternoon be sure to pack:
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Favorite beverage (Coolers are welcome)
- Snacks
- Sunblock / Sun hats
- Bug spray – the post Mass events will be outside
- Lawn Chair