St. Vincent’s Rosary Walk and Our Lady of Knock Shrine closes in on fundraising goal completed with your support
Today, the development of St. Vincent’s Rosary Walk and Knock Shrine creates the perfect marriage of the group’s connection to the Shrine, its devotion to Our Lady of Knock, and the spirit of its Irish ancestry.
Moreover, for many people the Shrine is more than a transcontinental tie with their relatives on the small green island at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Many people talk about their parents meeting at the Shrine, so they feel a real kinship with the place and want to see the Knock Shrine completed. A fair number of these people continue to come to the Monday Novenas on a consistent basis.
“There is that deep, deep connection of the Irish community at the Shrine,” says Mary Jo Timlin-Hoag, CEO of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (CAMM). CAMM oversees the fundraising and development of St. Vincent’s Rosary Walk and Shrine to Our Lady of Knock.
In addition, connecting with religious outdoor spaces, such as the Rosary Walk & Knock Shrine, is a sign and a symbol beyond the Catholic community, which includes the surrounding neighborhood. People like the outdoor experience of praying.
Fellow Irish communities care deeply about their ancestral roots and Our Lady of Knock’s message of prayer. It is a space of belief and hope. It’s important that the Shrine continues to flourish in the future. This will create an even tighter connection with the Irish because of Mary being Our Lady of Knock.
The Miraculous Medal Shrine was built in Germantown as a way for Fr. Joseph Skelly, C.M. to thank our Blessed Mother for her blessing of the growth of the Vincentian missions to support the poor.
In 1927, construction began and with the help of the local community of mostly Irish immigrants, the beautiful shrine was completed in record time. Since December 8, 1930, the perpetual novena has been said continuously on Mondays. Not even the COVID- 19 pandemic could stop it, with our prayers being live-streamed when the actual building was closed.
The building itself has several shrines to the Blessed Mother in the lower level. Each one is special to a certain population, yet equally adored by everyone who visits the Shrine. A few years ago, it was noted that there was no shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Knock, the Irish Mary, in spite of the fact that the Irish community was so integral in building the original Miraculous Medal Shrine. And that was how the idea for this project was born.
In honor of our Blessed Mother and in appreciation for the power of prayer, especially for her Rosary, we broke ground on St. Vincent’s Rosary Walk & Our Lady of Knock Shrine last October. This Rosary Walk will be a spiritual sanctuary to help the faithful experience the Rosary as they stroll along a beaded path and pray their favorite mysteries.
The walk has been completed, the rosary beads, Celtic cross, and Trinity Knot have been installed. Our meditation garden and landscaping have been planted and we are now anxiously awaiting the building of the stone grotto. When that is finished, the mosaic and statue will be installed, and our sacred space will be opened to welcome all those who wish to experience the love of God and Mary.
Thanks to your generosity, we have made tremendous progress toward meeting our $1 million dollar goal. We have raised over $925,000, and we turn to our loyal friends like you to help us raise the remaining $75,000.
With grateful hearts, we continue to express our sincere gratitude to you — the faithful stewards of our Shrine community. Your caring support and your love for Mary inspire us as we continue to draw closer to completing the Our Lady of Knock Shrine.
Your support has helped distribute 2.5 million Miraculous Medals since 2018
Following the legacy of Fr. Joseph Skelly, CM. who played a leading role in the founding of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal and the Miraculous Medal Shrine, each inspired by Marian devotion, we have continued to distribute Mary’s Miraculous Medal throughout the country.
Fr. Skelly was born in Philadelphia’s Germantown section on March 24, 1874. He would spend most of the next 89 years living and working within walking distance of his boyhood home. Young Joseph entered the St. Vincent’s Seminary near his home in 1895 and was ordained into the priesthood at Philadelphia’s St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1900.