The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion celebrates 15 years since apparition approval
By William Van de Planque | On Mission
Photos courtesy of The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
CHAMPION, WI — Bishop David Ricken came to The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion to celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Monday, December 8, 2025.
The day also marked the 15th anniversary of Bishop Ricken’s announcement of the approval of the apparitions that took place in 1859, making Champion the site of the only Church-approved Marian apparitions in the United States.
Bishop Ricken, the main celebrant of the Mass, was joined by other diocesan priests and the Fathers of Mercy, who have served at the shrine since 2011.
Following the Mass, Fr. Anthony Stephens, CPM, who serves as the rector of the shrine, recalled Bishop Ricken’s televised announcement of the apparition approval in 2010.
“I remember watching Bishop Ricken from the pulpit making that announcement about the apparition,” Fr. Stephens said. “I thought to myself, ‘Boy, that’s really special for the United States of America to have this approved apparition site, the only approved apparition site here in the United States,’ and then I thought, ‘It would be kind of neat to serve there.’ God is good.”
Fr. Stephens spoke for all the Fathers of Mercy priests at the shrine when he expressed his gratitude to Bishop Ricken for the gift of serving the thousands of pilgrims who visit each year.
“So many of you have asked for this in one way or another,” said Bishop Ricken, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2010. “I regard this also as a simple declaration in that it already states what has been going on here so quietly for so many years.”
In 2010, around 10,000 visitors made pilgrimages to the shrine annually. Today, the shrine sees more than 200,000 pilgrims each year.
During his homily on Monday, Bishop Ricken spoke about the process for approving the apparitions.
“(Going through) that process was a great blessing, but it was also a great responsibility,” he said.
The process involved a nearly two-year-long formal investigation into the apparitions, which three Marian experts were appointed to conduct.
“One of (the Marian experts), the most famous one, said, ‘Most of these that come to me are fraudulent. This one is not.’ Then he said, ‘Good luck,’” Bishop Ricken said.
Bishop Ricken drew parallels between the Gospel reading, which recounted the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Our Lady of Champion.
“Think of all of this that is going on in this text,” he said. “Here in Champion, Our Blessed Mother revealed herself as the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners. So simple and yet so very profound.
“Can you imagine that? It’s still so rich for me to meditate upon because the Queen of Heaven touched down right here… So think about that for a moment.”