Green Bay, Wis., Aug 18, 2016 / 17:08 pm
In 1859, a young Belgian woman saw a bright vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary appear between two trees in one of the most unlikely places in eastern Wisconsin.
This week, the Marian site has been designated a National Shrine, and is also known as the first Marian apparition site in the United States.
"I am overjoyed to now share with all of you today, that the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help has received the National designation as a National Shrine from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops," Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay stated during an Aug. 15 homily.
"I am deeply thankful for the faith, devotion and unwavering commitment to all those who have been stewards and caretakers of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help for the past several generations," he continued.