OUR LADY OF THE
ROSARY SHRINE
The Shrine is open all year for personal prayers and meditations. The Rosarian priests are available at the shrine for confession and spiritual direction. On Shrine Days Holy Mass is celebrated in the centre of the Rosary Trail, on the site of the first church which was built in 1855. Each year Shrine Days are celebrated July 2, 13, 16, August 13-22, and September 12, 13, 14 and 15.
In 1995, three ladies of the parish were given permission by the parish priest to start a Rosary Trail in the wooded area behind the church and cemetery. Thanks to many donations, dedication of hours of work and prayer of numerous volunteers, what began as “Our Lady’s Garden” has now become the home to Our Lady of the Rosary London Diocesan Shrine.
The original Diocesan Shrine was located in St. Mary’s, Ontario, since it’s construction in 1954 and official dedication by Bishop Cody in 1963. At the close of the 1998 celebrations, Bishop Sherlock then moved the site to St. Patrick’s Church in Merlin.
SHRINE DAYS
✣ PILGRIMAGE
There are four beautiful trails to experience: “The Rosary Trail”, “The Saints Trail” (featuring over 90 statues), “The Approved Apparitions Trail” and “The Stations of the Cross Trail”. Lighting is installed throughout the Shrine grounds. There is a picnic area and washrooms available. We invite you to bring your own picnic lunch and lawn chair. There is also a religious store on site (check hours of operation), however food and drink are not available.
If you are planning a group visit, please contact the Office at 519-689-7760. We welcome schools and any groups for retreat days. Contact us for more information and dates available.
See EVENTS CALENDAR to view ALL events happening at the Church & Shrine.
NO PETS ALLOWED: Service Animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome.
EVENTS CALENDAR 2022
|DATE
|EVENT
|CELEBRANT
May 14
Shrine Cleanup Day … ALL WELCOME TO HELP
May 15
1:30 pm “Our Lady of the Cape Pilgrim Statue Tour”
July 02
Shrine Day 11am Holy Mary, Handmaid of the Lord
July 13
Shrine Day 11 am . Holy Mary, The New Eve
July 16
Shrine Day 11 am . The Blessed Virgin Mary, Cause of Our Joy
LATEST SHRINE NEWS
Our Lady of the Cape Pilgrim Statue Tour
A VERY SPECIAL EVENT is going to take place at St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine Merlin on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. It is the 75th Anniversary of its last Pilgrimage. In 1947, it travelled from Cape de la Madeleine, at Trois Riviere, Quebec to the Peace Fountain in Windsor, ON. This time it will be done in reverse. Dennis and Angelina Girard are in charge of this tour. They founded the “Mary Devotional Movement”.
The Marian Devotional Movement is visiting various dioceses in Canada in 2022 as it spearheads pilgrim statue tours of Our Lady of the Cape to provide opportunities for Canadians to venerate Canada’s National Madonna, to promote consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to promote enrollment in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.
On May 15th, Pilgrims would be invited to the Shrine area on that day: (SCHEDULE)
1. Father Antony will greet Our Lady, the Girards and all the pilgrims
2. Dennis and Angelina Girard will give their talk on this special tour
3. A Rosary Procession will follow
4. The Crowning of the statue of “Our Lady of the Cape”
5. A recitation of the “Litany to Our Lady”
6. Consecration Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
7. Father Antony will bless the roses to be distributed to the pilgrims
8. Veneration of Our Lady
9. Handing out of the blessed Roses- One (1) per each family
10. Photo Opportunity
11. Final Blessing by Father Antony
Have you checked out the section WAYS TO GET INVOLVED? (located on the Home Page) There will be more topics coming as “things open up”. In the meatime check out the one called PRAYER. There are weekly prayers and monthly devotions.