National Shrine of St. Joseph
A continued tradition for over 135 years
Come Pray at The Shrine
123 Grant St. De Pere, WI 54115-2099
The National Shrine is located adjacent to Old St. Joseph Church on the grounds of St. Norbert College
VISITING HOURS FOR THE SHRINE
6:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. daily
WEEKDAY MASS AND WEDNESDAY NOVENA
Mass is celebrated every Wednesday at Noon, followed by the Novena Prayers. Mass is also celebrated Monday – Friday at Noon during the Academic Year.
136th SOLEMN NOVENA
March 11-20, 2023; Daily Novena Masses, 7pm
Solemn Novena Prayers (March 11-20, 2023)
Submit a Prayer Request
We offer everyone the opportunity to leave prayer requests. Please send us your request and we will remember your intention each Wednesday during our Novena Prayers to St. Joseph.
Light a Candle
For over 130 years, visitors to the National Shrine have lit candles symbolizing their prayers and intentions. For those unable to visit the Shrine, candle donations are accepted online for a candle to be lit for your intention using the link below. Your intention will also be included as part of our weekly Perpetual Novena in Honor of St. Joseph.
History of the Shrine
The tradition of the National Shrine of St. Joseph (De Pere, Wisconsin) dates to 1888, initiated by Fr. Joseph Durin, MCS, pastor of then the French-Canadian immigrant parish church of St. Joseph in De Pere. It was at this time that the National Shrine’s weekly Perpetual Novena in Honor of St. Joseph and annual Solemn Novena in Honor of St. Joseph leading to the Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) were established, both of which continue to the present day. The original wooden church was struck by lightning and burnt in 1889; it was replaced by the existing stone structure in 1890.
In 1890, Fr. Jouet of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Director of the Archconfraternity of St. Joseph visited the National Shrine location, described as a visit to “the first shrine erected in America in honor of St. Joseph.” Shortly thereafter, in 1892, the term “National Shrine of St. Joseph” came into use and has remained since that time.
On September 25, 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued the Bull of Canonical Coronation for the solemn crowning of the National Shrine’s Statue of St. Joseph. The statue was subsequently crowned by the Most Reverend Sebastian Messmer, Bishop of Green Bay, on May 8, 1982. It remains one of only seventeen crowned Josephian statues in the world by papal decree, the only in the United States.
The National Shrine was entrusted to the local missionary Norbertines (Premonstratensians), now the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, on September 28, 1898, with Fr. Benard Pennings, O. Praem. as director (later to become Abbot Pennings in 1925), the same day as the founding of St. Norbert Priory at the same site. Following the dedication of the new St. Norbert Abbey in 1959, the National Shrine was temporarily moved to the crypt of the new abbey at 1016 North Broadway, De Pere, Wisconsin, next to the tomb of Abbot Pennings. It was returned to its original and current location in 2015.
The National Shrine is frequented by thousands of pilgrims each year seeking St. Joseph’s powerful intercession and to follow his humble, quiet example in a humble, quiet place.
136th Solemn Novena Travel Considerations
Airport
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport [GRB], 5.5 mi from the National Shrine
Lodging
Our Retreat Guest Rooms at St. Norbert Abbey & the Norbertine Center for Spirituality are currently undergoing major renovation in order to include private bathrooms and air conditioning by July 2023; we look forward to being able to have you stay with us next year in the refurbished rooms. For this year, we recommend The Kress Inn, located within walking distance of the National Shrine. Lodging is also available at a number of other local hotels in the Green Bay area.
Please contact the National Shrine with additional questions at 920-337-4312 or by email.