The first step on the path to sainthood was made with the official opening of the cause for canonization
By William Van de Planque | On Mission
Photography by Andy Bott | For On Mission
GREEN BAY, WI — Bishop David Ricken, the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, promulgated a decree to officially open the cause for canonization of Adele Brice during a Solemn Vespers service at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, on the evening of Friday, January 30, 2026.
Parish and religious priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful from across the diocese gathered to witness the historic event. Religious orders who were represented include, but are not limited to, the Norbertines, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Byzantine Catholic monks from Holy Resurrection Monastery, and the Fathers of Mercy.
Following the promulgation of the decree, a press conference with representatives from local media and national Catholic media was held in the Green Bay Diocese Museum in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
In opening the cause for her canonization, Bishop Ricken declared Adele Brice a “servant of God,” the first step on the path to canonization — being officially recognized as a saint of the Catholic Church — on the day of her 195th birthday.
“Today is Adele’s 195th birthday,” said Fr. Tony Stephens, CPM, who serves as the rector of The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, to reporters at the press conference following the promulgation. “So, thank you, Your Excellency (Bishop Ricken) and to the Diocese of Green Bay for all the work that they have done to put together this opening of this cause which is a really special birthday gift for Adele.”
Moments before the promulgation of the decree, Bishop Ricken addressed the nearly 500 faithful gathered to offer more context on the significance of what was taking place.
“Tonight, for the first time in the history of the Diocese of Green Bay, I am opening the cause for canonization for Adele,” he said. “Tonight, we pray for this cause for Adele Brice, the young Belgian who received the visions from Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Our Mother, in Champion, Wisconsin.”
When Fr. John Girotti, vicar general for the Diocese of Green Bay, was asked about the uniqueness of this cause for canonization, he talked about how long ago Adele lived her life and how that affects the cause today.
“What’s interesting about this is that Adele died 130 years ago, so this is what is called by the Church an ‘ancient cause’… and so we have to investigate her life but going back through the generations, stories that have been passed down, the oral tradition, which is a very real thing here in Northeast Wisconsin,” he said.
Bishop Ricken explained how the journey to canonization can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking decades to make just one step forward.
“Tonight marks the beginning of what can often be a long, long process,” he said. “Even to get to this point, the Church has prescribed a series of inquires I needed to make to provide me with more information before deciding to even open the cause.”
A full list of the steps that have been made to arrive at the opening of the cause for Adele can be found here: adelebrice.org.
One of the steps that have to be made before a cause for canonization can be opened is an inquiry made to the faithful of the diocese to submit testimonials about Adele’s life and possibly answered prayers. This inquiry was made on December 28, 2026, when Bishop Ricken issued an edict calling for such consultation with the faithful.
At the press conference on Friday, Fr. Stephens, was asked by OSV News what stood out to him among the testimonial submissions in the past month.
“The one that I just heard recently was the story of Susan Holtz, a woman who was healed about 15 years ago of migraine headaches,” he said. “That was one — I’d been working here over a year — I hadn’t heard that one yet.”
Fr. Stephens also mentioned how he often encounters pilgrims at the Shrine who are not Catholic.
“They’re just there because something special happened there,” he said.
Bishop Ricken, in response to the same question about recent testimonials, talked about a cancer patient who was miraculously healed.
“One story I heard was about a man who was battling cancer for years and years, and he read the story (of Adele and Our Lady of Champion) in a magazine while on a plane,” he said. “He came to Champion and he prayed there, and he was cured.”
Bishop Ricken was asked by someone representing EWTN News about connections that the faithful of the Diocese of Green Bay can take from the life of Adele, especially as a lay servant of God.
“I think she gives so much hope to the lay faithful, to say, ‘Holiness and sanctity is possible for me too’,” he said.
Bishop Ricken emphasized the reality of sainthood and heaven.
“Everybody in heaven is a saint, by the way, just maybe not officially declared a saint,” he said. “So, if we get there, when we get there, we’re going to be rejoicing in the glory of God, that’s for sure. That’s (where) Adele gives hope to lay people to say, ‘Hey, this is possible.’”
To see more photos, visit: onmiss.io/adelebricedecree