Auriesville Shrine: where history and faith come together

Whenever Debbie Nordin of Brockton, Massachusetts, visits her sister in upstate New York, she takes time to stop at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs in Auriesville.

"I feel drawn here," said Debbie, who is a Protestant. It's a place of "peace and harmony."

She spends some of her time at a small memorial dedicated to the Rosary on a scenic vista overlooking the Mohawk Valley.

Origins

Ironically, the gentility of the Shrine grew out of violent circumstances: It is the spot where three French missionaries were martyred in the Mohawk Indian village of Ossernenon in the 17th century. The martyrs were canonized 75 years ago.

But the site is also a scene of hope. It is celebrated as the first place where the Rosary was recited in North America. It's also where Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, an Indian orphan maiden known for her sanctity, was born in 1656.

She died in Canada at the age of 24, forced to flee her home village because of her Christian beliefs.

Getting word out

Rev. Peter Murray, SJ, director, notes that the Shrine has been described as the best-kept secret of the Mohawk Valley. He would like to change that by promoting the 75th anniversary of the Coliseum, where Masses are celebrated for pilgrims, and martyrs' canonization, and getting word out through Catholic parishes and other organizations.

Father Murray wants the Shrine to be a center of pilgrimage, a Christian tradition that has seen resurgence in recent years (World Youth Day in August is an example).

"By going to a place that is considered holy ground," he said, pilgrims can renew their commitment to their faith.

Staff

Father Murray is assisted by a number of Jesuits, including Rev. Robert McGuire; Rev. John Paret, past director; and Brother Ted Bender, who head work on the site's 550-plus acres.

"It's inspiring when you realize what happened here," said Father Paret. "This is a place made holy by the blood of martyrs. This is a place where people had enough faith to give their lives."

As vice postulator for the cause of Blessed Kateri, who was beatified in 1980, Father Paret spends much of his time promoting her cause for canonization.

"We're looking for a miracle now," he said.

(Chris Wagoner, from Johnstown, appreciates the peace she feels every time she visits the Shrine, something she has done since she was a child. "The peace you receive when you are here is beyond words," she explained. It is "my favorite spot on earth." The Shrine will mark the 75th anniversaries of the canonization of the Jesuit martyrs and of the Coliseum at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Sept. 24, 4 p.m.)

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