National Shrine of Saint Joseph (DePere, Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
The National Shrine of Saint Joseph is located in DePere, Wisconsin, a few miles from the city of Green Bay
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
. The Shrine is in the care of the Norbertine Order, and is housed at St. Norbert Abbey
, DePere, Wisconsin.
The Shrine was originally located at St. Joseph Church in DePere, Wisconsin. In the late 19th century, inspired by a deep devotion to the foster-father of Jesus Christ, Father Joseph Durin, who was the pastor, began work to have a statue of Saint Joseph
crowned and declared a national shrine
. In 1891, Father Durin, supported by more than 30 bishop
s and thousands of lay people, embarked on a quest to present his petition for a national shrine to the Vatican
for official approval. Father Durin’s efforts were rewarded, and in 1892 Pope Leo XIII
officially recognized the statue as a National Shrine.
Sebastian Gebhard Messmer, who was the Bishop of Green Bay, during this time, presided over the coronation of the statue. Saint Joseph was presented with a flat (mural) crown, while the Christ Child
in his arms wears an imperial crown.
The shrine moved to the care of the Norbertines in 1959.
A perpetual novena
to St. Joseph, started by Father Durin in 1888 and continuing to this day, is held every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
. The Shrine is in the care of the Norbertine Order, and is housed at St. Norbert Abbey
St. Norbert Abbey
St. Norbert Abbey is the location of the headquarters of the Premonstratensian Order in the United States. Located on of land east of the Fox River in De Pere, Wisconsin, it falls within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay....
, DePere, Wisconsin.
The Shrine was originally located at St. Joseph Church in DePere, Wisconsin. In the late 19th century, inspired by a deep devotion to the foster-father of Jesus Christ, Father Joseph Durin, who was the pastor, began work to have a statue of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
crowned and declared a national shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
. In 1891, Father Durin, supported by more than 30 bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s and thousands of lay people, embarked on a quest to present his petition for a national shrine to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
for official approval. Father Durin’s efforts were rewarded, and in 1892 Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
officially recognized the statue as a National Shrine.
Sebastian Gebhard Messmer, who was the Bishop of Green Bay, during this time, presided over the coronation of the statue. Saint Joseph was presented with a flat (mural) crown, while the Christ Child
Child Jesus
The Child Jesus represents Jesus from his Nativity to age 12. At 13 he was considered to be adult, in accordance with the Jewish custom of his time, and that of most Christian cultures until recent centuries.The Child Jesus is frequently depicted in art, from around the third or fourth century...
in his arms wears an imperial crown.
The shrine moved to the care of the Norbertines in 1959.
A perpetual novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
to St. Joseph, started by Father Durin in 1888 and continuing to this day, is held every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.