The summer season is coming to a close at the center, and we have so much to be thankful for. September brought a growing favorite event, the third annual pilgrim walk. The pilgrim walk was started to honor the anniversary of the devotion, and over the past three years, we have seen a growing number of pilgrims participate. We had a good mixture of returning pilgrims and new pilgrims this year. The variations in distances mean that many can participate and it was a joy to have both young families and older generations join in prayer and community.
Some chose to walk the full seven miles while others joined them along the way. Father Dennis led pilgrims in song and prayer as Our Lady was processed down Fishing Line Trail from Kendalville to Rome City. The strong numbers were a great public witness; they could be heard at the center from quite a distance. When they returned, Father J led a brief time of Adoration and offered benediction. Beautiful carnations were presented to the Blessed Mother in the Oratory following that time of prayer. Afterward, pilgrims enjoyed communal time on the plaza and rested while eating a complimentary taco bar. It was a good end to a hot but joyful and grace-filled day!
On the First Saturday of August 2024, the Oratory of the Holy Family received a great gift; we became the home of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This was a historic day for the center as the Eucharist hasn’t been reserved here permanently since 1975 when the Sisters of the Precious Blood ended their residence here.
A lot of work went into turning the former sacristy/vesting room into a Eucharistic chapel. The altar formally used in the Oratory was restored and reinforced, and a new altar top was created to hold the tabernacle’s weight. Jeff Nix, with the providential help of Tim Worman, was able to restore and reuse a piece of marble from original Oratory altar (circa 1956). Curtains were hung, seats were arranged, praise was offered, and we waited for Jesus to come and make His home.
Our pastor, Father Louis Fowoyo, celebrated the Holy Mass for our pilgrims on that sunny morning. After communion, hymns were sung as our Lord was placed in the tabernacle. After Mass, pilgrims enjoyed a free lunch on the plaza, including cake! See it the highlights in video.
The staff is thrilled to have Jesus here present, and we know His presence will change everything. We are excited to see the outpouring of grace and the effects that it will have on our mission and our pilgrims. There could be nothing more fitting than having Him here; as always, when they come seeking Mary, they will find Jesus.
From July 17th through the 21st, pilgrims from all over the United States filled the city of Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. It was a historic and grace-filled gathering that moved the hearts of many. Truly a Eucharistic revival, 60,000 plus pilgrims spent time in prayer, worship, healing, conversion, and communal joy.
At Our Lady, Patroness of America Center in Rome City, we were blessed to be in the wake of the Congress. We increased our weekly hours to become a rest stop for pilgrims traveling through on their way to and from Indy. It became a busy and exciting week for us as we presented the devotion to pilgrims from all over the U.S. We had pilgrims from Colorado, Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland, California, and more. The Marian route of the Eucharistic Procession, which began in Minnesota, passed through nearby parishes. Young people, older adults, families, single people, priests, Brothers, and Sisters stopped by. Many of them stayed to enjoy the entire presentation and tour. Some days, we welcomed only ten pilgrims, others nearly 40!
A few groups stopped by on their way home and shared their tremendous graces from the National Eucharistic Congress. Many NEC participants extended their stay to visit family in the area. During the week after, we welcomed pilgrims each day, and many of them brought their extended families to visit the Patroness of America Center.
Al Langsenkamp, President of the center remarked, “Meeting these pilgrims gave me great hope for our Nation and world. We saw people of all generations. We saw military, families, ordained, consecrated and so many more come through our doors. The common theme was faith, family and the desire to do God’s will in all things! These are the souls that will help Our Lady lead the world to Peace”.
We were blessed to share in those graces here in Rome City, the birthplace of the devotion to Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America.
America is blessed!
Join us, September 15th, 2024, for the Third Annual Walking Pilgrimage in celebration of the 68th anniversary of the devotion to Our Lady of America. We will walk along Fishingline Trail from Kendallville to Our Lady, Patroness of America Center in Rome City. We will have varying starting points and times based on the distance you want to walk. Buses will shuttle pilgrims from the Patroness of America Center (2730 E. Northport Rd.) to your desired starting point following the schedule below. Once all pilgrims have arrived together back at the Center, we will have Benediction at the Oratory of the Holy Family. Following Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament, we will have a light meal available for a free-will donation. We will be providing various options to try to accommodate guests with dietary needs, but please note any needs in your RSVP. Please help us prepare for your arrival by submitting your RSVP on Google Forms below. We are greatly anticipating walking with you and praying with you as we celebrate the devotion and witness to our faith.
