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.
Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine requires many dedicated volunteers to perform a variety of roles. Shrine Volunteers are passionate people who freely provide their time and energy to support the great work, beauty and growth of our Shrine.
If you are interested in assisting pilgrims from all over the region or in helping from behind the scenes, and nourishing one’s own spiritual life, maybe adopting a shrine garden, please consider becoming a volunteer. Contact
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.
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 2024
|DATE (to be announced)
|EVENT
|CELEBRANT
July 02
Shrine Day 11 am . 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
Aug 3 (rain date Aug 10)
2nd Shrine Cleanup Day . 9:30 am followed by BBQ lunch … ALL WELCOME TO HELP
Aug 13
Shrine Day 11 am . Blessed Mary, Image & Mother of the Church
Aug 14
Shrine Day 11 am . The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of Grace
Aug 14
Shrine Day 8 pm . Vigil of the Assumption of Mary
Aug 15
Shrine Day 11 am . Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
*Lunch available for purchase by the Knights of Columbus*
Aug 16
Shrine Day 11 am . The Blessed Virgin Mary, Temple of the Lord
Aug 17
Shrine Day 11 am . The Blessed Virgin Mary, Gate of Heaven
Aug 18
Shrine Day 11 am . (Sunday Readings)
Aug 19
Shrine Day 11 am . Holy Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy
Aug 20
Shrine Day 11 am . Blessed Virgin Mary, Resurrection of the Lord
Aug 21
Shrine Day 11 am . Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick – Anointing of the Sick
Aug 21
Shrine Day 8 pm . Vigil of the Feast of The Queenship of Mary
Aug 22
Shrine Day 11 am . Feast of Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary
Sept 12
Shrine Day 11 am . The Most Holy Name of Mary
Sept 13
Shrine Day 11 am . St. John Chrisostom Memorial
Sept 14
Shrine Day 11 am . Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sept 15
Shrine Day 11 am . Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sunday Readings)
LATEST SHRINE NEWS
UPCOMING EVENT: May 11, 2024 Pilgrim Walk “WALKING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS”
UPDATE**(May 10): Due to impending rain for Saturday’s Walk, the event will now begin and END at ST. Peter’s church.
HOUR BY HOUR UPDATES: www.eriestclairparishes.com/shrine-walk-may-11
Lake Erie and St. Clair Catholic Family of Parishes and Vocations London presents “WALKING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS” Pilgrimage for Priestly Vocations. May 11,2024. With special guest: Bishop Ronald P. Fabbro, Bishop of the Diocese of London. START 7:00 AM Mass at St. Peter’s, Tilbury. WALK 15KM Walk to Merlin Shrine. GATHER LUNCH at Merlin Shrine with Praise and Worship.
________
On Sat May 11, there will be a Pilgrim Walk to the Rosary Shrine beginning with an early mass at St. Peter’s. The route will be down pump road to the Merlin Town Line to the Shrine. The Theme of the walk is Vocations. Bishop Fabbro will be in attendance for mass and part of the walk. A light BBQ lunch, live worship music and whiteness talks are planned at the Shrine.
IF the weather is bad, we will have a different route in the rain after mass which will loop back to St. Peter’s Hall.
We will have a porta-potti set up at Hwy #2 and the Merlin Park-and-Ride as one station. We will have two other stations set up along the Merlin Town line on the way to the Shrine and one other near the train tracks on Pump Road.
We would like 5-6 volunteers at each of the 5 stations, hopefully from each of the 5 area worship sites – Visitation, St. Francis, Immaculee, St. Peters and St. Patricks.
At least One member of the team with a cell phone with number provided for emergencies and time updates
One member to provide a folding table for snacks
One member to provide lots of cool water for refilling water bottles and some paper cups for water
One member to provide fruit (apples, oranges, cut pineapple, strawberries etc)
One member to provide snack bars or finger snacks or halloween size snacks.
One member to provide a gazebo (or two) should it be very sunny at the time.
One member to be on garbage duty for wrappers pilgrims have and ensure total clean up.
One member to provide some folding chairs to provide rest for those that want to sit.
It is hoped that we can encourage people who have been looking for something simple to be involved in, without any future commitments expected rather than approach our service groups for this one. The costs of supplies and food will be reimbursed with receipts.
Please let the presider of the mass know the names and phone numbers of the 5-6 team members or send all information directly via email to Deacon Raymond.
Deacon Raymond
Serving the Erie St. Clair Family of Parishes with Joy
Service is a Baptismal Promise
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.