FAQs
Coming out of town for this youth day? Visit our Lodging page for recommendations near the grounds of the National Shrine.
As you continue to plan your trip, see below for additional planning resource pages related to traveling to Wisconsin, What to know about visiting Champion, and other nearby attractions.
Helpful Tools:
Any questions can be directed to our pilgrimage planning coordinator at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
There are many beautiful Shrines and devotional areas that have been designated as Jubilee Pilgrimage Sites.
Those not able to pilgrimage to Rome may also obtain a Jubilee Indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to a sacred Jubilee site, including any national minor basilica, Marian sanctuary, or national sanctuary.
Some Other Wisconsin Sites Include:
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe – La Crosse, WI
- National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians – Hubertus, WI
To see more US Jubilee Sites, please visit catholicshrines.org/jubileeofhope.
Besides the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Bishop Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay designated two other Jubilee Sites within the Diocese of Green Bay. These are:
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral – Green Bay, Wisconsin
- St. Pius X Parish – Appleton, Wisconsin
A plenary indulgence might be obtained by devoutly visiting any of the Jubilee pilgrimage sites.
A plenary indulgence can be gained only once daily, but partials are unlimited. In order to obtain a Jubilee plenary indulgence, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
- Visit one of the designated Jubilee churches or shrines. Or perform the prescribed act.
- Receive the Sacrament of Penance by going to Confession. (The Sacrament of Penance may be received several days before or after performing the prescribed acts.)
- Receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
- Be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.
- Make a Profession of Faith. (Recite the Nicene or Apostles Creed)
- Pray for Pope Francis’ intentions for the Church and for the world. (Recite the Our Father)
**To receive these special graces, one must be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.
How Do We Know If We Have Received the Plenary Indulgence?
God knows, and that is Who matters. The act of fulfilling these requirements hopefully helps us begin forming new habits and breaking old bad habits that lead to sinful behavior. The hardest requirement to fulfill may be the last one noted: to have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin. That means a person needs to hate all their sins and be willing to renounce their attachment to them. If a person is unwilling to at least try to amend their situation, they may be attached to that sin. This is distinct from human weakness when a person might repeatedly fall to a sin. A daily self-examination of conscience helps an individual discern what their particular sins and attachments might be.
The Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that an indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven. In other words, we can receive from God a partial or complete canceling of our “purgatory time” by gaining an indulgence.
A plenary indulgence can be gained only once daily, but partials are unlimited. In order to obtain the Jubilee plenary indulgence, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
- Visit one of the designated Jubilee churches or shrines. Or perform the prescribed act.
- Receive the Sacrament of Penance by going to Confession. (The Sacrament of Penance may be received several days before or after performing the prescribed acts.)
- Receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
- Be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.
- Make a Profession of Faith. (Recite the Nicene or Apostles Creed)
- Pray for Pope Francis’ intentions for the Church and for the world. (Recite the Our Father)
**To receive these special graces, one must be truly free from all willful attachment to sin.
Living as a faithful Catholic is an intense way of life that orients us towards striving to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Living to receive indulgences is already “waiting well” and living in hope.
The Gift of Indulgences:
The marvelous thing about fulfilling the requirements to receive an indulgence is that we trust that the Lord will draw from His infinite merits, won by His passion, death, and resurrection, special graces for the person who is asking for them. Christ has given the Catholic Church the power to forgive sins (John 20:21-23) and the power to bind and loose (Matt. 18:18). Building a habit of receiving indulgences eliminates the temporal punishment due to sin (purgatory time) and cooperates with God’s grace to be in deeper communion with Him.
Pope Francis stated in his February 2022 letter announcing the Jubilee 2025, Pilgrims of Hope: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire…” (USCCB)
In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Holy Year, or Jubilee, is a great religious event. It is a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment due to sin; it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries, of conversion and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and consequently of solidarity, hope, justice, commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brothers and sisters. A Jubilee year is, above all, the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity (Vatican.Va).
Traditionally, a Jubilee Year takes place every 25 years unless otherwise declared by the Holy See.
Any cancellations prior to May 1 will be honored, and you will receive a full refund.
Any cancellations after May 1, will not be refunded.
For any questions, please contact Kathy Ciha at kciha@championshrine.org.
Yes, the 4:00 Mass that Saturday fulfills your Sunday obligation.
The dinner will be at the Rock Garden (1951 Bond St. Green Bay, WI.)
Time: 6:15 – 7:30
This is located next to the Comfort Inn Suites hotel where a block of rooms is reserved under the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion for those who want to make a Hotel reservation.
The main portion of the Conference will be held in Mother of Mercy Hall at the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.
The only activity being held off-site is the Friday night dinner, which is at the Rock Garden in Green Bay.