Attending? Please let us know if you are coming to help us plan transportation and Meals. RSVP Here
Starting points shown on map below.
1.) 7.3 Miles. Bus leaves at 1:00 pm. Walk begins at 1:30 pm.
2.) 4.7 Miles. Bus leaves at 2:15 pm. Walk begins at 2:45 pm.
3.) 3.3 Miles. Bus leaves at 3:00 pm. Walk begins at 3:30 pm.
4.) 1.1 Miles. Bus leaves at 3:30 pm. Walk begins at 4:00 pm.
5.) 0.6 Miles. Bus leaves at 3:30 pm. Walk begins at 4:15 pm.
Following Benediction around 5:00 pm, there will be a meal for a free-will donation and time for fellowship.
-Backpack
-Plenty of Water
-Snacks
-Sunscreen
-Rosary and any other desired prayer materials
-If you are staying for the cookout, bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets for your comfort.
-Begin walking daily to prepare for the long distance.
-Stay on the trail with the group. Just off the trail is private property.
-Only cross roads when traffic is clear. Do not let cars waive you across.
-Local law enforcement will be present that day to help facilitate the pilgrimage and monitor safety and health issues that may arise.
This is exciting news for the Oratory of the Holy Family as we prepare to welcome the Blessed Sacrament in continuous reservation in the Tabernacle!
Starting with Bishop Kevin Rhoades’s first Mass offered in the Oratory of the Holy Family in August 2022, he envisioned that Our Eucharistic Lord would reside here. It has taken us two years to get ready. In discussion with Bishop Rhoads, we outlined the tradeoffs and changes to the facility needed to provide a prayerful place for Eucharistic Prayer. It isn’t straightforward because we also have large groups that visit here, and the Oratory is the only space large enough space to present to them. The solution agreed upon was establishing a Eucharistic Chapel to the right of the Sanctuary. This will provide a prayerful and appropriate side chapel for Eucharistic prayer and the Tabernacle. We are in the process of completing the final changes.
We hope this is only temporary and that the Eucharist will again be front and center in the Sanctuary. We pray that a convocation center will someday be built to accommodate large groups for presentations and speakers. This would return the Oratory to a place dedicated to prayer, and the Tabernacle would be central to the Sanctuary. While we work with what we have, we always look to the future and how to accommodate Our Lady’s unfolding works.
The presence of Our Eucharistic Lord is a great gift to Our Lady’s Pilgrims. She desires always to bring us to her Son. With Jesus Christ present, the fulfillment of her desire will be possible in the Oratory.
This is also a great gift for our staff and volunteers. Going to work and visiting Our Lord at the beginning and end of each day is an extraordinary gift that I hope will never be routine but always held in great esteem and awe, helping us grow in love for Our Lord.
Reservation will be in conjunction with the First Saturday Mass and devotions. We will begin August 3 with the Patriotic Rosary at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., Father Louis Fowoyo will celebrate the Holy Mass. Afterward, please join us for lunch and community on the plaza.
Previous Oratory Altar is being reworked and strengthend to support the wieght of the beautiful Oratory Tabernacle.
On June 15th, we had the great joy of hosting around 70 pilgrims from various counties in Ohio. The bus arrived at the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center around 10:30 am and we jumped into a presentation by Al Langsenkamp at 11. After hearing about the history of the center, pilgrims enjoyed a boxed lunch out on the plaza. Following a good lunch break with time to visit the gift shop, fill up bottles at the spring, and enjoy the sunshine on campus, pilgrims were again invited to the Oratory to hear the rest of the story of the devotion. Pilgrims were challenged to participate in the devotion and help bring peace to the world. The day concluded with praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, a group picture, and praying the Rosary together on Holy Family Hill. Several fun giveaways throughout the day kept things exciting, with one pilgrim even winning a statue of Our Lady of America. With that, they loaded up the bus and had a safe journey back to Ohio.
The trip was organized and supported by the Alliance of the Holy Family International in partnership with the Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus.
We are so grateful for our time with them, and thankful to God for another beautiful day with our pilgrims.
