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Annual Fundraising Appeal 2-for-1 Match!

December 8, 2024
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Everything Changed in 2024, And We Should Be Hopeful

From the desk of Al Langsenkamp, Volunteer President  – Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Foundation Board Establishes 2-for-1 Match through March 2025

2024 will be marked as the start of a historical change in America.  This will be known as the year America started to wake up from its slumber (or perhaps stupor).

Why do I say this?  For decades, many Americans have sensed that something in our culture is not right, as if the fabric of our culture was weakening.  But in the last decade, the tears in the fabric have started to show.  We see signs in the news and in our community daily.  The situation’s urgency is apparent, and we all have a crucial role in restoring the fabric.  Your involvement is not just significant; it’s urgent.

In 2024, it seems the reality of this breakdown became manifest to most, and people are awakening to ask, “What is it?  How can it be overcome?  What must I do?” Against the backdrop of these questions, Our Lord Jesus Christ comes among our nation and is processed as King and Savior in the Eucharist.  From Sea to Sea and from North and South, he comes, covering us with the grace of His Divine Presence.  And in Indianapolis, pilgrims worldwide joined in prayer, interceding for our nation.  It recalls the scripture verse ‘God said: “I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.”‘ ( 2 Corinthians 6:16)

Isn’t that precisely what happened with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage/Conference, a significant event that brought together tens of thousands of faithful from across the nation to celebrate the Eucharist and pray for the healing of our land?

There and then, everything changed, and America had a glimpse of God’s hope for Our Nation and how it could be fulfilled.  The transformative power of the Eucharistic gives us hope that the antidote to the pagan culture is within our grasp.

The Eucharistic Congress was the first step, and its work must continue.  But there is a second step.  Returning to the above scripture quote, the phrase immediately proceeding is the hope of Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin Patroness of America (Our Lady of America), wherein Saint Paul writes, “For we are the temple of the living God.“

Did you catch that?  WE ARE (sacramentally) THE TEMPLES OF THE LIVING GOD.

Just as the Eucharistic Lord was processed across our Nation, He wants us to take him into our homes, workplaces, and communities.  The institutional Church cannot effectively do this.  Only the lay faithful can reach all of society’s cracks, corners, and crevices.  In this devotion, Our Lady teaches us how and asks us to bring Our Lord to all.

This is precisely the message of Our Lady of America, and it is precisely how we can best say yes to Our Lady’s request when she asks, “I need your help to bring peace into the world.  Do not disappoint me.”

A soul in a state of sanctifying grace is the tabernacle of the Indwelling Most Holy Trinity, “The Temple of the Living God” (2 Cor 6:16).   With sanctifying grace and “YES” to God’s will, such souls help Our Lady bring fulfillment to these writing of St. Paul and fulfill her request by helping her bring the peace of Christ into the world.

Any soul can participate through the grace of God and the Sacraments.  This mission is open to all.

Now is our time to say yes.   And Our Lady does not leave us to wonder how.  She gives us a precise way to answer her plea.  The answer lies exclusively in the Sacraments which her Son has prepared for us.   There is no mystery to her request or ambiguity in her method.

The community surrounding the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center is called to lead in helping her children say “YES.” This role is not exclusive to us.  It is a role in collaboration with the many prayer groups and organizations nationwide that are springing up in response to her requests.  This is a team effort.  2024 has seen a multitude of groups organizing to spread this devotion.  This collective action, this united front, will bring about the change Our Lady seeks.  It warms my heart to no end to see us all working together!

The fact that you are reading this note means you are part of the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center community.  You are asked to help Our Lady’s children say “YES” and help her lead the world to peace.  Your role is crucial, and your contribution is invaluable.

We can respond by praying for Our Lady’s intentions and spreading this devotion among our families, friends, and communities.  Pray that Our Lady’s hope for America comes to fruition.

2024 saw a significant increase in pilgrims.  Most had one thing in common: they came because someone they know personally recommended a visit to Rome City.  Spread the word—it works!  We had over 20 organized groups of 15 or more pilgrims this year—former visitors led them all!  And now these
groups are out in their circles spreading the word.  The wave is building.

Bishop Kevin Rhoades, when he decreed the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center as an official place of pilgrimage, gave Our Lady a place where her children can visit her, learn of her hope, and provide us with grace and blessing.  In short, he gave us a place to say “Yes” to Our Lady!

