The Spiritual Significance of a Shrine

    A shrine is a church or a holy place that is designated by the bishop as a site where the faithful may make pilgrimage for the reason of faith and devotion.  It is a consecrated place where the liturgical and the devotional life of the Church promotes a special closeness to God in and through the lived example of His Saints.

    A pilgrimage is the act of moving towards God, expressed in the gesture of visiting a holy site.  Just as the Church is a pilgrim towards the New Jerusalem of heaven, the individual members of the faithful who make a pilgrimage become conscious of one’s ascent towards the Creator by the help of His grace.  

    A shrine dedicated to Our Lady aims to foster greater devotion to the Holy Mother of God through pious practises.  The Blessed Mother is the greatest of all disciples.  Her full assent to the Father’s Will is a witness of her humility and her total abandonment to God. We are called to follow in her footsteps as we grow in our faith and trust in Him.  Being pilgrims ourselves, we hope to be fully united with God by the decision we make each day to take the next step forward towards Him.

The Monogram of the Shrine
​
    The AM monogram stands for Auspice Maria. It is Latin for “Under the Protection of Mary.”

    As a parish under the patronage of Our Lady of the Rockies, we place ourselves under the protection of our Blessed Mother.
Some of the things we may offer as a Diocesan Marian Shrine…
  • Aside from the celebration of Sacraments, the following may be of particular significance to the Shrine:
    • 24-Hour Adoration Days
    • The Five First Saturdays Devotion
    • The Mother of Perpetual Help Weekly Devotion
    • The Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 22, as the patronal feast 
    • Auspice Maria: An Apostleship of Prayer
  • A Pilgrimage Site
    • Annual Pilgrimages from the Shrine to St. Mary’s in Banff using the Legacy Trail.
    • Pilgrimages in the Marian Months of May and October
    • Personal Pilgrimages via Silvertip Trail
    • Candlelight Outdoor Rosary & Campfire
  • Greater Participation in the New Evangelization
    • Tours of the Church for tour groups, showcasing the Catholic Faith
    • Annual Speaker Series at the Shrine
    • Day Retreats at the Shrine
    • Lectures at the Shrine
    • The Chapel Choir of Our Lady of the Rockies
    • Sacred Music Performances at the Shrine: Partnership with the Rocky Mountain Symphony
  • A Spiritual Base Camp
    • Special Mass for Hikers, Climbers & Skiers
    • Promoting Devotion to Saints associated with mountain activities
    • Chapel open for private prayer and devotions 

​St Joseph, faithful guardian of Christ and of the Blessed Virgin, we ask for your intercession.  We entrust to you this whole work of building our new church, for you are a builder and the protector of the Faith.

Pray to the Father, that this church will be a worthy, glorious and a beautiful home for your Son, where hearts may be raised to true worship in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Pray to the Son, that all who come to this home will experience His Love and Mercy as they visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently and with great devotion.

Pray to the Holy Spirit, that all who enter will be bound in union by His love and will be transformed in their lives, as they go out to serve in the world. 

All for Jesus, through Mary, following your example, protect us St. Joseph as we implore your powerful intercession.  Amen.

Our Lady of the Rockies, pray for us.