The Solemnity Mass will be livestreamed on the National Shrine’s Facebook page and on our website HERE.
Those traveling to Champion from out of town and needing accommodations can contact our pilgrimage planning coordinator for recommendations and potential group booking rates at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
As you continue to plan your trip, see below for additional planning resource pages related to traveling to Wisconsin, What to know about visiting Champion, and other nearby attractions.
Helpful Tools:
Any questions can be directed to our pilgrimage planning coordinator at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
For those looking to bring a diocese/parish/group pilgrimage to the National Shrine for the Solemnity Mass on October 9 or events leading up to the day, please visit our Group Pilgrimage page for planning resources, sample itineraries, scheduling tools, and travel/busing information.
Those traveling with a bus must contact the Shrine ahead of time for proper parking instructions and information.
If needing a block of hotel rooms for your group, please contact our pilgrimage planning coordinator at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
Helpful Tools:
Any questions can be directed to our pilgrimage planning coordinator at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
A special blessing will be given by Bishop Ricken after the mass for religious articles. If you’d like to bring your religious objects, such as your rosary, jewelry, medals, or crucifixes, please feel free to do so!
Golf carts will be available for transportation to and from the parking lot for those with limited mobility.
Carlo Acutis (3 May 1991 – 12 October 2006) was an English-born Italian Catholic youth and amateur computer programmer, who is best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world and cataloging them onto a website that he created before his death from leukemia. He was noted for his cheerfulness, computer skills, and deep devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life. He was beatified on 10 October 2020, two days before the 14th anniversary of his death.
Below are hotels that have blocks of rooms reserved for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion and its Marian Conference attendees.
Green Bay Comfort Suites
Call – 920-499-7449
Limited rooms are under “The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion”
Email – choicehotels@reservations.choicehotels.com
Americ Inn
920-964-0177
A block of rooms are under “The Shrine 2024”
Must be booked no later than April 17, 2024
Country Inn Suites
920-770-2683
The block of rooms are under “The Shrine”
Rooms must be booked before May 1, 2024
As you continue to plan your trip, see below for additional planning resource pages related to traveling to Wisconsin, What to know about visiting Champion, and other nearby attractions.
Helpful Tools:
Any questions can be directed to our pilgrimage planning coordinator at 920-866-2571 ext 113 or kciha@championshrine.org.
The Shrine welcomes sponsorships at various levels. For more information, please contact Kelsey at kdorner@championshrine.org
While there is no retreat center with accommodations on site, our pilgrimage planning coordinators are in contact with representatives of local schools, hotels, motels, camping facilities and other operators of large gathering spaces. They can help find the best and most affordable accommodation options for you, your family, or your organization. Please feel free to contact them at 920-866-2571 ext 113.
Checks can be made payable to: National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. Please include a pledge form of a note designating your gift. Any gift received without a pledge form or a gift designation will be booked as a general gift and will support the daily operations of the Shrine. Checks can be mailed to: 4047 Chapel Dr., New Franken, WI 54229
By the term shrine is understood a church or other sacred place to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety, with the approval of the local ordinary. – Canon 1230
At Shrines the means of salvation are to be supplied more abundantly to the faithful by diligent proclamation of the word of God, the suitable promotion of liturgical life especially through the celebration of the Eucharist and of penance, and the cultivation of approved forms of popular piety. – Canon 1234
The Shrine’s EIN Number is 20-3929148. When listing the Shrine, please list as “The Shrine of Our Lady of Champion” with our address as 4047 Chapel Drive, New Franken, WI 54229.
Adele, a Third Order Franciscan, was assisted by a group of companions who joined her as a Tertiary Franciscans.
There is a professional research team within the diocese that conducts research in connection with those familiar with the Shrine and its history.
Adele was a secular Franciscan who wore a religious habit and lived as a nun but had not professed vows.
We don’t know for sure, but there is speculation that Adele suffered the loss of her right eye due to an accident with lye at a young age.
While the Shrine is a place for prayer, reflection, and celebration of life, it does not offer marriages, baptisms, or funerals on site. The Shrine is not a parish and reserves those rites to the worshiping community of parishes.
In order to maintain a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for all visitors, the Shrine does not conduct tours. However, we do have self-guided brochures in both English and Spanish, with a map and description of all grotto sites and places of interest on the grounds. To find, visit our visitor resources page.
In addition, our Historical Center features the Shine’s story as a video that plays continuously through the day. History Talks can be scheduled as part of pilgrimage group’s itinerary for a nominal fee.
The Shrine does not have a formal dress code, but we encourage pilgrims to dress appropriately, keeping in mind they are in the presence of the Lord – especially during the Mass and that we are to be positive witnesses to each other in Christian virtue.