On Sunday, June 2nd, parishioners from Saint Gaspar parish in Rome City celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi together. After the 10 am Mass, they held a Eucharistic Procession from the parish to Our Lady, Patroness of America Center down the road. Pilgrim parishioners followed our Eucharistic Lord down highway 9 assisted by the local police department.
Thouands of processions took place around the world as the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The processions were particularly highlighted in the United States as we continue to prepare for the National Eucharistic Revival taking place in Indianapolis in July. Pilgrimages from around the country have already begun the journey to Indy; you can follow their pilgrimage route here.
The procession ended with a short time of Adoration and Benediction in the Oratory of the Holy Family. Afterward, parishioners enjoyed a picnic lunch together.
“O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine.”
On May 19th, the Church throughout the world was celebrating Pentecost Sunday, but something special was happening on Staten Island. In celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost and in preparation for the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton route of the Eucharistic Revival procession passing through, a group of priests and laity wanted to create a New York City-wide campaign to consecrate the city. A team of about 30 people gathered together for what they called the Miraculous Medal Mission. This group was then divided into 5 groups and dispatched throughout the island.
The teams spent the morning and afternoon traveling throughout the island burying Saint Benedict medals and praying prayers of exorcism and prayers of consecration. Included on one of the teams was the processional statue of Our Lady of America, which Al Langsenkamp flew out from her home in Rome City, Indiana. The statue was taken with one of the teams to each of the four corners of the island as part of the consecration. They also made a stop at the Conference House and the Staten Island September 11th Memorial
The day of prayer ended with the height of prayer, the Holy Mass, at one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese, Saint Clare of Assisi. The statue of Our Lady of America was processed in during the opening hymn. At the end of Mass, the pastor asked Al Langsenkamp, the president of the foundation operating Our Lady Patroness of America Center, to give a short presentation on Our Lady of America to the congregation. Al graciously accepted the invitation and miraculously squeezed a whole lot of information into a very short amount of time, inviting people to check out online resources and make a pilgrimage to Indiana for more. At the conclusion of the Mass, everyone prayed the prayer to Our Lady of America together. Overall it was a beautiful day, and the fruit and graces from those prayers will undoubtedly continue to bless New York and all of us for many years to come.
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As pilgrims converge in Indianapolis for the congress, our doors will be open to welcome them! We will have extended hours and daily presentations in conjunction with the Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Eucharistic Congress. We would love to be a part of your pilgrimage. Stop by on your way to and/or from Indy to take in our beautiful campus, and to learn more about the devotion to Our Lady, Patroness of America. Rest, reflect, and pray with us as the nation comes together for revival, prayer, and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
We will be open for pilgrims on Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, and on Sunday from 2 pm – 7 pm. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Fr. Jeff Pomeisl from the Archdiocese of New York will be here to celebrate Mass at 10 am. There will also be presentations and tours offered at 11 am daily.
If your schedule and our hours don’t line up, give us a call and we will try and make it work. We would love to meet you.
Stay tuned for more details, and spread the word!
Fr. Kevin Barrett speaks with great detail about the sanctification of the Family and how to accomplish it. This four-part series, taken from the First Friday / Saturday Devotion events in March 2024, gives us clear guidance on the means of sanctifying our families.
Our Lord often spoke to me in the past, and already in the early 1940’s it was made known to me interiorly that my mission was to converge towards the sanctification of the family. I was not further enlightened at that time as to how this was to be accomplished. ~ Introduction to the Diary of Messages, Sr. Mary Ephrem:
Sanctification of the family is a necessary step that leads to the Divine Indwelling of the Holy Trinity. From the diary:
“The Divine Trinity will dwell in your midst only if you are faithful in practicing the virtues of our life at Nazareth. Then, you also, my children, you will become another paradise. God will then walk among you, and you will have peace.” ~ November 8, 1954—Diary of Messages, Sr. Mary Ephrem.
Please listen intently to the path of sanctification of your family.
Part 1 – Father Kevin Barrett’s homily from First Friday Mass – March 1st, 2024
Part 2 – Father Kevin Barrett’s presentation on imitating the Holy Family – March 1st, 2024
Part 3 – Father Kevin Barrett’s homily from First Saturday Mass – March 2nd, 2024
Part 4 – Father Kevin Barrett’s presentation on family consecration – March 2nd, 2024