LAURIE, Mo. – The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church located adjacent to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Laurie, Mo. is expected to have its first major overhaul in the 30 years of its existence.
Planned improvements include updating electrical and mechanical facilities, HVAC repair, sound system replacement, and providing a walkway to allow for easier access to its stainless steel Sculpture of Mary, Mother of the Church, for maintenance purposes. The 14-ft, 3,000-lb sculpture rotates 360 degrees on a caterpillar motor above pools of water and fountains. The Shrine is working with Brad Copeland, who is in charge of Building and Properties at the Jefferson City Diocese, to help provide proven contractors.
The amount needed, $290,000, cannot be met by the Shrine’s normal collections. Their fundraising efforts the past 5 months have resulted in donations of $265,000, but the Shrine still needs to raise the remaining $25,000 for repairs.
Recently, the Knights of Columbus, Mary, Mother of the Church Council 10381 of Laurie, Mo., donated $50,000 from their building fund to The National Shrine.
The cost of maintaining the facilities at the Shrine is covered entirely from donations to the Shrine, collections at the summer outdoor Masses and inscriptions on the Mother's Wall. And although the Shrine is located on grounds adjacent to St. Patrick Church in Laurie, Mo., it does not receive any financial support from St. Patrick’s Church.
Mass is held outside in the grotto from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. This past summer, more 10,000 people attended outdoor Masses there, and 1,800 people participated in pilgrimages and retreats. The Shrine also serves as a home to the Mothers Wall of Life, which is dedicated to Mary as the Mother of the Church and to all mothers. The purpose is to promote a true appreciation of motherhood. Any mother is able to have their name engraved in granite along with over 4,400 mothers’ names.
To help support the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, contact General Manager, Sue Schneider at the Shrine office by calling 573-372-8595 or by emailing her at gmmothersshrine@gmail.com
