How did the idea of a Shrine Passport unfold?  This past November, I attended a National Shrine Conference at the Shrine of Our Lady de la Leche in St. Augustine, Florida. I am new in this apostolate and wanted to learn from those who have done this type of ministry for years. I was not disappointed! 

Over 50 directors of shrines had gathered, and the presentations were exactly what I needed to hear, especially a talk by a doctoral candidate from the Philippines researching Shrine Ministry in the church. Plus, I got a lot of information about the Jubilee Year, which heavily focuses on Shrine Ministry. In my interactions, I came across the leadership of two shrines located in Philadelphia: The Basilica Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia.

This meant we would create a small paper document containing the names of our three shrines with a blank space for a rubber stamp impression. Each shrine created its own unique image. So we went to work and created what was needed, and Ash Wednesday was the kickoff date to begin passport distribution. 

How does this work? When you visit any one of these shrines, you can ask for this passport and immediately have it stamped. You can then take the passport with you and visit the other two shrines. 

When you have obtained all three stamps, you will be given a special pin containing a series of religious medals representing all three shrines. This limited-edition passport and the reception of these medals will only happen during the Jubilee Year, so this is a onetime experience being offered.   

The passport is aimed at adults, but we also offer a wristband rosary for young people. Each shrine offers a variety of colored bands, and when you collect all three, you will also receive a pin with the medals of all three shrines. As you read this, know that all three shrines stand ready to welcome everybody! Some of our Redemptorist communities are within driving distance of our shrine, and you may consider organizing a bus trip. I know some confreres are already considering this.

 

Even though anyone can be a pilgrim and visit a shrine, the best experience, as described in the Jubilee documents, is to make the journey with others. This can be as small as a car pool or as large as a bus! The shrine pilgrimage experience is a reminder that we are on a journey to be with the Lord for all eternity, and we are not alone on our journey. We are part of the people of God, and a shrine visit will help your parishioners experience this! If you want to create a tour experience for your parishioners, just call us at 215-627-3080 or email us at [email protected], and we will work out the details. If you are too far away for your parishioners to visit, keep an eye on our website (stjohnneumann.org), where we are creating a virtual tour experience. We are also posting sections of our virtual tour on Facebook.
   

Know that many have come to the National Shrine of St. John Neumann from around the world and found healing in various ways—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It would be wonderful if, during this Jubilee Year, your parishioners and friends could be counted among them. †