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Thursday, March 4, 2021

YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH: National Shrine of St. Joseph -- De Pere, Wis.

Destination: Just a few hours north of the Rockford Diocese is the National Shrine of St. Joseph on the campus of St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. 

Masses are daily at noon, and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.  

From March 10-19, the  solemn Novena to St. Joseph follows 6 p.m. confessions and 7 p.m. Mass.

Why to go: The National Shrine of St. Joseph is located in the oratory of Old St. Joseph Church on the St. Norbert College campus. The shrine and its perpetual novena were originally established on this site in 1888. 

French-Canadian  Catholics came to the De Pere area in the mid-19th century to work in the lumber mills. In 1870, a parish named in honor of St. Joseph was established to serve them.

Special events: The 134th annual Novena Mass in honor of St. Joseph on March 19  this year will be broadcast live on EWTN at 5:30 p.m. Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay will preside and Father Don Calloway, MIC, will offer the homily. 

The shrine is offering an online conference about the Year of St. Joseph on March 19. The conference will feature the rededication of the shrine’s statue of St. Joseph. Speakers will cover a variety of topics, including a general overview of St. Joseph, life in his times, devotions to St. Joseph, and his special role as protector of the family. Learn more at http://box5320.temp.domains/~theyeav3/.

Hours: The shrine is open to the public 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Accessibility: Much of the campus appears to be accessible to the handicapped. Take a virtual tour of the site at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLTk10x63cQ.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — National Shrine of St. Joseph, Old St. Joseph Church, 123 Grant St., De Pere, WI 54115 

Phone — 920-403-3010 

Website — https://www.snc.edu/parish/shrine.html

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to sboehlefeld@rockforddiocese.org