Pilgrimage in United States of America 2012: Most Blessed Sacrement Shrine, Hancevile, Alabama
"The history of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels begins with foundress and Abbess Mother Mary Angelica. Mother Angelica is the founder of the Eternal Word Television Network, the largest privately-owned religious programming network in the world. EWTN first went on the air in 1981, broadcasting from a garage at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama, which Mother Angelica founded in 1962. EWTN became a 24-hour broadcast in 1984. The network has an annual operating budget of approximately $30 million, 100-percent of which comes from donations. In 1995, while visiting the Sanctuary of the Divino Nino Jesus in Bogota, Columbia, Mother Angelica received a vision while praying before a small statue of the Divine Child Jesus. The statue came to life and said to her: "Build Me a Temple, and I will help those who help you." Following this experience, Mother Angelica looked at sites for about four months before settling on a 400-acre property in Hanceville. According to Mother Angelica, the spot was chosen because she "felt the presence of God here." Construction on the Shrine and monastery began in July 1996. The nuns moved into the monastery on December 3, 1999 and the Temple was consecrated on December 19, 1999. Both the land and the construction of the monastery were funded completely by donations. According to monastery officials, the monastery was built when five families combined their resources and made an anonymous donation to fund the project on two conditions: that they remain completely anonymous and that the amount of the donation would never be disclosed. The monastery is home to the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration, an autonomous Pontifical Contemplative Order of cloistered nuns with the privilege of Solemn Vows, Papal Enclosure, and Solemn Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. They are a part of the Second Order of Saint Francis of Assisi. Currently, there are 33 cloistered nuns in residence at the monastery along with eight extern sisters, who care for the needs of the public and handle all external affairs. There is also an ordained priest in residence full-time as well as another priest who is onsite part-time to tend to the spiritual needs of pilgrims and the cloistered nuns. In addition, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word from Irondale, Alabama, travel to the Shrine in order to provide for the Sacramental needs of the nuns and pilgrims. The Knights of the Holy Eucharist are a small group of Brothers who reside on the grounds who act as caretakers and also provide assistance to pilgrims. More information on the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament can be found at the Shrine's official site at http://www.olamshrine.com. Back to Top Pilgrimages are available for groups of ten or more and individuals are welcome to join any scheduled activity at the Shrine. Out of respect for the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Nuns request that visitors refrain from wearing shorts, tank tops, sleeveless shirts or mini-skirts. Photographs are not allowed in the Shrine itself, as it may distract the Nuns and pilgrims at adoration. If you have any questions about pilgrimages, please contact EWTN's Pilgrimage Department: Email: pilgrimages@ewtn.com Telephone: 205-271-2966 option 3 Fax: 205-271-2957 Address: EWTN Pilgrimage Department 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210 Back to Top The Shrine is located about 6 miles from the intersection of Hwy. 91 and Hwy. 31 in Hanceville, Alabama. Going either direction on I-65, take Exit 291 for Hwy. 91 North. Turn right at County Road 747 and right again at County Road 548. Printable Map Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament 3224 County Road 548 Hanceville, Alabama 35007 256/352-6267"
| Shrine of the Most
Blessed Sacrament 3224 County Road 548 Hanceville, Alabama 35007 256/352-6267 | ||||||||
| The Monastery Chapel and grounds are open to
the public from 6 AM until 6 PM. The public is invited to attend the Nun's
Conventual Mass at 7 AM daily, after which confessions will be heard. Out of
respect for the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Nuns request that visitors refrain
from wearing shorts, tank tops, sleeveless shirts or mini-skirts. Photographs
are not allowed in the Shrine itself, as it may distract the Nuns and pilgrims
at adoration. For Mass times on Special Feast Days, call (256)
352-6267. Pictures of the Shrine are available in the Gift Shop of El
Nino, located on the Monastery grounds in Castle San Miguel. The gift shop is
open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM until 5 PM. Here is a complete schedule of the Shrine activites, courtesy of EWTN's website.
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Source: http://www.olamshrine.com/
We visited the above shrine on June 2nd & 3rd. Our family experiences at this shrine will be appear as a seperate article to be followed........ We would like to visit this shrine every year.
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