As the foundation that owns and operates the birthplace of the devotion, we have a duty and the standing to spread the devotion in ways beyond individual outreach.

In addition to maintaining and enhancing our campus, we have added a focus on outreach over the last year.  We have been exhibiting at conferences, speaking to groups outside our Diocese, and developing our social media campaign.  In 2025, we are preparing to do more outreach to bring Our Lady’s hope for America to thousands of her children.  (For a sneak peek at our social media advertisement, click here.)

Regarding collaboration, we are working to develop working relationships with many well known and respected Catholic leaders.  This work is starting to bear fruit!  This devotion is so deeply rooted in the Sacraments and the Scriptures and relevant today that these leaders are naturally attracted to Our Lady’s message.

The level at which we can accomplish this work mainly depends on our financial resources.  In support of this mission, our Board of Directors has again offered to match all donations 2-for-1 through March 2025 (up to a $300,000 match.)  There is no better time of the year to donate to Our Lady’s work.

Please consider donating while this match is in place to aid in this work of Our Lady.

Please donate now

Let’s get to work together and make a difference by bringing the Peace of Christ into our world.

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Thirty Second Social Media Clip

December 8, 2024
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30-Second Social Midea Outreach Clip

In support of spreading news of Our Lady’s hope for America, please see our soon-to-be-deployed 30-second clip designed introduce people to Heaven’s plan.   Feel free to post on your page. Spread the Devotion!

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The Fruits of 2024 and a Glance Into 2025

December 1, 2024
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The Fruits of 2024 and a Glance Into 2025

As we begin wrapping up this year and heading into the holiday season, we are again in wonder at all God has done here at the Our Lady, Patroness of America Center. We wanted to share a highlight reel with all of you who have done so much to help us live and spread this devotion further than we could ever hope to or accomplish on our own. 

Perhaps the greatest gift and grace of the year happened in August at the request and guidance of Bishop Rhoades: having Jesus back full-time in the Blessed Sacrament. Since the consecration of the Oratory and the altar, Bishop Rhoades has desired that the Oratory have the permanent reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. With the constant building upgrades and tours, we weren’t quite ready with the proper space for Him. This year, we transformed the former vesting room into a Eucharistic chapel. The Eucharistic hasn’t been reserved in the Oratory since about 1975. Our chaplain, Father Louis Fowoyo, celebrated the First Saturday Mass, and it closed with a brief time of prayer and song after he placed Jesus in the Tabernacle.

The Eucharist is now reserved in the side chapel

After Mass, we celebrated with a meal, fellowship, and, of course, cake. You can find more visuals from the day here. It has been such a grace for our staff and pilgrims to have Jesus present here 24/7. 

Also, at Bishop Rhoades’s suggestion, we added First Friday Masses to our schedule. These begin in March and stretch through October. It was great to have the additional Mass times and to have more pilgrims spend a Friday night with us. If your pastor has not been to the center, we would love for him to visit and help us fill out our Mass calendar!

We launched our spring season and First Friday Masses for the year with a visit from Father Kevin Barrett. In March, Father Kevin celebrated the First Friday and First Saturday Masses. After Mass, he gave two presentations on imitating the Holy Family and family consecration. To listen to his homilies and presentations, click here.

May Crowning

In May, we invited young people from around the diocese to participate in our first-ever May Crowning Mass. Students led the Rosary, sang in the choir, read the readings, presented the crown, and crowned the statue of Our Lady of America. Paula Vering made a unique crown to fit the statue. It was a beautiful way to honor Our Lady and begin the month dedicated to her.

In July, Indianapolis saw more than 50,000 Catholics attend the National Eucharistic Congress. With so many people visiting the area, we added additional hours and opened our doors to pilgrims passing through on their way to and from Indianapolis. It was a busy and exciting week for us, and a great joy to hear so many tremendous testimonies from the Congress. 

In August, we were getting ready to welcome Jesus in the Eucharist. The night before, Shema Culture from Fort Wayne led us in praise and worship after Mass, filling the Oratory with worship and preparing us to be open and ready to receive His presence.

Anniversary Pilgrim Walk

The joy and fellowship continued in September. What’s becoming one of our most popular and anticipated events of the year returned for the third year: Our Annual Walking Pilgrimage, which took place on September 15th. Pilgrims walked along the Fishing Line Trail from Kendallville to Rome City, following the processional statue of Our Lady. Pilgrims sang, prayed, and had time for quiet reflection throughout the walk. Around 160 pilgrims joined us for the day. It was a beautiful public witness to our faith. Just listen to their prayer and song!

 For the second year, on November 16th, we joined with the Rome City Lakeside Holidays festivities to host our own open house. New this year, we even had a special visitor, Santa! He passed out candy canes, took pictures, and listened to Christmas lists. There were Rome City neighbors and other pilgrims who stopped by. This event is fantastic because it draws in many from outside the Catholic community, and we get to hear many stories about what the people in town remember about the Center’s history. Plus, many of them hear the story of the devotion for the first time, get to see all the renovations, and are in awe of the gem in their own backyard.

Alongside the devotion and Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, what makes this place so special and sacred are the many pilgrims who visit and support us from near and far. This year, we had more pilgrims than ever, and those numbers continue to grow.

Pilgrims from Ohio

This year, we welcomed a busload of pilgrims from Ohio, a few different school groups on field trips, large groups from local parishes, leadership organizations, small groups of retreatants, and some religious congregations were represented as well. Not only do our pilgrims come and support us, but they also support us by helping us spread the word to their local communities. Thanks to your generosity, the message continues to spread and grow! We’re doing our part, but through your sharing, we can move to places far beyond what we could ever reach without your help.

Our Lady draws a crowd on Staten Island

While we are starting to see more pilgrims at the Center, we’ve also been venturing out to bring the Center to more pilgrims. Our Lady of America took a memorable trip to Staten Island this year. In February, we also had a booth at the diocesan men’s conference, Rekindle the Fire, in Fort Wayne. It was a blessing to talk to many men leading faithful families and ministries.

This year, we accomplished a lot of behind-the-scenes work. We put a lot of time and effort into updating our website, adding the online gift shop, and shipping orders to pilgrims who can’t make it to the Center. We also worked with Anchor Films out of Fort Wayne to create a 30-second short. It was enjoyable to collaborate creatively and hone the message. We hope these resources will help connect more pilgrims to the Center and make our resources and content more accessible.

Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to hear about all the great things happening with the devotion!

While 2024 has seen tremendous growth in the number of pilgrims, accessibility to the devotion, and continued outreach efforts, more must be done to do our part in bringing Our Lady’s hope to the world. Our Lady is just getting started! In 2025, we hope to spread the devotion even further and in ways that give more pilgrims access to heaven’s plan. We’re looking to provide more digital and media content, make the tours accessible to more people in person and virtually, and create more opportunities to partner with other ministries and engage in more speaking and conference opportunities, to name a few! We also continue to make renovations to our aging campus, as well as the expenses of general maintenance and upkeep that old buildings require. Additionally, we plan to enhance our Oratory and other spaces on campus to create a beautiful atmosphere of prayer and healing. 

The great work that’s been done is not without cost. We need your help to keep up with our ever-growing mission and the constant upkeep of this old campus. If you could prayerfully consider helping us, the link to our annual appeal can be found here. Indeed, Our Lord is never outdone in generosity.

 To Him be all the glory! 

Processional statue in the pilgrimage walk
Line of pilgrims reaches Our Lady Patroness of America Center
Families visit during National Eucharistic Congress
Jesus being placed in the new tabernacle for permanent reservation for the first time
Families enjoy a free meal together on the plaza
Pilgrims adore Jesus after the pilgrim walk
Our Lady visits Staten Island

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Pilgrim Walk Sees Fruit for Third Year

September 21, 2024
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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! 

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Eucharist Finds Permanent Home at Oratory

August 24, 2024
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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.

Cake for Reservation

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Center Sees Fruits of National Eucharistic Congress

July 28, 2024
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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!

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3rd Annual Pilgrim Walk to Celebrate Anniversary of the Devotion

July 15, 2024
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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. 

Important!

Attending? Please let us know if you are coming to help us plan transportation and Meals. RSVP Here

Schedule for the Day

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.

Map of pilgrimage route along Fishingline Trail from Kendallville to Our Lady Patroness of America Center

Things to Bring:

-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. 

Tips and Guidelines:

-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. 

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Eucharistic Reservation Begins at Oratory

June 27, 2024
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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. 

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Busload of Pilgrims Enjoy Tour

June 26, 2024
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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.

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Corpus Christi Procession Grows Amid Eucharistic Revival

June 5, 2024
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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.”

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